By Sagar V. Mankar 
Square Enix has announced a significant milestone for Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. The revamped version of the beloved RPG has surpassed two million sales worldwide, a total that includes both physical shipments and digital downloads.
Sales and Reception
The game launched on November 14, 2024, and reached its two-million-sales milestone in just three weeks. In Japan, it sold an impressive 826,945 copies across Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5 platforms during its first week alone. For context, this initial figure outperformed the lifetime Japanese retail sales of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as of late November.
Critics have also praised the game, with a Metacritic score of 84% and an OpenCritic recommendation rate of 93%. However, user reviews were more mixed, with a 7.9 average score on Metacritic. These ratings reflect the strong nostalgia factor among long-time fans and some divided opinions on the remake’s changes.
A Legendary Legacy Reimagined
First released in 1988 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Dragon Quest III was the final installment in the iconic Erdrick saga. The game follows a young hero tasked with defeating the archfiend Baramos to save the world, a mission left incomplete by their late father. Known for its immersive storytelling and memorable gameplay, Dragon Quest III remains one of the most cherished titles in the series, particularly in Japan.
The HD-2D remake combines classic RPG mechanics with stunning modern visuals, making it a highly anticipated release for fans of the franchise. Players have been drawn to its unique art style, blending pixel art with 3D effects, which has breathed new life into the game.
The Future of Dragon Quest
Square Enix and ARTDINK, the developers of the remake, are already hard at work on reimagining the first two Dragon Quest games in the same HD-2D style. Unlike Dragon Quest III, these two titles will be released as a bundle in 2025, continuing the revival of the Erdrick trilogy.
However, Square Enix is cautious about releasing too many HD-2D remakes, according to Masaaki Hayasaka, the producer of the Dragon Quest III Remake. In an interview with Bloomberg, Hayasaka revealed that the company is wary of oversaturating the market with these games. He mentioned that even his supervisors are uncertain and are carefully considering the matter. “If we were to release too many games in succession, that would lead to people being bored of those games,” he explained.
Sources: Square Enix announcements