At PAX East 2025, we had the opportunity to sit down and go hands-on with Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, a continuation of the Erdrick Trilogy, which chronologically begins with Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, released last year.
Though released decades ago on aged hardware, the Dragon Quest legacy is one that JRPG fans have followed very closely, with a huge amount of excitement for these remakes to come to modern consoles. From my hands-on Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake preview experience, there's plenty to look forward to.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Is a Streamlined JRPG
When people think of JRPGs and turn-based combat systems, it's easy to picture a slower-paced and methodical battle system. What I found great about Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is that you can speed up the battle animations to your preference, with Ultra-Fast allowing you to speed through combat encounters extremely quickly.
This is perfect for those looking to grind out experience in the overworld or who want to spend more time exploring the lush and beautiful open world. These two games were built from the ground-up for the modern era, and playing a sample of both games on a PS5 proved how optimized these builds are.
Not only does the HD-2D art style bring the world into brilliantly sharp focus with vivid and colorful landscapes, but it also runs extremely smoothly – no frame drops noticed.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is an excellent follow-up to Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake for those who might want to dive into Dragon Quest for the first time. And if you're a fan of the original classics, quality-of-life adjustments and modern mechanics make these stories a joy to experience all over again.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake: Two Amazing Games in One
Though there are some who wish the Erdrick trilogy had been bundled together from the start, getting Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake is a huge win for JRPG fans. Each story provides a huge amount of lore, gameplay, and fun for Dragon Quest fans. This dual pack is an excellent option for anyone itching to sink into a beautiful JRPG.
The remakes are already slated for the Nintendo Switch and Steam, and for avid Nintendo fans, they'll be pleased to know that they'll also be able to play Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake on the Switch 2.
For a stunning reimaging of a classic RPG that is counting its age in decades, these remakes bring a fresh perspective to both titles, making this a phenomenal experience for fans to look forward to.
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake Preview | Final Thoughts
Whether you want to take your time exploring the world and the towns and caves within or jump right into combat to test your skills against stronger and stronger enemies, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake delivers on all fronts.
I loved wandering the world with my team, trying out new attacks, and marveling at just how quickly battles can take place with the ultra-fast options turned on. It optimizes a genre that, in the past, may have been challenging for newcomers to get familiar with.
By bringing these games into the modern era and rebuilding them from the ground up, Square Enix succeeds at revitalizing a beloved series and giving players an excellent reason to revisit Erdrick's story.
The Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake release date is October 30, 2025, and it was previewed on a PlayStation 5 at PAX East 2025.
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Dan is a Boston-based writer who has been with TechRaptor since the end of 2020. He has been working in the online writing, editing and SEO space for nearly… More about Dan
