Dragon Quest is almost 40 years old. It is a staple in the JRPG genre, and one of the most colossal giants in the industry completely – more in Japan than in the West, but certainly without lack of popularity all over the world. With Dragon Quest 12 in development and Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D remake that would follow last year's Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D remake, fans have eaten well in recent years. It also does not end there, because it seems that we can have an imminent revelation for a Dragon Quest 7 remake as well, although it remains to be seen whether it will be HD-2D or not.
But despite all the new editions, remakes, spin-offs (Shoutout to Dragon Quest Builders 2) and ends up over the years, the best Dragon Quest game has still not returned. It's time for Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skies to get their own remake. Or gate. Or literally anything, please, I'm desperate.
It's been 15 years since Dragon Quest 9, take it back
I remember myself and a friend who played Dragon Quest 9 at our DSS all the time, whether we were out in stores, in each other's house or even at a New Year's celebration in 2010. There are even pictures of us together as children, DSE in the hand. You couldn't stop us.
But here we are in 2025, and we both still remind them of those days and talk about how good it would be to have a Dragon Quest 9 remake. I would be happy enough with a port, but it has been long enough for a new recording to be meaningful. Especially with the ongoing editions and rumors of many Dragon Quest projects, it is more meaningful than ever for 9 to return.
While it is unclear what form the rumored Dragon Quest 7 remake will take, I could see Dragon Quest 9 which is beautifully replicated in the HD-2D format. The game has a huge world of fields, forests, valleys, mountain peaks and the classic seas to sail; Everything we have seen already with Dragon Quest 3 and Octopath Traveler.
But there is more reason to give Dragon Quest 9, of all games, this treatment …
Dragon Quest 9 felt like a unique entry for the series
Something that Dragon Quest 9 did so well was the characters – or, more accurately, the lack of this. It went away from having a set of the player's character and even got rid of dedicated party members. You would make a custom character, and if you wanted a party you had to do them too.
Alternatively, you can form a party with friends, as the entire Dragon Quest 9 could be played in Co-op. Exploring, fighting, and every story sequence can be made in multiplayer, and offers a lot of deviation from the usual single -player experience that these games tend to offer.
While Dragon Quest's unique characters and party members are a big part of what makes the series so special, Dragon Quest 9 has a special place in my heart because of the personal experience you can have with it. That is why, after all these years, it is the game in the series that has stuck most with me. With Octopath Traveler 0, which is now leaning into the custom protagonist, and hopefully the continued success of the Dragon Quest remakes, I will hope that we will see this wonderful adventure from Nintendo DS make a return again.
Dragon Quest 9
- Published
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July 11, 2010
- ESRB
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E10+ for all 10+ due to alcohol reference, animated blood, comical injury, fantasy violence, mild language, mild suggestive themes
- Engine
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Unreal Engine 4
