Square Enix has announced a major milestone for one of gaming’s most enduring RPG franchises, with Dragon Quest officially surpassing 100 million games sold worldwide. The achievement comes as the series celebrates its 40th anniversary and continues to build momentum with recent remakes and several new releases on the horizon.
To mark the occasion, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii has appeared in a special celebration video reflecting on the franchise’s journey. The series first debuted in Japan in 1986 and has since grown into a global phenomenon spanning 11 mainline entries, numerous spin-offs, and adaptations across anime, manga, novels, films and other forms of merchandise.
Dragon Quest has also left a lasting mark on the JRPG genre, with its approachable gameplay, memorable characters and monsters, distinctive visual style and celebrated music helping establish many of the conventions associated with the genre today.
The franchise has continued to revisit its history in recent years, most notably through a series of ambitious remakes. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake retell the complete Erdrick Trilogy with Square Enix’s distinctive HD-2D presentation, alongside new story content and gameplay improvements. Earlier this year, Dragon Quest VII Reimagined offered a new take on 2000’s Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past, combining redesigned character models with handcrafted 3D environments, diorama-inspired locations, streamlined exploration and an expanded narrative.
There is plenty more Dragon Quest ahead as well. Dragon Quest Heroes: Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon -Classic HD- recently gave fans another chance to revisit a classic entry, while Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams remains in development as the next mainline installment. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is also coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 24, while Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World is scheduled to launch on December 3, 2026, for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam and Xbox on PC.
With more than 100 million games now sold, Dragon Quest enters its next chapter with its 40-year legacy firmly established and new adventures still waiting around the corner.