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Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age was first released here in the West back in 2018. The Definitive Edition arrived a year later in 2019, so you may be wondering… why are we reviewing it now? Well, like so many games these days, Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition is coming out with a dedicated Switch 2 edition. And I got a chance to check it out early for review.
As far as Switch 2 editions go, Dragon Quest XI doesn’t change much. The Definitive Edition itself is a pretty big upgrade from the original, with plenty of new story tidbits, game features, and more. The upcoming Switch 2 edition mainly adds new visual options, letting players choose between higher visual fidelity or a faster frame rate. Beyond that, it largely just brings the Definitive Edition up to snuff for the current-gen Switch console. Thankfully, it doesn’t come with a price hike over the Switch version, so it’s well worth grabbing for Switch 2 if you’re just getting around to the game. Who doesn’t love better visuals, after all?
Key Details
- Developer: Square Enix
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Release Date: September 24th, 2026
- Price: $39.99
- Platforms: PC via Steam, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2
- Review Code Received: Yes, for Nintendo Switch 2
Dragon Quest Is Like a JRPG With Training Wheels, and It Took Me a Minute to Get Invested
My Square Enix fan card might get snatched for this, but playing Dragon Quest XI was actually my first foray into the franchise. Despite being a longtime fan of Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, I somehow never got around to Dragon Quest. During my first few hours of playtime, I have to admit, I wasn’t sure I was going to agree with the critical acclaim this game received when it first released. The English voice acting for certain characters, especially Gemma, is a bit grating at first. But more than anything, I was taken aback at just how much hand-holding there is in this game.
At every point in the game, there’s someone to tell you exactly where to go and what to do. The friction is pretty much absent, and the game feels very much aimed at younger players or those who are brand-new to JRPGs in that respect. As such, it took me a little while to get invested. We are, after all, working with a Chosen One of few words, and that trope sure has been done. But once I settled into the hand-holding and got to meet more of our core cast of characters, Dragon Quest XI grew on me. It may be relatively straightforward in terms of core mechanics, but it’s still throwing some interesting options at us.
In particular, I love the turn-based combat system in this game. It offers a lot of variety for how you want to play things, thanks to the Tactics menu. You can fully control your party, or set up certain characters to do their own thing based on a variety of playstyles. This lets you get into the nitty-gritty of combat or leave it on autopilot, per your preference. The skill trees for each character offer even more customization, down to unlocking specific skills for the primary weapons you assign each member of your party. In the end, I don’t know that Dragon Quest XI quite hit the heights of other Square Enix games for me, but I do think it’s a fun game that’s very beginner-friendly if you’re newer to JRPGs and turn-based combat.
The Definitive Edition on Switch 2 Will Be the New Go-To Version
Given that I’m primarily here to review the Switch 2 version of the Definitive Edition, let’s dig into the specifics there a bit. At the end of the day, this is one of those games that probably didn’t need a Switch 2 edition. The Definitive Edition itself adds plenty of features, from the 2D game mode and the world of Tickington to updated soundtrack and voiceover options. The Switch 2 edition carries over all the good stuff, but it doesn’t really add much. Primarily, the only difference is the optimization, letting you prioritize graphics or performance per your preference. As such, it’s probably not something you need to run out and grab if you’ve already got the Definitive Edition for another platform.
If you’re just now getting around to playing Dragon Quest XI, though? This is a pretty obvious choice if you have a Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch 2 edition isn’t priced any differently, but comes with those added visual upgrades. I was really impressed with how it looked and ran on the platform, with no noticeable issues for visuals or performance. The Definitive Edition features all felt like great additions on the base game, and bringing it all to the Switch 2 with a new dedicated version is just icing on the cake.
Final Score: 8.5 out of 10
I’d say the Switch 2 version of Dragon Quest XI: Definitive Edition is likely the best version of the critically acclaimed JRPG yet, and I’m glad it was my introduction to the title. Whether you’re a longtime Dragon Quest fan or new to the franchise, there’s plenty to like in this engaging, if hand-holdy, JRPG experience on Switch 2.
**Bonus Action received a Nintendo Switch 2 code for Dragon Quest XI: Definitive Edition for the purpose of this review**
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