Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is a bit of a mouthful, but when it hits Xbox Game Pass later this week on December 4, it'll show why its earned that title. It's been a long road, but the series is making the jump to Xbox systems and delivering one of the best entries to usher it in.
Not only is Dragon Quest XI coming over, but it's also the Definitive Edition, which was originally a Nintendo Switch exclusive. With the Christmas period approaching, many of us will be wrapped up in our homes, console on, controller in hand and looking for something filled with jolly vibes to play over the period. Dragon Quest XI is a perfect game to scratch that itch, and here are five reasons why.
A Beautiful World
One of the first things that's evident about Dragon Quest XI is its spectacular art style. The world of Erdrea is beautifully animated, filled with vibrant, popping colours that just leap off the screen. During its early hours, Dragon Quest XI remains located within lush, green landscapes, but slowly spreads into more exotic territories, including extravagant cities such as the bustling Heliodor.
Every corner of Dragon Quest XI has new surprises to discover, gorgeous vistas and wonderful characters to meet. It's a world to get lost within, and a perfect way to shield away from the cold winter months.
The Ability To Play In 2D
One of the new elements for the Definitive Edition was the option to experience the entire game in 2D - much like the original games. Despite being 2D, the world still feels alive and is brimming with waves of nostalgia towards classic JRPGs.
At the end of each chapter, the game can easily be swapped between the original 3D mode or the new 2D mode, offering the ability to experience Dragon Quest XI in multiple ways. Not only that, but without spoiling the fun, numerous side quests take full advantage of the mode in unexpected ways that Dragon Quest fans will undoubtedly appreciate.
The Combat
There's a reason the combat in the Dragon Quest series has remained fairly similar since its original incarnation and that's because it simply works. No matter which entry you dive into, the combat is easy to pick up and packs enough depth to warrant its lengthy runtime.
With up to seven party members, the combat can build into a truly intense battle as you thoughtfully and strategically plan each move, taking out an array of weird and wonderful creatures. There's also a substantial amount of difficulty options, depending on what sort of Dragon Quest player you are. Newcomers will find the game easily accessible with engaging fights, while series veterans can use Draconian difficulty modifiers to truly push the game's combat to its limits.
All New Content For The Definitive Edition
If you've picked up Dragon Quest XI before, you'll probably be wondering what incentive the game has to entice you in again. The answer? Too much content to name.
Some of the new elements have been touched on already, such as the game's 2D mode and difficulty options, however they're barely scratching the surface. New features such as a full orchestral soundtrack, Japanese voice dialogue, new side stories for companions, mounts to ride, and various quality of life improvements ensure that the Definitive Edition truly earns that title.
The Vibes
Despite everything else, there's one thing that makes Dragon Quest XI and the series as a whole so special - the vibes. There's honestly something so sweet and sincere about the world that's been eradicated from a lot of modern RPGs. Every title seems to be focused on being darker and moodier than the previous, where as Dragon Quest XI is immensely jolly.
Whether its visiting the casino with your party, making use of the elaborate photo mode, or just taking in the beautiful land of Erdrea, Dragon Quest XI is a constant joyous treat, and in a year that hasn't been particularly kind, its a wonderful way to wrap things up.
Will you be trying Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition when it hits Xbox Game Pass? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments 21
It's pre loaded and ready to go!
I've played it before too 😊
Thoroughly recommended.
Played and beat it on Playstation... played a big chunk on Switch... and now I'm going to play it again on GamePass. This game hooked me on to JRPGs and the rest the whole Dragon Quest franchise. I LOVE it.
Same. Already pre-loaded and counting down the days! I have to say, though, that Control coming out tomorrow complicated my plans and I don't know which game to play first. First world problems, I know 😑
It's brilliant. I'm not a huge fan of the genre (I dabble but rarely finish them) and I loved Dragon Quest XI. Anyone who has even a modicum of interest in JRPG's should check it out.
This game is one of my favorites this entire generation, and probably all time. I can't wait to experience this masterpiece once more.
I pre ordered it on amazon because physical FTW...
Can't wait for it to arrive i hope Xbox brings more JRPGs to Xbox..
@Bmartin001 I have the physical coming to
Loved this on Switch. It's almost too big though - so many hours to complete.
Bought PS4 launch day, even though I was waiting for the "NX" version. Bought the "NX" version...tried to play into it, but the graphics were kind of off-putting after seeing the PS4 version on Pro. Here's hoping the res and frame rate boost here makes it feel more close to compare to the PS version. Switch, docked, looked kind of rough. Looks ok on handheld, but that small text is annoying.
@NEStalgia well if you have Gamepass nothing to lose right?
@mousieone Yep! Preloaded (or queued to preload....I don't use instant on and every time I power up it starts downloading updates to random old games on my spinner HDD instead of getting to that one. Watch Dogs got patched though.
@NEStalgia well hopefully it works for you. 😺
I finished the demo sometime last month, can't wait to get back into it. Even my kids are like: "Daddy, when are you gonna play that Dragon game again?"
@Bmartin001 I wish they did a physical for the Xbox version over here. I would love one!
@NEStalgia I grabbed the Switch version, too. It was too blurry for me to play through it, though I understand why. Looking forward to diving into the Definitive Edition with better visuals!
Played this game to completion on my Switch and loved it. Sylvando might be my favorite rpg character ever. Will likely play it again sometime early next year.
Never got to beat the final golden super boss.
I'm gonna preload it and dive into it tomorrow! I've had a lot of fun with 2 DQ titles on the DS, but I'm not an expert at jrpgs, so it's good to know it includes a beginner-friendly approach too
Played through the game on Switch and loved it. Going to play through it again on Xbox but in 2D mode.
Is the physical edition exclusive to Amazon USA?
@G4n0nD0rf I got mine from the Square Enix store.
Lots of hype for this game. Played through it on Switch and found it ok. The game is well polished though.
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