After showcasing my characters in Tales of series and Monster Hunter games, I am currently delving into various Dragon Quest games available on Nintendo Switch through backward compatibility, such as Dragon Quest XI S, the HD-2D Remake of Dragon Quest III, Dragon Quest Builders 2, Dragon Quest Builders, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince, Dragon Quest Treasures, and the original Dragon Quest trilogy. Since I don’t own every game that wasn’t localized in the series, my “every” refers to each localized title. However, I have shared some thoughts on a couple of those unlocalized games as well.
In this review, I will evaluate these features by examining their performance, load times, and my personal opinions on the games. Additionally, I will discuss any desired enhancements for potential future updates. Initially, some of these games were exclusive to Nintendo Switch, but they didn’t perform optimally, and even ported titles had issues. For the load time assessment, I utilized the digital edition of each game installed in both the internal memory of Nintendo Switch 2 and the SD card on Nintendo Switch OLED. To speed up loading, I rapidly pressed A, and attempted to bypass publisher and developer logos whenever possible. Please note that some games feature mandatory splash screens that cannot be skipped.
The majority of the pictures you see were taken using the Nintendo Switch 2 in its handheld setting, and they were captured either at the start or early stages of the games to prevent revealing any spoilers.
How does Dragon Quest XI S run on Nintendo Switch 2?
In my opinion, Dragon Quest XI S remains one of the most impressive Nintendo Switch ports to date. Square Enix did an exceptional job ensuring that the complete experience was maintained on the Switch, while also including new content, features, and enhancements. Regrettably, it ran at a low resolution even on the Nintendo Switch, with a limited draw distance. On the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, it seems more responsive and manages to keep its targeted 30fps frame rate smoothly across various zones I tested. Additionally, load times have significantly decreased, as you can observe in the table below:
Dragon Quest XI S remains one of the most impressive Nintendo Switch conversions for me even today. Square Enix really outdid themselves to ensure the full experience was preserved on Switch and additional content, features, and more were added. Unfortunately, it ran at a low resolution even on the original Nintendo Switch with poor draw distance. On the new Nintendo Switch 2, it feels more responsive and maintains its target frame rate of 30fps well across different zones I tested. Load times have also improved significantly, as you can see in the table below:
Both versions convey the same meaning but aim to use slightly different structures for variety.
| Test condition | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Dashboard to title screen | 25 | 15 |
| Title screen to in-game save | 23 | 12 |
| Fast travel | 18 | 13 |
What we want from a Dragon Quest XI S Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade
Dragon Quest XI S would greatly benefit from a dedicated release for Switch 2, optimized to run at 60fps and offer higher resolutions with enhanced draw distance. The visuals of the current Switch version might not significantly improve on the next-gen Switch, so if an updated version comes out with save transferability, I’d be first in line to buy it on day one.
How does Dragon Quest III HD 2D Remake run on Nintendo Switch 2?
In this discussion, I’ve explained how the Switch version performs relative to its PC counterpart. When you play on the new Nintendo Switch 2 model, you’ll notice significantly reduced load times and a more consistent, improved performance compared to the original Switch. The initial Switch model had trouble running Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake smoothly in busy areas like early towns. However, these issues no longer occur on the new Switch 2. Unfortunately, the visuals remain somewhat blurry.
| Test condition | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Dashboard to title screen | 46 | 19 |
| Title screen to in-game save | 8-9 | 3-4 |
| Leaving town and coming back from the open world | 7-8 and 3 | 3 and 1 |
| Loading a battle | 1.5-2 | 1 |
What we want from a Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade
In light of the potential release of a Nintendo Switch 2 version for the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, I eagerly anticipate Square Enix developing a similar remake for Dragon Quest III in high definition and 2D graphics, aiming to provide a smooth visual experience at 60 frames per second.
How does Dragon Quest Builders 2 run on Nintendo Switch 2?
Dragon Quest Builders 2, initially released on PS4 and Nintendo Switch, had issues running smoothly on the latter back then. However, since its release on Steam and Xbox, it has been upgraded significantly on the Nintendo Switch 2 (or just Switch for short). I’ve spent a lot of time playing both versions before, but revisiting the PS5 version was particularly enjoyable. I had hoped to see similar improvements on the Switch, and thankfully, they delivered a significant boost in performance. The game now runs at a smoother 60fps more often, although it’s not always locked at 60fps. There are still some performance issues in custom worlds with busy situations, but overall, the game runs great on Switch 2. Additionally, load times have been improved significantly. So, if you’re looking for a portable way to enjoy Dragon Quest Builders 2, the Switch 2 version is a solid choice now.
| Test condition | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Dashboard to title screen | 75 | 44 |
| Title screen to in-game save | 23 | 14 |
What we want from a Dragon Quest Builders 2 Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade
Beyond improved resolution and potential enhancements to maintain a steady 60 frames per second (or higher with VRR), I don’t foresee the necessity of a specific Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade for this game. It appears to be a substantial improvement as it stands, with backward compatibility already in place.
How does Dragon Quest Builders run on Nintendo Switch 2?
As a dedicated fan, let me share my experience with Dragon Quest Builders on Nintendo Switch. When I played this game both docked and handheld, it ran at an unlimited frame rate, aiming for 720p resolution. However, the performance was noticeably smoother when docked, reaching around 60fps, while in handheld mode, it felt more like 30fps, falling short of a consistent experience. I’ve had the pleasure of playing this game on various platforms, including PS Vita and the Japanese PS4 version. Interestingly, the Western PS4 release had an unusual hitching issue that wasn’t present in the Japanese version, even when played on a PS4 Pro.
Following my encounters with the mobile and Steam editions, I was anticipating a smooth experience on the Switch 2 version. However, at this moment, it seems to be falling short due to a frequent stuttering issue that arises during exploration. Although the frame rate is superior in both docked and handheld modes compared to playing on Switch 2, it urgently requires a patch from either Nintendo or Square Enix to rectify the compatibility issues or improve the game performance. The hitching persists even after playing for several minutes, and there appears to be no end to it. I’ve also tested the game using the SD Card Ex and the physical version I own, but the stuttering issue remains consistent in both cases.
| Test condition | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Dashboard to title screen | 16 | 14 |
| Title screen to in-game save | 4 | 3 |
What we want from a Dragon Quest Builders Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade
Considering the game’s age, I doubt we’ll get an update, but I hope to witness a seamless port of the mobile and Steam versions onto the Switch 2, improving its performance significantly. A boost in resolution would certainly enhance the gaming experience as well.
How does Dragon Quest Treasures run on Nintendo Switch 2?
Playing Dragon Quest Treasures on the Nintendo Switch was somewhat hazy due to a 30fps (frames per second) target, and combat experienced occasional slowdown. However, when played on the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, the game’s visuals and draw distance don’t significantly improve, but the frame rate consistently meets its goal even during combat. Additionally, there are noticeable improvements in load times.
Important reminder: The game Dragon Quest Treasures doesn’t have a Save Data Cloud backup feature for Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2 consoles. So, if you haven’t already performed a system transfer, remember to move your data manually to avoid losing it.
| Test condition | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Dashboard to title screen | 37 | 25 |
| Title screen to in-game save | 17 | 13 |
| Fast travel | 27 | 21 |
What we want from a Dragon Quest Treasures Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade
As a gamer, I’ve been immersed in the world of Dragon Quest Treasures, and I believe it could shine even brighter! A 60fps upgrade along with higher resolution, similar to what you get when playing on Steam Deck, would make a significant difference. Although it may not be the most powerful Dragon Quest game on Switch, I’ve had a blast playing it. I can only imagine how fantastic it would be if it could fully realize its potential through an upgrade like this!
How does Dragon Quest Monsters The Dark Prince run on Nintendo Switch 2?
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but sing praises for Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince on the Nintendo Switch. Despite a rocky start with technical issues at launch, this game has certainly grown and improved with each patch. Even after being ported to mobile and Steam platforms, I still found it an enjoyable experience on the Switch. In the sequel, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince 2, the 30fps target is maintained quite well, though the visuals remain largely unchanged. There have been noticeable improvements in load times as well.
“Please be aware that Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince does not allow cloud backup for save data on Nintendo Switch or Nintendo Switch 2. If you haven’t performed a system transfer, remember to move your data manually.”
| Test condition | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Dashboard to title screen | 30 | 21 |
| Title screen to in-game save | 12 | 6 |
| Loading into battle | 5 | 5 |
What we want from a Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade
The Dark Prince gets an update for the Switch 2 to run at 60 frames per second and in higher resolution. For now, it seems to perform well on the Switch 2 as it stands.
How does the Dragon Quest I II III trilogy run on Nintendo Switch 2?
In essence, the initial Dragon Quest adaptations for Nintendo Switch didn’t fare well due to subpar sprites and frequent scrolling glitches. Regrettably, when played on Switch 2 via backward compatibility, all three games continue to suffer from these same issues. The only noteworthy improvement appears to be reduced load times. Given the availability of HD-2D remakes, I wouldn’t advise playing these versions.
| Test condition | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Dragon Quest dashboard to title screen | 7.5 | 5 |
| Dragon Quest title screen to in-game save | <1 | <1 |
| Dragon Quest II dashboard to title screen | 7 | 5 |
| Dragon Quest II title screen to in-game save | 1 | <1 |
| Dragon Quest III dashboard to title screen | 13 | 7 |
| Dragon Quest III title screen to in-game save | 2 | <1 |
What we want from a Dragon Quest I II III trilogy Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade
These games cannot be salvaged unless Square Enix takes action to improve the sprites and scrolling issues by updating them with new ones. Despite playing better on iOS than Switch, I would not advocate for them due to the HD-2D Remakes of Dragon Quest I & II that are currently available or soon to be released.
How does Dragon Quest X Offline run on Nintendo Switch 2?
In today’s review, I tested the offline demo version of Dragon Quest X for Japan on the Nintendo Switch console. This demo runs at 30 frames per second (fps) and has somewhat pixelated graphics, especially during cutscenes which sometimes lag a bit. When played on the rumored next-gen Switch model, the gameplay remained consistent but without any noticeable slowdowns. However, the loading times have been significantly reduced. I didn’t get as much playtime with this demo as planned today for this feature, but I thought it was worth mentioning for those who are interested in checking it out.
| Test condition | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Dashboard to title screen | 35 | 26 |
| Title screen to in-game save | 18 | 12 |
What we want from a Dragon Quest X Offline Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade
Considering the demo functions smoothly on Steam Deck, I am eager for an upgrade that offers a consistent 60fps, higher resolution, and most crucially, an English localization. I’ve been anxiously anticipating playing this game, so I hope it will officially become available in English on Switch 2 if Square Enix creates a native version.
How does Dragon Quest Heroes I and II run on Nintendo Switch 2?
As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but yearn for the day Square Enix brings the Dragon Quest Heroes I and II bundle to the Nintendo Switch. Back when they initially launched, I dabbled in their demos and found the performance lackluster, but it wasn’t the most problematic game of its genre by the end of the Switch generation. The target frame rate was 30fps on Switch, yet it often stumbled. However, playing on the new Nintendo Switch model, I’ve noticed that the frame rate holds a steady 30fps more consistently. Unfortunately, it still suffers from the same distance issues when rendering the environment. On a brighter note, load times for Dragon Quest Heroes I and II have been significantly improved on the new Switch.
| Test condition | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Dashboard to title screen | 8 | 4 |
| Title screen to in-game save | 17 | 7 |
What we want from a Dragon Quest Heroes I and II Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade
Here’s another title I’d love to see adapted for the Nintendo Switch. Since Square Enix didn’t release a Switch version initially, it would be great if a future Switch 2 update could include localization. As for other features in a potential Switch 2 patch for this game, there isn’t much more I can think of at the moment.
How does Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai run on Nintendo Switch 2?
On the Nintendo Switch, the game Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai wasn’t terrible, but it did encounter some minor technical glitches. However, when playing this game on Switch 2, it manages to maintain its frame rate consistently and offers faster load times, but as of now, there aren’t any significant advantages over the original version.
| Test condition | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Dashboard to title screen | 30-35 | 14 |
| Title screen to in-game save | 6 | 4 |
What we want from a Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade
My preferred enhancements would include a 60 frames per second mode, improved visual resolution, and advanced post-processing effects. However, I don’t anticipate any updates for Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai, as it seemed like a game that didn’t warrant further upgrades and didn’t create a massive impact in the gaming world.
In simpler terms, I plan on discussing this specific feature once the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake becomes available, as I’d like to provide insights for both the original Nintendo Switch and its potential successor, the Switch 2.
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2025-06-25 15:58