Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age

A massive, masterful, "traditional" RPG that focuses more on combat mechanics, loot, and exploration than story.

In "Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age," players explore a vibrant world as a young hero on a quest to reveal his true identity and defeat an ancient evil threatening his world. The game features classic turn-based combat, a rich and immersive story, and striking visuals that bring the characters and environments to life. With a diverse cast of companions, challenging quests, and exciting battles, Dragon Quest XI offers a memorable and engaging RPG experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,643 reviews

story1,169 positive mentions

grinding246 negative mentions

Engaging story with emotional twists and well-developed characters.
Beautiful graphics and art style, showcasing Akira Toriyama's designs.
Classic turn-based combat with a variety of character builds and crafting options.

No upgrade option for existing owners to access the Definitive Edition.
Repetitive music and soundtracks that can become annoying over time.
Some characters and story elements feel clichéd and predictable.

story
3,777 mentions
31 % positive mentions
66 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The story of "Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age" is generally described as a classic hero's journey, featuring a familiar narrative of a chosen one destined to save the world. While some players find the plot predictable and filled with clichés, many appreciate its emotional depth, character development, and engaging twists that keep the experience fresh. The game is praised for its charming characters, well-crafted side stories, and the ability to evoke nostalgia for long-time fans of the series, making it a compelling entry point for newcomers as well.
- “The ending of the main story is one of the best I have ever seen in a game.”
- “Amazing game, emotional story, lovable characters.”
- “The story is captivating, the combat is so classic, the world is visually amazing and the music reels you in.”
- “The story is quite boring and lackluster.”
- “The story is simple and the animation is simple.”
- “The story is predictable crap.”
music
957 mentions
25 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The music in "Dragon Quest XI" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the heavy reliance on recycled tracks from previous games in the series, leading to a repetitive listening experience. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm of the MIDI soundtrack, others find it grating and lacking in variety, often recommending the orchestral mod to enhance the audio experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant flaw in an otherwise well-crafted game, with calls for more original compositions and better audio quality.
- “The music is entertaining as always.”
- “The music throughout the game was fun to listen to and you can tell they put a lot of effort into the soundtrack.”
- “The music is terrific, the art style is unique, and gameplay is excellent.”
- “As for the music… well they messed up pretty badly if you play it normally.”
- “The music is the weakest part of this otherwise great game.”
- “The music is so bad in this game it steals any positives that were remaining.”
graphics
773 mentions
57 % positive mentions
41 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant and beautiful art style, heavily influenced by Akira Toriyama's signature design. Many players appreciate the modernized visuals that enhance the classic JRPG experience, with some noting that the graphics are among the best in the genre. However, there are criticisms regarding the "definitive edition," which reportedly features downgraded graphics compared to the original, leading to disappointment among some fans.
- “All the new characters, all the new stories and absolutely gorgeous graphics.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, gameplay is great (I would highly recommend playing with a controller be it PS4/PS5 or Xbox) and the story is up there with the best in the series.”
- “The graphics are stunning and vibrant, I enjoyed the turn-based combat and being able to see enemies on the screen, and the music wasn't as bad as I've heard people say.”
- “The 'definitive' version has downgraded graphics, extra dialogue, 2D mode, and an orchestrated music score (sounds worse than mod).”
- “You are essentially paying $40 for the exact same game but with inferior graphics just for 1 hour worth of extra content.”
- “The definitive edition actually gimps the graphics pretty hard, so be aware of that.”
gameplay
589 mentions
35 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is characterized by its classic turn-based mechanics, which many players find nostalgic and enjoyable, reminiscent of older JRPGs. While some reviews highlight the simplicity and lack of innovation in the gameplay, others appreciate the polished execution and the depth offered through character customization and strategic elements. Overall, it provides a solid experience for both newcomers and veterans of the genre, with a lengthy playtime and engaging mechanics, despite some criticisms regarding its ease and repetitive nature.
- “Mechanically, this is the most perfectly tuned example of turn-based combat there still is at the time of writing.”
- “The gameplay is tight and refined, and definitely the highlight.”
- “Very solid; this game is a prime example of a JRPG done right, with nothing over the top, just good solid gameplay elements.”
- “One of those modern JRPGs that combines extremely cringey story and dialogue with gameplay that runs on rails and basically plays itself.”
- “It's incredibly boring from a gameplay and story perspective.”
- “The gameplay has zero depth and barely any choices to make.”
grinding
261 mentions
3 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
94 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a mixed perception of grinding in the game, with some players finding it enjoyable and integral to the experience, while others view it as tedious and excessive. Many appreciate the balance between necessary grinding for character progression and the option to engage in it at their own pace, particularly with features like metal slimes that offer significant experience boosts. However, there are notable criticisms regarding late-game difficulty spikes that necessitate grinding, which can detract from the overall enjoyment for some players.
- “The game isn't grindy unless you want to grind, but ultimately isn't necessary.”
- “Not too grindy and incredibly entertaining.”
- “Above all else it's fun, not too grindy, there's some optional grinding, enemies respawn pretty rapidly but I never feel obligated to grind, just encouraged here and there.”
- “There's little/no character customization, the plot is predictable to a fault, and battles become so simple yet take so long that grinding is an immense slog.”
- “Wow... so many hours grinding in this game and... it just keeps getting worse over time.”
- “You can't just go and try the last boss, you're pushed into grinding 20-30 levels, doing 30 hours of what should be side content, and grinding for weapon/armor ingredients.”
humor
120 mentions
98 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its distinct characters, funny dialogue, and whimsical situations, often balancing darker themes with lighthearted moments. Players appreciate the clever puns, slapstick comedy, and unique character interactions that evoke laughter throughout the adventure. While some humor may come off as cringey or clichéd, the overall comedic elements contribute significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.
- “It even upped the weirdness at some points, making it more hilarious to balance out the darker overtones.”
- “The humor is spot on, and the art is great.”
- “The party members in this game are so well written and voice acted; their character arcs had me unironically laughing, to crying and everything in between.”
- “The game isn't without flaws, having some characters fall really flat and some of that cringey anime humor here and there, but it looks great, it sounds great, it plays great.”
- “There is no reason for the existence of such rampant low-brow, unfunny non-sequitur like 'crabber dabber doo'.”
- “Dialogues in the game are so lame, it is not funny to read at all.”
emotional
106 mentions
96 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has garnered a wide range of responses, with many players praising its heartwarming story, lovable characters, and moments that evoke genuine tears. While some found the narrative predictable or lacking depth, others highlighted its ability to create strong emotional connections and memorable experiences, particularly during key plot twists and character developments. Overall, the game is seen as a wholesome journey that can resonate deeply with players, despite some criticisms regarding pacing and emotional delivery.
- “Amazing game, emotional story, lovable characters.”
- “The story is engaging, interesting (all the way to the end and the post-game ending) as well as very emotional.”
- “It's truly a gem and tugs at your heartstrings in so many ways, providing some truly profound and heartfelt moments all the way through.”
- “Probably the most boring story of any game I've played, mixed with bad voice acting. The fact I bought the game right before the definitive edition came out at the same price really frustrates me. I played Dragon Quest 9 as a child and it was one of my favorite games; I was hoping this would be a similar experience, but I was very disappointed.”
- “Boring story, terrible OST, mediocre animation.”
- “Does that make up for a boring story and boring turn-based combat?”
character development
85 mentions
54 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising the depth and emotional arcs of side characters, while some criticize the main character's lack of growth. Akira Toriyama's iconic character designs are widely appreciated, enhancing the overall visual appeal, but there are concerns about missed opportunities for deeper interactions and development. Overall, the game offers a charming cast and engaging story, though opinions vary on the execution of character arcs.
- “Excellent game with amazing story and character development.”
- “The characters are genuine and simple yet most of them have some of the best character development I have ever seen in a game.”
- “Overall a very fun and charming cast of characters that makes you fall in love with them throughout the whole story; the character development for them is so amazing and it just makes you love them even more.”
- “Then there are the character designs, which feel very flat.”
- “The character development is fairly shallow - I never felt emotionally connected to the plights of anyone.”
- “Only warning I feel I should give is that it's fairly light on story and character development; it's not deep or thought-provoking and the characters are all pretty one-dimensional.”
optimization
72 mentions
29 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players noting that it runs smoothly on higher-end systems, maintaining good frame rates and minimal stuttering. However, some users have reported performance issues on lower-end hardware, including frame drops in busy areas and inconsistent framerates. While the PC port is generally well-optimized, there are calls for further improvements, particularly for users with less powerful setups.
- “The PC port is also well optimized and runs very smoothly.”
- “When it comes to optimization, I can only say that the game is sufficiently optimized; it runs fast on my computer, which is by no means a high-spec one.”
- “The game is gorgeous, it runs smoothly, and the gameplay is phenomenal.”
- “So badly optimized.”
- “This is not a well-, let alone ok-optimized game.”
- “I wish they would have optimized it better than they did.”
stability
22 mentions
23 % positive mentions
5 % neutral mentions
73 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing frequent crashes and save corruption, particularly on Steam, while others report a smooth experience with minimal glitches. Many users noted specific issues like freezing during certain scenes and minor bugs, but also highlighted that the game runs well on PC overall. Overall, while some players enjoy a stable experience, others find it virtually unplayable due to significant technical problems.
- “No bugs, no glitches, no crashing; a finely tuned and well-received title right here.”
- “Well made, bug free, no nickel and diming microtransactions.”
- “Runs great on my middling PC.”
- “It freezes at Gallopilos when returning from killing the boss... there's a scene that is unskippable and it freezes every time.”
- “However in its current state, it is virtually unplayable, at least on Steam... it suffers from a lot of minor to horrific bugs, which range from funny glitches to crashing the whole game at least once every 30 minutes, most of the time even far more often.”
- “Unfortunately it is also a buggy mess, and has a habit of corrupting your save game when it crashes.”
atmosphere
22 mentions
32 % positive mentions
55 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive qualities, reminiscent of classic Japanese role-playing games, enhanced by a well-crafted audio-visual presentation. While the music is noted to become repetitive, it effectively evokes a range of emotions and complements the lively world, contributing to an overall charming and engaging experience. However, some players feel that the voice acting and certain musical choices could be improved to elevate the atmosphere further.
- “This game really captures the feel and atmosphere of classic Japanese role-playing games, all wrapped together in a magnificent audio-visual presentation.”
- “Multiple pieces were composed for dozens of areas and atmosphere, and each one of them will make you feel emotions, from sadness to joy, and from courage to anxiety.”
- “Overall the atmosphere is lively and managed to keep me attached to the world and what was going on within it.”
- “Just don't expect an original storyline, deep, three-dimensional characters, or a dark and brooding atmosphere.”
- “These things wash out and leave the world/atmosphere at a neutral rating.”
- “The overworld song is the same for the entire game up until you beat the main story, and I would have liked to have more music that better suited the different atmospheres.”
replayability
20 mentions
35 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability, particularly due to the inclusion of draconian quests that allow players to adjust difficulty and enhance their experience. Many players appreciate the engaging storyline, likable characters, and addictive mini-games, although some note that the lack of customization options and linearity may limit replay value for certain players. Despite these concerns, the game is generally regarded as having significant replay potential, with playthroughs often exceeding 80 hours.
- “Draconian quests allow you to up the difficulty if you want, and adds replay value.”
- “I could go on for quite some time, but put it simply, this single-player RPG has a replayability factor that I haven't seen before.”
- “The replay value is high, the mini-games are addicting, the side quests are fun, the zones (while limited) are great, add in the draconic mods and you have a game that won't get old for a long while.”
- “No 2D mode in this game makes the replay value much lower if you only own this version.”
- “Really, the only thing it kinda lacks is replayability, since you can't customize your party much.”
- “The only downside is that, for me at least, the replayability is low due to the somewhat forced linearity.”
monetization
11 mentions
27 % positive mentions
9 % neutral mentions
64 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users criticizing it as a cash grab, particularly regarding the release of "definitive" editions and ports that seem aimed at maximizing profits. However, some players appreciate the absence of microtransactions and additional content that enhances the experience without exploiting players financially. Overall, while there are concerns about profit-driven practices, the lack of in-game purchases has been positively noted by some reviewers.
- “Lotsa good content, witty dialogue, and no microtransactions.”
- “It is just so good, without any in-game microtransactions or other garbage.”
- “Best of all, no throttled gameplay for more money, no XP boosters, and no microtransactions!”
- “Pretty shitty cash grab.”
- “Really wish these companies would just put more effort into one edition instead of having a 'definitive' for cash grabs, but that's a popular thing I guess.”
- “And wow, just received an email from Square Enix advertising the fact that they are releasing the same game on Xbox and PS4; now it's obvious that they are just trying to farm money from a game that originally launched on PS4.”