DRAGON QUEST® XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age™

93%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,090 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • graphics
DRAGON QUEST® XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age™ Game Cover
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"DRAGON QUEST XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition" is the ultimate version of the latest entry in the legendary RPG series. It includes all original content plus extra scenarios, the choice of original or orchestral music, 2D/3D graphics, and Japanese voice-acting. As the Luminary, embark on an epic quest with companions to save the world of Erdrea from dark forces.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

93%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,090 reviews
story1,531 positive mentions
grinding312 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with memorable characters that evoke emotional responses.
  • Beautiful graphics and art style, enhanced by orchestral music.
  • Classic turn-based combat with modern quality-of-life improvements.
  • Act 3 feels drawn out and undermines the emotional weight of earlier story events.
  • Repetitive music tracks that can become grating over long play sessions.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, like inventory management and character customization, feel outdated.
  • story4,565 mentions

    The story of "Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age" is generally described as a classic hero's journey, featuring familiar tropes such as the "chosen one" tasked with saving the world from evil. While some players find the narrative predictable and cliché, many appreciate its emotional depth, character development, and engaging plot twists that keep them invested throughout the lengthy campaign. The game is praised for its charming characters, well-paced storytelling, and the ability to explore rich side quests that enhance the overall experience, making it a beloved entry in the Dragon Quest series.

    • “The world is really beautiful, the characters fit the franchise well, characters are wacky as always, stories of towns also fit really good, storytelling on point (basically playable anime), character building is fun.”
    • “The story is captivating, the characters are interesting, the voice acting could be better, but it's not awful.”
    • “The story is very wholesome and sweet which put me at the edge of my seat sometimes.”
    • “The story is boring, the gameplay is linear, the extras are lacking.”
    • “The writing did seem more cliche and predictable than the others, but it also had the darkest story by far.”
    • “The story is mediocre, perhaps even terrible depending on one's tolerance for extremely simple and cliché story beats.”
  • music889 mentions

    The music in "Dragon Quest XI" has received mixed reviews, with many praising the orchestral soundtrack for its emotional depth and quality, particularly in the definitive edition. However, a common criticism is the lack of variety, as players often find themselves hearing the same few tracks repeatedly throughout the lengthy game, leading to a sense of monotony. While some players appreciate the nostalgic elements and the option to switch to music from previous entries, others feel that the overall soundtrack does not meet the high standards set by earlier titles in the series.

    • “The soundtrack is a symphonic masterpiece, perfectly complementing the game's emotional beats, intense battles, and serene exploration moments.”
    • “Every song feels like it was composed to bring a very specific emotion out of you.”
    • “The music perfectly complements the epic scale of the adventure, evoking a range of emotions from excitement to nostalgia.”
    • “Sugimora's music sucks ass though, I wish they had gotten a different composer.”
    • “The only part where the game mostly fails in my opinion is the soundtrack being kinda meh, the whole 'turning back the time going 2D retro mode' thing, and also the post-game content that feels like it's really dragging on as hard as possible to make you play 50 more hours while fighting reskins of the enemies from the main story just with new weapons but in the same locations.”
    • “The music is awful, and prepare to hear the same five tracks over and over again.”
  • graphics875 mentions

    The graphics of "Dragon Quest XI S" are generally praised for their vibrant and charming art style, heavily influenced by Akira Toriyama's iconic designs. However, many users note that this version features a noticeable downgrade in graphical fidelity compared to the original release, primarily due to it being a port of the Nintendo Switch version. While the visuals are still considered beautiful and engaging, players are encouraged to utilize mods to restore some of the original graphics quality for an enhanced experience.

    • “From the moment I started my journey in the enchanting world of Erdrea, I was captivated by its stunning visuals, engaging story, and memorable characters.”
    • “The visuals truly bring the world of 'Dragon Quest XI' to life, making it a joy to explore.”
    • “Dragon Quest XI boasts breathtaking visuals that bring the game's enchanting world to life.”
    • “I can't recommend it because of the graphics...”
    • “The graphics are a step down from the original non-3DS release; many of the textures were changed to make this game playable on the Nintendo Switch, and this release is a port of the Nintendo Switch version, hence the graphical downgrade.”
    • “I will say that it is really stupid to port a graphically inferior version to Steam and discontinue sales of the original, higher fidelity version.”
  • gameplay729 mentions

    The gameplay of Dragon Quest XI is characterized by its classic turn-based mechanics, which are both nostalgic and polished, offering a satisfying experience for fans of the genre. While some players appreciate the depth and strategic elements introduced through skill trees and quality-of-life improvements, others find the gameplay to be somewhat simplistic and grindy, lacking innovation compared to modern RPGs. Overall, the game provides a lengthy and engaging experience, with many hours of content, though it may feel repetitive or slow-paced for some players.

    • “Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a masterful blend of classic RPG elements and modern gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The turn-based combat system is both nostalgic and refreshing.”
    • “The gameplay is fun, the quality of life changes are welcome, and it is a good game.”
    • “The story is boring, the gameplay is linear, the extras are lacking.”
    • “However much of that gameplay time is also spent grinding battles.”
    • “The game does not have much in terms of story so the more tedious mechanics don't have any context to help push you forward so in the end it just feels like a grind.”
  • grinding326 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some find it minimal and manageable, allowing for enjoyable character progression and customization, others describe it as tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the late game and post-game content. Overall, many players appreciate the quality of life improvements that make grinding less painful, but opinions vary on whether the grinding enhances or detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It's not too grindy but there's still lots of things to do besides just following the story.”
    • “The gameplay and turn-based combat is polished to perfection and expertly balanced to the point where the game's not too grindy, but still damn satisfying to play and progress through.”
    • “- a crafting system that isn't grindy, but is plenty rewarding.”
    • “The game does not have much in terms of story so the more tedious mechanics don't have any context to help push you forward so in the end it just feels like a grind.”
    • “There is a lot of tedious grind to get everything you need, and even after the final boss, there are still 2 more secret 'final bosses' to find and defeat.”
    • “It's so tedious, so time consuming, so repetitive (and much of the animation unskippable), I just hated every second of it.”
  • emotional162 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised for its rich storytelling, character development, and heartfelt moments that resonate deeply with players. Many reviews highlight the balance of humor and sadness, creating an engaging narrative that evokes a range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak. The game's stunning visuals and masterful soundtrack further enhance the emotional experience, making it a memorable journey for players of all ages.

    • “The core cast is fleshed out with memorable heart-wrenching moments in what is basically a trilogy of games in one.”
    • “Dragon Quest XI is a truly heartfelt and enchanting journey that captures the essence of classic RPG storytelling.”
    • “The character development is deep and the story has some surprising twists and deep, emotional moments despite its childlike aesthetic.”
    • “Butchered by censors, localization, and wrong translation, on top of a weird and boring story setting.”
    • “It was kind of a pain to play through, tortured by a too long and boring story with Dragon Ball aspects (which I really don't like, but that's just my personal opinion), which was somewhat bearable in some aspects.”
  • humor118 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, charming characters, and a blend of lighthearted and adult themes, often evoking nostalgia for Akira Toriyama's style. Players appreciate the balance between comedic moments and emotional depth, with many finding the dialogue and character interactions particularly entertaining. While some critiques mention moments of self-seriousness, the overall consensus is that the game successfully delivers a fun and engaging experience filled with humor.

    • “Dragon Quest 11 is a major step up in absolutely every way, and is a hilarious, self-aware, traditional, trope-ridden fantasy romp through and through.”
    • “The game is incredibly hilarious with a very likable cast, the graphics are gorgeous and just exude charm in everything it does.”
    • “I loved how the writers balanced out the more serious, sad, and dark tones with humorous, fun, and light-filled moments.”
  • character development118 mentions

    Character development in *Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age* receives mixed reviews, with some praising the depth and emotional moments of certain characters, particularly in the definitive edition that adds new side stories. However, many players feel that the character development falters in the later stages of the game, with some characters losing their depth and backstory, leading to a rushed and less engaging narrative. Overall, while the character designs by Akira Toriyama are celebrated, the execution of character arcs varies significantly throughout the game.

    • “The definitive edition expands character development with additional side stories, offering players a more profound connection to their party members.”
    • “The character development is deep and the story has some surprising twists and deep, emotional moments despite its childlike aesthetic.”
    • “This game is 10/10 in pacing, character development, variety of gameplay, learning curve, etc. Extremely fun to play.”
    • “No character development.”
    • “The first two acts are really good and then you reach the post game that throws 60 hours of character development and struggle out the window for a terrible attempt at giving every character a happy ending and rushing through events that happened in act 2, and providing a villain that is less threatening than the original one.”
    • “The story is fine, but it falls off halfway through and mostly repeats the same things multiple times, and completely forgets the character development that your party goes through.”
  • optimization55 mentions

    The optimization of Dragon Quest XI on PC has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing occasional stuttering and control issues when using a keyboard and mouse, despite the game generally running smoothly and achieving high frame rates on capable hardware. While the performance is often praised as better than the original version, particularly with graphical mods, some players recommend considering other ports if stuttering is a concern. Overall, the game is regarded as visually stunning and well-optimized for various setups, though minor performance hiccups may still occur.

    • “With these installed, it truly is the definitive edition of Dragon Quest 11, and it still hits 144fps on my old GTX 1070 at 1080p, so no worries about its performance impact.”
    • “The gameplay feels buttery smooth (even for an RPG) with little to no performance issues and fluid controls.”
    • “Beautiful game, well-optimized, characters are well written, the world is full of life, dialogues are fun and engaging, emotional at times, story is well-paced, OST is top tier.”
    • “But DQ 11's control is poorly optimized for keyboard and mouse.”
    • “All of that said, it is worth noting that the Steam/PC port has some optimization issues that cause some stuttering at times, even locked at 60 fps on a platform I know could easily double that.”
    • “All things considered, I would still recommend the game itself, but if some semi-frequent stuttering bothers you a lot, personally consider one of the other ports.”
  • replayability38 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its engaging story, beautiful graphics, and diverse character options, strategies, and traits that encourage multiple playthroughs. Players can extend their experience significantly through side quests, collectibles, and different gameplay modes, with some reporting over 400 hours of playtime. However, some users note that replay value may diminish after completing all content unless revisited after a break.

    • “It's one of the best JRPGs available with great gameplay, lovable characters, great story beats, and a boatload of options that make it highly replayable for those itching for a new challenge or want to experience the game in a whole new way.”
    • “It's easily one of the best RPGs ever made in my opinion; the class system and the way you can debuff yourself or add in fun variables on every playthrough makes it so replayable.”
    • “I've put in well over 400 hours through multiple playthroughs and can say the biggest drawback is that replay value is very thin unless you play again after a long hiatus.”
    • “Replayability - while the story is expansive, once you complete every single side quest and main mission, there isn't much left to do.”
    • “Factor in the replayability of the 2D mode, as well as the side quests and collectibles, and that 80 hours jumps to a solid 175 at least.”
  • stability30 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while many players report smooth performance on the Steam Deck with minimal crashes and bugs, others have experienced significant issues such as frequent crashes and frustrating glitches, particularly with the new 2D mode. Some users have enjoyed long play sessions without major problems, but the presence of occasional bugs and terrain issues has been noted.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “Not a very spec-heavy game, so it runs great on Steam Deck as well.”
    • “Game runs great, only had one crash through the whole experience.”
    • “After 79 hours and close to the end of the story, I'm going to quit because the crashes and freezes are just too annoying, and the story and gameplay are not good enough to endure this.”
    • “Unfortunately, it doesn't support ultra widescreen. I've tried all of the unofficial fixes, but the weird glitches that come with that are too much.”
    • “However, repurchasing I couldn't recommend because it's minor improvements over the prior version, and the main brand new feature, 2D mode, was buggy and poorly implemented.”
  • atmosphere28 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, enhanced by memorable music and vibrant landscapes that invite players to explore for hours. The art style, character design, and engaging story further contribute to a lively and captivating environment, making it a standout experience in the series. Overall, players find the atmosphere to be a key element that enriches their enjoyment and connection to the game.

    • “The memorable tunes enhance the atmosphere and contribute significantly to the game's overall immersion.”
    • “The game's music, composed by the legendary Koichi Sugiyama, is as memorable as ever, with a beautiful and diverse soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's atmosphere.”
    • “To wrap this up, this game so far has been phenomenal; its story is keeping me engaged and wanting more, the turn-based action is addictive yet stays true to the classic formula, and the atmosphere, from the music to the different lands you explore, is simply alluring and fun!”
    • “You could just savor the landscapes and city/town atmosphere for hours.”
    • “As far as atmosphere and story goes, it fits right in with entries like DQ8.”
    • “Something about the atmosphere and hilarious characters/writing has hooked me right in!”
  • monetization4 mentions

    Many players express frustration with the monetization strategies in modern RPGs, noting a trend towards grind-heavy gameplay that feels unfulfilling and is often accompanied by intrusive microtransactions. This approach is seen as exploitative, detracting from the overall gaming experience.

    • “Many modern RPGs these days are normalized and sterilized to fit into a treadmill model, where you are grinding but never feel like you get anywhere, or worse, tempting you with microtransactions to distract and exploit you.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Play time

82hMedian play time
78hAverage play time
30-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 62 analyzed playthroughs

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