Dragon Quest XI - Sugi Sarishi Toki o Motomete (Japan)
Nintendo 3DS
🇯🇵
Reviewed in 2017
86
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✪ Reviewed on June 13, 2026
80
Dragon Quest XI on 3DS in classic 2D mode or 3D depending on the screen. The 3DS version offers a unique 16-bit retro mode. Epic franchise story at its peak. Colossal content for demanding JRPG fans.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player12+
Description
The Luminary, chosen of the light, sets out to prove his identity and face the destiny that weighs upon him in an epic that is both classic and grand. Published by Square Enix, released in Japan in July 2017. Turn-based combat, rich and varied world, toggleable retro 2D mode, eight companions with strong personalities. Japanese 3DS edition.
Dragon Quest XI - Sugi Sarishi Toki o Motomete review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Still carried by Toriyama's warm line, the game juggles modern 3D and a pixelated homage with rare elegance. Lively towns and mischievous monsters overflow with colour and character. This dual visual identity, polished and generous, celebrates the whole heritage of the saga.
Faithful to Koichi Sugiyama's spirit, the score unfolds noble, warm orchestral themes that carry the Luminary's quest. Heroic melodies and intimate passages alternate with an entirely classical elegance. This symphonic breadth, deeply rooted in tradition, elevates every stage of the adventure.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Faithful to a tradition decades old, the turn-based combat here is crystal-clear, well-paced and surprisingly comfortable on a handheld. This version doubles the adventure with a retro 2D mode as savoury as the 3D, and the party's growing power stays a constant pleasure. The framework is very classic, but that owned-up purity explains why the journey still charms.
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Travelling a warm-hearted world, recruiting endearing companions and orchestrating turn-based battles where every skill counts weaves an adventure in which each town rekindles the urge to press on. Side quests and the forge prolong the pleasure. The formula stays very classic, but its generosity, its writing and its measured pacing grip you to the very end.
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Proving your identity as the Luminary draws you into a classic, grandiose epic, rich in lands to explore and companions to raise. The generous main quest, side challenges and a hearty endgame stretch on for very many hours. That scope, served by polished storytelling, makes it a JRPG high point that fans savour at length.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
Dragon Quest XI on 3DS is a Japan-exclusive release that never reached the West in this configuration, since the Western market only received the PS4/PC and later Switch versions. Its collector value is exceptional: it is the only release that delivers the full retro 2D rendering, on a dedicated cartridge with a Japanese box highlighting that dual presentation. A reference piece for capturing the most singular version of the eleventh Dragon Quest.
Is Dragon Quest XI - Sugi Sarishi Toki o Motomete still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2017 on 3DS in Japan and known in the West as Dragon Quest XI - Echoes of an Elusive Age, Square Enix's project offers on the handheld a singular version of the eleventh entry, which switches at will between three dimensional rendering and a sixteen bit homage to the retro games. The long and warm adventure unfolds a classic tale of a chosen hero, a clear turn based combat and Akira Toriyama's visual touch. The dual rendering and the charm of the journey appeal. The technical compromises against the home versions show. A great Japanese RPG, recommended for fans of classic adventure and of embraced nostalgia.
