If you’re new to the Erdrick trilogy and wondering where to start, here’s something that trips up a lot of players: the release order and the story order are not the same. That distinction actually matters when deciding how to approach these three games.
This article covers whether Dragon Quest III should be played before I and II, what the chronological order is, what the original release order was, how the HD-2D remakes factor in, and which approach makes sense depending on what you want from the experience.
Dragon Quest III Is a Prequel to I and II
The core fact driving this whole debate is simple: Dragon Quest III takes place before the events of Dragon Quest I and II in the series’ story timeline.
All three games are grouped together as the Erdrick trilogy. They share one world, one family legacy, and one continuous history. The Hero you play in Dragon Quest III is the ancestor of the heroes in I and II. That is not fan speculation — it is the established setup of the trilogy.
Think of Dragon Quest III as the origin story. It shows where everything started. Dragon Quest I and II are the later chapters that build on what III set in motion. Knowing that one fact makes the play order question a lot easier to think through.
The Original Release Order Was I, II, Then III
Here is where the confusion comes from. Even though Dragon Quest III tells the earliest part of the story, it was actually released after I and II.
Players who first experienced the series went through it in the order I → II → III. They played through Dragon Quest I and II without knowing III existed yet. When III finally came out and the prequel connections became clear, it landed as a genuine surprise — one that felt more meaningful because players already knew the world from the earlier games.
That reverse reveal was intentional. It was a deliberate creative choice that rewarded players who had already spent time in the world of I and II. Understanding this history helps you decide which kind of experience you want to recreate.
What the HD-2D Remakes Changed About This Question
The HD-2D remakes have brought a fresh wave of players to these games — and they have also shifted the conversation around play order.
Square Enix released the Dragon Quest III HD-2D remake first, before the remakes of I and II. That sequencing was not random. It signals a story-first, chronological approach to the trilogy. The developer-supported recommendation for the remakes is to play them in the order III → I → II.
This framing treats Dragon Quest III as the entry point and I and II as the continuation of the story it sets up. The HD-2D versions of Dragon Quest I and II are visually consistent with the III remake, and they are designed to work as a connected experience rather than three separate games dropped into the same art style.
So if you are coming to the series specifically through the remakes, the developer-recommended path is clear: start with III.
Which Order Is Better Depends on Your Goal
There is no single answer here that works for every player. The better question is: what do you want from the experience?
If you want the best story context
Start with Dragon Quest III. Playing it first means the connections between characters, locations, and events in I and II will land with real weight. You will already understand the world’s history when it starts to unfold across the later games.
A good example: certain reveals in Dragon Quest I hit differently depending on whether you already know the backstory from III. If you played III first, those moments feel like payoff. If you did not, they might still land — but you will miss some of the depth behind them.
If you want the original player experience
Start with Dragon Quest I, then II, then III. This is the order fans experienced the series for the first time, and the prequel reveal in III is genuinely rewarding if you arrive at it without knowing it is coming.
If you dislike foreknowledge or prefer to let stories surprise you, release order may actually serve you better — even though chronology points to III first.
The important thing to know
Neither order makes the games unplayable or incomprehensible. All three titles are standalone enough to be picked up and enjoyed on their own terms. The order you choose shapes the experience — it does not determine whether you can enjoy them at all.
Do You Need to Play III Before I and II? No — But Here Is Why Many Players Prefer It
The word “should” here means recommendation, not requirement. You can start with Dragon Quest I right now and have a great time. The game does not ask you to know anything from III to follow its story.
That said, there are real reasons why many players — especially those using the HD-2D remakes as their entry point — prefer to go with III first.
- The family lineage makes more sense. Dragon Quest I and II reference a legendary hero from the past. If you played III, you know exactly who that is and what they did to earn that reputation.
- Locations feel more connected. Certain places appear across all three games. Seeing them in III first adds a layer of recognition when you encounter them again in I and II.
- The developer framing supports it. The HD-2D remake release sequence and the recommended play order both point to III as the starting point for new players.
- It is the stronger introductory game for modern players. Dragon Quest III is often considered the most accessible of the three in terms of mechanics and scope, which makes it a practical starting point regardless of story order.
None of this means release order is wrong. Plenty of people have played I → II → III and found the experience completely satisfying. The trilogy works both ways — the two orders just give you different things.
Quick Summary of Your Options
If you want a simple reference before deciding, here it is:
- Chronological order (recommended for new players, especially with the remakes): Dragon Quest III → Dragon Quest I → Dragon Quest II
- Release order (recommended if you want the original surprise reveal): Dragon Quest I → Dragon Quest II → Dragon Quest III
Both are valid. Both work. The difference is in how the story connections hit you, not whether you can follow the games themselves.
Final Thoughts
The short answer is: you do not have to play Dragon Quest III before I and II, but there are good reasons to consider it — especially if you are starting fresh with the HD-2D remakes.
The developer-recommended order for the remakes is III → I → II. That path gives you the full story context before you see it pay off across the later games. But if you would rather experience the trilogy the way original players did and enjoy the prequel surprise at the end, I → II → III is still a completely legitimate choice.
Pick the order that matches what you want from the experience, and you will be fine either way. For more gaming guides and practical recommendations across different topics, check out Bizblinks.
The Erdrick trilogy holds up regardless of where you start. Just start somewhere — that is the part that actually matters.
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