Dragon Quest XI S Definitive Edition Switch 2: Square Enix's best JRPG shines at 60fps — with a price asterisk
Dragon Quest is one of the longest-running and most important sagas in JRPG history, and Dragon Quest XI still represents one of its most successful chapters.
Dragon Quest is one of the longest-running and most important sagas in JRPG history, and Dragon Quest XI still represents one of its most successful chapters. Originally released in 2017 in Japan on PlayStation 4 and Nintendo 3DS, and later arriving in the West on PlayStation 4 and PC, the game received the Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition version in 2019, initially on Nintendo Switch and then on other platforms.
That version had already represented the most complete point of the experience, thanks to the introduction of new narrative episodes dedicated to the protagonists, additional content, 2D mode, orchestral soundtrack, Japanese voice acting, new quests, costumes, improvements to the Forge, and numerous conveniences to make progression easier. In other words, when we talk about the Switch 2 version, we are already starting from an extremely rich and complete edition.
Square Enix therefore chose not to add a new major expansion, but to intervene mainly on the technical side. And this is precisely the heart of this new version.
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Dragon Quest XI S on Switch 2: Performance Mode 60fps and Quality Mode 1440p compared
On Nintendo Switch 2, Dragon Quest XI S finally benefits from greater hardware power, with a cleaner image, greater overall stability, and significantly faster loading times compared to the previous version.
The most obvious novelty concerns the ability to choose between two graphics modes. Performance Mode brings the game to 1080p and 60 fps, making exploration decidedly smoother, while Quality Mode aims for 1440p while maintaining 30 fps, thus prioritizing image definition.
The difference is especially noticeable when playing on a TV/monitor. The world of Erdrea appears cleaner, movements are smoother in 60 fps mode, and the entire experience feels more responsive. Loading times have also been reduced, and considering the amount of time one can spend within this enormous JRPG, it's an improvement that is greatly appreciated in the long run.
We are therefore not looking at a new version of the game from a content perspective, but the technically best version ever made for Nintendo.
And this is where the only real question mark arises.
For those who had already purchased Dragon Quest XI S on Nintendo Switch, it would probably have been more interesting to have the option of a simple paid upgrade, perhaps at a contained price, instead of having to buy the game again. Square Enix's choice inevitably continues to be debated, especially since the core of the experience remains that of the Definitive Edition that many players already own.
Dragon Quest XI S is still Square Enix's best JRPG: story, combat system, and 100+ hours of content
Despite these considerations, however, just starting the adventure immediately reminds you why Dragon Quest XI is still considered one of the best JRPGs of recent years.
The story of the Luminary, the journey through Erdrea, and the encounter with a group of characters as diverse as they are well-characterized build an enormous adventure, capable of alternating light and fun moments with decidedly more dramatic ones. The game does not try to revolutionize the genre; in fact, it does exactly the opposite: it takes the classic JRPG and brings it into the modern generation with impressive confidence.
The turn-based combat system is simple to understand but deep enough to offer various possibilities throughout the adventure. Each party member has different characteristics and abilities, and party management becomes progressively more important. Added to this are exploration, equipment, the Forge, side quests, extra activities, and an enormous amount of content that can keep the player engaged for dozens and dozens of hours.
And then there's that typical Dragon Quest ability to alternate epicness, irony, color, and melancholy without ever losing its identity.
It's a profoundly traditional JRPG, but precisely for this reason, it still manages to work perfectly today.
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Editorial team
Dragon Quest XI S Definitive Edition Switch 2: Square Enix's best JRPG shines at 60fps — with a price asterisk
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition on Nintendo Switch 2 is, without a doubt, the best version of the game available on Nintendo's console. The technical improvements are noticeable, the increased fluidity of 60 fps is particularly pleasing, the 1440p mode offers a sharper image, and faster loading times make the overall experience more convenient.
However, there's a slight bitter taste when considering the choice not to offer a simple upgrade to owners of the previous Switch version. Given that the content is already from the very rich Definitive Edition, a paid update would probably have been a more welcome solution for those who had already purchased the game.
But once you pick up the controller, all of this inevitably fades into the background.
Dragon Quest XI remains one of the best JRPGs ever made. It's enormous, engaging, fun, emotional, and still manages to demonstrate how effective a classic formula can be when executed with extraordinary care.
On Nintendo Switch 2 it shines even brighter, and for those who have never played it, this remains one of the best opportunities to discover one of Square Enix's great adventures.
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