Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition Critic Reviews

Dragon Quest XI S is a quintessential JRPG that celebrates the series, and yet somehow is still accessible. The world is rich, the gameplay is satisfying, and with a free 10-hour demo, you have no excuse not to play it.

There are already plenty of solid roleplaying games on the Switch, but you absolutely need to add Dragon Quest XI S to your collection if you haven’t already done so. Put simply, it is still a thoroughly incredible game and almost peerless within the genre.

Dragon Quest 11 has its flaws, and it may ultimately function as a breezy trip down memory lane for the experienced and a fabulous gateway experience for the uninitiated, but that is exactly what it sets out to be. At that, it is perfect.

Dragon Quest XI isn't going to be a game that is going to win any award on innovation, but it is a game that has great fundamentals on what makes a traditional RPG good and does it perfectly. If you have already played the previous release of Dragon Quest XI on PS4 or PC, there are plenty of quality of life changes added here to give it the Definitive Edition tag and Dragon Quest XI S is a must-have title for anyone's game library. However, I feel the newly added content doesn't really add all that much if you have previously beaten Dragon Quest XI from last year, so you're basically paying a full-price game for quality of life improvements. If this is important to you, then you should get this right away, and if you haven't played it before, this is one of the best RPGs of this generation and the perfect port on the Nintendo Switch.

While a straight port of Dragon Quest XI with the perk of playing portably on Switch would have been enticing enough, Square Enix went not just the extra mile, but many extra miles with the content rich Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age performs really well on the Switch. I’ve played almost exclusively on a Nintendo Switch Lite, and even in 3D mode it holds up really well. Performance is solid, I never really noticed severe framerate issues, and load times feel in line with the PS4 version of the game if not better.

The meticulous and honest work on story, aesthetics, exploration and combat is accompanied by an impeccable pacing that is surprising given the amount of content available. Are there any issues? Yes, but none of them are obvious during the adventure. Betting on tradition comes at a high risk, but the execution is so perfect that Dragon Quest XI S will retain its relevance for generations to come.

Dragon Quest XI is, without a doubt, worth a playthrough. Square isn’t lying about Dragon Quest XI S being the ‘definitive edition’ either–if you have a Switch, this version is by far the best one to pick up. If you’re a fan of RPGs, grabbing Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age Definitive Edition is a no-brainer, and even if you’ve already played through the game once, it might be worth considering the Switch version for all the new additions.

Dragon Quest XI S is a game for both long-time fans and newcomers alike. There are many Easter eggs and references to past Dragon Quest games that will subtly reward fans, but at the same time, the charming world of Erdrea and its characters are appealing to newcomers of all ages. Even those who have played the previous versions of Dragon Quest XI may find the vast improvements of the Switch version compelling enough for another round, especially with the Tickington quests, new character content, and marriage options. This game is a masterpiece, and it sets a new high standard for not only the series, but console RPGs in general. Hopefully the series will continue outdoing itself with further instalments.

Overall, there are not many negative things I can say about Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition. This version took the foundation of an already truly excellent RPG experience and built upon it further, offering new features and quality of life improvements along the way. I poured over a hundred and twelve hours into Dragon Quest XI S, which is more than I've spent on any other RPG recently, and I never once looked back with regret as I wholeheartedly fell in love with the gameplay and story. Having only played Dragon Quest XI S, I can't say for certain if there is enough new content here to warrant an additional playthrough, but if you've yet to play Dragon Quest XI and have access to a Nintendo Switch, this version is truly the "Definitive Edition" that the title claims it is.

Dragon Quest XI Definitive Edition is a monumental game. It highlights everything the original already got right and adds so many unique features that enhance an already phenomenal experience. It’s a stand-out success for JRPG’s and RPG’s in general, both a modern epic and classic in every sense of the word.

Dragon Quest XI S is one of the finest RPGs on Switch. With its classic yet refined battle system and plethora of side content, the game can easily keep you chugging along for 100 hours or more. While the world at large may not be all that open, it offers a lot of flair and interesting elements to experience. Everything from entertaining characters to amusing quests, it all comes together in a way such that the journey never slows down. I do feel that the game tries to hold your hand just a teensy bit too much. You can change it in the settings so that some NPCs will start lying to you, but even then, it was hard to really get lost. That is, however, a slight misstep in a game that I adored from beginning to end.

Dragon Quest XI S is as perfect a port as you could ask for, and makes you feel good about owning a Switch in the first place.

Even if it is mostly the same game we had on the PS4 and PC, it still shines and the abundant new content maintains its freshness. And even if its visuals do not reach what we saw on the other versions (which is logical), it gets close and it is an adaptation with great merit for the Switch.

I believe this is the first time a Nintendo Switch version of a game is without any shadow of a doubt, the best version you can get of said game. It took its sweet time, but boy - was it worth the wait.

This is by far the most complete and compact Dragon Quest experience we have ever experienced, and a testament to the series’ bright future. A must-have for all Switch owners, players who haven’t experienced the game in its original form and owners of the previous game that would like to experience all the things that were sadly missing in the original release for the PS4 and PC.

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition is one of the best RPGs available on the sSwitch and is by far the most content rich version currently available. While the Switch version may not look quite as great as its big console brothers, the wealth of content on offer will have you busy for well over one hundred hours. From its stunning character and enemy design, to its pitch-perfect turn-based combat, DQ XI S is a grand slam on every level and an essential addition to any RPG fans Switch library.

This game has become my favorite Dragon Quest ever, one of my favorite JRPGs ever and certainly one of the best games you can buy and play on the Switch.

DQ XI is a must-have for JRPG fans, and this version is fantastic. We can’t ask for more, and if you own a Switch, you should consider giving it a try.

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition succeeds in the difficult task of improving one of the most successful JRPGs of recent times with very little sacrifice on the purely graphical side.