Dragon Questis an extremely popular franchise that has stolen the hearts of many gamers who have had the chance to play them. One of the best things about Dragon Quest games, besides the incredible turn-based combat and likable characters, are the stories.
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Dragon Quest games always have absolutely stellar storylines that are enough to make any gamer laugh, writhe in frustration, or even shed a tear or two at times. The games feature a variety of topics and tackle every emotion. Although there is a lot of bloodshed and deeply saddening moments, there are a lot of heartwarming ones too.
10Dragon Quest 11: The Gallapolis Circus
Dragon Quest, while being a staple video game franchise in Japan, has never been as popular in the West. This is partly due to many games not being released outside of Japan. Butone of the best Dragon Quest games, Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age, did make it over to western shores. And thank goodness it did because that game has an incredible story with many heartwarming moments.
One of those moments was learning of the origins of Gallapolis Circus. The Sultan of Gallapolis loved the Circus so much that he asked them to move there permanently. The Circus politely declined and went on their way. Upon their return, the Sultan built a lavish circus tent for them, and they were so moved by this act that they did decide to settle there.
9Dragon Quest 8: The Hero And Jessica’s Wedding
Both unlockable endings in Dragon Quest 8 saw the hero marrying his sweetheart, Medea. This is extremely heartwarming in itself, so we could just stop there. But when the game was released on the Nintendo DS, it also came with some unique scenes, including a new ending.
This unlockable ending saw the hero actually marry Jessica, and it is an incredibly sweet scene. Especially when you consider that Bangerz and Mash are there, traveling halfway across the world in a single night just to make it to their special day. The King also acknowledges publicly that the hero is his nephew, which is quite nice. Better late than never, right?
8Dragon Quest 11: Selena’s Grief
There is one scene in Dragon Quest 11 that is particularly emotional. Honestly, if you didn’t at least feel a twinge of emotion during it, watch it again. The scene in question takes place after Veronica’s sacrifice. Serena is reminiscing about her sister and asks the hero to stay with her for a while as she starts to tear up.
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Serena cuts off her long hair, throwing it into the breeze as a physical representation of her finally letting go of her grief. At that moment, her staff glows, and suddenly she is endowed with the same magical powers Veronica had. These powers were Veronica’s last gift to her beloved sister.
7Dragon Quest 3: Becoming Erdrick
Dragon Quest three has one of the most epic and shocking final moments of almost any video game. It also links the game together with the previous two titles in the series. For the longest time, the game seems completely independent of the first two games until you near the end of your adventure.
This is where you travel down to the underworld, which just so happens to be the location from the first two games, and fulfill your destiny of becoming Erdrick. The three games have all been leading up to that one moment, and it absolutely delivers.
6Dragon Quest 11: Chalky’s Last Words
Dragon Quest 11 see’s the hero traveling back to Cobblestone in the past. It is here where you will meet again with Chalky, the hero’s adoptive grandfather. He recognizes the hero right away, of course.
Speaking with Chalky again after knowing what happens tugs pretty hard on the heartstrings, especially when you know it will be the last time you get to hear his gentle words of advice. The last thing Chalky says to the hero as the vision fades is to meet the world with kindness.
5Dragon Quest 11: Rab’s Confession
Considering the previous entry in this list, it seems like a perfect time to discuss one of the other more heartwarming and simultaneously deeply saddening moments of Dragon Quest 11. We are, of course, talking about the moment whenRab reveals his true identityas the hero’s grandfather.
The moment is extremely well-timed as the hero is just lamenting about how all his family figures had been lost. It is a sad moment that turns into a happy one as it turns out he was with his family all along.
4Dragon Quest 5: Getting Married
Throughout Dragon Quest five, you are given the opportunity to get married. You have a choice of two brides, one being your close friend Bianca and the other, a daughter of a wealthy nobleman. In the Nintendo DS version of the game, however, a third bachelorette is thrown into the mix.
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Everyone loves a good love story, and despite who you pick to marry, it is still a very special moment to witness.Marriageis actually a featurethat is present in several Dragon Quest games, and it is the perfect way to build bonds with the game’s characters.
3Dragon Quest 8: Saving Yangus
Yangus of Dragon Quest 8 is a criminal thug. In one of the scenes in the game, he blocks the hero and his party’s way, demanding that they pay him a fee to cross the bridge. Once they decline his offer, he attacks them.
Somewhere in the scuffle, Yangus finds himself clinging to the bridge for dear life. Instead of just leaving him to die, the hero turns back to save Yangus’ life. It is an incredibly heartwarming moment and one that Yangus appreciated more than anyone, we’re sure.
2Dragon Quest 11: Jade’s Atonement
Jade is not related to the hero in Dragon Quest 11, although she has an incredibly deep bond with the protagonist and is almost like a sister figure to him. Jade felt like she failed the young Luminary, and her atonement is one of her main driving forces in the game.
This deep-seated guilt and wish to protect the Luminary is probably what sends her hurtling off a cliff in the hopes of breaking the hero’s fall. That is a bold move, to say the least, and something only the best people would be willing to do for someone.
1Dragon Quest 6: Ashlynn’s True Identity
There is a moment in Dragon Quest 6 that doesn’t seem too important at first but becomes especially heartwarming when you learn the truth about it later on. Early in the game, Carver and Millie hitch a ride on a golden dragon to the top of a castle. Epic, we know.
Later in the piece, the party returns to the dragon’s location to summon it once again. Ashlynn, however, stays back and doesn’t make the trek with them. It was heavily rumored that Ashlynn didn’t go with them because she was actually the golden dragon. This was later confirmed by the game’s creator in an interview.
