DRAGON QUEST XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age PC Performance Review

Introduction

The Dragon Quest series has been with us since 1986, with the video game series spanning from the age of the Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) all the way into the modern era. 

With Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, we see scenario writer Yuji Horii once again team up with character designer Akira Toriyama and composer Koichi Sugiyama to create their latest addition to the series, bringing the game to today’s most powerful consoles and, for the very first time, Windows PC.

This also marks the series’ first use of the Unreal Engine, with Dragon Quest XI being built on top of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine 4, a departure from a more bespoke game engine. 

At its core, Dragon Quest XI remains true to its roots, offering the same Toriyama art style of the game’s predecessors while also offering turn-based combat that will feel familiar to series veterans. This entry moves Dragon Quest fully into the HD era, especially on PC where 4K resolutions are achievable, allowing the game’s delightful style to wow players in some areas. 

While the game does not push the boundaries of modern graphics, the game can push the strengths of its chosen art style, though in this review we will also have a look into the game’s shortcomings.  

Today we will be looking into Dragon Quest XI’s PC version, its shortcomings and how to best enjoy the title on PC. Expect a lot of information in this lengthy performance review.