Dragon Quest cheat codes: Dodge spells with undisputable combat

Dragon Quest allows players to choose actions such as attacking, casting spells, or using items

Ava Brooks - Jan 26, 2024

An image of the Dragon Quest cover. — Dragon Quest/File

The RPG genre boasts a vast array of styles, from isometric tactical RPGs like Fire Emblem to first-person action RPGs like Skyrim.

Within this diverse landscape, turn-based RPGs have played a pivotal role, with early titles like Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger influencing the genre's widespread appeal. Notably, Dragon Quest stands out as a prominent name in turn-based RPGs, starting humbly with its 1986 NES debut.

Dragon Quest Premise

The original Dragon Quest localised as Dragon Warrior in America adheres to the classic turn-based RPG format. The game features menu-based combat, allowing players to choose actions such as attacking, casting spells, or using items.

Unlike many RPGs, Dragon Quest breaks from tradition by not including party members; the protagonist embarks on a solitary journey.

The plot revolves around a legendary hero, Erdrick, who united the land under King Lorik's rule. The peace is disrupted by the evil Dragonlord, setting the stage for the player, a descendant of Erdrick, to embark on a quest to save Princess Gwaelin and restore peace.

Dragon Quest main characters

Despite the absence of a traditional party, Dragon Quest introduces key characters in the narrative:

The Hero: The player-named protagonist and a descendant of Erdrick, initially underestimated by the townspeople. Tasked with proving worthiness and saving the land.
The Dragonlord: A powerful dragon corrupted by dark magic, turning against the kingdom and amassing an army of monsters to terrorise the world in pursuit of unlimited power.
King Lorik XVI: The reigning monarch of Alefgard, struggling to protect his kingdom from the Dragonlord's malevolence. Places faith in the hero to fulfil the prophecy and defeat the Dragonlord.
Princess Gwaelin: King Lorik's kidnapped daughter, the catalyst for the hero's journey. Rescuing her marks a crucial step towards confronting the evil Dragonlord.

Dragon Quest titles in the series

Dragon Quest's impact extends beyond video games, inspiring merchandise, novels, manga, and even a theme park in Japan. While awaiting Dragon Quest XII, fans can explore numerous titles in the series, spanning both main entries and spin-offs.

Dragon Quest (1986)
Dragon Quest II (1987)
Dragon Quest III (1988)
Dragon Quest IV (1990)
Dragon Quest V (1992)
Torneko’s Great Adventure: Mystery Dungeon (1993)
Dragon Quest VI (1995)
Dragon Warrior Monsters (1998)
Torneko: The Last Hope (1999)
Dragon Quest VII (2000)
Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 (2001)
Dragon Quest Characters: Torneko’s Great Adventure 3 – Mystery Dungeon (2002)
Dragon Quest Monsters: Caravan Heart (2003)
Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest (2003)
Swordmaster Dragon Quest: Resurrection of the Legendary Sword (2003)
Dragon Quest VIII (2004)
Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime (2005)
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker (2006)
Dragon Quest: Young Yangus and the Mystery Dungeon (2006)
Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road (2007)
Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors (2007)
Dragon Quest IX (2009)
Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road II (2009)
Dragon Quest Wars (2009)
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 2 (2010)
Dragon Quest Monsters: Wanted! (2010)
Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road Victory (2010)
Slime Mori Mori Dragon Quest 3 (2011)
Dragon Quest X (2012)
Dragon Quest Monster Parade (2013)
Dragon Quest Monsters: Super Light (2014)
Dragon Quest Heroes: The World Tree’s Woe and the Blight Below (2015)
Theatrhythm Dragon Quest (2015)
Dragon Quest of the Stars (2015)
Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3 (2016)
Dragon Quest: Monster Battle Road Scanner (2016)
Dragon Quest Builders (2016)
Dragon Quest Heroes II (2016)
Dragon Quest XI (2017)
Dragon Quest Rivals (2017)
Dragon Quest Builders 2 (2018)
Dragon Quest Walk (2019)
Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: Xross Blade (2020)
Dragon Quest Tact (2020)
Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai: A Hero’s Bonds (2021)
Dragon Quest Keshi Keshi (2021)
Dragon Quest Treasures (2022)
Infinity Strash: Dragon Quest The Adventure of Dai (2023)
Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince (2023)

Dragon Quest hacks and secrets

Unconventionally, Dragon Quest incorporates character name selection as a crucial aspect, using the first four letters to determine starting stats and character attributes. Websites like Game Corner Guides provide tools to calculate stat spreads based on chosen names.

Additionally, the NES version includes a monster slideshow cheat: holding down the Select and Return keys during startup reveals a charming slideshow featuring every in-game monster, showcasing the series' iconic monster designs.