Forty years in, Dragon Quest has passed 100 million units

Square Enix announced on September 16 that the Dragon Quest series has passed 100 million units, counting worldwide physical shipments and digital sales together. The news went up the same day on the official Japanese site and in an English press release [1][2]. The Japanese site also posted a short video in which series creator and game designer Yuji Horii thanks fans [1]. On X, Horii wrote that when he made the first game 40 years ago, he never dreamed the series would come this far [4].

The first Dragon Quest came out for the Famicom on May 27, 1986 [3], so the series turned 40 this May [1]. According to the press release, there have been 11 main series titles so far, plus numerous spin-offs, along with films, anime, novels and manga. The series reached the US in 1989 under the name Dragon Warrior [2]. This article reflects information available as of September 16, 2026.

Shipments for boxes, sales for downloads since April 2015

The 100 million figure mixes two kinds of counting. A footnote on the official site says physical games are counted by shipments, and full-game digital sales are added on top. Digital sales use the cumulative total from April 2015 onward, covering download versions of packaged games and download-only main titles for consoles and PC [1]. Digital purchases made before April 2015 are therefore not part of the total. The English press release carries the same footnote [2].

The series overview page on the official site lists the figure as more than 100 million as of the end of June 2026. The same page says the series has produced more than 100 titles [3].

The press release also gives a number for Square Enix’s other flagship series: Final Fantasy has sold over 215 million units worldwide. Square Enix adds that Dragon Quest holds several Guinness World Records, including “Longest-Running Japanese RPG Series” [2].

What arrived this autumn, and what is still to come

The most recent release is Dragon Quest Heroes: Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon -Classic HD-. Its Steam store page lists a September 9 release date, with English and Japanese as the only supported languages [6].

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age - Definitive Edition comes to Nintendo Switch 2 on September 24. The new version includes all of the existing content and adds a choice between a mode that prioritizes image quality and one that prioritizes frame rate [5].

The next new game is Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World, due December 3. Like the rest of the Monsters line, it is about befriending monsters from the series, raising them, synthesizing them into new ones and battling. This time Bianca and Flora become monster wranglers and set out on their own adventure. More than 500 kinds of monsters can join the party. It is coming to Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam and Microsoft Store on Windows, with physical copies only on Switch 2, Switch and PS5 [7]. On Steam, English and Japanese have full audio, and the supported languages also include French, Italian, German, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Korean [6].

Beyond the standard edition there are two bundles. The download-only Digital Deluxe Edition includes the main game, a set of four DLC packs, a purchase bonus item set and 48 hours of early access. A physical-only premium bundle for Switch 2, Switch and PS5 adds figure sets, a pouch and other merchandise. The four-pack DLC set will also be sold separately after launch [6][7].

The next mainline entry was renamed on May 27, when Square Enix said Dragon Quest XII was restarting under a new development structure with the title Dragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams [8]. The press release only says the game is in development and gives no release window [2].

If Tokyo Game Show is out of reach, the demo is not

Tokyo Game Show 2026 runs from September 17 to 21 at Makuhari Messe. On every day of the show, visitors to the Square Enix booth can take photos with Fluffy, a mysterious creature from Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World. The Dragon Quest VII Reimagined demo is not at the booth but in the Family Game Park at TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall, which is open on September 19 and 21. The demo starts from the beginning of the game and runs on Nintendo Switch 2 [9].

For everyone else there is the Dragon Quest Monsters demo, which Square Enix began distributing on September 10 [10]. It covers the story from the start through the end of events in Witherwood, including recruiting, raising and synthesizing monsters. Only rank G and rank F monsters can be befriended in the demo [6].

If you keep the demo save data, up to eight monsters from your main party and reserves can move to the full game. Transfers only work on the same platform, the monsters arrive at level 1 with their skills reset, and items and gold do not carry over [6].

The 40th anniversary exhibition Dragon Quest the DIVE opens in Osaka on January 26, 2027 and runs until March 14 [1]. December 3 comes first. Finishing Witherwood in the demo before then means up to eight monsters will already be waiting in the full game.

Sources

[1] Square Enix. 「ドラゴンクエスト」シリーズ累計出荷・DL販売本数1億本突破！. Official Dragon Quest site (Japanese), September 16, 2026.

[2] Square Enix. DRAGON QUEST FRANCHISE SURPASSES 100 MILLION UNITS SOLD. Press release via Games Press, September 16, 2026.

[3] Square Enix. ドラゴンクエストとは. Official Dragon Quest site (Japanese), checked September 16, 2026.

[4] Inside. 『ドラクエ』がシリーズ累計販売本数1億本を突破！堀井雄二氏も感謝のメッセージ. September 16, 2026.

[5] Square Enix. Nintendo Switch 2 version of Dragon Quest XI S announced. Square Enix Asia News Portal, May 27, 2026.

[6] Valve. Steam store pages: Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World (appid 3681610), Dragon Quest Heroes: Torneko’s Mystery Dungeon -Classic HD- (appid 4027450). Checked September 16, 2026.

[7] Square Enix. Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World product information. Square Enix Asia News Portal, checked September 16, 2026.

[8] Square Enix. 『ドラゴンクエストXII　夢の彼方へ』発表. Square Enix Asia News Portal, May 27, 2026.

[9] Square Enix. TOKYO GAME SHOW 2026. Square Enix exhibition guide, checked September 16, 2026.

[10] Square Enix. FREE DEMO FOR “DRAGON QUEST MONSTERS: The Withered World” NOW AVAILABLE. Square Enix Asia News Portal, September 10, 2026.