Few franchises have a more obvious case for a video game hall of fame than Dragon Quest. Today, the Strong National Museum of Play in Rochester, New York, officially inducted Square Enix’s iconic RPG series into its World Video Game Hall of Fame, alongside the rest of the 2026 class: Angry Birds, FIFA International Soccer, and Silent Hill. The hall has been honoring games that have left a lasting mark on the industry, entertainment, and pop culture since 2015, and few series have a stronger case than the one that arguably created the JRPG genre.
The induction lands just ahead of Dragon Quest Day on May 27, which marks the franchise’s 40th anniversary. The original Dragon Quest released in Japan in 1986 and went on to spawn 11 mainline entries, plus countless spin-offs, films, anime, novels, and manga. Square Enix says the franchise has shipped more than 97 million units worldwide, and that’s before factoring in the merchandise, soundtrack releases, and cultural footprint that have made it a national phenomenon in Japan.
Dragon Quest is also having one of its busiest stretches in years. Last year’s Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake kicked off the reimagined Erdrick Trilogy, with Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake following in October 2025. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined released on February 5, and Square Enix recently rolled out Dragon Quest Smash/Grow, a roguelite mobile entry that launched on April 20 for Android and iOS. The Erdrick Trilogy is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2, and PC.
Now if Square Enix could just give us an update on Dragon Quest XII, the 40th anniversary celebration would feel complete. It’s been nearly a decade since Dragon Quest XI first launched in Japan, and a Hall of Fame induction is a great milestone, but I’d happily trade more remakes and remasters for a proper new mainline entry.
