The Dragon Quest franchise has the potential to be adapted into anime. In fact, there are already some Dragon Quest animated works. Dragon Quest: The Adventure Of Dai is a series, and Emblem Of Roto is a film, based on stories in Dragon Quest comics of the same names.

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Dragon Quest: Legend Of The Hero Abel is loosely based on the events of Dragon Quest I-IV, with Dragon Quest III: The Seeds Of Salvation being its largest influence. There's even a film based on Dragon Quest V: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride. There are other games in the series that would be fitting for anime adaptations, but their potential remains untapped for now.

10 Dragon Quest X Is An MMORPG, And Anime Loves MMO Stories

Dragon Quest X Awakening Of The Five Tribes Online Screenshot

Dragon Quest X: Awakening Of The Five Tribes Online is a Japan-only MMORPG. Anime shows that have MMO-based stories are very popular. As there are no plans to release the game worldwide, having an anime adaptation could bring its story to a wider audience.

There are many successful examples of anime shows that take place in a fantasy MMO setting. Among the likes of Sword Art Online, the Hack series, Log Horizon, The Rising Of The Shield Hero, Overlord, etc., a story based on Dragon Quest X: Awakening Of The Five Tribes Online would fit right at home.

9 Dragon Quest V Already Has A Movie, But An Anime Would Be Even Better

Dragon Quest V Hand of the Heavenly Bride

Dragon Quest V: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride has an animated film based on it called Dragon Quest: Your Story. But like with most anime movies, it could use more time to flesh out the story. If there was an animated series based around the game instead, it would allow for a fuller exploration of its story in episodic format.

Dragon Quest V: Hand Of The Heavenly Bride is the first game to allow monsters to join the player's party and fight alongside them. Perhaps the most interesting and compelling aspect of this game's storyline is that players follow the full extent of the hero's life during the adventure.

8 A Dragon Quest IV Anime Could Thoroughly Explore The Game's Characters

Dragon Quest IV Chapters of the Chosen

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters Of The Chosen already does an excellent job of showcasing its characters. Its unique approach to the narrative reveals the depth of each character's story before they become the hero's party members. The hero's story itself isn't told until players have gotten to know the other party members already.

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This approach would make for an interesting anime that could easily be broken up into multiple parts per season, or even expanded upon as desired. Tying the whole story together with an overarching plot would make for a satisfying conclusion to the series. The viewer would feel as if they really got to know the characters along their journey.

7 Fan-Favorite Dragon Quest VIII Would Make An Excellent Character-Driven Anime

Dragon Quest VIII Journey of the Cursed King

For many anime shows, the story is told through the lives of its individual characters. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey Of The Cursed King is a favorite entry in the franchise for many fans, and has a fantastic story. Its characters are very memorable and explored thoroughly, and it is their charm that could be most easily explored in animated form.

There are multiple ways that an animated show could go about adapting the story from Dragon Quest VIII: Journey Of The Cursed King. It may work as a side story to the main plot, or it could also replicate the full experience of the game's narrative. In any case, as long as the characters are the main driving force, it would be sure to please fans of the game.

6 Dragon Quest Monsters Evolved The Monster Scouting Feature From Dragon Quest V

Dragon Quest Monsters Terry's Wonderland 3D Artwork

The first entry in the Dragon Quest Monsters spinoff series arrived on the Game Boy Color. Players familiar with Dragon Quest VI: Realms Of Revelation will recognize main character Terry and his sister Milly. Though in Dragon Quest Monsters, Terry and Milly are still children.

It is this childhood age that prevents Terry from directly battling monsters in his quest to rescue Milly from her captors. As a result, he learns to scout other monsters to battle on his behalf. There are plenty of anime shows out there that have explored similar dynamics for their stories.

5 A Dragon Quest Builders Anime Could Explore An Alternate Timeline

Dragon-Quest-Builders-2-Artwork

The Dragon Quest Builders games are similar to Terraria or Minecraft mixed with Dragon Quest elements. The second game takes place in an alternate version of Dragon Quest II: Luminaries Of The Legendary Line. But it is perhaps the original Dragon Quest Builders that would make for the most interesting anime adaptation.

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In Dragon Quest Builders, the story opens in an alternate history version of the first Dragon Quest. Rather than defeating the Dragonlord, the hero took the offer to rule half the world at the Dragonlord's side, only to be betrayed by him, and now monsters outnumber humanity. Some are amicable and even friendly towards humans, and others are aggressive. An anime series would be an interesting means to explore the relationships between humans and monsters, and even develop the stories of monsters further.

4 Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 Would Make A Great Monster Battling Anime

Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2 Promotional Artwork

Anime shows like Pokémon or Digimon and many other examples have a particular style to their stories and progression. These sorts of shows generally revolve around the companionship between human characters and their monster friends battling together. This sort of approach would be perfect for Dragon Quest Monsters Joker 2.

The game itself plays quite similarly to a Pokémon game. There are monsters to find and scout to the player's party, and then they do the battling on the player character's behalf. The addition of the game's giant monsters would make for an exciting and thrilling component in an animated series.

3 Dragon Quest VII Has Multiple Time Periods Fitting For Exploration In Anime

Dragon Quest VII Fragments of the Forgotten Past

Dragon Quest VII: Fragments Of The Forgotten Past explores an interesting mechanic in its story. During the game, players restore elements of the past to change the world in the present day. This is an interesting idea that would be fitting to explore in animated form.

Getting to see character development, and the changing of the world between the two timelines would make for a nice series progression. It also would make the progress throughout the series feel significant, as viewers could see the results of the journey in tangible ways. Interesting story arcs could be penned as each new area is explored in the past and restored in the present.

2 Dragon Quest Tact Could Be An Interesting Anime Experiment

Dragon Quest Tact

The recent mobile tactical RPG Dragon Quest Tact would make for an unusual experiment in animated form. The game has a story of its own, but like other franchise-based gacha mobile RPGs, there are also special events based on the mainline series games. These special events are temporary, but they combine the characters and settings from the rest of the Dragon Quest franchise into the same universe as Dragon Quest Tact.

A crossover approach in an anime could work especially well if it highlighted stories from each major game in the franchise. Perhaps even more curious however would be seeing an anime interpretation to the tactical turn-based RPG battle system. It's unlikely it would be undertaken, but it would make for a curious experience if it ever came to be.

1 A Dragon Quest XI Anime Could Capitalize On Modern Series Popularity In The West

Dragon Quest XI Echoes of an Elusive Age

Dragon Quest XI: Echoes Of An Elusive Age is one of the most popular entries in the franchise outside of Japan. Dragon Quest has always enjoyed peak popularity in Japan, but it's interesting that its popularity is on the rise elsewhere. An anime adaptation would only further the exposure and appeal of the latest entry.

The recent announcement of Dragon Quest XII: The Flames Of Fate being in development comes at a time when Dragon Quest is more relevant in the hearts and minds of gamers than ever. An anime based on the most recent game could get more people interested in the franchise before the new entry arrives.

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