Bless him, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii says "warmth" and "accessibility" are key to the almost-40-year-old JRPG series' enduring success

1. Games
2. JRPGs
3. Dragon Quest VII

Bless him, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii says "warmth" and "accessibility" are key to the almost-40-year-old JRPG series' enduring success News By George Young published 25 November 2025

"Older computer games didn't really have a sense of warmth"

Comments (0) ()

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Square Enix)

Yuji Horii, creator of the Dragon Quest series, believes that the games' long-running success is thanks to its "warmth" and "accessibility." Further, the producer of the Dragon Quest 7 remake, Takeshi Ichikawa, believes that entries need "Horii-esque elements" in order to succeed.

Dragon Quest turns 40 next year, making it one of the longest-running video game series in the world. Originally launching in Japan in 1986, it later became a global success after proving itself on its home turf. You know Dragon Quest has reached unimaginable levels of popularity when Square Enix changes the series' release days to Saturdays so that children won't stay home from school to play.

Speaking to Game Informer, Horii claims that his series' secret sauce was how it opened gaming up to more people. "The key concept that I really try to prioritize, or keep important to me, for Dragon Quest is that, you know, older computer games didn't really have a sense of warmth," Horii says. "But [warmth] was something that I really wanted to bring for the Dragon Quest titles. That, and accessibility for the players… I think [warmth and accessibility] are pretty important in terms of what makes Dragon Quest, Dragon Quest."

You may like

• Dragon Quest creator wants to "oversee everything" in the legendary JRPG series until he dies: "I think the next goal for me is to witness the 50th Anniversary [2036]"
• "A lot of RPGs have adopted more action gameplay elements," says Dragon Quest remake producer, making old-school turn-based JRPGs "actually rare nowadays" and "considered fresh again"
• Square Enix is remaking Dragon Quest 7 next as "nowadays, players are much more accustomed to games with darker stories," and the JRPG is "often said to have more dark and sorrowful episodes"

Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined will launch in February 2026, but more than 25 years after the original's release, a whole new group of developers is at the helm. Luckily, Ichikawa agrees with Horii's assessment and believes the key to its success lies in the "Horii-esque elements."

"I think all the RPG elements the series has to offer are the biggest strength of the Dragon Quest series, and I like to call it part of the Horii-esque elements," he says. "All the humor, the jokes in the narrative, the dialogue, and the expressions and the portrayals; It's just so adorable at times, and when you look at the story, it's an epic story but also somehow feels relevant to you at the time."

At 100+ hours, Dragon Quest 7 is an enormous JRPG, so in the Reimagined remake "a few of the stories which weren't 100% relevant to the main storyline have just been cut entirely."

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. CATEGORIES Nintendo Switch 2 PC Gaming PS5 Xbox Series X Platforms Nintendo PlayStation Xbox George YoungSocial Links NavigationFreelance News Writer

Freelance writer, full-time PlayStation Vita enthusiast, and speaker of some languages. I break up my days by watching people I don't know play Pokemon pretty fast.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Logout Read more Dragon Quest creator wants to "oversee everything" in the legendary JRPG series until he dies: "I think the next goal for me is to witness the 50th Anniversary [2036]"    "A lot of RPGs have adopted more action gameplay elements," says Dragon Quest remake producer, making old-school turn-based JRPGs "actually rare nowadays" and "considered fresh again"    Square Enix is remaking Dragon Quest 7 next as "nowadays, players are much more accustomed to games with darker stories," and the JRPG is "often said to have more dark and sorrowful episodes"    Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake producer says "getting the balance right" is crucial when modernizing a classic, so you don't have fans complaining, "'We've got the original one, we don't need the new game'"    After just an hour playing Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined, I'm charmed and unsettled in equal measure – this JRPG remake has surprisingly ambitious storytelling goals    Dragon Quest 1 & 2 HD-2D Remake reminded me why I love turn-based battles, but after 40 minutes with the game, I'm desperate to know what "really big surprise" the devs are hiding    Latest in JRPGs Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 actor Jennifer English is shocked to win at Golden Joystick Awards, delivers hopeful speech that will make you cry for a week: "I chose queer joy"    The Witcher legend Doug Cockle agrees "there's so many great games this year," but Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the highlight: "It's such a beautifully written game, and beautifully conceived and achieved"    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33's record-high nominations at The Game Awards proves what I've been saying for the past 8 months    Former Square Enix exec says "we would love to make more Yoko Taro games," but "the audience size isn't big enough for the costs" if you ignore the Nier games that are big enough for the costs    2016's Tales of Berseria is getting remastered, leaving some JRPG fans puzzled as to why a mere 9-year-old game is getting this treatment before some much older entries    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 actor Ben Starr can "sympathize" with Daredevil lead Charlie Cox's bewilderment over the French JRPG's success, because he "didn't expect it to be this big" either    Latest in News Bless him, Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii says "warmth" and "accessibility" are key to the almost-40-year-old JRPG series' enduring success    40 years later, Goonies star Ke Huy Quan shares why he thinks the '80s adventure is still so loved: "We didn't know it was going to become this classic that it is today"    WWE superstar AJ Lee is writing a secret anime movie for the studio behind Dragon Ball    Arc Raiders door exploit makes keycards useless, and players demand the banhammer for those using it: "The sooner Embark bans people doing this, the sooner it will stop"    After leaving Fire Emblem studio, Donkey Kong veteran and Mario's Picross creator couldn't hire his former co-workers or he'd face Nintendo's wrath: "It shows a lack of decency"    Baldur's Gate 3 and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 star Jennifer English says "mistakes are beautiful," so "use your beautiful, creative, human brains" and not AI    GAME REVIEWSMOVIE REVIEWSTV REVIEWS

1. 1Constance review: "If Hollow Knight: Silksong seems too daunting, this wonderful paint powered adventure should do nicely"
2. 2This enthralling team board game is perfect for playing with family this Thanksgiving
3. 3Kirby Air Riders review: "This racer is also equal parts fighting game, minigame collection, and roguelike – and I'm shocked at how well that works"
4. 4Demonschool review: "This Persona-inspired RPG is full of fun, flair, and ready to chomp away at your free time"
5. 5Morsels review: "The Binding of Isaac style roguelike shooting gets somehow grosser, but struggles to set itself apart"

1. 1Wicked: For Good review: "Builds to an incredibly cathartic conclusion, but isn't quite as captivating as Part 1"
2. 2The Running Man review: "Some fun action and Glen Powell's star power aren't enough to energize this disappointing Stephen King adaptation"
3. 3Predator: Badlands review: "Die-hard fans may be disappointed, but as a blockbuster action-adventure, Badlands kills it"
4. 4Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc review "Storytelling just as compelling as the chainsaws, devils, and visually excessive fight scenes"
5. 5Tron: Ares review: "Misses out by swapping the Grid for the real world"

1. 1Pluribus season 1 review: "Easily one of the year's best dramas"
2. 2The Witcher season 4 review: "The Henry Cavill-less fourth season is the best yet"
3. 3IT: Welcome to Derry review: "A supremely confident step back into the history of Stephen King's cursed town and killer clown"
4. 4Splinter Cell: Deathwatch review: "A pale imitation of the long-dormant stealth franchise"
5. 5Marvel Zombies review: "A fun expansion of the What If episode with delightful MCU Easter eggs and truly gross R-rated kills"