February 10th, 1988 marked the 38th anniversary of Dragon Quest III. Let's look back at what happened on that day

 

Another year has passed for the legendary title that continues to hold a special place in the hearts of gamers worldwide, especially in Japan: Dragon Quest III.

Thirty-eight years ago, this game created a massive phenomenon. At the time, Japanese fans were so desperate to be the first to play that they skipped school and work just to stand in line at retail stores. This led to a famous urban legend claiming the Japanese government had to beg Enix to release future titles on holidays to prevent societal chaos. In reality, it was Enix themselves who recognized the disorder and decided to schedule subsequent Dragon Quest releases on weekends and holidays.

In honor of the 38th anniversary of Dragon Quest III, let's take a look back at the events of February 10, 1988, and see how this day became the stuff of legends

The launch of Dragon Quest III was a commercial juggernaut unlike anything the industry had seen before. Here are the numbers that defined its legacy:

• The Day One Explosion: The game sold over 1 million copies on its first day in Japan. This frenzy was so intense that nearly 300 students were arrested or detained by authorities for truancy while trying to buy the game.

• Breaking Records: It set a new industry gold standard by reaching 1.1 million cartridges sold in a single day and skyrocketing to 3 million copies within just one week. It was the first game in history to achieve such a feat.

• Dominating the Charts: Dragon Quest III held the #1 spot on the Japanese sales charts from February all the way through May 1988. No other game could even come close to dethroning it during that period.

• A Tale of Two Markets:

  • In Japan: The game reached a massive total of 3.8 million copies sold.

  • In the United States: By contrast, the game (released as Dragon Warrior III) sold only about 95,000 copies, showing just how unique the Dragon Quest fever was to Japanese culture at the time

  • Even Satoshi Tajiri (the creator of Pokémon) was deeply impressed. Writing an article for Famicom Hisshoubon, he praised Dragon Quest III as the most captivating software he played in 1988. He specifically lauded:

    • Refined Mechanics: The significantly improved controls and gameplay rules.

    • Accessibility: How intuitive and user-friendly the game was for newcomers, despite its depth.

    The game's popularity didn't fade with the 8-bit era. In an extensive reader poll conducted by Famitsu magazine in early 2006, fans voted Dragon Quest III as the 3rd greatest game of all time—trailing only behind Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy VII.

    Being ranked that high nearly two decades after its release proves that it is, without a doubt, a true masterpiece of the industry.

For those interested in playing Dragon Quest III, the original Famicom version can be quite difficult to track down as Square Enix does not currently offer the 1988 original for sale. Instead, they have released a mobile port of the first three titles (the Erdrick Trilogy) which is readily available on smartphones.

However, for players looking for a modern experience with stunning visuals, Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is the way to go. This version perfectly preserves the old-school atmosphere and classic charm while elevating the presentation to modern standards.

Once you reach the ending, you will truly understand why fans across the globe hold Dragon Quest III in such high regard