Dragon Quest VII Reimagined takes pride of place on the cover of Game Informer — the first time a Dragon Quest title has received that distinction. I sat down with series creator Yuji Horii for a 90-minute interview to assemble a subscribers-only retrospective that explores the franchise’s origins, its evolution, Horii’s current outlook, and the team’s approach to the Reimagined project. Subscribers can read the full feature here.

Below I isolate some highlights from that conversation, beginning with Horii’s route to making the original Dragon Quest.

How Yuji Horii Brought Dragon Quest to Life

Early Dragon Quest artwork and screenshots

Horii’s career began in journalism: he wrote column pieces for publications including Weekly Shōnen Jump. By age 27 he had saved enough to buy a personal computer and began experimenting with game creation. A development contest hosted by Enix — at the time an independent company — brought him recognition and effectively launched his career as a developer.

On that personal computer he encountered Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness, a rudimentary role‑playing game that left a lasting impression. He was also influenced by Wizardry; combining Ultima’s 2D dungeon exploration with Wizardry’s character progression mechanics became the conceptual foundation for Dragon Quest. Working within the Famicom’s tight 64KB constraints, Horii aimed to craft an accessible, story‑driven fantasy RPG tailored to the console’s audience.

“Within that limitation I wanted to make something that would resonate with people,” he recalls. He sketched maps, towns, and characters on paper and developed the main scenario in his head before assembling a team to realize the project.

The Creative Trio Behind the Series

Concept art showing Dragon Quest world map

Two collaborators proved essential. One was Akira Toriyama, whose distinctive character and monster designs gave Dragon Quest its visual identity. Horii first learned about Toriyama through an editor at Weekly Shōnen Jump, who suggested Toriyama might be interested in working on a game; Horii reached out, and Toriyama’s influence became a signature element of the series’ aesthetic.

Toriyama’s artwork translated into the game’s tone and packaging even if the 8‑bit hardware couldn’t reproduce every detail. His contributions have remained central to the series’ look and feel — a legacy that endures following his passing in 2024.

The other indispensable figure was composer Koichi Sugiyama. Already respected for work in film, television, and anime, Sugiyama responded to a post‑purchase survey for a Square shogi title; that response led Horii and Enix to approach him for Dragon Quest. Sugiyama’s orchestral themes helped define the series’ musical identity until his death in 2021 at age 90.

The First Quest

Screenshot from the original Dragon Quest

Dragon Quest debuted on the Famicom in Japan on May 27, 1986, and arrived in North America in 1989 under the name Dragon Warrior. At the time, the series’ emphasis on narrative within a turn‑based framework set it apart and helped establish what many now refer to as the JRPG tradition.

The original Japanese release sold roughly 1.5 million copies, with Dragon Warrior accounting for about half a million units, according to compiled sales data.

Buoyed by that success, Horii and his team moved forward with Dragon Quest II: Luminaries of the Legendary Line. Development on the sequel was already underway before the first game’s commercial performance was fully known — a sign of the team’s early confidence.

Release note: Dragon Quest VII Reimagined launches on February 5 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

While you wait for launch, check out the related coverage and the Game Informer digital issue for additional context and behind‑the‑scenes material. If you’re not yet a subscriber, subscribing grants access to the full Horii retrospective and the Reimagined cover story.