Dragon Quest XI S on Switch 2 looks better but the upgrade path is a letdown

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition has landed on Switch 2, and while the port delivers some visual improvements, the overall package feels like a missed opportunity rather than a celebration of one of the best JRPGs ever made.

The game itself remains as strong as ever — a classic turn-based JRPG that holds up as one of the finest examples of the genre in the modern era. The Switch 2 version does look a little sharper than its predecessor, but Nintendo Life's review makes clear that the upgrade path Square Enix has offered is the real sticking point. Players who already own the Switch version are not getting a generous or straightforward route to the new edition, which sours what should have been a straightforward recommendation.

Dragon Quest XI has a notable place in Nintendo history — it was the very first game announced for the original Switch, back when the console was still being teased under the codename NX. When the Definitive Edition launched on Switch in 2019, it quickly became one of the system's most praised RPGs, praised for its sprawling story, charming characters, and rock-solid traditional gameplay. Square Enix porting it to Switch 2 makes sense on paper, but the execution leaves something to be desired.

For anyone coming to Dragon Quest XI fresh, this is still an easy recommendation — the game is that good. But for returning players hoping for a meaningful upgrade or a fair upgrade pricing model, Square Enix has some explaining to do.