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Dragon Quest JRPG Series Marks 40 Years Since 1986 Release
The first Dragon Quest game launched on May 27, 1986, for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The series is credited with establishing the Japanese role-playing game genre.
May 26, 7:00 PM·1m read1 source
Japan TimesAudio version
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The Dragon Quest video game series reached its 40th anniversary on May 27, 2026. The first entry launched on that date in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. Japan Times reported that the game, released as Dragon Warrior in North America, is viewed by some developers as the origin of the JRPG genre.
Designer Yuji Horii aimed to simplify gameplay elements found in Western role-playing games at the time.
Quest titles are released on weekends in Japan.
The scheduling is intended to reduce school absences among children and work absences among adults. Japan Times stated that Dragon Quest remains the top-selling JRPG series in Japan, even as other Japanese role-playing game franchises have larger audiences outside the country.
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