Denuvo isn't in the physical versions of console games then. At least not the ones I buy and play. Nintendo and console companies are scummy for introducing these sorts of things as well. Steam just gets a pass by so many people, which is why I attack it so often. It's like that "know the work rules" meme. Steam shoves denuvo in games and gets told that its sweet. Nintendo has GKC and same person screams "Human Resources!" Again, both are scummy and bad. Steam just gets a hilarious pass for doing it for nearly a decade. 

I do want to play the HD2D version eventually. But only after playing the 16 bit version. Octopath engine is just cool.

It's just Unreal 4. Same as FF7R. It is a cool style tho. 

Consider Pixel Remaster really just for FF4 and FF6, IMO. Those two games are both great and are the only ones that have characters and story of any kind of depth. IMO, FF6 is one of the best RPGs ever made, and FF4 is one of the most important RPGs ever made. The Pixel remaster versions I spent more time in these games than I perhaps have in the last 25 years or so. For me, well worth the price of purchase. Also, this is the best version of FF6 available, I generally don’t like ports, especially Square ports where they stick a lot of boring stuff in that seems content for content’s sake to waste your time (FF6 advance is a good example)… or put in some really dumb ending that tries to clumsily attempts to connect it to another game in a way that betrays the themes (Chrono Trigger DS). I mean, sometimes they get it right, FF4 Advance had some stuff that actually did expand the character depth, or expanded on what was already established in a meaningful way… but FF4 advance IMO is the definitive way to play: the original game, on Switch for handheld or a nice big screen, and remastered in a way that reminds you of how the game used to look and feel.

The others are for those who want to play all the FF games… but these are games I won’t personally come back to, at least not anytime soon. As a note, I’ve played all these games before.

FF5 has a plot and characters, but the characters are vapid and the plot is more a contrived sequence of events which keeps clipping your wings… “Oh, I got something cool!” And about 46 seconds later it crashes. FF5 has very little sense of forward progression… and moves very………. verrrrrrry………. very, very slowly. Especially compared to FF4 and 6, which are far more story based games. FF4 starts out a bit on the slower side, but keeps building up and up.

If you’re a big fan of FF as a whole, the early FF games are going to be rewarding and the full collection is definitely for you. However, the cavern designs are very maze-like, and the balance is such that getting lost will kill you, or drain you enough that the boss will kill you… especially in the first game. The second game has a developmental system that it pays to learn; and it’s also a soft-open world, which means you can go anywhere… just things will probably kill you if you step out of bounds; and not like Xenoblade Chronicles X where you can get by on Cauldros if you sneak… but BOOM-Random encounter, SMASH! You’re dead. But, IMO, once you get the hang of this game it’s the most enjoyable of the three. FF3 is more advanced, but also the most soulless game in the collection, IMO… and by that I mean that nothing about it really stands out from the RPGs of its time other than it kinda copies some of the artistic style of older FF games. It also has a bit of that FF5 “this story is just a loosely connected sequence of scenarios” feeling.

In case it’s not clear, I’ve played these games multiple times in multiple forms since the 1990s, so my experience with them might be a bit different.

Dragon Quest 3 remaster. I haven’t played yet, but will play. I’ve played the original multiple times and it is one of the games that established RPGs as my favourite genre. This is also the game that finished what DQ1 started, and firmly established Japan as the King of RPGs for at least a decade. But it’s curious to see that they put this one out before Dragon Quest 1 and 2… Dragon Quest 3 is the first RPG with such a massive twist, and it requires playing the earlier games first… knowing the music and such. Additionally, you get to see the development of the modern RPG from the Dragon Quest games, IMO, though, perhaps playing an early Wizardry game first begins the puzzle, and Final Fantasy 4 or Dragon Quest 5 finishes it… Or both… as pretty much the mainstream 1990s RPG style is mostly just updated versions of what these games did. DQ4 is kind of the missing link. But yeah, these games are important milestones.

So basically: Early Wizardry games (1-5) → Dragon Quest → Dragon Quest 2 → Dragon Quest 3 → Dragon Quest 4 → Final Fantasy 4 & Dragon Quest 5.

If you’re interested in seeing how RPGs advanced over time, these are the best games follow. Note, Dragon Quest 1 is the first game on the list that’s really playable these days… Wizardry will feel a bit esoteric, especially playing the original versions, I’d recommend playing the Japanese remasters that add the Dragon Quest Battle system in (those are the versions of the game you’ll get unless you play on ancient hardware or emulation of the ancient hardware)… the Japanese remasters are still a bit esoteric, but much easier to get into. Wizardry 5 on SNES is my recommendation.

But moving onto Dragon Quest 5, IMO one of the very best SNES games and one of the best RPGs of the 1990s… the concept is very cool too, as it takes place across a character’s lifetime, so the story unfolds over decades. You also get to see your character grow up, fall in love, and have a family over the course of the game… your children will look different based on who you marry. And you can fight alongside your wife and kids later in the game.

I won’t choose which game you should get, but hopefully what I wrote helps.

It's a remake. As is 1-2 HD. They also add QOL features. 

I thought they used their own engine. Well anyway the style of alphamaps is cool enough to make me want to play it twice. 

FF Collection easily.

FF4 and FF6 alone makes it worth it.

FF3 is unique because its the only non-Japan only release of that specific version - imo better than the 3D remake.


The QoL features introduced to the games make up for the loss of content from the Anniversary editions that were released over a decade ago to be honest.

That and the new animations and the new OST is amazing (you can switch to the original OST if you want).


The ability to increase/decrease exp, gil and AP while with the ability to turn off encounters is a godsent - I cannot play the originals or other versions from the SNES, GBA, PS1, PSP, etc anymore.

I have the entire collection of 1-6 on Switch, Playstation, Xbox, Steam and iOS. I've played them all on Switch so far and planning to play the other versions in the future.

I'll get DQ3 sometime later because I still plan to play DQ2 and 3 mobile remakes on Switch before I get DQ 1/2 and 3 2DHD.