Did You Know There's An Official Free-To-Start Dragon Quest MMORPG?

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Dragon Quest is a classic. The JRPG franchise has countless entries that all feature turn-based battles, a party of adventurers, charming monsters designed by the legendary Akira Toriyama, and a grand journey to save the world. What surprised me though, however, is that Square Enix actually transformed the beloved series into an MMORPG.

That game is Dragon Quest X Online, which first released in 2012 for the Nintendo Wii. Since then, it has been updated and expanded across multiple platforms, including PC, Switch, and PlayStation. Despite being more than a decade old, the game remains active in Japan, supported by a steady player base and frequent expansions. Unfortunately, it never left Japan. Many players in the West do not even know of its existence. 

Like Final Fantasy XIV, Dragon Quest X Online runs on a subscription model. Before committing, however, Square Enix offers a free trial. This allows players to experience the base game’s early content, giving them the opportunity to explore towns, battle monsters, and progress through a significant portion of the story. Players begin as human characters, but early in the narrative their souls are transferred into one of five other races: Ogres, Elves, Dwarves, Wedi, or Pukuripo. This choice becomes a defining part of each player’s identity as they complete quests and fight alongside others.

The free trial provides access to early job systems, lets players level their characters to a certain cap, and allows the recruitment of AI companions to fill out a party when human allies are unavailable. It also gives players the chance to explore Astoltia’s many regions, ranging from peaceful villages to monster-filled fields, all packed with side quests. However, advanced vocations, high-end crafting, housing, free trading, and most multiplayer features remain locked behind the subscription paywall.

Dragon Quest X Online subscriptions cost roughly $10 per month, similar to Final Fantasy XIV. Over the years, Square Enix has released six major expansions, each with new story arcs, regions, and gameplay systems. The game continues to receive seasonal events, special quests, and fresh jobs as well.

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Of course, the major obstacle for Western fans is the language barrier. Dragon Quest X Online has never been localized into English or released outside of Japan, despite consistent demand from fans since 2012. In order to play, international players must create a Japanese Square Enix account, download the Japanese client, and pay the subscription in Yen.

Fortunately, the community has created a workaround: the Dragon Quest X Clarity English Patch. This fan-made translation project converts menus, dialogue, quests, and item descriptions into English. While it is unofficial and not perfect, the patch has opened the door for international fans to experience the game. Notably, Square Enix has never taken legal action against the project, and it has remained available for years without issue. For now, it is the only viable option for English-speaking fans.

The game itself captures everything that players love about the franchise: the vibrant art style, whimsical monsters, heartfelt storytelling, and cozy atmosphere. The regional restrictions and lack of localization are disappointing, but thanks to the Clarity patch and the free trial, fans can still sample what Dragon Quest X Online has to offer.

It is worth remembering that this is the only mainline, numbered Dragon Quest game never released outside of Japan. And that is odd given the global success of recent entries such as Dragon Quest XI and the excitement surrounding upcoming titles like Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, and Dragon Quest XII. Hopefully, Square Enix will eventually deliver a proper localization for Dragon Quest X Online, because fans in the West deserve the chance to experience it too.