The evergreen JRPG Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age has surpassed a staggering international figure of 9 million copies sold. This was reported by the gaming account Genki on Twitter, and it surely is a commercial success story that has persisted even after several years of the original launch. This scenario gives insight into the ever-hungry market for the classic Dragon Quest franchise and its ability to entice a wide range of global gamers.
So like, did you just say 9 million? That’s a ridiculous amount of slimes killed. Genki made this incredible sales number known on Twitter, and I instantly thought probably it is not that much surprising? Gradually, the game has gained success from its release, but the very fact of the number reaching that point is… quite something. They pointed out that it is indeed 500k more since last May, which certainly means that the game fans are still buying it like there is no tomorrow. The question now is: What is this game that people keep coming back for?
You really get a lot just by reading the replies. There are always going to be diehard fans who say, “I myself bought three copies”. These people’s behavior is similar to that of someone who is trying hard to support the artist by getting several copies of his/her favorite album. Then come the gamers who are just coming to know about it and are asking if they should jump in. The community’s response is a loud and chaotic YES. One user, Baron HDL, directly asked if they are good and the person was inundated with suggestions. Some people stated not to miss XI, while others called VIII a masterpiece and were even getting intensely involved in debates on which one is better. It is this spirit and friendly chaos that make RPG communities so favorable.
Yet, the gamers were also very much excited about the whole thing.
There are some posts that hit the nail on the head. One of the players is having issues with a certain boss called Tatsunaga and he/she admits that it is impossible to beat. A different user is anticipating the arrival of a Switch 2 upgrade, which… I’m so with him/her. Meanwhile, another person named Hairy Belly is slightly sore and he/she makes a point by saying: “And yet they will not release it for the newer consoles.” That really hurts! Is it a fact that the game is excellent, and yet at the same time, you can almost feel the need for a proper next-gen facelift? The love for the game, however, is so strong that it overpowers any negative criticism. Gamers refer to it as ‘the RPG of my life’ and ‘the best RPG of the 2010s,’ thus placing it in the same bracket as Persona 5, which is nothing short of a compliment; it is a synonym for being in the Hall of Fame.
The whole discussion somehow uncovers the dual nature of a modern game. On one hand, it is a big commercial success story, a 9-million-sold blockbuster. But on the other hand, if you keep scrolling through the tweets, it is also just a great number of users who are sharing their very personal stories. One user shared that this was their first DQ and they will now support the series for life. Another user said they took a break from it and feel guilty for having to go back. The game was not just a product; it was a whole experience that players had spent hundreds of hours in—one user even mentioned an incredible 2000 hours, which is a whole different level of commitment.
So what does it really imply if the figure of 9 million has been achieved for Dragon Quest XI S? It clearly conveys that a lovingly made, turn-based, story-driven JRPG can still compete with the market, although the majority of the consumers are obsessed with live services and battle royales. It demonstrates that gamers are eager for the epic, long-lasting quests that are both respectful of the time and tell a wonderful story. The conversations happening around it are not about microtransactions or meta builds, but rather about boss tricks, favorite characters, and the next one to play. This landmark is a success of the traditional game design and a reminder that a fantastic game with a loyal community behind it can keep revealing its audience for years. For gamers, it feels like a signal that the classics are still alive and kicking and still worth the investment of your heart.
