Among Japan’s many homegrown gaming franchises hitting milestones this year, few can claim the degree of influence of the Dragon Quest series.

Released on May 27, 1986, for the Nintendo Entertainment System, the seminal first entry (titled Dragon Quest in Japan but Dragon Warrior in North America) birthed the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) genre when celebrated designer Yuji Horii sought to simplify the then-convoluted gameplay of Western role-playing games (RPG).

The series’ popularity in Japan cannot be overstated. New entries are released on weekends to cut down on children skipping school and adults calling out sick from work.

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