Dragon Quest: all version differences
8 documented differences between the releases of Dragon Quest, each with a source. Back to the main page for names, releases and where to play.
Category × version
| Category | NES (NA) | GBC (NA) | Famicom (JP) | GBC Dragon Warrior I & II | NES (NA) Rev 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gameplay | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Graphics | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Text | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Censorship | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bug fix | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Version differences
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TitleNES (NA)GBC (NA)
In North America the game was called Dragon Warrior because the name Dragon Quest was trademarked by the tabletop role-playing game DragonQuest.1
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GameplayNES (NA)
The Famicom original saves progress with a 20-character password, while the North American cartridge uses battery-backed saves instead.2
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GraphicsNES (NA)
Dragon Warrior has larger sprites that turn to face the direction they move (the Japanese ones always face forward), proper coastlines on the map and a reworked title screen, bringing its look closer to Dragon Quest II and III.3
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TextNES (NA)
The English script used a mock-Elizabethan style ('Thy hit points have decreased'), gave spells one-word English names and renamed several places.1
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CensorshipNES (NA)
Risqué jokes and religious references were removed for North America; for example, the town's 'puff-puff' offer became a shop selling tomatoes.1
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GameplayFamicom (JP)NES (NA)
In the Japanese version the player chooses a direction before talking to someone, while Dragon Warrior simply uses the direction the hero is facing.3
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TextGBC Dragon Warrior I & II
The Game Boy Color remake dropped the Elizabethan English for a new translation (Dragonlord became DracoLord, Erdrick became Loto) and added quicksaves, a faster hero and bigger experience and gold rewards.1
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Bug fixNES (NA) Rev 1
The second US revision fixed a text error on the title screen and changed the battle message wording from 'Hits' to 'Hit Points'.3
Sources
Checked: 2026-10-13