Two of Square Enix’s most acclaimed role-playing games have arrived on the Nintendo Switch 2, extending a wave of RPG ports that has recently enriched the console’s library. Over the past two weeks, Dragon Quest XI S: Decline up the Earth and Octopath Traveler II made their way onto Nintendo’s newest hardware, offering players upgraded visuals and faster load times. The additions follow closely behind the announcement of an Octopath Traveler port for the system as well, though that entry does not quite reach the heights of its sequels.
The timing places these releases squarely within a broader pattern of Square Enix bringing its back catalog to Nintendo’s latest platform. Dragon Quest XI S delivered what many consider one of the strongest graphical transformations of the group, while Octopath Traveler II offered more subtle refinements that nonetheless improve the day-to-day experience.
A Meaningful Leap for Dragon Quest XI
The most dramatic improvement comes from Dragon Quest XI. On the original Switch, the title ran acceptably but showed its age with crummy textures, low resolution, and a blurry haze obscuring much of the world. The Switch 2 version looks wonderful by comparison, presenting the land of Erdrea as crisp, clear, bright, and colorful.
Players can choose between a quality mode and a performance mode that runs at 60 frames per second, with load times noticeably shorter than before. Even in handheld mode, the resolution change is visible when switching between the two modes. The requirement for these settings on a game nearly a decade old draws some criticism, but the upgrade appears best suited to those who have not yet played Dragon Quest XI or players willing to revisit it after time away.
The Switch 2 version looks wonderful by comparison. The game’s world of Erdrea is crisp, clear, bright, and colorful, and you can even play it at 60fps if you’re so inclined, and load times are noticeably shorter.
Polygon review
Beyond the technical improvements, Dragon Quest XI remains one of the best RPGs of recent generations. It delivers classic Dragon Quest storytelling that begins in deceptively simple fashion before venturing into darker territory, supported by an excellent cast and modernized combat built around skill trees and deep customization.
Octopath Traveler Titles See Subtle Refinements
The Octopath Traveler ports take a different approach. The original game never looked bad on the first Switch, given how difficult it is to make HD-2D visuals appear poor, but a side-by-side comparison reveals that the earlier version lacked considerable detail. The Switch 2 version brings the experience closer to what players find on other platforms, though the differences require close inspection to notice.
The single most impactful change across both Octopath Traveler entries is reduced load times. For Octopath Traveler II, loading from the home screen to the title page drops from just under 40 seconds on the original Switch to roughly half that time, landing at under 20 seconds. This improvement makes a tangible difference in everyday play even as the visual gains remain modest.
Octopath Traveler was Square Enix’s attempt at a spiritual successor to Final Fantasy VI in the way Bravely Default was for Final Fantasy V. It works, mostly.
Polygon review
The combat remains the true star of both entries, offering a rousing revival of classic turn-based battles with striking pixel art and a steep challenge curve. Octopath Traveler II in particular improves on its predecessor across character writing, world design, and combat skill variety, successfully capturing the feel of classic RPGs where its predecessor fell short.
A Caveat for Returning Players
Square Enix released these titles without an upgrade path or the option to carry save files over from previous versions. As a result, it is difficult to recommend them to players already satisfied with existing copies. The Octopath ports in particular offer little beyond faster loading compared to their original Switch releases.
The clearest recommendation applies to newcomers: both Dragon Quest XI and Octopath Traveler II are worth considering for those who have not yet experienced them. For veteran owners, however, the lack of save transfers and meaningful upgrades may make another purchase harder to justify.
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