Dragon Quest Wars

 DS
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. Universo Nintendo
    90
    Dragon Quest Wars is like chess, simple in theory, but hard to master....For just 500 Nintendo Points, is one of the most solid experiences in the virtual platform.
  2. IGN
    85
    Dragon Quest Wars may not offer the kind of epically lengthy role-playing experience that most gamers would commonly associate with its brand, but what it does offer is superb.
  3. Vandal
    85
    With a simple concept, Dragon Quest Wars is a surprisingly deep turn-based strategy game, specially taking into account the prejudices about digital content.
  5. The A.V. Club
    83
    If you can forgive the occasional slip of the stylus, though, Wars’ easy-does-it approach makes the game a good way for enthusiasts to share the charms of turn-based combat with novice.
  6. Official Nintendo Magazine UK
    82
    A smart, addictive strategy offering that's among DSiWare's very finest games. [Christmas 2009, p.102]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Nintendo Life
    80
    If you can somehow curb your expectations of Dragon Quest Wars being a typical Dragon Quest-style RPG experience and accept it for the simple, yet enjoyable strategy title it is, then you're likely to find a very fulfilling and playable DSiWare title that will provide you with many hours of fun.
  8. Meristation
    80
    Dragon Quest Wars is yet another great game ser on purpose for the DSiWare service. It's basically an strategic RPG based on the popular figures of the franchise, with cute graphics and a very interesting gameplay style. A very interesting offer if you like the genre.
  9. Everyeye.it
    75
    Easy and quick, perfect for the multiplayer experience.

Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best DS Game of 2009
66
#66 Most Discussed DS Game of 2009
73
#73 Most Shared DS Game of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 19 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 19
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 19
  3. Negative: 7 out of 19
  1. MARUYAMA
    Apr 9, 2015
    1
    it's shocking to see such a bad strategy game coming from Intelligent systems, this would work as a tabletop game, but as a $5 DSi game, itit's shocking to see such a bad strategy game coming from Intelligent systems, this would work as a tabletop game, but as a $5 DSi game, it doesn't.
    nowadays it only supports local multiplayer and the single player mode is basically just a tutorial so you can use your skills online... which is gone.

    some unbalances in matches make me wonder if this was even tested much before release, there's clearly some stuff that wasn't.

    one of the biggest downers is that, while Dragon quest has a massive roster of monsters to choose from, Intelligent systems decided to only use FIVE of them in the game
    they expected this to become some kind of modern chess but the strategies it allows are too shallow for something like that

    as a die hard fan of dragon quest, I definitely don't recommend this game
    instead save those 5 dollars for Dragon quest heroes or a possible future release of the 3ds games    … Full Review »
  2. BennettVA
    Oct 22, 2020
    8
    A fun turn based strategy game for the DS. The inclusion of 2-4 system local play, 1 system pass and play, and internet play help theA fun turn based strategy game for the DS. The inclusion of 2-4 system local play, 1 system pass and play, and internet play help the experience. Although, I wish there was more single player content, as the 10 training levels will only last you around an hour, and the only single player content besides that is to play against CPUs. Definitely recommend picking up on the eshop if you are into dragon quest or strategy games like Fire Emblem or WarGroove.
    I would love to see this series make a return on modern consoles/PC. I think an online ranking mode, would help replay-ability, and the ability to have a 2v2 team mode for playing cooperatively with friends would also be fun.    … Full Review »
  3. AaronB.
    Oct 2, 2009
    8
    Great strategy game based on the Dragon Quest series. It even has online multiplayer so it's a great value for $5.
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