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For the strongest all-around starting point, choose OCTOPATH TRAVELER II; for the most unusual story structure, try LIVE A LIVE; and for tactical battles shaped by political decisions, pick TRIANGLE STRATEGY. This ranking is an editorial assessment of the seven released games Square Enix identifies as HD-2D—not an official or review-score ranking. It weighs each game’s structure, combat, narrative delivery, and how its presentation suits its world.
What counts as an HD-2D game?
Here, HD-2D means games Square Enix identifies with the label, rather than every game that combines pixel art and 3D scenery. Square Enix describes the look as 2D sprites set against 3D backgrounds and effects. The ranking covers seven released titles supported by the publisher’s materials: OCTOPATH TRAVELER, OCTOPATH TRAVELER II, LIVE A LIVE, TRIANGLE STRATEGY, DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake, DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake, and OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0. This is a publisher-label scope, not a claim that no other games resemble the style.
Square Enix’s descriptions establish the games’ identities and design hooks, but do not provide a shared quality score or definitive order. The placement below is therefore an editorial guide to which game may suit which player.
Every HD-2D game ranked
1. OCTOPATH TRAVELER II — Best all-around starting point
OCTOPATH TRAVELER II takes the top spot as the most appealing first recommendation for readers drawn to the series’ ensemble structure and weakness-based, turn-based battles. The core appeal of this format is variety: the experience is built around multiple travelers and their individual stories rather than a single hero’s uninterrupted campaign.
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#1 Best Overall
- A fully modernized remake of the originals: Stunning HD-2D visuals fuse pixel art with 3D graphics, along with an improved and modernized UI, and other quality of life improvements make these the best versions of the games yet.
- Traditional DRAGON QUEST style battles: A refined take on the classic turn-based battle system, featuring new animations, additional improvements such as an adjustable battle speed, an auto-battle setting, and more.
- Two legendary adventures, in one package: Experience the epic origins of the DRAGON QUEST series with both DRAGON QUEST I and DRAGON QUEST II. Two games beautifully remade and bundled together in one definitive offering.
- Experience a timeless musical score: An immersive, authentic, and diverse musical composition that captures the timeless essence and magic of the DRAGON QUEST universe.
Choose it if you want a substantial role-playing adventure with a cast-led structure and battles that reward paying attention to enemy vulnerabilities. This placement is an editorial judgment, not a claim that the game is objectively superior or that it has a verified consensus ranking. Square Enix’s series description outlines the structure and combat hooks on its OCTOPATH TRAVELER page.
2. LIVE A LIVE — Best for narrative variety
LIVE A LIVE stands out for its stories across different time periods. That changing historical and narrative setup makes it the strongest choice here for players who would rather move among distinct tales than follow one conventional, continuous quest.
Rank #2
- DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake is a stunning reimagining of the beloved masterpiece and narrative beginning to The Erdrick Trilogy – the first three games of the mainline DRAGON QUEST series. Featuring vibrant HD-2D graphics, new and modernized features, and a refined narrative, players are invited to set out on an epic fantasy adventure to save the world from a dark evil.
- A fully modernized remake of the original: Stunning HD-2D visuals fuse pixel art with 3D graphics, bringing players into the world of DRAGON QUEST III like never before, along with an improved and modernized UI, and other quality of life improvements.
- Traditional DRAGON QUEST style battles: A refined take on the classic turn-based battle system, featuring new animations, additional improvements such as an adjustable battle speed, an auto-battle setting, and more.
- Immersive world: Deep exploration of a vast world map with an abundance of rich and captivating locations to discover, challenging players to overcome many unexpected encounters during the journey.
- Experience a timeless musical score: An immersive, authentic, and diverse musical composition that captures the timeless essence and magic of the DRAGON QUEST universe.
Its variety of eras is the defining reason to choose it; the ranking does not treat that structural difference as a claim about comparative story quality. Square Enix describes the game’s multiple-period premise on its official LIVE A LIVE page.
3. TRIANGLE STRATEGY — Best for tactical battles and consequential choices
TRIANGLE STRATEGY is the pick for players who want political choices alongside tactical battlefield planning. Rather than centering its appeal on a group of separate traveler stories, it presents a political campaign in which decisions affect the story and allies.
Rank #3
- 4K HD Game Stick: HDMI Output, can be connected to TV/monitor/projector, plug and play.
- Retro Game Console: With 30000+ built-in retro games, awaken your pleasant childhood memories.
- Convenient Function: The console system supports game search, game collection, instant archive read and pause.
- Multiple Emulator: With 50+ emulators, allow you to enjoy a huge amount of games in one console.
- Wireless Controller: Comes with 2 * 2.4G wireless controllers, powered by 2 AAA batteries (NOT included)
Choose it if you want both strategic battles and narrative decisions to matter. Square Enix’s official game page identifies those political-choice and tactical-combat elements.
4. OCTOPATH TRAVELER — Best for the original eight-traveler concept
The first OCTOPATH TRAVELER establishes the series’ central format: eight travelers, separate stories, path actions, and turn-based combat in which targeting weaknesses is important. Its appeal is the combination of an ensemble cast and battles that reward tactical attention to enemy vulnerabilities.
It ranks below the sequel here as an editorial starting-point recommendation, not because the available publisher material establishes a quality gap. It is the clearest option for players who specifically want the foundational version of the eight-traveler premise. Square Enix details these hooks on its official game page.
5. DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake — Best for a classic quest with a brighter tone
DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake retells the narrative beginning of the Erdrick Trilogy. Square Enix describes its creative direction as deliberately distinct from OCTOPATH TRAVELER, TRIANGLE STRATEGY, and LIVE A LIVE, emphasizing a brighter, warmer Dragon Quest tone.
That makes it the right choice if you want a classic quest remake rather than an anthology of traveler stories or a politically driven tactical campaign. Find the trilogy context on the official DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake page; Square Enix discusses its distinct creative approach in “9 things we learned from Inside DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake”.
6. DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake — Best as a linked two-game journey
DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake packages the next two parts of the Erdrick Trilogy together. Consider it as a linked journey that continues the trilogy, rather than as a single game with the same standalone premise as DRAGON QUEST III.
Its position reflects that paired-package role in this particular ranking; it is not a claim that the publisher or critics have rated it below DRAGON QUEST III. Square Enix’s official games listing includes the HD-2D titles: Square Enix games.
7. OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 — Included, but difficult to place precisely
OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 belongs in this list because Square Enix’s current catalog and a publisher campaign identify it within the HD-2D game set. However, the official material available for this comparison does not provide enough title-specific detail about its story or mechanics to explain its position alongside the other six games with the same confidence.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIts last-place position is provisional, reflecting that description gap rather than a judgment that the game is the weakest. Square Enix’s save data bonus campaign, last updated April 7, 2026, and its official games listing support its inclusion.
Quick Recap
Which HD-2D game should you play first?
- For the best broad recommendation: OCTOPATH TRAVELER II, for its ensemble setup and weakness-focused, turn-based battles.
- For a distinctive story format: LIVE A LIVE, with separate stories set across different eras.
- For tactical planning and political choices: TRIANGLE STRATEGY.
- For the original eight-traveler premise: OCTOPATH TRAVELER.
- For a classic quest and a warmer tone: DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D Remake.
- For two connected installments in one package: DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake.
- For a title whose exact fit is harder to compare from publisher descriptions alone: OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
