Dragon Quest XI is the polished JRPG every fan of the genre deserves

It's not a revolutionary game by any means. But it's the first Dragon Quest game to be released on PC and that is, after all, quite a milestone. Take note, though - if you're not a fan of JRPG, don't expect this one to change your mind. However, if you want to embark on epic JRPG journeys from time to time, they don't get much better than Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age.

The game has been available on Steam since September, but it's a big one. It WILL take you close to 100 hours to finish the main story. You know, the typical "ordinary guy learns he's the one supposed to save the world from darkness" type of story. I won't spoil anything more for you, although you should already know what you're getting yourself into. If you've played literally any other JRPG since the beginning of mankind, you will be familiar with the world of Dragon Quest XI right off the bat. Which is not necessarily a bad thing, even though it can - at the same time - be its biggest flaw. So again, if JRPG is not your thing, stay away. You're better off playing non-linear games like Witcher 3, Pillars of Eternity or Skyrim... again.

Key Dragon Quest XI features

• First Dragon Quest game on PC.
• As old school as it can get. If you're a fan of the genre, you might as well stop reading here and play the game!
• No random monster encounters. You choose which monsters to fight.
• SLIMES!!! SO MANY OF THEM!!!
• Funny monster designs and animations.
• Puns everywhere (especially in monster names)!
• Incredibly vibrant and colorful world.
• Character progression system that is fun to unlock.
• Simple crafting system you'll get back to more often than you'd like to admit.
• Towns with distinct architecture that encourage exploration.
• Interesting companions that add charm to a semi-predictable story.
• Linear story taking place in a huge world.
• Mostly average soundtrack.

I could go on and list several more features that make Dragon Quest XI one of the most polished JRPG titles to date. But I'll stop here and spend some more time in the world of Erdrea. There's still a bunch of stuff I'm supposed to do.