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DRAGON QUEST V

Roleplaying

Ratings

Age

9+

Category

Roleplaying

Languages

English

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride is a classic JRPG that follows the life of a young hero through childhood, marriage, and parenthood. Famous for its emotional storytelling and the introduction of monster taming, players can recruit defeated enemies to fight alongside them. The game features a vast world to explore, deep character customization, and the series' signature charm.

Dinsun Expert Review

Our Expert Score

95/100

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride isn't just an RPG; it’s a generational epic that feels incredibly personal. Playing through the Hero's life from a small child traveling with his father to a man raising his own children is a narrative journey that few games have ever matched. The emotional stakes are high, especially during the 'big choice' mid-game, which remains one of the most iconic moments in gaming history.

The monster recruitment system is the 'secret sauce' that makes this entry so replayable. There’s a genuine thrill in finally convincing a rare Slime Knight or Great Dragon to join your cause. On mobile, the vertical orientation works surprisingly well for one-handed play, and the orchestral score is absolutely sweeping. It is a masterpiece of storytelling and mechanical depth that every RPG fan should experience.

Dinsun reviewed on: Fri Feb 27 2026

Features

1

Epic story spanning three generations of a family

2

Revolutionary monster recruitment and training system

3

Intuitive vertical-mode controls optimized for mobile

4

Beautifully rendered 3D environments and classic 2D sprites

5

Mini-games including the famous TNT boards and Bruise the Ooze

Tips & Walkthrough

Gameplays

Screenshot

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Q&A

Yes, while the game features a 'Tactics' AI system, you can set all characters to 'Follow Orders' for full manual control in battle.

Ratings & Reviews

MY GAME OF THE YEAR EVERY YEAR
Mon Apr 13 2020 Type2red

While every one else is playing final fantasy vii remake and i patiently wait for my preorder to arrive i decided to purchase this game and was absolutely blown away... probably one of the best rpg storylines i have ever played period.... and long after the credits rolled i am now going back to hunt and enjoy the lore... random battles can be a bit much but there are plenty of ways in game to deal with them thru clever game mechanics and items... the ending was perfect and all of the trials and tribulations the hero goes thru come together nicely in the end to create a satisfying peaceful ending that is well worth the players time.. the emulation in this release is spot on and dare i say despite the annoying touch controls at times it is better on mobile devices with the added convenience of your phone being with you all the time. This game alone has now made me a life long dragon quest fan forever, wow just wow. BUY IT... thank you square-enix.

A great classic nicely upgraded
Wed Jan 13 2021 ratamata1

The upgraded graphics do this classic justice. Touch screen game play is also well done. I completed the entire game including bonus dungeon in 15 turns. Not very challenging, grind not extreme but you need the correct monster, group. My only complaint is the translation, seemed like many conversations were poorly done. PS2 translation version way better, don’t understand why they didn’t just copy text over. You can still get the gist of the story line... A family story line that spans three generations extremely well presented. Played on iPhone... if you get a call your game sound will cut off, all you need to do is minimize the app (don’t close!) then switch back to game audio will turn back on. Tips: as soon as you get to casino put in an hour getting “monster magnet”. You only need one, the difference between hating monster find grind and finding your entire crew in a short period! Get your king cure-slime, then life is very easy.

They really make a legendary quest that fits in the palm of your hand.
Sat Jul 10 2021 Farrah Riggs

Almost every lifelong Dragon Quest fan knows every single aspect of this amazing game with memorable characters and introduces monster recruiting, however recruiting them is complete luck, but that’s the only flaw. It still appears on best of all time’s list as i can put this at one best games of all time. I don’t have to say much else about this masterpiece as its revolutionary, memorable, and still hold up perfectly to this day. And if for some reason you haven’t played it I would highly suggest you give it a try.

Third Time Supporting This Masterpiece
Sun Feb 16 2020 MissGlyph

I’ve bought this game three times; for almost anything else I’d call that overkill. But this game is special. It’s not complicated but it’s deep. It’s got random battles but that’s it’s only flaw. I’m writing this review at the spur of the moment but if I had time I’d go on and on. This is a heart-warming journey that doesn’t pull punches, full of personality, great little asides like Treasures N Trapdoors. Long story short, price tag is totally worth it. This is a full-length studio quality JRPG with replay value thanks to the choice of 3 brides. And just really lovely overall.

Frustrating. Doesn't age well
Thu Sep 14 2023 NotAnApplePerson

It turns out, you really can't go back. These games require a ton of grinding that just isn't worth your time as an adult. As a kid with nothing better to do you don't remember it that way. But as an adult, if you're honest, this just feels like a tedious time sink. If you really want to play it, grab the original ROM on a NES emulator where you can skip the tedium. Also: the mobile controls are TERRIBLE. Most of the game will be playable but frustrating--be prepared to enter a level and leave and enter and leave etc because the directional pad is so poor. But other parts of the game that require fine control, like pushing rocks or avoiding holes, is flat out obnoxious.

First Dragon Quest Game and well worth it.
Sun Jun 23 2019 Sskenshin

This was my first time playing a Dragon Quest and giving more than a hour of my time. I tried VIII back when it first came out on PS2 and didn’t give it a chance because the music. I am now at the end of this game and loving every minute of it. I love this game and it has become probably my favorite JRPG of all time beating Final Fantasy X! Definitely give this a shot if your looking for getting into the series because it has got me hooked and wanting me to play all the other games.

Fantastic game, great execution
Tue Jun 13 2017 RHeckenkamp

I'm usually concerned about on screen controls, but this game does it amazing well. Movement consists of an eight direction virtual joystick with a button in the middle. You can change it so the joystick is on the left side, right side, or centered. I found it easy to change to suit how I was sitting or laying down at the time. All menus including selecting combat commands is done by tapping through the menus on screen.

Still a goat in my opinion with the DW Franchise
Fri Mar 13 2020 jschwartz25

Haven’t played this game since I was young. Purchased on a whim and was glad that I did. It has such a good and compelling story! The gameplay is simple to pick up, but you will find yourself spending time thinking about your perfect team comp, and recruiting those beastly Golems. Overall if you are an rpg fan, this is a great one to take with you on the phone!

Some Youtube Videos found!

News found!

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