“It’s not about the storyline”: Dragon Quest 9 director says the hardest thing isn’t to make players cry, but surprise

Dragon Quest veteran Jin Fujisawa says Yuji Horii taught him to prioritize gameplay experience and surprise over storyline in RPGs.

He pointed to Dragon Quest 5’s marriage choice as a clear example of how the series creates memorable player-driven moments.

The comments underscore a defining Dragon Quest philosophy: interactive experiences matter as much as narrative.

Fujisawa also mentioned his new game, Pain Pain Go Away, which is set to launch on PC on May 20.