Dragon Quest III HD-2D is definitely the standout of the Erdrick trilogy. It leans heavily into the lore of the first two games, adding a layer of nostalgia that feels earned if you’re looking for the details.

It’s also the best at handling characters, clearly step up from the silent protagonist of DQ1 or the RNG-heavy party in DQ3. The dialogues were kinda meh but at least they had something to say.

Some of the sidequests paid off well towards the end.

The pacing is surprisingly snappy for a classic RPG, making it feel like the most "modern" experience of the 3-game set.

I did get... stupidly lost a few times trying to find my way, but honestly, that’s just part of the charm.

I liked the post-game content, which I usually don't since it requires grinding and other weird stuff lol

I think I would recommmend this one over the others, but the truth is it also hits hard because you've played the other two. I think it makes more sense to think of the three entries as a big-ass game and just go with that.