Pokémon VS Dragon Quest - All Similar Designs (Comparison)

The original Dragon Quest games came out roughly ten years before Pokémon. Game Freak seemingly used several Dragon Quest monster designs as inspiration for Pokémon, here is a comparison.

1080p 60fps Gameplay recorded and edited by Nintendo Unity. Consider to like, share and subscribe to support the channel.

Featured Games
Dragon Quest
Dragon Quest 2
Dragon Quest 3
Dragon Quest 4
Dragon Quest 5
Dragon Quest 6
Pokémon Red & Blue
Pokémon Black & White
Pokémon Sword & Shield
Pokémon Brilliant Diamond & Shining Pearl
Pokémon Scarlet & Violet

Friends

[NintenUnity]

For the record: I am not saying that anything was copied or stolen. Most are just based on the same animal.
I felt like I needed to do this video after my "Palworld VS Pokémon" comparison to show a more full and neutral perspective on the whole debate around similar designs in games.

[jmtradbr]

Dragon Quest is a decade older than Pokemon and had monster taming mechanics before Pokemon.

[furfousir]

On the topic of Dragon Quest Inspiration, both Satoshi Tajiri and Ken Sugimori were huge fans of the series- Playing Dragon Quest 3, Sugimori found an extra item that Tajiri needed. Sadly, there is no way to transfer items between save files; so the thought " well, wish we could trade ". And that is the idea for where trading came from for the Pokemon series. In fact, Ken Sugimori's original art of the 251 Pokemon are done in a watercolor style similar to the art style of Akira Toriyama, the illustrator for Dragon Quest and Dragon Ball.

[alvarochaves]

Akira Toriyama's art VS Ken Sugimori's art.

[TheGalaxy]

Don't let the Pokémon fan who is going to start crying because their Pokémon are "original" see it

[Mrtyville]

the dinosaur that looks like Aerodactyl is the first foe Goku fought in the first Episode of Dragon Ball

[psychotic_beelzebub]

That means Akira Toriyama is the GOAT?

[mykalbloom]

There's also Digimon, Yokai Watch, Bakugan, Yu-Gi-Oh, & even Monster Rancher that might have those creatures that looks quiet compared to all of the Pokemon.

[pkfc]

It makes sense since the original gimmick of Pokémon was to be able to use the monsters you’d usually see in an RPG in your party so of course they’d take inspiration from Dragon Quest monsters its literally the RPG of RPG’s.

[manupm]

I like that you've continued this "series", I would love to see more comparations with Yokai watch, Digimon, SMT/Persona and other pokemon/like games like Temtem.

[Cassizz.]

Dragon Quest was released in 1986 and Pokémon in 1996, i’m just saying in case any Pokémon fanboys arrive and says "DQ cOpIeD PoKéMoN"

[Bashbroder]

For someone that have played both franchises several times. Not ONCE have I made a comparison that pokemon and dragon quest monsters look a like. They may have some similiar features but its not close to being similiar. However pokemon and pals in palworld literally look like twins, many of them.
This is coming from a neutral stand point. I love pokemon and dragon quest and I think palworld looks amazing and I would like to give it a try if I wasnt busy with other games atm

[Jonas-ejid]

Interesting similarities.

I'm a huge Pokémon fan and I went into Palworld expecting an alternative to Pokémon.
And I was so happy to find that the game offers so much more.
Even tho I liked the gen 9 games and Legends Arceus.
It's gonna be hard to go back them after experiencing Palworld
I'm sure there are many other level-headed Pokémon fans in the same boat.

I don't understand why nintendo doesn't treat it's money printing franchise with respect, like it does with Zelda.

Watching nintendo and their fanboys have a meltdown over palworld is hilarious.

[waynemidnight]

For anyone wondering the names of the Dragon Quest monsters (in order)

(Unsure)
Shell Slime
Killerpillar
Crabbid
Ewwnicorn
Bagworm
(Unsure)
(Unsure, but I'm surprised Grillerpillar wasn't used here)
Bunicorn
Dracky
(Unsure)
Tyrantosaurus, or Axasaurus.
(Unsure, but it uses the same model as Hades Condors with different color pallettes)
Wax Murd£r£r
(Unsure, but this monster also has similarities to Corsola)
(Unsure)
(Unsure)
Red Mist or Miasma (both use the same model, but slightly different colors)
(Unsure. Possibly Triceratops)
Splatypunk
Boreal Serpent
Mudraker
Bomboulder
Great Dragon
(Unsure)
(Unsure)
(Unsure)
(Unsure)
(Unsure)
Slumbering Ram
Loathsome Leek
(Unsure)
Vesp Pest or Killer Wasp
(Unsure)
Winky

[ToastedPup]

Guys... Some of these, you can't

[roberthewittt]

Most of these are just if they are the same animal, they are immediately "copies". Like what's next, Zubat and the bat from Minecraft are "copies" just because their both the same animals.

[tehmeex]

I can see where some of them are inspirations, but idk about direct copying. A lot of these are based on just the same animals lol

As a big fan of both franchises though, it's neat to see similarities in designs.

[adrian_veidt]

And Nintendo got the audacity to sue Palworld

[UnixS]

All the Japanese catch ‘em all games play with each others designs. You could do a whole other video with shin megami tensei/ persona and Pokemon or digimon and Pokemon. It’s just gonna be a lot of cyclical references. People doing this debate about palworld just need to play it honestly and see how it differs from all these other games. They’ve all got their own strengths and weaknesses and they’re all arguably fun in their own right.

[ElysetheEevee]

I love all the people claiming most of these look nothing alike but then in the same breath claiming all the Palworld designs are "rip-offs" because the eye shape or colors are similar. Come on, people. Inspiration and reused ideas are in every single concept.