DRAGON QUEST VIII vs Neverwinter Nights
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DRAGON QUEST VIII
Embark on an epic 3D adventure in a cursed kingdom. Recruit a party of unique companions, master a deep combat system with tension and skill points, and explore a vast world filled with monsters to tame and items to craft. Enjoy all content in a single purchase.
- Full 3D world exploration
- Streamlined touch controls
- Tension System for powerful attacks
- Skill Point customization
- Monster team recruitment and battles
- Alchemy Pot for item crafting
- In-game casino with mini-games
Read full descriptionHide full description
The phenomenally popular DRAGON QUEST VIII has sold 4.9 million units worldwide, and now it's coming to the iPhone and iPad for the first time! This was the first title in the series to be presented in full 3D, and its exquisitely detailed world has to be seen to be believed! Set off on an unforgettable adventure with Yangus, the bandit with a heart of gold, Jessica, the high-born magical minx, and Angelo, knight and lothario, by your side! Everything you need is here in a single package! Once the app is downloaded, there's no more to pay, as every last shred of content is yours to enjoy. So get ready to play the epic that is DRAGON QUEST VIII from beginning to end—and far beyond! Prologue Legends tell of an ancient sceptre, within which is sealed a fearsome power... When the relic's long-dormant magics are awoken by the treachery of a malign magician, an entire kingdom falls into a cursed slumber, prompting a young soldier to embark on an unforgettable journey... Game Features – Simple, Accessible Controls The control system has been streamlined to work perfectly with modern touch interfaces. The position of the directional pad can be adjusted freely, enabling players to switch between one-handed and two-handed play with a tap of the screen. The combat system has also been reworked, allowing for one-tap battles as well as more complex play. – The Tension System During battle, you can select 'Psyche Up' to give your next attack some extra oomph! The more you psyche a character up, the higher their tension will rise, until they finally reach an insane state known as super-high tension! – Skill Points Skill points are earned when your characters level up, and can be assigned to various skills in order to learn new spells and abilities. This system allows you to perfectly tailor your team to your liking. – Monster Teams Certain monsters found in the field can be scouted for your monster team – if you're tough enough to beat them, that is! Once assembled, your crack squad can take part in the fiercely contested tournaments held at the monster arena, and can even come to your aid in battle! – The Alchemy Pot Combine existing items to create entirely new ones! Even the most unassuming objects could be ingredients for the greatest items of all! Seek out the recipes hidden all over the world, and see if you can cook up something truly special! – The Casino Fans of the series will be pleased to learn that the casino is back, and fully-equipped for fun! This time around, there are three exciting activities to enjoy: bingo, slot machines and roulette! Just don't get so caught up in the action that you forget your adventure entirely! [Supported Operating Systems] iOS15.0 and Above [Supported Devices] iPhone 6s or Higher/iPad (5th Generation or Better)
Neverwinter Nights
Embark on a classic Dungeons & Dragons role-playing adventure with over 100 hours of gameplay. Explore the original campaign and six free DLC adventures, either solo or with friends across various platforms. Enjoy enhanced graphics and a re-engineered UI for mobile devices.
- Classic D&D RPG gameplay
- 100+ hours of content
- Six free DLC adventures
- Cross-platform multiplayer
- Re-engineered UI for mobile
- Improved graphics with adjustable options
Read full descriptionHide full description
Neverwinter Nights is a classic Dungeons & Dragons RPG— enhanced for iOS! Explore 100+ hours of gameplay including the original campaign, plus six free DLC adventures. Play solo or team up with friends for a grand adventure across the Forgotten Realms. DEVICE RECOMMENDATION Optimized for iPads Recommended for iPhones with screen sizes of 6 inches or larger CONTENT Neverwinter Nights (Classic Campaign) Shadows of Undrentide (Free DLC) Hordes of the Underdark (Free DLC) Kingmaker (Free DLC) ShadowGuard (Free DLC) Witch’s Wake (Free DLC) Adventure Pack (Free DLC) FEATURES Re-engineered UI for iPads and iPhones - Virtual joystick and context sensitive button makes gameplay easy - UI Scales automatically or can be set to your liking Cross-Platform Multiplayer - Adventure with friends! - Cross-play support includes compatibility with mobile, tablets, computers and consoles - Join persistent worlds, with community-run campaigns and up to 250 players Improved Graphics - Pixel shaders and post-processing effects make for cleaner graphics and visuals - Adjustable contrast, vibrance, and depth of field options STORY CONTENT: Neverwinter Nights (Original Campaign) You find yourself at the center of intrigue, betrayal, and dark magic in Neverwinter Nights. Journey through dangerous cities, monster filled dungeons and deep into uncharted wilderness in search of the cure for a cursed plague ravaging the city of Neverwinter. Shadows of Undrentide (Free DLC Expansion) Another adventure begins in the updated expansion, Shadows of Undrentide! Charged by your master to recover four ancient artifacts, travel from the Silver Marches to unravel mysteries of a long-dead magical civilization. Hordes of the Underdark (Free DLC Expansion) This expansion continues the adventure started in Shadows of Undrentide. Journey into the ever-more bizarre and hostile depths of Undermountain to challenge a gathering evil. Three Premium Modules (Free DLC) Discover over 40 hours of new Dungeons & Dragons adventures across the Forgotten Realms in these premium modules for Neverwinter Nights: - Kingmaker - ShadowGuard - Witch’s Wake - Adventure Pack LANGUAGES - English ©2020 Beamdog. ©2020 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All Rights Reserved. Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter Nights, and D&D are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC. Hasbro and its logo are registered trademarks of HASBRO, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Neverwinter Nights at $9.99 against DRAGON QUEST VIII's $19.99. Neverwinter Nights also leads on rating (4.0 vs 3.8) and chart position (#92 vs unranked). DRAGON QUEST VIII's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
DRAGON QUEST VIII costs $19.99 and Neverwinter Nights $9.99 up front. Neverwinter Nights sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. DRAGON QUEST VIII asks for nothing beyond the download.
Neverwinter Nights holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 400 and 259 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 62% and 61% positive.
DRAGON QUEST VIII ships an update every 16 months, Neverwinter Nights every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DRAGON QUEST VIII | Neverwinter Nights |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $19.99 | $9.99 — better |
| Rating | 3.8 (400 ratings) | 4.0 (259 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 61.6% of reviews — better | 61.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 400 — better | 259 |
| Update frequency | Every 16 months | Every 7 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #92 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.9 GB | 2.8 GB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | SQUARE ENIX Co., Ltd. | Overhaul Games |
Customer experience
DRAGON QUEST VIII
Neverwinter Nights
User reviews
DRAGON QUEST VIII
From 400 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Gorgeous graphics
- 📱 Convenient mobile experience
- 🕹️ Intuitive controls
- 🕰️ Faithful to original PS2 version
Room to improve
- 🔇 Lack of voice acting
- 🔍 Limited camera controls
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 🔒 Cloud save problems
Neverwinter Nights
From 259 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Faithful port of the classic game
- 🚀 Runs well on older devices
- 👍 Brings back nostalgic memories
- 🚀 Impressive amount of content
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes when learning spells
- 🐛 Multiplayer issues with CD key
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Cluttered UI, small text
- 🐛 Inability to install premium modules
Bugs and requests
DRAGON QUEST VIII
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes during boss battles
- Inability to load cloud saves
- Unresponsive touch controls
- Graphical glitches in certain areas
Requested features
5 requests- Landscape mode support
- Controller support
- Orchestral soundtrack option
- Ability to customize characters
- Downloadable voice acting
Neverwinter Nights
Reported bugs
5 issues- Crashes when saving game
- Companions/summons behaving erratically
- Inventory and loot management issues
- Pathfinding and character movement problems
- Incompatibility with certain iOS versions
Requested features
5 requests- Controller support
- Improved camera controls
- Chinese language support
- Ability to move UI elements
- Autosave and backup save options
In-app purchases
DRAGON QUEST VIII
No in-app purchases
Neverwinter Nights
- KingmakerFree
- ShadowguardFree
- Witch's WakeFree
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Adventure PackFree
- Wyvern Crown of Cormyr$2.99
- Pirates of the Sword Coast$2.99
- Infinite Dungeons$2.99
- Heroes of Neverwinter$2.99
- Darkness Over Daggerford$4.99
- Tyrants of the Moonsea$4.99
Questions
Is DRAGON QUEST VIII free?
Is Neverwinter Nights free?
Which has better reviews, DRAGON QUEST VIII or Neverwinter Nights?
Do DRAGON QUEST VIII or Neverwinter Nights have ads?
Which is updated more often, DRAGON QUEST VIII or Neverwinter Nights?
Other comparisons















