Dragon Quest IV

Released by Enix and Chunsoft in 1990 for the Famicom, Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen features a script by Yuji Horii, character designs by Akira Toriyama, and a score by Koichi Sugiyama. Its structure unfolds across five standalone chapters — Prince Ragnar's knightly quest, Alena and her priestly companions, merchant Torneko's shop-building adventure, and the dancing sisters Meena and Maya — before Chapter 5 unites the Hero with all previous protagonists to confront the demon lord Psaro. Turn-based combat introduces the Tactics system, allowing players to set behavioral guidelines for AI-controlled allies. The multi-protagonist storytelling and cinematic presentation cemented this entry as a watershed moment in the series.