Dragon Quest XI more wanted than Final Fantasy XV in Japan

Square Enix's Dragon Quest is so popular in Japan that main numbered entries have to be launched on Sunday in order for people to keep working on their, er, working days, such is the anticipation before a new game's release.

Square's Final Fantasy is of course immensely popular as well, but whereas it's the best known JRPG overseas, it's usually second to Dragon Quest in its homeland.

Now, the same situation translates to the upcoming entries for both series: Dragon Quest XI: In Search of the Departed Time for Nintendo 3DS and Final Fantasy XV for PS4. According to Japanese magazine Famitsu's poll (via Nintendo Everything), and for some weeks now, the eleventh Dragon Quest is the most anticipated game of 2016. These are the results from the week before Christmas:

1. [3DS] Dragon Quest XI - 689 votes
2. [PS4] Final Fantasy XV - 614 votes
3. [PS4] Persona 5 - 597 votes
4. [PS4] Final Fantasy VII Remake - 541 votes
5. [PS4] Dragon Quest XI - 491 votes
6. [3DS] Shin Megami Tensei IV Final - 331 votes
7. [3DS] Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker 3 - 292 votes
8. [PSV] Kan Colle Kai - 249 votes
9. [3DS] Hyrule Warriors Legends - 237 votes
10. [PSV] Dragon Quest Builders - 220 votes
11. [3DS] Yo-kai Watch 3 - 219 votes
12. [PS4] Kingdom Hearts III - 210 votes
13. [PS3] Persona 5 - 209 votes
14. [PS4] Street Fighter V - 208 votes
15. [PS4] Star Ocean 5: Integrity and Faithlessness - 196 votes
16. [PS4] Yakuza: Kiwami - 183 votes
17. [WIU] The Legend of Zelda - 177 votes
18. [3DS] Ace Attorney 6 - 173 votes
19. [PS4] Tales of Berseria - 172 votes
20. [PS4] Nioh - 148 votes
21. [PS4] Yakuza 6 - 145 votes
22. [PS4] Dead or Alive: Xtreme 3 - 134 votes
23. [PS4] Dragon Quest Heroes II - 120 votes
24. [PS4] Dragon Quest Builders - 119 votes
25. [PSV] SaGa Scarlet Grace - 105 votes
26. [PS4] The Last Guardian - 103 votes
27. [PSV] Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir - 102 votes
28. [3DS] Monster Hunter Stories - 95 votes
29. [PSV] Atelier Shallie Plus - 93 votes
30. [PSV] Project Setsuna - 89 votes

It's true that DQXI will apparently be playable on PS4 and Project NX as well, similarly FFXV will be available on Xbox One, but these are the systems of choice in this poll (and let's keep in mind the huge 3DS install base vs PS4). Besides, there are several remakes and spin-offs from both series making an appearance, including Final Fantasy VII Remake and Dragon Quest Heroes II.

Looking at the results, it looks like some other highly-anticipated games are not that popular in Japan, such as The Legend of Zelda Wii U, Street Fighter V or Kingdom Hearts III.