I adore the first trilogy of DQ games but I’m holding off cause I don’t like or trust SE anymore (plus, denuvo, ugh).

I will say, it’s a better experience to play 1 thru 3 in order with no prior knowledge of what makes them a trilogy. Having 3 stand alone kind of misses that “oh fuuuuuuuck” realization I got to experience (and subjected a friend to, who has yet to forgive me lol). It’s what made 3 one of my favorites next to 5 and 11.