So it's getting colder and darker outside and I want a game to play on my Steam Deck when I cozy down in the bed or sofa.
I have mainly played Final Fantasy (1 to 16) as my JRPGs with a few others sprinkled in, Xenogears and other PS1-3 era games.
If you could recommend one game what would it be? Preferably available on Steam. Old School or modern graphics does not matter as long as the game and story is solid.
I'd recommend the entire Dragon Quest series.
Only issue with it is that some of them are kind of difficult to play. DQ10 isn't available in the US unless someone translated a ROM of the single-player version when I wasn't looking. DQ9 is only available for the Nintendo DS. DQ6 and 7 are both way too long. However you really can't go wrong with DQ1-5, 8, and 11. Also, this would keep someone busy for months and be a pretty enjoyable time for those few months.
As for best ways to play each, since there are like a zillion versions:
DQ1 - Mobile version if you want some QOL or emulate the NES original if you want retro. There's a Switch remake on the way but not until next year. All of the first 3 games are getting one, but I'd recommend playing them in their more original forms anyway.
DQ2 - Mobile version if you want some QOL or emulate the NES original if you want retro.
DQ3 - Emulate the SNES version, or the NES original if you're still liking the retro style.
DQ4 - Emulate the NES original. If you've got a 3DS you can run the DQ4 remake but I prefer the NES version TBH.
DQ5 - Same as DQ4 except it's a SNES game.
DQ6 - Same as DQ4 except it's a SNES game. Reccomend a translated ROM of the original for this and 5.
DQ7 - If you've got a 3DS, that version is way superior to the PS1 version, so this is the first one I'd recommend not going with the original version for.
DQ8 - PS2 version. This has been remade but the original's actually prettier and plays better.
DQ9 - Only available on DS
DQ11 - Switch version has more content than the PS4 version IIRC, including an entire 2D version of the game in SNES style that's actually really good/worth playing. Kinda two games in one.
TLDR: Emulate the original versions of DQ1-6, skip 7 unless you have a 3DS, PS2 version of 8, skip 9 unless 3DS, Switch version of 11.