Monster breeding with dimensional travel. Two versions, different monsters. The GBC's most complex RPG.
Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 was developed by Enix and released for Game Boy Color in 2001 — two versions (Cobi's Journey and Tara's Journey) with different starting monsters and some exclusive species. The breeding system from the original was expanded with new monster families and combination rules that required planning across multiple generations. The key new mechanic was dimensional travel: players moved through portals into different world dimensions to find new monsters and story content, an unusual structural choice for a GBC RPG. The two-version model increased the total available monster count and encouraged trading with other players. Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 sold over 2 million copies in Japan.
— inspired by Yuji Horii
About this game
Dragon Quest Monsters 2 is the 2001 GBC sequel to the monster-raising RPG that introduced the series to Game Boy players. Two simultaneous versions — Luca's Departure and Iru's Adventure — feature distinct protagonists, monster rosters, and magic keys. Players recruit and breed over 300 monsters across eleven families, forming teams of three for battle. The game used the largest cartridge available for GBC at the time (4 megabytes) and sold over 1.59 million copies in Japan, becoming the third best-selling game in Japan for 2001.
Key Features
Two simultaneous versions with different protagonists, monsters, and magic keys — encouraging player interaction and trading. Over 300 monsters from 11 families, with monster breeding to create new varieties. Teams of three monsters for strategic battle. Uses the largest 4-megabyte GBC cartridge. Game Boy Link Cable trading and battling.
Gallery
The Story Behind
Released in March 2001, DQM2 arrived in the final months of the Game Boy Color era — the Game Boy Advance launched in Japan on March 21, 2001, just two weeks after this game. Despite launching alongside its successor platform, DQM2 sold 501,081 copies in its first week alone, demonstrating the deep loyalty of the Dragon Quest fan base and the staying power of monster-collecting mechanics that Pokémon had made culturally dominant. The Iru's Adventure version had to be delayed by one month due to a bug discovered just before release.
Tricks & Tales
The Iru's Adventure version was delayed by a full month — from March 9 to April 12, 2001 — due to a bug discovered just before simultaneous launch. Despite launching two weeks before the Game Boy Advance's Japanese release, the game sold 501,081 copies in its first week, ranking first in Japan's weekly sales charts. The two versions are designed so that players holding different versions can trade unique monsters only available in their respective cartridge.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
Like the original DMG, the Game Boy Color is fully region-free. Japanese, North American, and European GBC cartridges all share the same physical format and connector, and the hardware applies no lockout. A Japanese GBC cartridge will run on any GBC from any region without modification. The GBC is also fully backward compatible with original DMG cartridges — when a DMG cart is played on a GBC, the system automatically renders it with one of several colour palettes. GBC-specific cartridges (the 'GBC only' black-tab type) will not run on the original DMG, but will run on the Game Boy Advance as well as the GBC.
Maintenance Tips
Game Boy Color cartridges — the smaller, slightly translucent-shell format — use the same cleaning approach as original DMG carts: a cotton swab with 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol wiped along the contact row, allowed to dry fully before reinsertion. The GBC console's ABS plastic shell faces the same yellowing risk as the DMG when exposed to UV light over time. Notably, several GBC titles — most famously Pokémon Gold, Silver, and Crystal — include a real-time clock (RTC) circuit that runs continuously off a CR2025 coin cell. These batteries are now well over 25 years old; a dead RTC battery means time-based in-game events will not advance, even though the game itself will still load and save normally. This is a distinct issue from save data loss.
Going deeper
Explore the machine this game ran on, and what to check before you buy or care for one:
What to Watch Out For
Before buying, these are the points worth knowing — from someone who handles original Japanese Dragon Warrior Monsters 2 copies regularly.
Is this a region-free game? Will a Japanese Game Boy cartridge work on any Game Boy console?
Yes. The original Game Boy, Game Boy Pocket, and Game Boy Color have no hardware region lock — a Japanese cartridge plays on any Game Boy or Game Boy Color console worldwide without modification. The game itself is in Japanese, but the hardware accepts it freely. Game Boy Advance consoles are also backward-compatible with Game Boy and Game Boy Color cartridges and share this region-free status.
How should I clean a Game Boy cartridge?
Apply 90% or higher isopropyl alcohol to a cotton swab and gently wipe the gold-plated edge contacts on the base of the cartridge. Never blow into the cartridge — breath moisture accelerates contact corrosion. If the shell needs to be opened for deeper cleaning, Game Boy cartridges use 3.8mm security game bit screws. The contacts are small; clean with a gentle wiping motion rather than abrasive pressure.
Before You Buy
Things worth knowing before you buy Dragon Warrior Monsters 2
A short checklist for buying a used Game Boy Color cartridge wisely — useful with any seller, anywhere.
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Choose a seller who tests it before shipping
A copy that has actually been powered on and checked is a known quantity. An untested one is a gamble you only settle after it arrives.
Look for a seller who states it was function-tested and says what they confirmed. A serious seller can tell you exactly what was checked.
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Good news — Game Boy Color is region-free
These cartridges are not region-locked, so a Japanese copy plays on any compatible Game Boy worldwide.
Confirm whether the title is Color-only or also works on the original Game Boy.
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If this title saves your progress, check the battery
Cartridges that save use a small coin-cell battery that fades over decades — a dead one wipes your save without warning.
Ask the seller whether the save function was tested. Replacing the battery is possible, but doing so erases any existing save.
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Check that the contacts are clean
Dirty edge contacts are the most common cause of startup and sound trouble in cartridges of this age.
Choose a seller who cleans the contacts before shipping. A note that it was tested and cleaned means the basics were handled.
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Read the seller's reviews and return policy
A 100% positive record across thousands of sales is close to a guarantee — packing, communication and problem-solving all work for everyone. A return policy protects you if something is off.
Read the feedback and confirm a clear return window before you buy.
The last step before buying anywhere is knowing what it's worth.
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