Enix is renowned for releasing the iconic series, “Dragon Quest,” often hailed as the ancestor of Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs). Meanwhile, Square was busy establishing its own RPG dynasty through “Final Fantasy.
It was hard to picture that in the future, these two companies would join forces, transforming a bitter competition into an extraordinary collaboration – all to the delight of their fans.
However, it’s important to note that Square Enix is not limited to just “Final Fantasy” and “Dragon Quest.” These two series are indeed well-known, but together, they boast an extensive library of intellectual properties. Some of these franchises have been somewhat overlooked and deserve more recognition than they currently receive.
This list ranks the top 10 Square Enix series, ranging from the realm of Kingdom Hearts to the tactical world of Front Mission. You might find yourself enticed to explore these fresh titles!
I used two criteria to pick the franchises:
– It must have at least three original games released worldwide, not counting remasters or remakes.
For the purposes of our discussion, let’s consider that Square Enix has rights over the franchises as if they were fully owned, disregarding any legal complexities.
10. Front Mission
Mechas, Politics, and Strategy
During the PlayStation 1 period, I stumbled upon a game titled “Front Mission 3.” Despite my not being particularly fond of strategic or science fiction genres, I thought I’d give it a go and explore its unique aspects.
What I discovered was a complex web of political machinations, acts of deception, and an intricate storyline combined with exceptionally tailored game mechanics; mechs featuring breakable components, and an immensely rewarding gameplay cycle. Constructing our Wanzers and acquiring skills during battle was always exhilarating.
In the ranking, Front Mission sits lower due to variations in quality among different games within the series. The initial installment was still finding its stride, but the second and third games took things to a whole new level.
Regrettably, the fourth and fifth games in the series, with the fifth only being available outside Japan, garnered mixed opinions from critics. As for Front Mission Evolved and Left Alive, they significantly altered the franchise’s identity by attempting to transform it into a third-person shooter, which unfortunately didn’t sit well with many fans.
9. Chocobo
The Mascot In The Spotlight
Initially, Chocobo was simply a character representing the Final Fantasy franchise. However, it didn’t take much time before it expanded into its own series, boasting numerous spin-offs. The first of these spin-offs was Chocobo’s Mysterious Dungeon, but it was the second title, Chocobo’s Dungeon 2, that Western audiences became familiar with.
These are both Dungeon games in the Mysterious series, a subseries of roguelike dungeon crawlers created by Chunsoft. The Chocobo games have a delightful charm to them, exploring the mythology of Final Fantasy in a cute and endearing way, featuring monsters, jobs, and spells from the franchise.
The series continued to introduce more dungeon crawler games such as Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales and Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon. However, Square’s beloved character didn’t limit itself to just that. With a unique style, Chocobo was also featured in games like Chocobo’s Racing and Chocobo GP, demonstrating its versatility on tracks.
A variety of smaller games were introduced, regrettably exclusive to Japan, such as “Chocobo World,” which replicated the mini-game from “Final Fantasy VIII,” and “Chocobo Land: A Dice Game,” a dice-based board game for the Game Boy Advance.
8. Valkyrie Profile
To My Side, My Noble Einherjar
Originating on the PlayStation 1, the game “Valkyrie Profile” earned its place as a JRPG icon. Based on Norse legends, we take charge of the main character, the Valkyrie, who is tasked with enlisting fallen humans as soldiers to confront Ragnarok.
In what comes next, we encounter numerous sad tales that often lead to the characters’ demise as a prerequisite for them joining our group. These stories were emotionally affecting, sophisticated, and remarkably innovative for their era.
This version maintains the original meaning while using more natural and easy-to-read language. The use of “what comes next” instead of “What follows are” creates a smoother transition into the rest of the sentence, and “emotionally affecting” is used to convey the same idea as “heart-wrenching.” Additionally, “sophisticated” and “remarkably innovative for their era” are more natural ways to describe the content’s maturity and originality.
In the sequel, titled “Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria,” they retained the original elements but significantly altered the turn-based battle system to be more interactive and strategic. The underlying theme continued unchanged. Additionally, we were graced with “Covenant of the Plume” on the DS platform, a tactical game that offers engaging strategy play.
Unfortunately, the most recent game from the franchise isn’t actually produced by tri-Ace. Instead, it’s a generic action RPG titled Valkyrie Elysium. While it attempted to leverage the IP for popularity, it didn’t resonate well and left longtime fans feeling disappointed, almost as if they were slapped in the face.
7. SaGa
The Most Underrated Franchise
Despite its peculiar nature, there’s no denying that the SaGa series stands out as one of Square’s most productive franchises. Strangely enough, it’s been somewhat cult-like and has only recently garnered more focus from the company. However, it continues to feel like a secondary title in their lineup.
The game known as SaGa was developed by Akitoshi Kawazu, who was the combat designer for Final Fantasy II. It’s worth noting that the games in this series are distinct due to their attribute-based progression system instead of the traditional leveling up method, which is a characteristic feature of the franchise.
In combat, there’s often a feature called Glimmer, which grants party members the ability to acquire new skills while fighting tough adversaries on the fly. This can be either a game-changer or a disaster for your team depending on how it’s used.
In many instances, the characters intended for attacking have unexpectedly acquired defensive abilities, leading to numerous game failures.
To be honest, I truly appreciate SaGa Scarlet Grace’s audacity – be it in its uniquely branching storyline or its groundbreaking combat mechanics. In fact, I find its turn-based fight system to be exceptionally well-designed.
Despite its appeal, Unlimited SaGa often falls short due to budget constraints, leading me to eventually lose enthusiasm. Regardless of the circumstances, I strongly advise steering clear of it.
6. Mana
Videogame-Shaped Joy
If you’re someone who appreciates vibrant games that exude a comfortable ambiance and leisurely pace, yet offer a good dose of challenges, I’d highly suggest the Mana series for you. Originating as a spin-off from the action RPG genre of Final Fantasy, this franchise swiftly established its own unique identity.
Under the banner of more than fifteen different releases, ranging from remasters, remakes, ports, and mobile games, the Mana series has a unique ability to evoke a sense of nostalgia within me. The narrative typically revolves around safeguarding the Mana Tree with the help of elementals – vibrant creatures brimming with charm and flair.
The emphasis is primarily on gameplay rather than narrative. Unlike Dawn of Mana and its latest version, Visions of Mana, which followed a more conventional storytelling approach, the exception was the rule. However, Legend of Mana stands out with its unconventional game mechanics, particularly in terms of how its world map functions.
I’m not implying it’s a criticism, but the Mana series has often felt like a simplified version of Final Fantasy tailored for a younger demographic. Here’s hoping it continues to thrive in the coming years, despite indications suggesting otherwise.
5. Star Ocean
Lightsabers Meet Greatswords
It was just Enix who took the risk in backing tri-Ace when they planned to release Star Ocean. I’m grateful for that, since it’s one of my favorite Japanese Role-Playing Game series and is unique in its ability to seamlessly blend science fiction and medieval fantasy components.
Each instance maintains a consistent backdrop where science fiction figures encounter medieval counterparts, resulting in fresh interactions not just among them but also within the gaming experience. These games additionally incorporate symbolic elements that function much like magic.
Admittedly, many stories’ narratives are rather uninspiring, but the characters more than compensate through their engaging performances, especially with the implementation of the Private Actions system. All these tales unfold within a shared chronology, even though the majority of them occur quite distant from one another.
In comparison, the combative aspects are robust, yet it’s the advancement system that truly sets the Star Ocean series apart. This series boasts one of the finest crafting mechanisms among Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs).
Using the Item Creation tool, you can expand your gaming experience in unpredictable ways. This could involve pilfering items from any character you interact with, or even hopping on a colossal rabbit while exploring the game’s world map. In some cases, it might even lead to breaking the game during the initial stages of play.
4. NieR
Questioning Your Existence
Initially, I categorized Drakengard together with NieR because they’re set in different realities. However, despite sharing similar themes of death and calamity akin to a Sunday afternoon movie, it was NieR that remained prominent while Drakengard gradually lost its prominence.
It might be Yoko Taro’s decision to feature 2B in numerous crossover games as a way to maintain her prominence. However, this wasn’t necessarily necessary because NieR: Automata stands out as one of the top-notch action RPGs, even though it provokes us to ponder our own significance in the world.
Though NieR: Automata might be the most famous game within the series, it actually originated as the title “Nier” during the seventh generation of video game consoles. Japan produced two different versions of this initial release; one was named “Nier Replicant,” and the other went by “Gestalt.
Initially, one story focused on a youthful character’s quest to rescue his sister, whereas another centered around an elder man’s efforts to save his daughter. The game titled “Gestalt” had a global launch on PS3 and Xbox 360, while the title “Nier Replicant ver.1.22” was a remastered version of an earlier release.
Although it might seem unusual, I’d like to bring up “Nier Reincarnation” as part of our discussion. Despite being discontinued, it remains canonical within the series. This mobile game featured turn-based combat and was set in the Cage, a lunar server following the events of “NieR: Automata.
3. Kingdom Hearts
Disney’s Franchise On Paper, But Square Enix’s At Heart
In essence, Kingdom Hearts isn’t strictly a part of the Square Enix brand. Disney holds full rights to its intellectual property and even Sora himself. But when it comes down to it, that’s just legal jargon. To me, given that Donald can cast Zettaflare, he’s as much a member of the Square Enix team as anyone else in my opinion.
Kingdom Hearts is a fun, unique blend you’re familiar with, where characters from Final Fantasy and Disney unite in an exhilarating crossover event, fighting against the ominous forces of darkness to preserve people’s hearts.
Initially presented as a modest, somewhat intimate glimpse into the Disney universes and their personalities, it gradually morphed into epic inter-dimensional conflicts that encompassed aspects like time travel, duplicates, and a complexity in its narrative that surpassed the capabilities of the average human mind.
Despite standing alone, each Kingdom Hearts game has the capacity to draw us in emotionally with its characters, their trials, and the heartwarming theme of friendship. I spent my childhood engrossed in cartoons, but never have I felt as connected to Donald and Goofy as I did after playing these games.
This is accompanied by one of the finest action role-playing games that the JRPG genre has produced so far. In essence, Kingdom Hearts isn’t only for fans of Final Fantasy or Disney; it’s for everyone.
2. Dragon Quest
Final Fantasy’s Biggest Rival
Back in the day, as a gaming enthusiast, I was always curious about the first Role-Playing Game (RPG) that made its mark on Japan’s gaming scene. However, from the perspective of fans and official records, it was none other than “Dragon Quest” that truly embodied the spirit of JRPGs and introduced role-playing games to the Land of the Rising Sun.
Drawing influence from both Ultima and Wizardry, the game Dragon Quest offers an intuitive user interface, a seamless progression path, expansive open-world exploration, and a heartfelt narrative. Above all, it paved the way for numerous innovations in the RPG genre.
What strikes me the most is that, from its debut in 1986 until now, the iconic series known as Dragon Quest has consistently retained its identity. Although there have been numerous spin-offs, films, manga, and anime adaptations, you can instantly recognize it as Dragon Quest whether you’re playing the original or the most recent mainline game.
Every game features essential components like classic turn-based battles, a silent protagonist embarking on a heroic quest, colorful and lively side characters, and the distinctive art style of Akira Toriyama that remains consistent across all titles.
Wishing for many more years of creative brilliance from Yuji Horii, so he can continue enchanting us with fresh installments set in the magical realm of Dragon Quest.
1. Final Fantasy
Dragon Quest’s Closest Friend
It’s clear that the first spot couldn’t have been claimed by any other franchise except for the one that made Square a household name worldwide. If it weren’t for Final Fantasy, there might not be a Square at all. Its triumph could have led to no Square Enix, and many of the franchises I mentioned previously may never have been created.
Regardless of whether you feel that more recent Final Fantasy games have strayed from their original essence, or if you’re a dedicated fan who has followed the series since its inception, Final Fantasy continues to be a lasting part of gaming culture.
According to Sakaguchi, Kitase, Yoshida, and other franchise contributors, the essence of Final Fantasy lies in the creator’s vision. It could encompass a traditional fantasy quest, a gritty odyssey through a futuristic metropolis, or a modern narrative infused with magical elements.
I experience a jarring effect with each new introduction and shift in gameplay. I had been eagerly awaiting the release of Final Fantasy Versus XIII for years, only to receive Final Fantasy XV, which ranks among my least preferred installments.
Instead, I found myself completely smitten with the way they crafted Final Fantasy XVI. However, I can’t help but hope that they might reintroduce the turn-based combat system in the next mainline installment.
The charm of the crystals lies in the captivating lore they carry, encompassing familiar creatures, emblems, incantations, summoning methods, and iconic figures like those designed by Tetsuya Nomura, weaving a spellbinding universe together.
The allure of the crystals stems from the rich mythos surrounding them—from well-known beasts to emblems, spells, summoning procedures, and iconic characters crafted by Tetsuya Nomura, which create an enchanting universe that is hard to resist.
As a devoted fan, the anticipation of not knowing what lies ahead in the next installment of Final Fantasy can be the most excruciating torment we endure. Yet, it could also turn out to be the most exhilarating surprise that our consoles serve up throughout an entire generation.
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2025-04-05 17:41