It’s Been 30 Years And We Still Never Got A Sequel To The Best And Most Unlikely JRPG Team-Up Of All Time

by

Nintendo is a huge deal in gaming, seriously. I grew up with their games – everyone does, it seems! Franchises like Zelda, Donkey Kong, Metroid, and Animal Crossing are just iconic. I actually got into gaming because of Nintendo. My older cousin let me play Super Mario 64, which came out way back in ’96, but I didn’t get my hands on it until the early 2000s when I was finally old enough to figure out the controller. Once I started playing with my cousins, it opened up a whole new world of gaming that I’d been missing out on, and I’ve been hooked ever since.

I didn’t just love Super Mario 64 in 1996; Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars quickly became one of my all-time favorite Super Mario games. Created by Square Enix, Super Mario RPG remains a truly unique title in the series and a standout game for the SNES. I was instantly captivated as a child, and I’ve been hoping Nintendo will announce a sequel ever since.

Nintendo and Square Enix’s Super Mario RPG is a JRPG Unlike Any Other

Game Rant | Source images via Nintendo, Square Enix

The collaboration between Nintendo and Square Enix on Super Mario RPG felt like a perfect partnership, but they drifted apart for a while. As the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 gained popularity in the early 2000s, Square Enix was able to create more ambitious games. Kingdom Hearts became a success on the PS2, and Square Enix’s games began to evolve in ways that didn’t fit well with Nintendo’s consoles. However, the relationship between the two companies appears to be improving again. With the upcoming Switch 2 being Nintendo’s most powerful console yet, games like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth are now coming to the platform, and this could lead to even more collaborations in the future.

Both Super Mario RPG and Super Mario 64 were released in 1996, just a few months apart. Super Mario RPG came out in May, and Super Mario 64 followed in September.

Nintendo and Square Enix haven’t been rivals, exactly – they’ve simply had different priorities. But with Square Enix showing a strong interest in bringing more games to the Switch 2, I’m starting to get my hopes up about a possible sequel to Super Mario RPG.

The Super Mario RPG remake on Switch was really good, but it left me wanting more. Seeing the classic game updated with modern graphics actually made me wish for a brand new sequel even more. It felt like a great preview of something amazing that, unfortunately, probably won’t happen.

Is a Super Mario RPG Sequel Developed by Square Enix Impossible?

While anything is possible, a sequel after 30 years would be a huge surprise if Square Enix were to make it. They’re already busy with both the Final Fantasy series and the ongoing development of Kingdom Hearts 4. Square Enix doesn’t have to be the developer, but it would be ideal. Their involvement was key to what made the original Super Mario RPG so special, and it would be difficult for another studio to capture that same magic.

As a gamer, I think what made the original Super Mario RPG so special was how everything just worked together – the combat felt fair, the story was genuinely fun, and the art and music were top-notch. It really felt fresh for a Mario game, and that was all thanks to Square Enix’s creative take. A sequel would be amazing, both for us older fans and a new generation who only know the remake. But honestly, it has to be developed by the right team, or it could lose all its charm. There’s so much to love about Super Mario RPG, but for me, the original characters really stood out. They’re fantastic, and I’d love to see them become more important parts of the overall Mario universe.

Image via Nintendo

Some of Super Mario RPG’s Best Original Characters

  • Geno
  • Mallow
  • Boshi
  • Booster
  • Frog Sage
  • Knife Guy
  • Crate Guy
  • Croco
  • Johnny Jones

The characters in Super Mario RPG are among the most memorable in any Super Mario game, largely because they’re so funny and endearing. From quirky names like Crate Guy and Knife Guy to beloved playable characters like Mallow and Geno, the game’s cast remains remarkably creative even after thirty years. Fans still eagerly request characters like Boshi and Johnny Jones to appear in newer Nintendo titles, but so far, that hasn’t happened.

A Sequel to the Super Mario RPG May Never Become Reality, But The OG Remains One of Nintendo’s Most Charming Games

The Switch 2 launched last year, and it was a big deal! Nintendo hadn’t released a new console since 2017, so this felt like a fresh start. Along with the new hardware came exciting games like a new Mario Kart and Donkey Kong Bananza. The year wrapped up with Metroid Prime 4: Beyond, and now everyone’s wondering what 2026 will bring. I’m hoping we’ll see a sequel to Super Mario RPG at some point, though that might be a bit optimistic. After Square Enix finishes Kingdom Hearts 4, I’d love to see them collaborate with Nintendo on another fun RPG featuring Mario. Even if that doesn’t happen, I can always revisit the original SNES game and the Switch remake for a nostalgic experience.

Read More

2026-01-17 15:06