Must-Play Square Enix Games That Are Immediately Fun

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Summary

  • Square Enix, formed from Enix and Squaresoft, created an RPG empire in 2003.
  • Bushido Blade 2 offers accessible, one-hit-kill fighting game excitement for both experts and novices.
  • Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake boasts addictive gameplay and a classic class system, making it ideal for RPG players.

1975 saw the launch of Enix, which eventually gained notoriety when it introduced the world to its first Dragon Quest game in 1986. At the same time, Squaresoft was born and while they had been making games previously, their first significant triumph arrived in Japan in 1987 with Final Fantasy. The two companies eventually merged in 2003, forming a role-playing game powerhouse known as Square Enix.

Collectively, Square Enix offers numerous franchises and standalone games. While it might take quite some time to complete them all, these games by Square Enix are highly recommended for play, not only due to their high quality but also because they offer an immersive experience right from the get-go, with minimal setup required.

8. Bushido Blade 2

A Showdown In Japan

Bushido Blade 2 stands among Square Enix’s top-tier fighting games, but remains confined to the PlayStation 1 platform. In this combat game, players select from a variety of ninjas, samurai, and weapon specialists, as well as numerous weapons, to engage in intense battles within an arena setting.

The twist is that a single blow can lead to the character’s demise, an element that contemporary game developers have incorporated into games such as Divekick. Consequently, matches in Bushido Blade 2 become more thrilling since it offers an enjoyable experience for both seasoned fighting game enthusiasts and beginners.

7. Chrono Trigger

Time Well Paced

Chrono Trigger, when released on SNES, showcased an engaging RPG narrative that largely avoided unnecessary content. Despite including side quests, it was more linear in structure. However, this didn’t detract from the game as its time-traveling plotline effectively concealed the limited exploration options at the start of the game.

The battle system was equally groundbreaking, allowing characters to combine forces for attacks and encountering monsters within dungeons. Moreover, there were no random encounters on the global map, setting it apart as a favorable choice for newcomers in the role-playing game genre. From the initial scenes at The Millennial Fair, players will find themselves instantly captivated.

6. Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake

A Classic Class System

If you’re new to Square Enix’s collection of class-based RPGs, such as “Final Fantasy Tactics” and “Bravely Default 2”, I’d recommend starting with “Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake”. This game is a modern take on an original title that debuted on the NES. That means the narrative and gameplay mechanics may not be as complex as some of their more recent releases.

Nevertheless, the enhanced features and class system known as Vocations in Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake make it extremely engaging, allowing players to fully develop their party members and share skills among them. It’s an authentic RPG experience that offers immediate gameplay for those eager to dive right in.

5. Dungeon Siege 3

Grab A Friend For The Couch

In the Dungeon Siege series, Dungeon Siege 3 stands out as the title that Square Enix published following their acquisition of the rights, and it’s widely appreciated due to Obsidian Entertainment’s involvement in its development. A key factor contributing to its enjoyment is the integration of multiplayer mode, allowing for two players to play together on a single couch or up to four players to join forces online.

This game was reminiscent of the classic loot-collecting RPG like Diablo, and its simple hack-and-slash style was enough to draw many players in. Fortunately, this beloved Xbox 360 title remains accessible for current console gamers as it’s backwards compatible with newer Xbox systems.

4. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Try Not To Smile

The second installment in a planned trilogy for Final Fantasy 7 is titled Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Square Enix has pulled out all the stops to make it stand out. Following a short recap, the game transitions into an expansive open-world setting where players can control five distinct characters from the beginning.

This game is packed with high-energy action sequences, numerous optional missions, and mini-games that are some of the finest in the franchise. It effectively combines the dramatic aspects of the narrative with lighthearted moments to maintain a cheerful atmosphere. For instance, the characters might transform into frogs or toy figurines, and there’s even a beauty contest among the girls trying to win Cloud’s affections.

3. Kingdom Hearts 3

Finally, An Entry That Starts Quickly

The Kingdom Hearts series is known for taking a gradual pace between its main installments and spin-offs, but Kingdom Hearts 3 successfully corrects this issue. Players will immediately immerse themselves in the action alongside Sora, starting off in Olympus. This opening introduces players to fresh gameplay aspects such as party adjustments, vertical movement capabilities, weapon modifications, and amusement park level skills.

This game boasts some of the smoothest action sequences among all the titles in the series, and it features iconic Disney landscapes, ranging from the world of Frozen to that of Tangled. Although new players might struggle with the storyline, there’s no question that this is the most swiftly engaging game within the series.

2. Super Mario RPG: Legend Of Seven Stars

Mario Like You’ve Never Experienced Before

In a fresh twist, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars marked the debut of Mario in a role-playing game (RPG) setting, skillfully avoiding conventional RPG elements that might have slowed down the gameplay experience. The captivating storyline unfolds swiftly as Mario embarks on an urgent quest to gather seven mystical stars, thereby restoring wishes to the world.

The fighting mechanism in this game incorporates common features found in popular franchises, such as leaping onto enemies and earning time-based rewards. Playing through it quickly is still quite manageable whether you’re playing the original SNES version or the remake on Switch. So, any dedicated Mario fan who hasn’t already experienced the classic game of Super Mario RPG has no more reasons to postpone it further.

1. The World Ends With You

Getting Past Death

Initially, gamers might find it hard to take a liking to Neku, the main character in “The World Ends with You“, but they can certainly appreciate the gameplay without any difficulty. This game boasts one of the more distinctive combat systems that effectively leverages the touch screen and dual-screen features of the DS device.

In this game, players control Neku using the bottom screen, executing his unique pin attacks with various touch gestures. Meanwhile, characters in the party change throughout the story and are controlled using the D-Pad and face buttons on the top screen. Despite sounding complicated, it’s actually easy to pick up. Additionally, the remastered version for Switch has done away with the dual-screen mode, streamlining gameplay.

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2025-04-22 13:58