On February 29, 2024, Square Enix released its newest Final Fantasy title with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Needless to say, Final Fantasy has been a best-selling franchise since 1987, when the very first game hit shelves. Since Rebirth has taken off, many gamers are once again turning their eyes to the video game developers who brought the game to life. Final Fantasy might be one of Square Enix’s most famous franchises, but this video game company has a large catalog of games worth playing.
Square Enix Co., Ltd. was originally formed in 2003 when Square Co., Ltd. merged with Enix Corporation. Square Enix is a Japanese video game publisher, but it’s known for more than just video games. The company also releases merchandise, manga, and arcade units. Square Enix is mostly known for its incredibly immersive role-playing video games, but it dips its toes into plenty of gaming genres. To this day, Square Enix is one of the most recognizable and respected game developers in the industry, and for good reason.
10 Secret Of Mana Broke The Mold
-
Secret of Mana
was released on August 6, 1993 -
The game was originally called
Seiken Densetsu 2
in Japan -
It’s a sequel to
Seiken Densetsu
(1991)
Secret of Mana is an action role-playing video game that takes place in a fictional fantasy world. This world has an ethereal power known as “mana” that has been manipulated to create a warship called the Mana Fortress. Disturbed and angry by the mortals’ audacity, the Gods of the world sent colossal monsters to deal with the rising threat. The devastation that the war between the Gods and the Mana Fortress cause is so monumental, that it spreads across the entire world. The game focuses on three main characters: a young boy, a girl, and a sprite.
What makes Secret of Mana such a great game is the innovative gameplay. For the time, most RPGs were turn-based games that restricted the player. The game is played from a top-down perspective, but it implements a real-time battle mechanic that gives the player much more control and freedom over how they play. Secret of Mana is a trailblazer in its genre. Without this game, many other popular RPGs would never have come to fruition.
9 Chrono Trigger Was A Huge Success
Chrono Trigger Had Its Own OVA and It Is Utterly Fantastic
Chrono Trigger, considered one of the greatest video games of all time, had a supremely fun and silly OVA tie-in that many fans never knew about.
-
Chrono Trigger
was released on March 11, 1995 -
The game was originally called
Kurono Torigā
in Japan -
It is the first game in the
Chrono
series
Chrono Trigger is a role-playing video game originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). The game received an enhanced “remaster” in 2008 that became just as popular as the original release. In Chrono Trigger, players control the main character, Crono, and his companions. In total, there are six standard playable characters the player can utilize in their journey across different regions and time periods.
The game starts in the Kingdom of Guardia’s Millennial Fair, where Lucca shows off her new invention, a teleporter that can send people anywhere they want. Unfortunately, the teleporter malfunctions during the demonstration and opens up a time portal instead. Lucca’s volunteer, Marle, disappears into the portal, forcing Crono and Lucca to venture on a journey through time to rescue her. Chrono Trigger was an ambitious game for its time because it allowed players to navigate prehistoric times, the Middle Ages, the apocalypse, and even the end of time.
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger may be one of the oldest entries on this list however there is nothing outdated about this gaming experience. Chrono Trigger is developed by the same minds that brought us the famed Final Fantasy series. It’s no surprise that yet another RPG franchise of theirs would receive widespread acclaim. The game was first released on the SNES in 1995. Today the most accessible version of the game is the Nintendo DS port.
8 Dragon Quest XI Is One Of The Series’ Best
Square Enix is known for massive role-playing video game franchises like Final Fantasy. The original Dragon Quest (1986) predates the original Final Fantasy (1987) by one year. Although Dragon Quest might not have reached the popularity and worldwide fame that Final Fantasy has enjoyed, Dragon Quest is still ongoing today and beloved by many gamers around the world. In Dragon Quest 11, the kingdom of Dundrasil is invaded. Monsters destroy Dundrasil, leaving only one survivor.
Players control the main protagonist, the surviving child of Dundrasil. The protagonist was only a baby when the invasion happened. He survived by drifting down a river away from his home, where he was found and adopted by a family in Cobblestone Village. Amber, the hero’s adopted mother, tells him about his origins after his coming-of-age ceremony. The protagonist sets off to meet with King Carnelian of Heliodor, but he finds himself in prison. While locked away, his true quest begins.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is a distilled, energetic, elegant epic that takes the traditional dungeon crawlers and masterfully refines the formula. On the surface, Dragon Quest XI seems to be a simple return to the single-player RPG format after the preceding Dragon Quest X‘s deviation into MMO territory. But that simplicity is a purposefully-crafted facade that melts away after a little time in the immense, complex world. Dragon Quest isn’t simple – it’s pure.
- Franchise
- Dragon Quest
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4 , PC
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- ESRB
- T
- How Long To Beat
- 56 Hours
- Metascore
- 86
7 Kingdom Hearts Is Still Beloved By Fans
10 Strongest Kingdom Hearts Characters, According To Lore
Kingdom Hearts lore reveals the true strength of characters like Sora and Vanitas, and many surprises.
-
Kingdom Hearts
was released on March 28, 2002 -
It is the original game in the
Kingdom Hearts
series - The series is a collaboration with The Walt Disney Company
Kingdom Hearts stands out from most of Square Enix’s other games because it brings the magic of Disney into the fold. Players control the main protagonist, Sora, from a third-person perspective. Sora is usually joined by lovable Disney characters Donald Duck and Goofy. Kingdom Hearts is an action role-playing video game, and it won fans over instantly by blending Final Fantasy-inspired gameplay mechanics with Disney characters they know and love.
The original Kingdom Hearts isn’t the best game in the franchise, but it did give birth to a franchise that is still deeply loved today. The game begins with Sora and his two friends, Riku and Kairi, planning a voyage to explore new worlds together. Unfortunately, on the night they plan to leave, the Destiny Islands are attacked by the Heartless. During the invasion, Sora’s friends go missing. Sora manages to save his home with the Keyblade, but his battle against the Heartless is only just beginning.
Kingdom Hearts
The series is a collaboration between Square Enix and Disney. KINGDOM HEARTS follows the main protagonist Sora, a Keyblade wielder, as he travels to many Disney worlds with Donald and Goofy to stop the Heartless invasion by sealing each world’s keyhole and restore peace to the realms.
- Released
- March 28, 2002
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG , Adventure , Hack and Slash
- Sequel(s)
- Kingdom Hearts II , Kingdom Hearts III , Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories , Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days
6 Life Is Strange Received High Praise For Its Diversity
-
Life is Strange
was released on January 29, 2015 -
It is the first game of the
Life is Strange
series - The game was originally released through five episodic installments
Life is Strange is an episodic adventure game that stands out from some of Square Enix’s other franchises because it’s more of an interactive narrative than games like Kingdom Hearts and Chrono Trigger. This game allows the player to play as Max Caulfield, a photography student with uncanny abilities. During the story, Max realizes she can rewind time. This gives her the power to change things that have already happened, but every decision she makes changes the world around her.
Several games came out in the mid-2010s that heavily focused on the Butterfly Effect, a phenomenon that describes how a small change in time can have catastrophic repercussions. The horror game Until Dawn also implemented the Butterfly Effect to justify how the player’s choices would change the game’s outcome. What makes Life is Strange stand out, though, is how it approaches certain mature and even taboo topics. The game did receive some criticism, including some offensive language and adhering to the “kill your gays” trope, but overall, the positive impact Life is Strange had is unquestionable.
Life is Strange
Maxine “Max” Caulfield returns to her hometown of Arcadia Bay, Oregon, where she witnesses childhood friend Chloe Price being shot by Nathan Prescott. The incident triggers Max’s abilities to rewind time, allowing her to save Chloe from Nathan.
- Platform(s)
- Xbox One , Xbox 360 , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , Windows , iOS , Android , macOS , Linux
- Released
- January 29, 2015
- Developer(s)
- DON’T NOD , Feral Interactive
- Genre(s)
- Indie , LGBTQ+ , Mystery , single player , Adventure , Action
- ESRB
- M17+
- Prequel(s)
- Life Is Strange: Before the Storm
- Sequel(s)
- Life is Strange 2 , Life is Strange: True Colors (PS5)
5 NieR: Automata Needs To Be Played Multiple Times
NieR: Automata Ver1.1a Adapts the Games’ Endings in the Cutest Way
NieR: Automata had several endings, and the anime is adapting them in hilariously cute ways involving puppetry, comedy and even riding boars.
-
NieR: Automata
was released on February 23, 2017 -
It is a direct sequel to
Nier
(2010) -
The
Nier
series is a spin-off and a sequel to the
Drakengard
series
NieR: Automata is an action role-playing video game that takes place during a proxy war between androids and Machines. Humanity created the androids while the Machines were brought to life by an alien species. The Machines (also known as Machine Lifeforms) are sentient robots that act as the game’s antagonists. NieR: Automata features hack-and-slash combat woven through the role-playing mechanics. The most interesting part about the game is that the player won’t get the entire story in a single play-through. They’ll need to complete the game multiple times to understand everything.
NieR: Automata is an open-world game that allows the player to play as three different main characters. The first protagonist introduced is a YoRHa combat android named 2B. Two more androids join her on her quest: 9S, a scanner android, and A2, an out-of-date attack android. Each time the player plays the game, the story is told from a different perspective. The first playthrough will be through 2B’s eyes and the second is told through 9S’ eyes. Since there is so much to gain from replaying this game, players have lots to do.
NieR: Automata
After trading fisticuffs with a Transformer, cartwheeling around a bullet-spewing tank controlled by evil clowns, and using a moose to buck your way through killer robots, it’s safe to say that there are very few games quite like Nier: Automata. At different times it’s a hack-and-slash, an RPG, a shoot-’em-up, a brawler, and even a text adventure. But no matter which style it is at any given moment, this dazzling hybrid delivers 30-plus hours of fantastically fun action, remarkable locations, and a story so weird we doubt you’ll forget it anytime soon.
4 Final Fantasy VII Is One Of The Most Beloved In The Series
Final Fantasy VII (1997) / Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020)
-
The original
Final Fantasy VII
was released on January 31, 1997 -
Final Fantasy VII Remake
was released on April 10, 2020 -
The remake got its own sequel with
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
, which was released earlier this year (2024)
When it comes to Final Fantasy games, it’s difficult to decide which game comes out on top. Every game is connected by the universe it takes place in, but the franchise covers many different eras and characters. It partly comes down to personal preference. Fans who love Cloud and Tifa are going to care about certain titles over the rest of the series. That said, most fans of the franchise can agree that FFVII and the remake are two of the best Final Fantasy games in the series.
Both the original and the remake are role-playing video games that follow the main protagonist, Cloud Strife. Cloud is a mercenary who ultimately gets pulled into a quest to stop Shinra from destroying the world with the planet’s life essence. To put an end to Shinra, Cloud joins AVALANCHE, an eco-terrorist organization. Cloud and his allies inevitably cross paths with Sephiroth, who becomes the party’s main target. Players get to play as Cloud and several of his friends and companions throughout the story.
Final Fantasy VII
An evil and powerful corporation is slowly draining life from the planet in an effort to control the universe. However, a small rebellion, known as AVALANCHE, has vowed to put an end to this destructive plan. You take on the role of Cloud Strife, an ex-soldier of the evil Shinra corporation, who joins AVALANCHE as a selfish mercenary, but becomes much more involved in this mysterious epic of friendship, love, and the battle between good and evil.
- Released
- January 31, 1997
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG , JRPG
- ESRB
- Teen (T)
3 The Tomb Raider Reboot Trilogy Resurrects A Gaming Legend
Netflix Releases First Look For Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
Netflix drops a first look at its upcoming anime series, Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft.
-
Tomb Raider
was released on March 5, 2013 -
Tomb Raider
2013 is the 10th main installment in the
Tomb Raider
franchise - It is also a reboot of the franchise
When thinking about iconic video game characters, few come to mind faster than Lara Croft. Lara Croft is the main protagonist of the Tomb Raider franchise, which started in 1996 when the original game first hit shelves. Since 1996, the franchise has put out over a dozen main games, dozens of spin-off games, comics, movies, and crossovers. Just a few weeks ago, Lara even took the top spot in the BAFTA’s “Top 20 Iconic Video Game Characters.” In 2013, Crystal Dynamics and Square Enix launched a Tomb Raider reboot that was, in a word, incredible.
This action-adventure game portrays a young and eager Lara who has just finished her degree and wants to make her mark on the world. This game gave fans a look into Lara’s origin story that no other Tomb Raider game ever managed to do. It wasn’t just a Tomb Raider game, it told the story of how Lara Croft became the Tomb Raider. It spawned two sequels, Rise of the Tomb Raider (2015) and Shadow of the Tomb Raider (2018), both of which were equally iconic. This reboot series created a solid new foundation for Lara’s journey going forward.
Tomb Raider
Franchise that follows Lara Croft, a fictional archeologist, while she travels around the world in epic quests for ancient artifacts.
- Created by
- Core Design
- First Film
- Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
- Upcoming TV Shows
- Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft
- Video Game(s)
- Lara Croft Go , Lara Croft: Relic Run , Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris , Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light , Tomb Raider 1-3 Remastered Starring Lara Croft
2 Kingdom Hearts II Is A Series Standout
-
Kingdom Hearts II
was released on December 22, 2005 -
It is a direct sequel to the original
Kingdom Hearts - Despite the name, it’s the third game in the series
Kingdom Hearts II takes place after Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. Like the earlier games, Kingdom Hearts II is an action role-playing video game that continues to explore Sora’s ongoing story. Like the games that came before it, it still combines beloved Disney characters with iconic Square Enix properties. This game begins with Sora, Goofy, and Donald sleeping for an entire year to regain their memories. The game continues the trio’s story and occasionally brings in new companions, like Fa Mulan and Captain Jack Sparrow.
The Kingdom Hearts franchise has a loving and loyal fan base, so it’s difficult to say which game comes out on top. Kingdom Hearts III, for example, combined the mechanics of the previous games and addressed fan complaints to make a smoother experience. Most of the titles in the series receive high praise from players and critics, but Kingdom Hearts II is usually the first title a fan will call back on fondly. Kingdom Hearts might have started the series, but II really let the game’s potential shine.
1 Fans Consider Final Fantasy VI To Be The Best Of The Best
-
Final Fantasy VI
was released on April 2, 1994 - A remastered version of the game came out on February 23, 2022
- It is the sixth main installment in the franchise
Like Kingdom Hearts and Dragon Quest, the Final Fantasy franchise is so massive that it’s hard to narrow down the best game in the series. Since the series is still extremely popular and ongoing, each game gets new competition at a rapid pace. That said, Final Fantasy VI is considered by many critics, gamers, and fans to be the best Final Fantasy game ever made. FFVI is set in a steampunk-inspired world, which is vastly different from the medieval settings of the previous games. FFVI also has 14 playable characters in total.
Players start on a half-human, half-Esper character named Terra Branford. The beginning of the game depicts Terra’s involvement in an Imperial mission to capture a powerful Esper. Terra finds the Esper, but when she connects with it, something bizarre happens. Terra faints while a magical reaction between her and the Esper kills the rest of Terra’s party. When Terra wakes up, she learns of a terrible truth. The Empire has been controlling her with a device called the “Slave Crown” and she has been enslaved by the Empire for as long as she can remember.
