It's impossible to be truly objective, but this light-hearted opinion piece celebrates our favorite games by the Japanese developer. Explore the list and share your own favorite Square Enix games in the comments!
Fly through the air in a wingsuit, tie people to exploding barrels, and collapse massive buildings. Just Cause 3 is still one of the best sandboxes around. | © Square Enix
Who would have thought that Disney characters would be a good choice for a JRPG? Nevertheless, Kingdom Heart 2 is the game in the series that does the best job of balancing beautifully designed Disney worlds with a story full of twists and turns. | © Square Enix
Although it was released in 2023, this pixelated HD 2D adventure is reminiscent of the JRPGs of old. Instead of starting our journey with one hero, we experience the different stories of 8 heroes that we have to choose at the beginning. The game still manages to give all the heroes a successful story, and compared to its prequel, the weaknesses have been worked on a lot. | © Square Enix
Instead of the usual JRPG setting, we're going to a sci-fi universe in Star Ocean. We start as either Claude or Rena, which gives us not only our own perspective on the story, but also our own characters and one of 99 endings, depending on our choice. Both the story and the combat system are still unique and shine in the remaster with a unique design. | © Square Enix
On the surface, it’s a familiar story of a character gaining supernatural powers and having to turn back time to deal with them. But it's this very ability that creates a narrative where we're constantly forced to intervene, only to face consequences we didn’t anticipate or want. | © Square Enix
With a series as long-running as Dragon Quest, picking the best game is always a matter of personal preference, but for us, Dragon Quest VIII clearly stands out. The 3D anime style may not dazzle like it did back in the day, but the characters still shine. While the story might not be the deepest, it's the beautifully designed world and its irresistible charm that make the game feel like stepping into a fairy tale. | © Square Enix
Secret of Mana excels in almost every aspect. It offers a vast world for its time, with numerous dungeons to explore, a diverse arsenal of weapons, and a couch co-op mode that allows up to three players. However, the battle system hasn’t aged as well, and we’d love to see a well-executed remaster bring it up to modern standards. | © Square Enix
While some may be put off by the need to play through multiple times to unlock all the endings, Nier: Automata is undeniably one of the standout games of the past decade. It’s not just the story that shines, but especially the gameplay. Few games manage to blend so many different gameplay elements into one experience that remains consistently fun. It's truly one of the best action RPGs of all time. | © Square Enix
This old-school JRPG stands out not only for its unique time-travel setting but also for its unforgettable art style, courtesy of Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama. Even after nearly 30 years, the game holds up remarkably well, with a challenging battle system and a progression system that avoids the need for excessive grinding. | © Square Enix
Opinions on this series may be divided, but what makes Final Fantasy VI truly special is its villain, Kefka, who can easily rival Sephiroth, and its unforgettable cast of characters. Instead of focusing on a single protagonist, the game introduces a diverse ensemble, each with their own unique story that remains etched in our memories. Even today, Final Fantasy VI boasts one of the best stories in JRPG history. | © Square Enix
Once there was Square and Enix, but then they collided to form Square Enix, and now? Well, there are probably few names in this business that can last as long and still have such a good reputation as Square Enix.
