8 Perfect Square Enix RPGs Nobody Remembers

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Square Enix is a well-known game developer and publisher responsible for many of the most popular role-playing games ever made. They created the hugely successful Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises, which now include dozens of games. They’re also famous for classic RPGs like Chrono Trigger that fans still love today.

Square Enix creates many fantastic RPGs, but they’re often known primarily for the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest series. While those are popular for a reason, Square Enix has a wider range of RPGs that deserve more attention – many have scores of 70 or higher on Metacritic and are truly excellent games.

I Am Setsuna Is A Love Letter To Classic RPGs

74 On Metacritic

Whether or not I Am Setsuna is a truly great Square Enix RPG is up for debate. When it first came out in 2016, many players criticized it for being too basic and feeling repetitive. However, that simplicity was actually the point – the game was designed as a heartfelt tribute to classic RPGs from the 90s, offering a way for newer players to experience that golden era of gaming on today’s consoles.

I Am Setsuna is a story set in a cold, frozen world. You play as a character who must accompany Setsuna, a young woman chosen to make a great sacrifice in order to save the world from dangerous monsters.

This game blends gameplay from titles like Chrono Trigger, with its fast-paced battles, and classic Final Fantasy RPG character development. The story also shares similarities with the plot of Final Fantasy 10. While it’s a visually stunning and emotionally resonant story about grief and self-sacrifice, it’s largely been overlooked over time.

Voice Of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars Is Like A TTRPG

75 On Metacritic

Voice of Cards is a fantastic, yet somewhat hidden, RPG from Square Enix that feels like playing a tabletop game. It started as an idea for a mobile game, but grew into a complete title and has since received a couple of sequels. The game was led by experienced developers who previously worked on popular titles like Nier and Drakengard, meaning it wasn’t a small undertaking.

Released in 2021, Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars is a unique game played entirely on a tabletop. Everything – characters, locations, and events – is represented by cards, and you move a single game piece around to explore. As you play, you reveal new parts of the story, battles, and the world itself by flipping over cards one at a time.

This game offered a new and interesting approach to role-playing games for Square Enix. Though some critics found it became repetitive towards the end, it’s a truly excellent game that deserves more attention.

Fantasian: Neo Dimension Is An Odd Mix Of Styles

80 On Metacritic

Originally launched on Apple Arcade in 2021, Fantasian came to consoles and PCs as Neo Dimension in 2024. It was a passion project for Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of Final Fantasy, and composer Nobuo Uematsu, and features characters and RPG elements that longtime fans will enjoy.

Fantasian: Neo Dimension tells the story of a hero who’s lost their memory, set in a kingdom shrouded in darkness. The game features travel between dimensions and a conflict between the forces of Chaos and Order. It even includes a heartwarming side story about a robot, penned by the renowned composer Nobuo Uematsu. Ultimately, it’s a classic RPG experience, and a showcase of Square Enix’s strengths.

The game’s title screen featured a distinctive look, blending 3D characters with detailed, miniature sets. Unfortunately, this style felt a bit strange, and the story wasn’t particularly original, causing Fantasian to be largely forgotten.

Lufia: Curse Of The Sinistrals Combines Elements From Other Genres

80 On Metacritic

The original Lufia game was released in 1993, but it wasn’t published by Square Enix at first. Square Enix became involved in 2010 with the game Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals. Natsume published the game in North America, but Square Enix managed the release in Japan and also participated in its development.

The Lufia games were classic 2D role-playing games, but they stood out by including features from other types of games, like collecting monsters and solving puzzles. Curse of the Sinistrals on the DS was a remake of the original Lufia 2 from 1995. It had updated character designs created by Yusuke Naora, a former artist at Square Enix who also worked as the art director on several Final Fantasy games.

Instead of typical turn-based battles, Curse of the Sinistrals features fast-paced, real-time combat. Paired with a grand story about overcoming powerful gods and a highly customizable character system, it’s a fantastic RPG that deserves more attention.

LostWinds Almost Became Lost Media

81 On Metacritic

LostWinds is a delightful game that almost faded into obscurity. It first came out in 2008 as one of the very first games available on the WiiWare service for Nintendo Wii. The game’s creators at Frontier Developments were inspired by the way wind moves through trees. Players guide a young boy and a wind spirit on a quest to protect the world of Mistralis from a powerful, evil force.

Both the original LostWinds game and its sequel were initially released on iOS, but a later update made them unplayable. Square Enix brought the game back into the spotlight by publishing it in Japan. Then, in 2016, the developers themselves released a PC version, saving it from being completely forgotten. While it’s more of a platformer than a traditional RPG, it’s easy to overlook the fact that Square Enix was ever involved with LostWinds.

Tactics Ogre: Reborn Shaped Tactics Games Forever

84 On Metacritic

Released in 1995, Tactics Ogre is a highly influential tactical RPG that set the standard for many games in the genre. Its lead designer, Yasuno Matsuno, later played a key role in the development of the popular Final Fantasy Tactics.

The first Tactics Ogre wasn’t made by Square Enix, but the 2022 version, Tactics Ogre: Reborn, was. This game has a deep and complex story filled with politics, strategy, and memorable characters. Your choices significantly impact the story, leading to different outcomes and real consequences.

Fans of strategy RPGs still consider Tactics Ogre one of the greatest games in the genre. However, because strategy RPGs aren’t widely popular, it’s not as well-known among general gamers.

Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries Of Honjo

85 On Metacritic

While technically a Visual Novel and not a traditional RPG, Paranormasight shares similarities with the popular Zero Escape series. Like those games, your choices in Paranormasight directly influence the story and what you learn.

The game’s story is told through eerie local myths about a ritual to revive the dead. It challenges players to consider the lengths they would go to in order to bring a loved one back to life.

Both Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo and its sequel, The Mermaid’s Curse, have been well-received by critics and players alike. However, because they’re designed as visual novels, they haven’t reached as wide an audience as Square Enix’s more typical role-playing games.

The World Ends With You Was Peak Nintendo DS

88 On Metacritic

Whenever a new console comes out, game developers always try to push the limits and really show off what it can do. For me, The World Ends With You is a perfect example of a game that nailed it. It just felt made for the Nintendo DS, which is crazy considering it came out three years after the DS was already around!

This game stands out from typical Square Enix titles with its edgy, urban pop aesthetic. Players controlled the action by using the DS stylus to draw symbols on the touch screen, which unlocked the abilities of collectible pins. It really took advantage of the DS hardware, incorporating features like voice and breath input through the microphone, and even a unique mechanic that required closing the handheld completely.

This game is set in present-day Shibuya, Tokyo, where players compete against different teams in a high-stakes game that can alter reality. A follow-up game released in 2021 continued the story on gaming consoles. Both the original RPG from Square Enix and its sequel were highly praised, and a remake even came out on the Nintendo Switch in 2018. However, the initial version for the Nintendo DS isn’t very well remembered now.

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2026-04-26 03:45