Summary
- Life is Strange - An emotional story-driven game with time travel & impactful choices.
- Parasite Eve - Underrated action RPG with a compelling narrative & memorable gameplay.
- NieR: Automata - Engrossing narrative, multiple endings, and imaginative gameplay.
Square Enix is one of the most notable video game companies around. Despite the ups and downs it has endured in modern times, the company has still done a great job of letting players enjoy great story-driven experiences in a class of their own.
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While the bulk of this company's offerings are developed in Japan, some great Square Enix games were developed as a result of their expansion in the West. It's a shame that this business endeavor was axed, but fans can rest assured that they can still enjoy some great narratives in the best Square Enix games around.
8 Life Is Strange
This Story-Driven Title Boasts An Emotional Adventure For The Ages
Life is Strange
- Released
- January 30, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood, Intense Violence, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
There's a reason why Square Enix has prioritized Life is Strange over its other IPs in recent years. The first game is one of the best story-driven adventure games players can enjoy with a compelling Rewind feature to encourage experimentation and unique puzzle design.
Max's newfound powers end up being both a boon and a curse as the responsibility of saving Arcadia weighs heavily on her shoulders. This culminates in one of the most devastating endings where players are forced to make the toughest choice in Life in Strange by a country mile.
7 Parasite Eve
The Plot Revolves Around Mitochondria And The Evolution Of The Perfect Being At All Costs
Parasite Eve
- Released
- September 9, 1998
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ due to Animated Violence, Mature Sexual Themes
- Genre(s)
- Horror, Action RPG
Parasite Eve is one of the most underrated SquareSoft games that went against most JRPG trends at the time. Instead of boasting an epic narrative that could span hundreds of hours, Parasite Eve focuses on a short and memorable ride with an engrossing story that is well-paced.
Players who know what they're doing can complete this game in under ten hours as they hunt Eve down and prevent her destructive plan from coming to fruition. This short and sweet JRPG is perfect for players who want to enjoy a focused narrative that's set in New York during the late 90s.
6 Marvel's Guardians Of The Galaxy
A Surprisingly Great Intergalactic Adventure Featuring Everyone's Beloved Heroes
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy
- Released
- October 26, 2021
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Language, Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy was written off before it even came out, with the poor reception to Marvel's Avengers leaving a bad taste in players' mouths. So, it's easy to see why so many fans were pleased by the incredible quality of this video game, especially from a narrative standpoint.
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Quill and his buddies have great performances as they embark on a grand intergalactic journey with several mind-bending set pieces. Players may have second thoughts about jumping into this experience, only to be left pleased by the quality of the storytelling coupled with some incredible art design.
5 Final Fantasy 6
An Epic Plot Where The Heroes Must Lose Before They Win
Final Fantasy 6
- Released
- October 11, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Out of all the Final Fantasy games, many people consider the sixth game to be the best one of the lot when all of its elements are taken into consideration. The epic scale of the plot coupled with non-linear gameplay and a wealth of playable characters lets players enjoy an epic journey that embodies the spirit of a sandbox game in the latter half.
While the narrative takes a backseat to the nonlinear gameplay in the World of Ruin, that should take nothing away from the laser focus of the plot during the World of Balance. It sets the stage for an epic final fight as players build up their party and unleash an assault on Kefka's Tower to end the rule of the mad jester once and for all.
4 NieR: Automata
The Engrossing Narrative Structure Makes The Most Of The Video Game Medium
NieR: Automata
- Released
- March 7, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
The amazing gameplay of NieR: Automata attracted a ton of attention, only for fans to be wowed by the game's incredible plot. The strengths of Automata's narrative turned Yoko Taro into a household name, which was a long time coming for fans of this then-underrated developer.
The focus on different endings and new characters turns a new playthrough into an integral part of the game's experience. This, coupled with the imaginative gameplay, ensures why NieR: Automata is an amazing action RPG more fans need to check out.
3 Dragon Quest 11: Echoes Of An Elusive Age
An Epic Story That Never Lets Up
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
- Released
- September 4, 2018
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Simulated Gambling, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
After a lengthy wait, Dragon Quest finally attained the worldwide reputation it deserved with the release of its eleventh mainline entire. It was a huge success for the series, with players falling in love with the Luminary's adventures and the many colorful characters he encounters during his journey.
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The best part about Dragon Quest 11 is how its narrative never stops reaching greater heights. Even after what should be a climactic encounter, the game soldiers onward by expanding the scope once again. This will lead players to the "final" boss and the end credits... Only to realize that the post-game content has more plot revelations for fans to uncover.
2 Chrono Trigger
A Time-Travelling Story With Incredible Pacing And Memorable Set Pieces
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Chrono Trigger is hailed by many as one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, and for good reason. The game wastes no time in dropping players into a captivating world that seems as charming as can be, only for a massive intergalactic parasite to land on the world as it slowly starts sucking up its life force.
It's up to Crono and his allies to travel through time and acquire the strength they need to take out this massive foe. Fans will notice just how tightly woven and expertly paced Chrono Trigger's narrative is, giving them no end of things to focus on as they soldier onward to reach a dramatic conclusion.
1 Final Fantasy 10
Arguably Boasts The Best Story Seen In A Final Fantasy Game
Final Fantasy 10
- Released
- December 17, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
In terms of pure storytelling, Final Fantasy 10 is the best game in the series bar none. The narrative setup is an engaging one that lets players feel just as clueless as Tidus, allowing for information to be funneled naturally that explains the intricacies surrounding the world of Spira.
This is accompanied by a major revelation that recontextualizes everything the player has been doing up till that point. This forces Tidus to do everything in his power to save Spira, even if he isn't able to spend time with his beloved after all the trials and tribulations he faces.
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