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.
Enix opened its doors in 1975 and would gain infamy when it released the first Dragon Quest game in 1986. Squaresoft officially began in that same year, coincidentally, and even though they made games before that, their first big success came a year later in Japan with Final Fantasy. Then the two merged in 2003 and created an RPG empire called Square Enix.
The 10 Best Selling Square Enix Franchises Of All-Time, Ranked
There have been some seriously amazing franchises from Square Enix over the years. Here's a look at the best-selling of all time, ranked.
Together, they have a lot of franchises and individual games under their belt. It can take a long time to go through them all, but these Square Enix are must plays, not just because of their quality, but because they don't require much setup and are great right from the start.
8 Bushido Blade 2
A Showdown In Japan
Bushido Blade 2
- Released
- October 29, 1998
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Light Weight
- Genre(s)
- Fighting
Bushido Blade 2 is one of the better fighting games that Square Enix has had the privilege of putting out, and yet it’s still trapped on the PS1. Players can grab an assortment of ninjas, samurai, and weapon experts, along with a plethora of weapons, to duke it out in this arena fighter.
The catch is that one hit will kill the player, which has been followed up by modern developers in games like Divekick. This makes matches in Bushido Blade 2 more exciting, as it’s accessible and fun for hardcore fighting game experts and novices alike.
7 Chrono Trigger
Time Well Paced
Chrono Trigger
- Released
- March 11, 1995
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Chrono Trigger was ahead of its time on the SNES, featuring a well-paced RPG story without much in the way of filler. While there were still side quests, it was a more linear game, but that didn’t really matter as the time-traveling story masked the lack of exploration early on.
The battle system was also innovative, as characters could team up for attacks, and monsters appeared in dungeons. Plus, there were no random battles on the world map, making it one of the better beginner RPGs to start with. Right from the first moments during The Millennial Fair, players will be hooked.
6 Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake
A Classic Class System
Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake
- Released
- November 14, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Square Enix has a lot of class-based RPGs under their belt, like Final Fantasy Tactics and Bravely Default 2, but Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake is a great one to start with. It’s a remake of a game that was first released on the NES, meaning that the story and gameplay concepts aren’t that advanced.
However, it’s still a highly addictive game thanks to Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake’s upgrades and class system called Vocations, which allows players to max party members out and share abilities between them. It’s a classic RPG through and through for players looking to get into the gameplay straight away.
5 Dungeon Siege 3
Grab A Friend For The Couch
Dungeon Siege 3
- Released
- June 17, 2011
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG, Adventure, Shooter, Fighting
Dungeon Siege 3 is the one game in the Dungeon Siege series that Square Enix published after getting the rights, and it was a good one, thanks to Obsidian Entertainment’s part in developing it. What makes this game fun is the inclusion of multiplayer, as two players could team up on the couch or four players could get together online.
It was a fairly basic hack-and-slash looter RPG akin to Diablo, and for some, that gameplay hook is all they need to get invested, and they can right away with this game. Thankfully, this Xbox 360 darling is still accessible for console players as it’s backwards compatible with modern Xbox systems.
4 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Try Not To Smile
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Released
- February 29, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the second remake in what will be a Final Fantasy 7 trilogy, and Square Enix went all out to make it a memorable one. After a brief flashback, the open-world environment opens up, and players can play as five different characters from the start.
It’s full of intense action, tons of side quests, and the mini-games are some of the best in the series. Plus, it balances the serious parts of the story with goofy interjections to keep the vibes jovial, from the party turning into frogs and action figures to the girls competing in a bikini contest to win Cloud’s affection.
3 Kingdom Hearts 3
Finally, An Entry That Starts Quickly
Kingdom Hearts 3
- Released
- January 25, 2019
WHERE TO PLAY
The Kingdom Hearts series is notorious for its slow starts between mainline entries and spinoffs, but Kingdom Hearts 3 finally gets it right. Players will get right into the action with Sora in Olympus, which introduces players to new gameplay elements like party tweaks, verticality skills, weapon transformations, and amusement park level abilities.
It has some of the most fluid action in the series, and some memorable Disney worlds too, from Frozen to Tangled. While newcomers will be absolutely lost when it comes to the story, there’s no denying that this is the best game in the series that gets right to it so fast.
2 Super Mario RPG: Legend Of Seven Stars
Mario Like You’ve Never Experienced Before
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars
- Released
- May 13, 1996
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E For Everyone
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was the first game that moved Mario into an RPG format, and it didn’t bog players down with typical RPG tropes. The narrative flows well, as Mario is immediately thrown into a chaotic hunt for seven magic stars to return wishes to the world.
The combat system borrowed some typical franchise elements to make things more active, like jumping on enemies and getting time-based bonuses. It’s still a breeze to get through in a few sittings on the SNES or the Switch remake, Super Mario RPG, so no Mario fan has any excuses to delay on this classic any longer.
1 The World Ends With You
Getting Past Death
The World Ends With You
- Released
- July 27, 2007
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Players may struggle to like Neku, the protagonist of The World Ends with You, right off the bat, but they shouldn’t have a problem with the gameplay. It has one of the more unique combat systems that utilizes the DS’ touch screen and dual-screen setup well.
Players controlled Neku on the bottom screen and used his pin-based skills with various touch motions, and the party member on the top screen, which changed between story arcs, was controlled with the D-Pad and face buttons. It may sound complex, but it was easy to learn. Plus, the remaster on Switch got rid of the dual-screen mode and made things flow more smoothly.
8 Most Fun Final Fantasy Games, Ranked
Let the good times roll with these cheerfully chaotic Final Fantasy games.