Enix started in 1975, while Square started in 1986. Two large Japanese companies on their own, but a huge conglomerate together after they merged in 2003. In their combined library, they have games that will entertain gamers for years if they could only play Enix, Square or Square Enix games.
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With tons of RPG games under their belt, it's no surprise that Square Enix has made a lot of very challenging titles, even on standard difficulty.
That said, anyone who doesn't have time to go through their libraries, this is the next best thing. These are the ten essential games that showcase a variety of titles from interplanetary missions to battling monsters in the afterlife. They will be ranked on their overall quality, taking into account graphics, replay value, combat, music, stories and more.
Triangle strategy
HD-2D tactics
Triangle strategy is a good modern example and a fun spiritual successor to Final Fantasy Tacticsbut with a little more ambition. The characters are still class-based and move around on grid-based tiles, but there's more to it.
Instead of changing classes, each character is unique, from ladder builders to hay riders, all of which contribute to the strategy of Triangle strategy. Additionally, with a branching path and a choice system, every player can have their own unique playthrough when entering this HD-2D tactical RPG.
Star Ocean: The Second Story R
A classic remade
Star Ocean: The Second Story R is another HD-2D style game and the second remake of what started out as a PS1 action RPG. Players can choose to be a space cadet, Claude, or a mage stuck on a fantasy planet, Rena, but either way, the two stories will connect.
Combat is real-time, but players can pause to initiate different strategies if they need to. It is a sweeping epic that combines the best of both genres, fantasy and sci-fi, updated for a modern audience who missed the several previous versions and the one Star Ocean RPG fans should play.
Super Mario RPG: Legend Of The Seven Stars
Beyond Charming
Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was made by Square for Nintendo on the SNES, which is a collaboration that couldn't have been better. They went all out for Mario's first RPG, which incorporated platforming into exploration and combat.
Instead of a typical turn-based system, players can actively block attacks or improve their own. With classic characters set in a familiar world, Square gave the game enough of a twist with its own originality to help it stand out, and Switch fans might even play a remake, even if the SNES original has more charm.
The world ends with you
Busting To The Beat
The world ends with you uses the DS in perhaps the best possible way, more so than any other action RPG on the handheld. As players explore the alternate side of Shibuya, they will fight battles on the bottom screen with the hero Neku, tapping and sweeping attacks.
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On the top screen, players can use the face buttons to attack enemies with Neku's spinning partner. The combat system wouldn't be half as good without the J-Pop and hip-hop music, plus the story, while slow at times, features an evolving cast of charismatic heroes, rivals and enemies that are unforgettable.
NieR: Automata
Become like gods
NieR: Automata is not an easy game to understand as it takes multiple playthroughs to get to the meat of it all. On the surface, it's a smart action game set on a post-apocalyptic version of Earth where battle androids try to destroy the remaining robot invaders that took over the planet.
Haunting music, fluid combat, and an intricate story make this one of the best action games out there, thanks in part to PlatinumGames' collaboration. It can be wistful at times, but some of the best RPGs are the ones that make players think.
Kingdom Hearts 2
My friends are my power
Kingdom Hearts 2 may have a slow start, but once things get back to Sora, players will forget all about the beginning. It's an improvement in every way with a deeper story, more original than just regurgitating Disney content, and the battle system is where things really shined.
Transforming between different Keyblade modes or combining attacks with partners helped make combat feel more engaging. The graphics still look amazing even with the PS2 version, but there's no excuse not to play the more accessible HD version now.
Vagrant story
A Gothic Dungeon Crawl
Vagrant story is a PS1 turn-based hybrid that Square fans haven't been able to forget, even if it's not easy to play today. The game takes place mostly in one location, although the area evolves within, much like exploring Dracula's castle in Castlevania series.
As Ashley, a knight, players can encounter enemies in real time with the ability to dodge. On their turn, players can pause the game to select a monster to attack, or a specific region in some cases. This dark fantasy is challenging, haunting, and still one of the most unique Square games decades later.
Chrono Trigger
A miraculous team
Chrono Trigger was a collaboration between the best minds at Square and Enix at the time, which turned into a game way ahead of its time. Monsters appeared in dungeons, combat was turn-based but fast, and there were no enemies on the world map.
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The combination system between characters in battle was also clever, along with all the music. Time travel was also influential between the different eras, changing the layout of the map to show how certain choices could affect the future. On all levels, Chrono Trigger is a masterpiece, and if it weren't for some more historic franchises, it might be number one.
Dragon Quest 11: Echoes Of An Elusive Age
The Luminary shines brightly
Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age is the latest game in the series, and while there are some archaic things about it, it's the classic mentality that helps it stand out. As the nameless Luminary, players will travel the land to gather a party to stop an evil lord from destroying the world.
It's a stereotypical plot, but the charisma of the party and the strange NPCs players will meet along the way can help the story with its flaws. The battle system has a classic turn-based design, with four characters all ready to give it their all. With a strong production value and a moderate challenge, this should be the first Dragon Quest the players take up.
Final Fantasy 9
Once again for good measure
Final Fantasy 9 represents everything that does Final Fantasy a classic franchise, elevated to a perfect degree, along with Square as a company. The fantasy world feels alive thanks to the big cities teeming with races of all kinds. The adventure is somewhat clichéd with warring kingdoms, crystals and androgynously dressed villains, but the main cast is some of the strongest in the series.
Combat is turn-based, with each character representing a classic job like Vivi the Black Mage. There is a lot to say about Final Fantasy 9but perhaps it's best experienced through gameplay rather than words, because even though it looks dated, it's better than many modern RPGs on so many levels.
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Hocus, pocus and focus on these upcoming games that are all about their creative magic system, be it in co-op or single player.
