More Than Final Fantasy – The Best Modern Square Enix Games Outside the Final Fantasy Franchise

For RPG fans and non-RPG fans alike, legendary Japanese studio Square Enix is synonymous with the genre, having pioneered the elements of Japanese-developed role-playing games (now colloquially known as "JRPGs") with Square's Final Fantasy and Enix's Dragon Quest, decades before the two companies merged to form one of the most powerful and successful conglomerates in the industry. Since Square and Enix's merger and rebranding as the modern Square Enix, the studio has had its fair share of ups and downs. But outside of a brief dalliance in Western studios and IP (including the Deus Ex and Tomb Raider reboots), the best Square Enix games still call back to the RPG foundations of the studio, and the last decade has proven that there's a lot more to Square Enix than just Final Fantasy.

Though the company has recently announced a shift toward fewer games of higher quality, the decade between 2015 and 2025 saw Square Enix partner with several new developers and internal studios to deliver a plethora of exciting titles with interesting takes on traditional RPG or Action RPG gameplay. Additionally, several of the studio's most successful releases in the last few years are bold new remakes of some of the best classic games in Square Enix's robust catalog of legendary titles, delivering timeless experiences to audiences with major visual uplifts and a slew of quality-of-life improvements. While there's no denying the quality of the Final Fantasy games and their remakes, the following list contains some of the best titles Square Enix has delivered outside its flagship franchise.

Updated May 13, 2025:

Since this article was originally published, we've gone back and played the console port of the originally Apple Arcade-exclusive Fantasian: Neo Dimension and determined that it deserves a place on this list.

• Release Date — November 4, 2022
• Developer — Live Wire
• Genre — Action RPG, Farming Sim
• Review Aggregate Score — 74% (Mixed or Average)
• Steam User Score — 77% (Mostly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, Nintendo Switch

Sometimes referred to as "the JRPG fan's JRPG" or "the best JRPG you've never played", Harvestella blends elements of several beloved genres into a unique concoction. Part action RPG and part farming sim, Harvestella may appear at first to just be cashing in on the success of similar titles like Stardew Valley. However, playing through the title reveals it to be an incredibly competent and rewarding experience that stands on its own merits. The farming sim elements are simple and straightforward enough while also being mechanically satisfying, and the way that the fruits of your labor directly tie into improving your prowess in battle means players literally reap what they sow. It's a shame we won't get a sequel, because Harvestella is a hidden gem that, if it clicks with players, will click hard.

• Release Date — March 4, 2022
• Developer — Artdink, Square Enix
• Genre — TRPG/SRPG
• Review Aggregate Score — 84% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 80% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — Meta Quest, PC, Nintendo Switch

Despite decades of unheard pleas for a Final Fantasy Tactics remake or remaster, Square Enix continues to be a standard-bearer for the TRPG/SRPG subgenre. One of the more surprising games to come from the studio in recent years is Triangle Strategy, which blends the grid-based tactical battling of Final Fantasy Tactics with the gorgeous HD-2D visuals of Octopath Traveler and a smart, gritty narrative with plenty of political intrigue and unique incorporation of player choice. The element of choice factors into one of the game's multiple endings, which practically beg for it to be played and replayed to see how the different machinations of the story work out. So even though it's not the next FFT, there's a lot for tactics/simulation RPG fans to like in Triangle Strategy.

• Release Date — December 5, 2024
• Developer — Mistwalker Corporation
• Genre — JRPG
• Review Aggregate Score — 80% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 79% (Mostly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

The latest game to come from Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi and his Mistwalker studio, Fantasian: Neo Dimension was originally an Apple Arcade title that just recently came to consoles. While its gameplay is fairly straightforward and contains all the hallmarks of a classic JRPG that you'd expect from one of the genre's forebears, Fantasian's unique hook is its environments. Rather than render the in-game spaces using a game development engine, Mistwalker built hundreds of miniature dioramas that it then scanned in using high-tech digital cameras, creating environments that have an uncannily realistic look to them (because they are).

But the title's visual flourish isn't all it offers, as its combat and progression will feel right at home to longtime fans of Square Enix's JRPG catalog. It might be a bit by-the-numbers, but Fantasian is still a worthwhile RPG experience that feels like a long-forgotten classic.

• Release Date — February 16, 2023
• Developer — indieszero
• Genre — Rhythm, Music
• Review Aggregate Score — 87% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — N/A
• Platforms — PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

It might be a little bit of a cheat to include a Final Fantasy spin-off title on a list of non-Final Fantasy Square Enix games, but Theatrhythm is both so good and includes several non-Final Fantasy songs in its soundtrack, more than warranting its inclusion. Rhythm and music games may not be quite as popular as they were during the era of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, but that hasn't stopped Square Enix and indieszero from keeping the excellent Theatrhythm series going, whose latest entry Final Bar Line is, hands-down, the best one yet. Thanks to the work of composers like Nobuo Uematsu and Yasunori Mitsuda (among many others), Square Enix's games count themselves as having some of the best music in the medium, and Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line is both a celebration of that legacy and just a straight-up excellent rhythm game.

• Release Date — November 11, 2022
• Developer — Square Enix
• Genre — TRPG/SRPG
• Review Aggregate Score — 84% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 74% (Mostly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

Were it not for the original Tactics Ogre on PS1, chances are we might never have gotten Final Fantasy Tactics, which makes its recent remaster an important step forward for both game preservation and perhaps pushing Square Enix to finally remake Final Fantasy Tactics. Outside its important legacy in Square Enix's catalog, though, Tactics Ogre is one of the greatest TRPG/SRPG titles of all time, helping to establish many of the genre conventions that would go on to inspire countless other titles both within and outside of Square Enix. Reborn is a remaster of the 2010 PSP release Tactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, and it brings with it a whole slew of quality-of-life improvements that make it the definitive version of one of the genre's most important games.

• Release Date — September 22, 2022
• Developer — Lancarse, Square Enix
• Genre — Strategy, RPG
• Review Aggregate Score — 71% (Mixed or Average)
• Steam User Score — 48% (Mixed)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

From traditional TRPG/SRPG conventions to a more experimental genre entry, The Diofield Chronicle is a vastly different experience from both Triangle Strategy and Tactics Ogre: Reborn. Instead of the more common grid-based movement of those two classically-styled games, The Diofield Chronicle uses a free movement system along with real-time-with-pause commands, where both ally and enemy turns play out simultaneously. As a result, Diofield is a sort of RTS/TRPG hybrid that stands out as a unique entry in Square Enix's catalog, and it's an incredibly satisfying experience. It might not be to everyone's tastes, and its balancing might be a little lopsided (with players becoming genuinely overpowered very early on in the game), but Diofield Chronicle is an underrated game that deserves to be played.

• Release Date — September 29, 2022
• Developer — Soleil
• Genre — Action RPG, Hack and Slash, Character Action
• Review Aggregate Score — 65% (Mixed or Average)
• Steam User Score — 60% (Mixed)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5

Speaking of underrated games, Square Enix's Valkyrie Elysium is a prime example. While it doesn't quite live up to the legacy of Enix's Valkyrie Profile series, it's important to recognize that it's trying to do something all its own. Instead of adhering closely to the JRPG conventions of its predecessors, Valkyrie Elysium is a full-on character action hack-and-slash RPG, and a good one at that. Where previous games in the Valkyrie series might have had one toe dipped into action elements in their combat, Elysium chooses to dive in head first, definitively taking the series in a bold new direction. While it might not necessarily be worth its $60 asking price to anyone but die-hard fans, it's an excellent title worth picking up on sale.

• Release Date — August 29, 2024
• Developer — Ouka Studios
• Genre — Action RPG, Action-Adventure
• Review Aggregate Score — 75% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 79% (Mostly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S

One of the more surprising releases from Square Enix last year was Visions of Mana. The latest game in the long-running Mana/Seiken Densetsu series, Visions of Mana is a delight. While it doesn't do much to separate itself from the action RPG gameplay of its predecessors, Visions ticks all the boxes players have come to expect from a Mana game. Its visuals and presentation are undoubtedly a highlight (including a beautifully rendered open world to explore), but there are some knocks against the title in terms of its combat, exploration, and progression systems. Still, the Mana games are known for being more accessible and lighthearted action RPGs, and Visions of Mana absolutely fits that bill. Sadly, the studio responsible for developing Visions of Mana was shuttered not long after its release, making this game a unique vision for the series across its long history.

• Release Date — November 14, 2021
• Developer — Cattle Call
• Genre — RPG, Dungeon-Crawler
• Review Aggregate Score — 81% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 69% (Mixed)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch

Perhaps my favorite non-Final Fantasy game to come from Square Enix in the last 10 years, Dungeon Encounters is something special. The game comes from legendary Square luminary Hiroyuki Ito, the man responsible for transforming the Final Fantasy series with the Active-Time Battle (ATB) system, and it's a stripped-back role-playing experience that focuses on one of the genre's major elements — combat. Rather than concern itself with any semblance of story or character development, Dungeon Encounters is all about clearing floor after floor of deadly monsters, all while putting together the strongest party imaginable and letting them duke it out with increasingly inventive foes. On top of its excellent, foundations-only gameplay, Dungeon Encounters happens to feature some of the best character and enemy portraits of any RPG and a banger of a soundtrack from Nobuo Uematsu.

• Release Date — October 24, 2024
• Developer — Square Enix
• Genre — JRPG
• Review Aggregate Score — 79% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 95% (Overwhelmingly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

A strong contender for being one of the best video game remakes of all time (releasing in a year stacked with them), Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven is a refreshingly old-school RPG with a modern sheen. The SaGa series has long been one to play by its own rules, taking the more controversial aspects of Final Fantasy II's mechanics and progression systems and turning them into one of Square's more successful, long-running, and surprisingly overlooked franchises. Romancing SaGa 2 is at once the most accessible the series has been and a definitively "old-school" RPG, and its turn-based combat and unique approach to progression and character growth (through the excellent Dynasty and Glimmer systems) prove to help set it apart as an incredibly deep and complex RPG with rewarding mechanics.

• Release Date — November 14, 2024
• Developer — Artdink
• Genre — JRPG
• Review Aggregate Score — 84% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 71% (Mostly Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S

The original Dragon Quest III is one of the series' most successful entries and perhaps the most loved by longtime fans, so it makes sense that the title has seen a total of 4 remakes in the ensuing decades since its release. The most recent of these is last year's Dragon Quest III HD-2D, which takes the classic JRPG and presents it in the HD-2D art style popularized by games like Octopath Traveler. While Dragon Quest III HD-2D incorporates some quality-of-life improvements that aim to make it the definitive version of one of the genre's classics, its traditional JRPG gameplay is still wonderfully intact, making it similar to Romancing SaGa 2 as another faithful remake of a legendary game.

• Release Date — February 23, 2017
• Developer — PlatinumGames
• Genre — Action RPG, Hack and Slash, Shooter
• Review Aggregate Score — 90% (Universal Acclaim)
• Steam User Score — 87% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One

Those who have played NieR: Automata can attest to how profound its narrative is, but it's important to highlight how excellent its frantic genre-switching gameplay is, too. At times a character action hack-and-slash game, shmup, or traditional action RPG, NieR: Automata wears many hats and it wears them all well. The game's setting and story are second to none, and it's honestly a bit of a miracle that Western players even got to experience the game given how poorly the first Nier was received. Thankfully, NieR: Automata's near-perfect score from Famitsu made its localization to the West all but guaranteed, and it stands as one of the most important games in Square Enix's catalog and a genuine contender for being one of the greatest games ever made.

• Release Date — February 26, 2021
• Developer — Claytechworks
• Genre — JRPG
• Review Aggregate Score — 83% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 82% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, Nintendo Switch

The first Bravely Default and its successor Bravely Second were excellent old-school JRPGs, but the series truly came into its own with Bravely Default II. What positions Bravely Default II as arguably the best game in the fledgling franchise is how it trims the fat from its predecessors, getting rid of the tedious endgame and city-building mechanics in place of streamlining the best parts of Bravely Default — the theory-crafting and combat. The amount of insanely overpowered builds that are possible by mixing and matching Job abilities or figuring out synergies between Job types makes every battle a thrill, and the Brave/Default combat mechanic is still one of the best risk/reward systems in any game. I spent over 100 hours in Bravely Default II, and just thinking about it makes me ready to do it all over again.

• Release Date — November 2, 2023
• Developer — Gemdrops
• Genre — JRPG
• Review Aggregate Score — 86% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 94% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch

While both Romancing SaGa 2 and Dragon Quest III HD-2D are excellent remakes, there's a strong case to be made for Square Enix's Star Ocean: The Second Story R to serve as the template and foundation for how to approach a modern remake of a classic RPG. As its name suggests, The Second Story R is the remake of the beloved PS1 classic Star Ocean: The Second Story, and it improves on the original in nearly every conceivable way. Beyond its many additions and modifications to the timeless gameplay of the original, though, the excellent story and characters of The Second Story are fully brought to life in Second Story R, making it almost a necessity to complete two full playthroughs as both Claude and Rena to recruit and play with the full cast of recruitable allies.

• Release Date — February 24, 2023
• Developer — Acquire, Square Enix
• Genre — JRPG
• Review Aggregate Score — 86% (Generally Favorable)
• Steam User Score — 94% (Very Positive)
• Platforms — PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Much like Bravely Default II, Octopath Traveler II takes the premise of its predecessor and expands upon it in meaningful ways. Once again, players get to choose from 8 different starting characters, each of whom has their own specific role within the party and backstory, and these backstories also again combine in interesting ways as players progress through each character's chapters. One thing that Octopath Traveler II does better than its predecessor is deliver characters that are worth caring about, and its improved narrative (as well as the new "Crossed Paths" feature that outlines connections between heroes) makes it hard to put down as a result.

Combat is also vastly improved over the original, once again incorporating the Break and Boost functions that are similar to Bravely Default's titular risk/reward mechanic, but with a greater emphasis on class variety and new Latent Powers that can snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. While it may be inspired by the classics, Octopath Traveler II is a modern classic in its own right.

• Release Date — July 29, 2017
• Developer — Square Enix
• Genre — JRPG
• Review Aggregate Score — 91% (Universal Acclaim)
• Steam User Score —
• Platforms — 3DS, PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One

Square Enix's Dragon Quest XI is a triumph by just about every metric, existing as both one of the best Dragon Quest games and one of the studio's best games, period. Like every other Dragon Quest game, Dragon Quest XI is pure JRPG comfort food. While the Final Fantasy series is built on the idea of innovation and change from entry to entry, Dragon Quest takes the opposite route and draws players in with familiarity.

But rather than be purely formulaic or play it safe, Dragon Quest XI takes the familiar and time-tested mechanics of the series (which, coincidentally, are the foundations of the JRPG genre) and incorporates them into a sprawling adventure that can last anywhere from 60 to 2060 hours depending on how much time players are willing to invest. Between its great story and characters, rewarding exploration, and thrilling combat, Dragon Quest XI sets a high bar for the future of the franchise.