Square Enix Games That Were Ahead Of Their Time

Key Takeaways

• Chrono Trigger remains one of the most celebrated JRPGs, setting new standards with its innovative gameplay.
• Final Fantasy 7 revolutionized the JRPG genre with its unique setting and cinematic presentation.
• NieR: Automata showcases immersive storytelling through multiple branching paths in a satisfying narrative.

Square Enix is one of the most prolific video game companies of all time, even if some people feel that their track record has been rather spotty in recent times. However, that should take nothing away from the quality of games released by this company.

Even before this merger, Square was responsible for developing some of the greatest video games of all time, breaking new ground, and many continue to be talked about in high regard to this day. Some of these titles were quite ahead of their time and shaped the video game landscape in new and interesting ways.

8 Chrono Trigger

A Stellar JRPG That Has Aged Like A Fine Wine

It would be impossible to talk about Square games ahead of their time without mentioning Chrono Trigger, a game that needs no introduction. This amazing JRPG took players on a wild ride that was immaculately paced and featured many gameplay innovations that gamers took for granted at the time.

The lack of battle screens, multiple endings, and a New Game+ mode broke new ground for the JRPG genre and have become commonplace since. It’s easy to see why Chrono Trigger has become one of the most celebrated video games of all times, with countless fans still praising it to this day.

7 Final Fantasy 6

The Addition Of A Brand-New World With Non-Linear Progression Was Something Fans Couldn’t Have Expected

During the run of stellar Final Fantasy games on the SNES, Square realized that they’d perfected the development of this JRPG franchise to a T. This gave them extra time to improve Final Fantasy 6, which was achieved with a drastic shift that led to the creation of a brand-new overworld.

The world suddenly opened up and featured non-linear progression as Celes slowly reunited the party members to make a final stand against Kefka. This open-ended exploration is something that fans have come to expect from their video games, but it was unheard of back when Final Fantasy 6 came out.

6 Kingdom Hearts 2

Managed To Turn An Odd Crossover Into One Of The Most Popular Video Game Series Of All Time

Kingdom Hearts 2 is hailed by many as one of the greatest action JRPGs ever made, and for good reason. Despite the puzzling nature of the crossover between Disney and Square Enix’s IPs, Kingdom Hearts managed to win over gamers with its focus on solid presentation, excellent music, and cinematic gameplay that knew no equal at the time.

The narrative could be rather cliched at times, but fans didn’t mind as long as they got to check out their favorite Disney worlds and interact with beloved figures from Square Enix’s games. It was a masterclass in displaying how important it was to work on a video game’s presentation, which other developers have been learning from ever since.

5 Xenogears

So Ahead Of Its Time That It Didn’t Have The Budget To Finance Its Lofty Goals

A lot of JRPGs back on the PS1 were ahead of their time, but none of them embodied this statement more literally than Xenogears. Tetsuya Takahashi’s scope for this JRPG was so immense that they burned through their budget halfway through the game and had to resort to glorified slideshows to lead players toward the end.

After forming Monolith Soft, the Xenosaga trilogy didn’t exactly achieve Takahashi’s grand vision either. It wasn’t until Nintendo provided this game director with the backing he deserved that the Xeno series became a household name courtesy of Xenoblade Chronicles.

4 The World Ends With You

Features A Combat System That Uses The Dual Screen Gimmick Of The DS Brilliantly

The Nintendo DS is one of the greatest handheld consoles of all time, and any game that made the most of this console deserves its time in the spotlight. The World Ends With You is a great example of what creative video games could achieve on this handheld.

Battles took place on both screens, with players using the buttons to control Neku and the touchscreen to control his partner. This made combat chaotic yet satisfying as players battered their enemies, and it’s a shame that this innovative battle mechanic was lost in subsequent releases that had to work around the limitations of a single screen.

3 Final Fantasy 7

Wowed Fans With Its State-Of-The-Art Visuals And Epic Story

It would be impossible to talk about the most revolutionary Square games of all time without paying credit to Final Fantasy 7, a game that single-handedly helped usher in the golden age of JRPGs. The focus on bombastic visuals and a shift to a dystopian future setting helped this title become one of the most unique games in the genre.

All of Final Fantasy 7‘s strengths were amazing to witness and showed PS1 owners what they’d been missing out on in this genre. The amazing story and mind-blowing summons helped enhance this game’s cinematic flair, making it one of the best story-driven titles on the console that gamers could check out.

2 Dragon Quest

Set The Building Blocks For The JRPG Genre

Dragon Quest is one of the most legendary JRPG franchises of all time, acquiring numerous fans from the launch of the very first game. This game offers a classic role-playing experience where players control a hero destined to save the world from a great evil.

It may seem cliched, but Dragon Quest is the first game to experiment with tropes that would become mainstays of the JRPG genre. It can be a hard title to get into since it’s so dated, but players who don’t mind the simple combat and endless dungeon crawls will love experiencing this rich slice of video game history.

1 NieR: Automata

Showed That A Game’s Ending Could Be An Immersive Way To Help A Narrative Unfold

Yoko Taro had always been on the cusp of greatness, but the gameplay mechanics of his ambitious titles failed to do justice to his amazing storytelling chops time and time again. Thankfully, after teaming up with PlatinumGames and Square Enix, this developer finally attained the worldwide fame and reputation he deserved.

NieR: Automata is a masterclass of video game narrative design, experimenting with numerous gameplay loops on a whim and letting players experience a story that takes some wild turns. Each ending is just another excuse to get back into the game and uncover other branching paths, making for a satisfying narrative that can only be conveyed via the medium of video games.