Summary
- Square Enix consistently releases top-notch games yearly, with highlights in the 2010s.
- Notable games like Final Fantasy 14 and NieR: Automata showcase the company’s excellence.
- Kingdom Hearts 3, released in 2019, stands out with thrilling combat and captivating storytelling.
Square Enix is one of the most famous and well-respected gaming companies in the world. The company was formed in 2003 and has been publishing and developing games at a consistent rate since then. In fact, you can’t go a year without at least one Square Enix game.
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The 2010s, in particular, were big for the company. Many great SE titles were released during those years, from entries in the Final Fantasy series to Dragon Quest games. The company also published Tomb Raider titles and Hitman, so the people at Square Enix were busy. Here are the best projects they were involved in for each year of the 2010s.
10
Just Cause 2
2010
Just Cause 2
Open-World
Third-Person Shooter
- Released
-
March 23, 2010
- Developer(s)
-
Avalanche Studios
- Publisher(s)
-
Eidos Interactive, Square Enix
- Engine
-
havok
- ESRB
-
r
Just Cause 2 isn’t the sort of game you likely associate with Square Enix, but the company did publish the title in 2010. The likes of Nier and Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light were two other SE games that were released that year.
Neither of them could deliver the same outrageous sandbox fun that Just Cause 2 provides. It’s a wild game where you’re encouraged to cause as much chaos as possible. Helping you do that is your grappling hook that allows you to tether objects together, which can create some hilarious moments.
9
Deus Ex: Human Revolution
2011
There wasn’t a litany of Square Enix games released in 2011. However, the SE-published Deus Ex: Human Revolution launched that year, and it is a fantastic first-person RPG.
The game contains deep and open gameplay where you can shoot everyone in sight or opt for sneaking around. There is also plenty of customization as you play as a man with a bunch of cybernetics. These add even more variety to the gameplay. On top of that, Human Evolution has a good story and a cool presentation.
8
Quantum Conundrum
2012
Quantum Conundrum
Puzzle
Platformer
Adventure
Strategy
- Released
-
June 21, 2012
- Developer(s)
-
Airtight Games
- Publisher(s)
-
Airtight Games
- Engine
-
Unreal Engine 3
- ESRB
-
t
2012 seemed to be the year of underrated Square Enix games, as Bravely Default and Quantum Conundrum came out during the year. The latter is severely underrated, as it’s an excellent first-person puzzle title.
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It’s similar to Portal. Yet, instead of shooting portals, you have the ability to have the room and the objects in it switch dimensions. You can make things heavier, lighter, slower, or remove gravity altogether. Using all this, you have to complete a series of well-crafted puzzles.
7
Final Fantasy 14
2013
The original Final Fantasy 14 came out in 2010, but Square Enix released a new and much better version in 2013. It beats out the FF10 Remaster and Lightning Returns to be 2013’s greatest Final Fantasy game and Square Enix’s best of the year, too.
Part of this is due to the title’s longevity. It’s an MMORPG, so it isn’t just a game you play a few times and move on. People have been playing the title for years due to the regular release of great additional expansion packs. On top of that, the game boasts such an exciting world that it’s easy to spend hours upon hours in.
6
Lara Croft And The Temple Of Osiris
2014
It’s fair to say that 2014 wasn’t a huge year for Square Enix in terms of new games, as none of the company’s most famous ones were released during those 365 days. However, SE did publish Lara Croft and the Temple of Osiris.
It’s a spin-off from the Tomb Raider games and a sequel to Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light. The game is an isometric action-adventure title where the titular character goes to interesting places, solves clever puzzles, and shoots some enemies. And she can do all of that with a buddy by her side, as this is a brilliant co-op game.
5
Life Is Strange
2015
Life is Strange was a very influential game in the narrative adventure genre. At its time of release, games in which gameplay consisted of selecting dialogue options and walking around weren’t entirely popular. However, Life is Strange helped change the perception of those types of titles.
This is because it delivers an absorbing tale about a young girl with the power to rewind time. It’s such a good story that it’s easy to ignore the lack of action-packed gameplay. It also helps it beat the likes of Rise of the Tomb Raider and Just Cause 3 to be the best game published by Square Enix in 2015.
4
Final Fantasy 15
2016
Final Fantasy 15
- Released
-
November 9, 2016
- Engine
-
luminous engine
- ESRB
-
T for Teen: Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence
While Final Fantasy 15 is a divisive entry in the series, it’s one of the biggest FF games to be released in the 2010s. Plus, it’s a better game than it’s often given credit for. Therefore, it’s Square Enix’s best effort of 2016.
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Like in most Final Fantasy games, the title tells an interesting story containing some great characters. What’s even better, though, is the exciting and unique combat system that is mostly real-time but has some turn-based inspiration. It feels smooth and satisfying.
3
NieR: Automata
2017
NieR: Automata is one of the best and most creative games of the 2010s, never mind 2017. The likes of Dragon Quest 11 and Life Is Strange: Before The Storm were two other excellent games that Square Enix released that year, but neither could match NieR: Automata.
It’s an action RPG with an incredible story about a war between alien machines and human androids. The tale is very deep and complex, and it requires multiple playthroughs to fully understand. During those playthroughs, you experience smooth hack-and-slash action with the occasional gameplay section that dips into other genres.
2
Dragon Quest Builders 2
2018
In 2018, several games that Square Enix had a hand in came out, such as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Octopath Traveler, and Just Cause 4. Above them all, though, is Dragon Quest Builders 2.
Like the first game, it’s a title that combines action RPG elements with sandbox ones. So, one minute, you’re building structures, and the next, you’re fighting monsters. The merging of the two genres works perfectly in the second game, making it both an incredible RPG and an equally brilliant sandbox game.
1
Kingdom Hearts 3
2019
The long-awaited Kingdom Hearts 3 finally arrived at the end of the 2010s. Thankfully, it lived up to the hype, too. Sora’s third main adventure with Donald Duck, Goofy, and the rest of the gang is an exceptional action RPG. It’s certainly the best Square Enix game of the year and one of the company’s greatest titles of the decade.
It provides thrilling and stylish combat that’s helped by a beautiful presentation. The best part of the game is the story, though. Yes, the Kingdom Hearts series has a reputation for convoluted narratives, but if you can keep up with everything that is going on, then the story is very captivating.
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