Best Square Enix Sequel Games, Ranked

Making a video game is not easy. Making a sequel to that game that will leave fans satisfied is arguably even harder. All the major companies working in the industry are very aware of this challenge, and Square Enix is no exception.

This legendary Japanese game company is well-known for its revolutionary JRPG franchises, like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, but most of them share one particular characteristic: Their mainline entries are entirely disconnected from each other and don’t really qualify as sequels. Nevertheless, Square Enix has still released multiple high-quality titles that serve as follow-ups of existing games, and these are some of the best examples.

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8

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13

The Unique Sequel To A Polarizing Final Fantasy Title

Released

November 21, 2013

ESRB

t

• Sequel to: Final Fantasy 13 and Final Fantasy 13-2

The Final Fantasy franchise was going through a tough time during the late-2000s, especially after the release of Final Fantasy 13, which was heavily criticized for its linear level design and confusing combat system. Two years later, Square Enix released Final Fantasy 13-2, which was received a bit better.

But the third and final entry in the Final Fantasy 13 subseries resonated a lot more with fans of the franchise. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 ditched the traditional turn-based gameplay in favor of a unique and fun real-time combat that was way more accessible. Not to mention, it also marked the return of Lightning as it’s the sole playable character. Lightning Returns is far from perfect, but it is still regarded as one of the superior Final Fantasy sequels.

7

Secret Of Mana

One Of The Best SNES RPGs Was A Sequel

Released

October 3, 1993

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes

• Sequel to: Seiken Densetsu

With its beautiful sprite work, magical soundtrack, and accessible real-time combat, Secret of Mana became one of the best RPGs released on the Super Nintendo. But not many people knew that this beloved new game was actually a sequel to an obscure Game Boy RPG released two years prior.

Seiken Densetsu was released in North America as Final Fantasy Adventure, but it was never part of the Final Fantasy franchise. This was the first entry in the Seiken Densetsu series, which is now better known as the Mana series. Secret of Mana put the IP on the map, since the advanced technology of the SNES allowed Square to make a bigger, better, more ambitious, and more beautiful experience that takes place in the same fictional universe as its predecessor.

6

Bravely Second: End Layer

A Great Turn-Based RPG From The Late 2010s

Systems

Released

April 15, 2016

ESRB

T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol

• Sequel to: Bravely Default

In 2012, Square Enix released Bravely Default for the Nintendo 3DS. Developed by Silicon Studio, this high-quality RPG was a much-needed return to form to the days of strategic, turn-based combat, which was a breath of fresh air during a time in which the Final Fantasy series was straying from its turn-based roots.

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Due to Bravely Default’s critical and commercial success, Square Enix and Silicon Studio made a follow-up four years later, named Bravely Second: End Layer. This direct sequel takes place two years after the events of its predecessor. It retains its effective turn-based combat, while also fixing many of its flaws to make for a smoother and more accessible experience. While fans still debate which game is better, both are perfect for those who want to play more old-school turn-based JRPGs.

5

NEO: The World Ends With You

Tetsuya Nomura’s Cult Classic Got The Sequel It Deserved

Action RPG

Fighting

Adventure

Released

July 27, 2021

ESRB

T For Teen // Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes

• Sequel to: The World Ends With You

2007’s The World Ends With You is one of the most distinctive video games that Tetsuya Nomura has ever worked on. Releasing a project that wasn’t attached to the Final Fantasy or Kingdom Hearts IPs was also a big risk for the company. Nevertheless, it gained a massive cult following that asked Square Enix for a sequel for many years.

Thankfully, this ended up materializing in 2021, when NEO: The World Ends With You came out on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. The modern technology of these two consoles (which were way more powerful than the Nintendo DS) meant that Nomura and his team were able to create a bigger and more ambitious experience with a lot of stylish 3D action and a catchy soundtrack. While the plot this time around follows a new group of characters participating in the Reapers’ Game, the entire cast of the first game makes an appearance.

4

Kingdom Hearts 3

The Long-Awaited Conclusion To The Dark Seeker Saga

Released

January 25, 2019

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence

• Sequel to: Kingdom Hearts 2, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep, Kingdom Hearts Re: Coded and Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance.

Many people think that it took Square Enix fourteen years to make a sequel to the critically acclaimed Kingdom Hearts 2. In reality, the company kept releasing new entries throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s that were very important to the overall narrative. This story arc is now known as the Dark Seeker Saga, and it reached its long-awaited conclusion with the release of the third numbered game in the series, Kingdom Hearts 3.

This sequel’s biggest strength is its fascinating ability to take every beloved mechanic from previous entries (like Shotlocks, Flowmotion, Keyblade Transformations and Situation Commands) and seamlessly implement them in one place, creating the definitive Kingdom Hearts combat system. Kingdom Hearts 3 told an epic story that, while it was not without its flaws, left most of the fan base satisfied, while also leaving enough plot points open for the upcoming Lost Masters Saga.

3

NieR: Automata

An Award-Winning Sequel That Doesn’t Even Feel Like A Sequel

Released

March 7, 2017

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood, Partial Nudity, Strong Language, Violence

• Sequel to: Nier Replicant

NieR: Automata became one of the best-selling and best-received video games of 2017. Platinum Game’s bombastic hack-and-slash gameplay, combined with Yoko Taro’s mind-blowing storytelling, resonated with many gamers all around the world. But, most people weren’t (and still aren’t) aware that NieR: Automata is technically a sequel.

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Originally released as Nier (and later re-released as Nier Replicant), this action RPG was a spin-off of Taro’s Drakengard series. While both games are loosely connected, NieR: Automata is a direct follow-up to one of its many endings, and it has many explicit references to its predecessor that fans of the series who played it understood and enjoyed. Fortunately, the original game is more accessible now, as it was remastered with the title NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… in 2021.

2

Kingdom Hearts 2

Square Enix & Disney’s Bizarre Crossover Was Surpassed By Its Sequel

Action RPG

Hack and Slash

Systems

Released

March 28, 2006

ESRB

E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Mild Blood, Use of Alcohol, Violence

• Sequel to: Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories

In the early 2000s, Square Enix joined forces with Disney to make a weird but fun action RPG called Kingdom Hearts. While this ended up being a creative and magical experience, it seemed like it was going to be a “one and done,” until both companies began working on sequels almost immediately. In 2005, they released Kingdom Hearts 2, a new mainline entry for the PlayStation 2.

Kingdom Hearts 2 improved on everything from the original game. The combat system was smoother; the presentation was more beautiful, the controls felt a lot better; the Disney worlds were bigger. The boss fights were more cinematic and the story was more complex and more interesting, even though many have criticized it for being convoluted. While a fair share of Kingdom Hearts fans still prefer the first entry, the franchise would be nowhere near as popular now if it wasn’t for Kingdom Hearts 2.

1

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

The Second Part Of The FF7 Remake Became One Of The Best Games Of 2024

Systems

Released

February 29, 2024

ESRB

T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence

• Sequel to: Final Fantasy 7 Remake

In recent years, Square Enix did something unprecedented. The company announced it was finally going to make the modern remake of Final Fantasy 7 that fans had wanted for decades, but it was going to be split into three different games. While this unusual decision was initially received with a lot of concern, fans stopped worrying when Final Fantasy 7 Remake came out in 2020. It proved to be an excellent action RPG that retold the classic story in new and exciting ways.

The combined reputation of the original PS1 game and the first part of its Remake project gave gamers high expectations for its second part, and it didn’t disappoint. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth came out in early 2024 and became one of the best games of the year. Both fans and critics praised its deep and rewarding combat system, beautiful graphics, incredible music, vast array of mini-games, and mind-blowing reinterpretations of classic FF7 characters, locations, and plot points. This is the best Final Fantasy sequel Square Enix has put out so far and, oddly enough, it may lose that distinction to its upcoming sequel.

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