Best Square Enix Game On Every PlayStation Console

Best Square Enix Game On Every PlayStation Console

Squaresoft and Enix began as big supporters of Nintendo in the NES, SNES, and Game Boy eras. However, once the PS1 was released, everything changed. Squaresoft’s first game was a bit late into the console’s life via Tobal No. 1 in 1996 which was a fighting game. A year later they made a bigger splash with Final Fantasy 7 which began the golden era of the company some may argue.

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As for Enix, their first game was the rhythm-based battler Bust a Groove in 1998. In 2003 the company merged and became stronger than before. A Square Enix game has touched every Sony console since the PS1, so now here’s a look back and see which games best represent each platform.

PS1: Final Fantasy 7

Metacritic Score: 92

Final Fantasy 7

Platform(s)Nintendo Switch, PS4, PC, iOS, PlayStation (Original), Android, Xbox OneReleasedJanuary 31, 1997Developer(s) Square Enix

Final Fantasy 7 was the first huge RPG from any publisher on the PS1. It redefined what the series was about and it showcased what the PS1 was capable of. From the giant open world to the CG cutscenes, it was truly groundbreaking.

Years later this game secured itself a whole spinoff universe including movies, anime, games, novels, and more. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, for example, is the latest release in the remake trilogy and there is still one game left. Square Enix will probably never be able to do this again as it was a lightning-in-a-bottle situation.

PS2: Kingdom Hearts 2

Metacritic Score: 87

Kingdom Hearts 2

Platform(s)PS3, PS4, PS2, PCReleasedMarch 28, 2006Developer(s)Square Enix

The first Kingdom Hearts still seems like a miracle that it worked. Disney characters running around with characters that look like they came out of Final Fantasy, some quite literally, seems silly but it took off. Kingdom Hearts 2 is an improvement in every way over the original.

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The platforming is better because of the improved camera. The combat is more involved including new Keyblade forms for Sora. The story is more mature and the list could go on.

PSP: Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep

Metacritic Score: 82

Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep

Platform(s)PSP, PS3ReleasedJanuary 9, 2010Developer(s) Square Enix

The PSP also has one of the best Kingdom Hearts games in the series via Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep. This is a prequel starring three Keyblade wielders right before Master Xehanort went through with his multi-game-spanning plan. Players can tackle the three campaigns in any order and the stories will coalesce into one grand finale.

One of the coolest parts of the gameplay was the fusion system. Players could take abilities and spells, fuse them, and then that would create a new type of skill. It’s a similar system used in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7, another prequel from Square Enix on the PSP, so the idea was seemingly big at the company for a bit.

PS3 – Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn

Metacritic Score: 78

Final Fantasy 14

Platform(s)Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, PS3, PS5, PS4, PCReleasedAugust 27, 2013Developer(s) Square Enix

The original version of this game bombed hard in 2010 and Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn was the make-good reboot. Even though the scores were initially just in the good tier, expansions that have come after have made this game retroactively better. It’s now one of the most popular games in the series of all time.

As an MMO, there are now hundreds of hours of content just waiting for new players. From the character customization to the Job system, it feels like the MMO they wanted to make with Final Fantasy 11 years ago. Plus the game is still going strong with a recent port to the Xbox family of consoles at long last.

PS Vita: World Of Final Fantasy

Metacritic Score: 77

World Of Final Fantasy

Platform(s)PS Vita, Switch, PS4, PC, Xbox OneReleasedOctober 25, 2016Developer(s)Tose

The PS Vita had some good ports from consoles on it along with original titles that coincided with the PS4 including World of Final Fantasy. This spinoff was about two twins that get transported into the literal world of Final Fantasy as every kingdom sort of represented one of the games.

Players could run into old favorites like Cloud from Final Fantasy 7 or Squall from Final Fantasy 8. The gameplay was turn-based and had a Pokemon-like monster-catching element to it. The tone was lighter in the same vane as a Kingdom Hearts title, so it was a good jumping-off point for RPG newbies.

PS4 – Dragon Quest 11: Echoes Of An Elusive Age)

Metacritic Score: 86

Dragon Quest 11

Platform(s)Switch, PS4, PC, Stadia, 3DS, Xbox OneReleasedSeptember 4, 2018Developer(s) Square Enix

Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of an Elusive Age was an impressive next-gen jump for the series that expanded the world. Everything was more open now and while everything was still turn-based, players could at least move around in the instanced arena. It was long, like all previous games before it, but it never dragged.

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There were plenty of mainline and side quests, characters popped, and the art style truly sold it as a premium Square Enix adventure. It was full of surprises and it felt like a passion project from the entire time. It will be interesting to see where the series will go next and when Dragon Quest 12 will release as it has been delayed behind the scenes.

PS5: Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Metacritic Score: 92

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Platform(s)PlayStation 5ReleasedFebruary 29, 2024Developer(s) Square Enix

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth feels like the true remake that fans wanted upon the release of the first part in this trilogy, Final Fantasy 7 Remake. While that game was confined completely to Midgar, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is a global effort and goes up to The Forgotten Capital arc of the game. Saying anything more would be a spoiler, but suffice it to say this game is massive and it has a lot of heart and soul poured into it.

From the comedy to the mini-games to the battle system, everything feels like it is firing on all cylinders. All Square Enix has to do now is stick the landing with that finale and the promised remake will finally be complete and then maybe some other games in this series can get the same treatment.

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