Consider Square Enix the great-grandfather of JRPGs. Anyone who’s ever picked up a controller must have espied one of Square’s behemoth titles: Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Kingdom Hearts, the list goes on. But this raises a question: What of the other stuff-for example, the weird, the wild, and the underrated bangers that didn’t get half the love of Cloud Strife’s hair? Yeah, those ones.
So somebody over there-I would probably bet it was a very tired-but-passionate Square Enix fan-embarked on the hunt for the very ten stand-alone games by the company that could potentially be taken on the go. No, not the overt ones: the ones that are more of hidden gems, games that fit the “Wait, Square made this?” mold that should have gotten exponentially more publicity.
First up is The World Ends With You. If you have not played this cult classic, I am fairly certain you have not been living! It is colorful, has an amazing soundtrack, and a plot so crazy it makes you think-in a good way! Originally released on the DS, it was ported over to the Switch (and then came the sequel, obviously, but we are only caring about the original here). Chaotic combat, fashion, and unforgettable characters; goodness, what else do you want?
Then came Bravely Default. Okay, fine; it is technically considered a part of a series now, but when it came out on the 3DS, it was a love letter to standalone, old-school JRPGs! The job system? Chef’s kiss. The twist? Simply rude! Mix some existential crises in with your RPG games? Here you go!
But then what about Parasite Eve? You bet, back in the day, Square Enix was a lot on that survival horror, and the weird-and-brilliant it was outcome. This is basically Resident Evil with mitochondria (and I mean it). PSP remake The 3rd Birthday? Definitely the subject of arguments. The original? Just pure gold.
Don’t forget Vagrant Story. This gem for the PS1 is basically a master’s guide to storytelling and atmosphere. The combat system is somewhat bizarre in its depth; the dialogue is almost Shakespearean; and Ashley Riot-one of the coolest names in gaming history-this title is so criminally underplayed that if you enjoy dark fantasy mixed with political intrigue, you better hunt this down.
And, Live A Live! It was recently given a re-release, but this thing has existed since back in the SNES era. An anthology RPG, wherein you traverse through various time periods ranging from caveman days in time to far future days. Each story is little in length but packed with character, while the HD-2D remake is gorgeous.
And the list is extended to Chrono Trigger (yes, it is technically a standalone; fight me), Secret of Mana, Octopath Traveler (again, apparently, before it became a series), while you could philosophize about androids and existential dread-just in its weird way-in NieR: Automata.
So, really, Square Enix isn’t about pumping out sequels and remakes. There’s literally an entire vault brimming with one-off wonders that fit right onto portable devices. Be it on the Switch, Steam Deck, or clinging to your Vita for dear life like an incorrigible gremlin suffering from nostalgia, something is out there for you.
Now, get that one and thank us later. Or not; that’s none of our business. But seriously, play The World Ends With You!
