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Square Enix is well-known in the world of RPGs. After all, the company is behind long-running franchises like Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and Star Ocean along with newer (but equally loved) series like Kingdom Hearts and Octopath Traveler. Even before Squaresoft and Enix merged in the early 2000s, they were well-established brands, and that's only been compounded in the decades since.
And while Square Enix has an extensive library of games, only a select few get to be hailed as perfect 10/10s. For this list, we compiled five of the Square Enix RPGs we'd consider perfect 10s, even if some of them were technically released before the 2003 merger. We also refrained from doubling up on entries that belong to the same franchise for variety's sake.
Xenogears
The game that was almost Final Fantasy 7 (look it up)has certainly developed a cult following over the years, and spawned kinda-sorta sequels thanks to the Xenosaga and Xenoblade Chronicles series, neither of which belong to Square Enix. But Xenogears is what first exposed us to the kind of gameplay, intricate storytelling, and dark edges that would come to define the Xenoblade Chronicles series.
Xenogears is a masterpiece, especially for its time. Video games just weren't this complex and cinematic in 1998, and Xenogears has an amazing amount of replay value. It also happens to have some of the most iconic sequences in any RPG ever, so if you've never played it, be sure to check this one out before the PS3 and Vita stores close down.
Kingdom Hearts
There are plenty of people out there who might argue Kingdom Hearts 2 surpasses the original, but nothing compares to experiencing Kingdom Hearts for the first time. Combining Final Fantasy and Disney characters should've been a lazy cash grab, but instead, we're treated to a compelling, and surprisingly dark, story about friendship, jealousy, and love that also happens to include Donald and Goofy in starring roles.
There's a freshness to the first Kingdom Hearts game that its sequels and spin-offs just don't have, and there's certainly a reason this game kicked off an entire franchise for Square Enix. Fans may argue over which Kingdom Hearts game is the best (I'm partial to Birth By Sleep, myself), but this is where it all started. Even now, all these years later, it's basically perfect.
Chrono Trigger
Final Fantasy's Hironobu Sakaguchi and Dragon Quest's Yuji Horii teaming up with Akira Toriyama for an epic, time-traveling adventure feels like every RPG fan's dream, and Chrono Trigger doesn't disappoint. And there's certainly a reason many people consider Chrono Trigger to be the best RPG of all time. Dynamic combat, a loveable cast of characters, and a story full of surprises are just a few reasons why this game is a masterpiece.
What makes Chrono Trigger work so well is that it takes the best of Final Fantasy and best of Dragon Quest, and then blends them into an RPG soup that is absolutely delicious. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and when all is said and done, you'll remember Chrono Trigger's story long after the credits have rolled.
Dragon Quest 11
Dragon Quest has an impressive history of quality RPGs, but its most recent entry might just top them all. Dragon Quest 11 feels fresh but familiar; it's a Greatest Hits album that can get new players into the series while reminding veterans why they love this franchise in the first place. DQ11 has the best cast of any Dragon Quest game, and its trademark humor balances perfectly with its darker moments.
Dragon Quest 11 has a long and winding story with a lot of payoffs, and subsequent versions of the game (called Dragon Quest 11 S) give you the option to experience the RPG fully in classic 2D. It balances the old with the new, and we all get to reap the benefits. This game helped Dragon Quest break out to a global audience in a way the series hadn't done before, and there's a good reason for it: Dragon Quest 11 is a masterpiece.
Final Fantasy 9
Like Dragon Quest 11, Final Fantasy 9 perfectly mixes the old with the new. It's still the highest-rated Final Fantasy game of all time, and for good reason. Very few RPGs touch on this level of existentialism (and so successfully). It's got humor and heart, and if Vivi's arc doesn't leave you in tears with a sense of catharsis, then you might be a robot.
I could ramble all day about why FF9 is the perfect RPG, but let's suffice it to say that very few games pack such an emotional punch while still being this fun. From mini-games to ability and weapons systems, there's so much to love here. If you've never played Final Fantasy 9, then by all means stop reading this and go check it out. The remasters are on all modern systems, and it's still the best Square Enix game after all these years.
