The 5 Best Square JRPGs

When you think of JRPGs, you probably think of Square Enix. The company’s bread and butter franchises are among the most famous the genre has to offer. Before it was Square Enix, it was two companies: Square and Enix. The two rival publishers each had their own distinct flavor. Square had the popular Final Fantasy franchise leading the charge, with many other well-regarded JRPGs backing it up. Which games were a cut above the others? We’ve picked out the five best Square JRPGs. To keep it interesting, we’re going to limit each series to one entry.

Final Fantasy VII

Generally speaking, conversations about which Final Fantasy is best should not be had in polite company. Every game in the series has its own charms, and it’s not unusual for someone to connect to any of them in a big way. Still, there’s one thing that Final Fantasy VII can boast that none of the other entries can. This is the game that made the franchise break out globally, and it was an important part of popularizing JRPGs in the West. Cloud and Sephiroth are practically household names in gaming. Is it the best Square JRPG? Arguable, but it at least has to be in the discussion.

Romancing SaGa 2

Fun fact: Square’s first million-selling game wasn’t a Final Fantasy game. No, it was the first game in the SaGa series, the Game Boy JRPG known in North America as The Final Fantasy Legend. SaGa has always marched to its own beat. A double-edged blade, that. In the case of Romancing SaGa 2, it resulted in a fascinating JRPG that puts you in charge of a kingdom across multiple generations of rulers. You’ll have to manage your kingdom’s resources, expand your reach, and deal with any problems that arise. There are a lot of great ways to play this game in English these days, so pick one and get at it.

Chrono Trigger

What happens when you bring together some of the best JRPG talents of the era for one project? Chrono Trigger, that’s what. Dragon Quest creator Yuji Horii, Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi, and Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama are just a few of the developers behind this masterpiece. With an exciting time traveling plot, a zippy pace, amazing graphics, an unforgettable soundtrack, and a lovable cast of characters, Chrono Trigger is a tour de force. It’s not just one of the best Square JRPGs, but also one of the best JRPGs full-stop.

Live A Live

Square frequently experimented with the JRPG genre and Live A Live might just be the crowning achievement of that approach. The game is broken up into seven seemingly standalone scenarios, each one with its own setting and characters. Some feel more like they’re pulled from an adventure game than a JRPG. Everything comes together in the end, and it makes for an awesome finale. While the original 16-bit version only released in Japan, Square Enix released a spiffy HD-2D remake globally that is well-worth checking out.

Parasite Eve

With the PlayStation’s power and the extra storage afforded by the CD medium, Square was able to lean even farther into its cinematic ambitions. Parasite Eve is a great example of that, fusing the mechanics of a JRPG with a modern day setting. Its story, adapted from a horror novel, immediately stands out in a sea of fantasy tales. The combat system is also quite interesting, adding more action into the turn-based mix. The sequels ended up shifting into something closer to survival horror, so this really is one of a kind.