For the most part,Square Enixhas had a strong 2020s so far, producing several massive JRPGs that rank among the genre’s best modern efforts. Nowadays, the publisher targets more than just Sony hardware, but thePlayStation 5is still arguably the best console to play Square Enix games.
Developing and publishing a couple of projects per year, the company’s lineup is constantly expanding and, at times, reaching new heights. A few missteps aside,Square Enix’s PS5 gamesare quite good, at least for players who generally enjoy action or turn-based RPGs. Let’s highlight Square Enix’s best games on the PlayStation 5, focusing on titles developed by in-house teams.
Games co-developed by Square Enix and another developer will be considered. Games that were only published by Square Enix will not be included.
SaGais a complicated franchise, both in terms of releases and gameplay. Newcomers might struggle to find an entry point into the series, but they have a couple of options on the PS5.Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Sevenis a solid remake of a classic entry, although PS5 owners have to settle for playing the PS4 version. However, beginners should just go ahead and pick up the latest “new” entry in the franchise:SaGa: Emerald Beyond.
While a spiritual successor toScarlet Grace,Emerald Beyondis largely a standalone experience that can be enjoyed without any knowledge of previous entries. With five campaigns revolving around different playable characters, the game shines in its varied locations, covering more than a dozen planets that players can mostly visit in any order they prefer. Now, free exploration is not offered, but each world contains events that blend dialogue and combat.SaGahas always prioritized player choice, a mantraEmerald Beyondrespects while also simplifying the core mechanics just enough to keep things accessible (by the franchise’s standards). The turn-based battle system is quite strategic too, without being too overwhelming.
OK, now, here is aSquare Enix PS5 gamewith a unique history.Tactics Ogre: Rebornis a remaster ofTactics Ogre: Let Us Cling Together, a 2010 PSP remake of 1995’sTactics Ogrefor the SNES. The latter is considered one of the most important console tactics games of all time, and the PSP version is highly regarded and, for many, an improvement upon its predecessor.Rebornshould be the definitive version; however, while considered as such by many players, it can be quite divisive, particularly with die-hard fans of the 2010 release.
Reborndoes not change all that much about its classic ancestor, opting to mostly update the visuals and provide some QOL and gameplay adjustments. The latter bring the turn-based combat into the modern era, while still retaining some of the PSP iteration’s charm. That said, the remaster’s tweaks to the battle system are not to everyone’s preferences, particularly the incorporation of random cards that introduce an aspect of RNG. While the combat is nothing too fantastic compared to other modern strategy games,Tactics Ogre: Reborn’s war storyis still among the genre’s best efforts.
Never released outside of Japan, 1994’sLive a Livewas among the SNES' best and most ambitious JRPGs, so it is a shame that an official English version was never produced. Fortunately, Square Enix eventually decided to revisit this cult classic, giving it an HD-2D makeover in the process.
Live a Live’s “gimmick” (and that is not a criticism) is the incorporation of eight scenarios set in unique eras and featuring different protagonists. Even the gameplay changes depending on the setting, andplayers can play through seven scenarios in any order. This freedom was incredible in 1994, and it is still impressive more than three decades later. While some campaigns are better than others,Live a Liveis surprisingly consistent considering its scattershot approach to storytelling.
Almost a spiritual successor toLive a Live,Octopath Travelerand its sequel revolve around eight playable characters who each follow unique storylines.Players pick a starting characterand then recruit the other seven, before embarking fully on their chosen protagonist’s quest. Each story is mostly standalone, with the other characters serving as party members but not contributing much to the events.
That said, unlike the first game, the sequel tries to make the party members seem like friends by emphasizing banter, a small change that results in a far superior overall experience. Essentially,Octopath Traveler 2tells eight companion-style stories that are wildly different from each other, although they are all of reasonably high quality. The turn-based combat is inspired by classic Square Enix JRPGs likeFinal Fantasy, and it works well.
Any new numberedFinal Fantasyentry will always be a big deal, but this also means these games must meet extraordinary expectations. Although rarely producing a “bad” project, the series has grown fairly inconsistent, with Lightning’s trilogy andFF15being particularly polarizing. In comparison,Final Fantasy 16is not only a triumph but also one of Square Enix’s best modern releases, delivering an epic campaign with production value that puts to shame most other games.
Opting for a more mature and darker tone than usual,FF16tells a story that explores themes related to war, sacrifice, power, devotion, and revenge. Unlike classic entries in the series, the 2023 game mostly features a solitary protagonist, Clive, rather than an ever-available party. The combat takes a few ideas fromDevil May Cry, delivering flashy hack-and-slash action that builds on some of the ideas introduced in theFF7 Remake. While linearity and cutscenes are hardly unusual for the franchise,FF16takes things quite a few steps further, delivering fairly short gameplay stages that can, at times, seem like they end too quickly.
FF16is fantastic, but it is such a departure from the traditionalFinal Fantasyadventure that a player’s mileage may vary, depending on what type of experience they crave.
The PS5 has a couple ofStar Oceangames, including a new numbered sequel inThe Divine Force. While a good action JRPG, it does not quite compare toThe Second Story R, a remake that modernizes arguably the best entry in the franchise, which originally debuted on the PS1.
Even more so thanLive a LiveorTactics Ogre: Reborn, this remake is not only 100% the definitive way to experience this story, but almost none of the changes take anything away from the original’s appeal.The Second Story Rcombines tight gameplay, likable characters, stunning visuals (seriously, they are gorgeous), and a surprisingly enjoyable story to create one of the most complete JRPGs on the PS5, as long as the isometric “old-school” aesthetic is to a player’s liking.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergradeis also fantastic, but it has been omitted to avoid doubling down on the same trilogy.
FF7 Remakewas a big success, andRebirthnot only builds on its predecessor’s great ideas but also expands the scope considerably. Unlike the first entry, the 2024 sequel takes place in a full-blown open-world stuffed with side quests, mini-games, and activities to keep players distracted when they are not focusing on the main story. While not consistently amazing, the optional content is generally enjoyable and serves to immerse players in, by far, this universe’s biggest playground to date.
The second chapter in the trilogy,Rebirthtakes a few more risks with the story’s direction thanRemake, a decision that manages to pay off not only within the confines of this entry but also as a set-up for the third act that is still to come. The real-time combat system is arguably Square Enix’s best to date, offeringseven (main) playable characterswho are all wildly different from each other. With top-notch gameplay, a mostly brilliant main story, best-in-class graphics, and an overwhelming amount of content,Rebirthis just one of the greatest PS5 games, at least within the JRPG genre.
