Summary
Making a video game is not easy. Making a sequel to that game that will leave fans satisfied is arguably even harder. All the major companies working in the industry are very aware of this challenge, andSquare Enixis no exception.
This legendary Japanese game company is well-known for its revolutionary JRPG franchises, likeFinal FantasyandDragon Quest,but most of them share one particular characteristic: Their mainline entries are entirely disconnected from each other and don’t really qualify as sequels. Nevertheless, Square Enix has still released multiple high-quality titles that serve as follow-ups of existing games, and these are some of the best examples.
TheFinal Fantasyfranchise was going through a tough time during the late-2000s, especially after the release ofFinal Fantasy 13, which was heavily criticized for its linear level design and confusing combat system. Two years later, Square Enix releasedFinal Fantasy 13-2, which was received a bit better.
But the third and final entry in theFinal Fantasy 13subseries resonated a lot more with fans of the franchise.Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13ditched the traditional turn-based gameplay in favor of a unique and fun real-time combat that was way more accessible. Not to mention, it also marked the return of Lightning as it’s the sole playable character.Lightning Returnsis far from perfect,but it is still regarded as one of the superiorFinal Fantasysequels.
With its beautiful sprite work, magical soundtrack, and accessible real-time combat,Secret of Manabecame one of the best RPGs released on the Super Nintendo. But not many people knew that this beloved new game was actually a sequel to an obscure Game Boy RPG released two years prior.
Seiken Densetsuwas released in North America asFinal Fantasy Adventure,but it was never part of theFinal Fantasyfranchise. This was the first entry in theSeiken Densetsuseries, which is now better known as theManaseries.Secret of Manaput the IP on the map, since the advanced technology of the SNES allowed Square to make a bigger, better, more ambitious, and more beautiful experience that takes place in the same fictional universe as its predecessor.
In 2012, Square Enix releasedBravely Defaultfor the Nintendo 3DS. Developed by Silicon Studio, this high-quality RPG was a much-needed return to form to the days of strategic, turn-based combat, which was a breath of fresh air during a time in which theFinal Fantasyseries was straying from its turn-based roots.
Due toBravely Default’scritical and commercial success, Square Enix and Silicon Studio made a follow-up four years later,namedBravely Second: End Layer. This direct sequel takes place two years after the events of its predecessor. It retains its effective turn-based combat, while also fixing many of its flaws to make for a smoother and more accessible experience. While fans still debate which game is better, both are perfect for those who want to play more old-school turn-based JRPGs.
2007’sThe World Ends With Youis one of the most distinctive video games that Tetsuya Nomura has ever worked on. Releasing a project that wasn’t attached to theFinal FantasyorKingdom HeartsIPs was also a big risk for the company. Nevertheless, it gained a massive cult following that asked Square Enix for a sequel for many years.
Thankfully, this ended up materializing in 2021,whenNEO: The World Ends With Youcame out on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4. The modern technology of these two consoles (which were way more powerful than the Nintendo DS) meant that Nomura and his team were able to create a bigger and more ambitious experience with a lot of stylish 3D action and a catchy soundtrack. While the plot this time around follows a new group of characters participating in the Reapers’ Game, the entire cast of the first game makes an appearance.
Many people think that it took Square Enix fourteen years to make a sequel to the critically acclaimedKingdom Hearts 2. In reality, the company kept releasing new entries throughout the late 2000s and early 2010s that were very important to the overall narrative. This story arc is now known as the Dark Seeker Saga,and it reached its long-awaited conclusion with the release of the third numbered game in the series,Kingdom Hearts 3.
This sequel’s biggest strength is its fascinating ability to take every beloved mechanic from previous entries (like Shotlocks, Flowmotion, Keyblade Transformations and Situation Commands) and seamlessly implement them in one place, creating the definitiveKingdom Heartscombat system.Kingdom Hearts 3told an epic story that, while it was not without its flaws, left most of the fan base satisfied, while also leaving enough plot points open for the upcoming Lost Masters Saga.
NieR: Automatabecame one of the best-selling and best-received video games of 2017. Platinum Game’s bombastic hack-and-slash gameplay, combined with Yoko Taro’s mind-blowing storytelling, resonated with many gamers all around the world. But, most people weren’t (and still aren’t) aware thatNieR: Automatais technically a sequel.
Originally released asNier(and later re-released asNier Replicant), this action RPG was a spin-off of Taro’sDrakengardseries. While both games are loosely connected,NieR: Automatais a direct follow-up to one of its many endings, and it has many explicit references to its predecessor that fans of the series who played it understood and enjoyed. Fortunately, the original game is more accessible now, as it was remastered with the titleNieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…in 2021.
In the early 2000s, Square Enix joined forces with Disney to make a weird but fun action RPG calledKingdom Hearts. While this ended up being a creative and magical experience, it seemed like it was going to be a “one and done,” until both companies began working on sequels almost immediately. In 2005, theyreleasedKingdom Hearts 2, a new mainline entry for the PlayStation 2.
Kingdom Hearts 2improved on everything from the original game. The combat system was smoother; the presentation was more beautiful, the controls felt a lot better; the Disney worlds were bigger. The boss fights were more cinematic and the story was more complex and more interesting, even though many have criticized it for being convoluted. While a fair share ofKingdom Heartsfans still prefer the first entry, the franchise would be nowhere near as popular now if it wasn’t forKingdom Hearts 2.
In recent years, Square Enix did something unprecedented. The company announced it was finally going to make the modern remake ofFinal Fantasy 7that fans had wanted for decades, but it was going to be split into three different games. While this unusual decision was initially received with a lot of concern, fans stopped worrying whenFinal Fantasy 7 Remakecame out in 2020.It proved to be an excellent action RPG that retold the classic story in new and exciting ways.
The combined reputation of the original PS1 game and the first part of its Remake project gave gamers high expectations for its second part, and it didn’t disappoint.Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthcame out in early 2024and became one of the best games of the year. Both fans and critics praised its deep and rewarding combat system, beautiful graphics, incredible music, vast array of mini-games, and mind-blowing reinterpretations of classicFF7characters, locations, and plot points. This is the bestFinal Fantasysequel Square Enix has put out so far and, oddly enough, it may lose that distinction to its upcoming sequel.
