There are several names that come to one's mind when talking about some of the best and most iconic RPGs ever released by Square Enix. However, in this conversation, there's one title that was glossed over for the longest time...before now, that is.
The World Ends With You is easily one of the most stylish games to ever release on the Nintendo DS. An enhanced edition was released on the Nintendo Switch, bringing this game back into the limelight, especially now that Square Enix has announced a sequel.
For people who've already played the first game and want to get back into the groove of the action RPG gameplay goodness that is definitely going to be featured in NEO: The World Ends With You, these ten games should scratch that itch until then.
10 Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
When one talks about some of the best games on the Nintendo Switch, then it goes without saying that Xenoblade Chronicles would definitely be mentioned at some point.
The fact of the matter is that the Xenoblade Chronicles is one of the biggest draws of the Switch. Out of all the games in the series, Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition is certainly a standout for featuring a story that's easy to follow, combat that is engaging and develops well, and a world that is truly awe-inspiring in every way.
9 Dragon's Dogma
Out of all the game recommendations, Dragon's Dogma might seem like the odd one out. However, given the fact that The World Ends With You features some of the most interesting combat in the action RPG genre, it can definitely be compared with this game in that particular context.
Dragon's Dogma has some of the most enjoyable combat ever featured in an action RPG, showing once again why Capcom will always reign supreme when it comes to developing titles with excellent gameplay.
8 Tales Of Berseria
The Tales series has been criminally overlooked for way too long in the West, which is what makes Tales of Berseria such a special title.
The most recent title in the series serves as a great entry point into the franchise. Tales of Berseria features excellent combat and an engaging story that will keep players engaged for the better part of 70 hours or so.
7 Ys VIII: Lacrimosa Of Dana
Just like the Tales series, Ys is another franchise that is quite legendary in Japan but hasn't been nearly as successful in the West, which is quite a shame.
One need only play Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana to understand the allure of this amazing action JRPG franchise, where the combat and narrative work together in harmony to create something that's truly magical.
6 Tokyo Xanadu eX+
If players love the Persona series but wish for the combat to be more action-oriented, then Tokyo Xanadu eX+ will be right up their alley.
Featuring a mix of Persona-esque life sim elements coupled with classic action JRPG combat, the enhanced version of Tokyo Xanadu is the definitive way to enjoy this experience.
5 Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
The Ni No Kuni series is considered by many to be one of the best of all time, and it's easy to see why this is the case. The art style is reminiscent enough of Studio Ghibli that most people will instantly fall in love with both the games in this series.
That being said, when it comes to action JRPGs, it's the second Ni No Kuni game that is an absolute masterpiece, especially after Level-5 released an update to ramp up the difficulty.
4 Kingdom Hearts: Chain Of Memories
It would be impossible to talk about action RPGs in the same vein as The World Ends With You without mentioning the Kingdom Hearts series. This franchise is littered with so many games that the timeline has become notoriously confusing as a result, but people who like The World Ends With You should definitely try out Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories at least once.
The gameplay present in this Game Boy Advance title is very much reminiscent of The World Ends With You, albeit without any of the touchscreen prompts, obviously. However, if people want a more accessible experience, then they can always try out...
3 Kingdom Hearts II
Out of all the Kingdom Hearts titles that have released, the fan base generally considers Kingdom Hearts II to be the best of the lot. The story really picks up in this title and the combat is still refreshing to this day.
Of course, one can't really talk about iconic Square Enix titles without mentioning one particular series that is legendary among the JRPG fandom.
2 Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy was known for its iconic turn-based JRPG combat, but the franchise has been focusing more on real-time gameplay in recent years. This can be seen in the past two mainline titles that have been released and the gameplay footage of Final Fantasy XVI.
Final Fantasy XV was the first main entry to completely adopt a real-time combat system that was certainly enjoyable, despite the game's troubled development and numerous issues. However, this project certainly worked for the best — Square Enix took everything it learned from the development of Final Fantasy XV to make something that was infinitely more special.
1 Final Fantasy VII Remake
2020 saw the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake, a game that was widely anticipated ever since its reveal during E3 2015. The original game is considered to be one of the greatest of all time, so it's only a given that its remake would have some pretty big shoes to fill.
Thankfully, Final Fantasy VII Remake managed to meet all these expectations, if not exceed them. The focus on Midgar certainly worked in the game's favor, allowing players to experience one of the greatest games ever made in a modernized context that sets up the stage for future titles in this saga.