5 Forgotten Square Enix RPGs That Deserve A Comeback

Square Enix has built an enduring legacy around flagship role-playing franchises such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts. However, numerous ambitious titles from the publisher's history never evolved into long-standing series or have become difficult to access on modern gaming platforms. Despite enduring fan interest, several of these titles have experienced prolonged neglect from the company, prompting calls for updated ports, attentive remasters, or complete remakes.

Among the most prominent titles seeking a resurgence is the 1998 horror-RPG Parasite Eve. Built on an adjusted Final Fantasy 7 engine, the game follows NYPD detective Aya Brea through iconic New York City landmarks as she combats a biological threat named Eve. Contemporary reviewers praised the game as a cross between Final Fantasy 7 and Resident Evil. Although it spawned two sequels, the original entry's action-focused combat system and late-1990s Japanese horror aesthetic make it a prime candidate for a modern engine update.

Another distinct project lost to time is Bloodmasque, an action-RPG launched in 2013 set in an alternate 19th-century Paris ruled by vampires. The title suffered from limited visibility due to its exclusive release on iOS touchscreen devices. Scenario designer Kazutoyo Maehiro revealed in a interview last September that he penned roughly 3,000 years of lore for the game, spanning historical eras into outer space, and noted that the concept could still prove compelling to audience members if revived today.

The 1998 title Xenogears represents another ambitious chapter in the publisher's history. Initially pitched as an early concept for Final Fantasy 7, the game featured dramatic creative shifts, turning largely into a visual novel format during its second half. Though it achieved critical acclaim and commercial success, planned sequels were abandoned. Monolith Soft founder Tetsuya Takahashi later carried its spirit into the Xenosaga and Xenoblade series. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi recently observed that fully remaking Xenogears would present a massive development challenge.

The 2011 spin-off Final Fantasy Type-0 took inspiration from the Persona series by blending magical school life, dynamic calendar systems, and peer bonding with high-stakes supernatural conflict. Rather than following a singular hero, the game prioritized an ensemble cast of 14 students. Although the title received a high-definition remaster in 2015, the distinct concept of a recurring, academy-focused Square Enix subseries was never fully pursued following the original game's release.

Finally, the 1995 Super Nintendo masterpiece Chrono Trigger remains one of the most requested titles for a modern revival. Created by a legendary team including Yuji Horii, Hironobu Sakaguchi, Akira Toriyama, and Nobuo Uematsu, the game pioneered features like New Game+ alongside its famous time-travel mechanics. Following the 2022 release of Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition, expectations grew for a 30th-anniversary remaster. However, the title currently lacks a release on modern home consoles, leaving fans eager for an updated version or an HD-2D remake.