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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThere is no official, definitive ranking of Square Enix games across franchises. This list is an editorial ranking designed to help you choose what to play: it weighs lasting influence, story and characters, distinctive gameplay, accessibility on current platforms, and variety across the publisher’s catalog. Fans will reasonably rank these games differently.
The selection spans role-playing styles and eras rather than treating a Final Fantasy list as a company-wide one. For context, Square Enix’s company page, last updated April 24, 2024, reported more than 185 million FINAL FANTASY units and more than 88 million DRAGON QUEST units sold worldwide; those are franchise totals, not sales figures for any game below. Square Enix company information.
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15. Octopath Traveler
A modern turn-based RPG with the look of a carefully staged pixel-art diorama, Octopath Traveler earns its place for making a classic format feel visually fresh. Its eight protagonists bring different abilities and personal stories, so the appeal is as much in exploring the world and experimenting with party combinations as in following a single central plot. It is a good starting point for players who want traditional command-based combat with a distinctive presentation.
14. Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics trades the mainline series’ sprawling landscapes for compact, grid-based battles where elevation, positioning, and job choices matter. Its political fantasy story gives the tactical systems real stakes, and its job system rewards players who enjoy building a team over time. The original game is a landmark for strategy-RPG fans, though its availability and edition options depend on platform and region.
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13. Nier: Automata
Nier: Automata blends fast action combat with shifting perspectives and a science-fiction story that gradually recontextualizes what came before. Its willingness to change genres and expectations makes it unusually memorable, while the combat keeps exploration moving. It works as a standalone entry; players do not need to know the earlier Nier games to follow its central conflict.
12. Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age
Dragon Quest XI S is a welcoming entry point into a long-running series: a colorful, turn-based adventure built around a clear quest, a likable ensemble, and familiar fantasy pleasures. Its combat is easy to understand but supports party strategy as challenges rise. The “S” edition is the expanded version to look for, but confirm the exact platform and edition listed for your region before buying.
11. Kingdom Hearts II
Kingdom Hearts II is the series at its most confident as an action RPG: responsive real-time combat, quick movement between Disney-inspired worlds, and a story that pairs friendship and loss with deliberately elaborate mythology. Its emotional beats land best if you know the first game and Chain of Memories. Newcomers can start there, but should expect a continuing narrative rather than a self-contained adventure.
10. Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X pairs a strong central relationship with a world shaped by ritual, loss, and a looming catastrophe. Its turn-based battles make party choices and enemy weaknesses easy to read, while the Sphere Grid gives character growth a flexible structure. The game is also a practical entry point for players who prefer a contained story over a sprawling series continuity.
9. Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger remains one of the most efficient classic RPGs to recommend: a time-traveling story with a memorable party, brisk pacing, and battles that connect character abilities through combination attacks. Its historical importance is part of its appeal, but the game still feels approachable because it avoids much of the grind associated with older role-playing games. Check platform listings carefully, since editions and features vary.
8. Final Fantasy XIV
Final Fantasy XIV turns the series’ role-playing roots into a large online world built around a continuing story, cooperative dungeons, and frequent group activities. Its strongest case is the way it gives a long-form narrative room to grow alongside its players. It is also the biggest commitment on this list: choose it if you want an ongoing multiplayer game, not a short, self-contained RPG.
7. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King
Dragon Quest VIII is a broad, sunny road-trip RPG whose journey, party banter, and classic turn-based battles make the series’ appeal easy to understand. Its rounded world and straightforward quest structure provide a strong contrast to more experimental entries here. It is an especially good pick for someone seeking a traditional fantasy adventure, though the version available to you may change the presentation and features.
6. Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VI builds its story around a large ensemble rather than one conventional hero, then gives that cast an unusually consequential conflict. Its opera-house sequence and tonal range are famous for good reason, but the game’s strength is the way its characters and world make the stakes personal. It is a fine choice for players curious about the series’ 2D era and turn-based roots.
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5. Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX is a warm, self-aware fantasy adventure that returns to the series’ medieval roots without losing its interest in identity, mortality, and belonging. Its colorful cast and theatrical tone make it one of the most inviting entries, while its turn-based battles preserve the classic party-RPG rhythm. It stands on its own and is a strong option for players who want a complete story rather than an action-focused remake.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.4. Kingdom Hearts
The original Kingdom Hearts brought Disney worlds and Square Enix characters into an action-RPG adventure with an unexpectedly earnest heart. Its real-time combat and world-hopping structure established a distinctive identity, and its central trio remains the emotional anchor of the franchise. The story grows more complicated in later installments, but the first game is still the clearest place to begin.
3. Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Dragon Quest V makes a simple fantasy quest feel unusually intimate by following its hero across major stages of life. Its family-centered story gives the familiar turn-based battles and monster-collecting system a personal dimension. It is one of the series’ most distinctive narratives and a strong recommendation for players who want classic RPG mechanics with an emotional through-line.
2. Final Fantasy VII
The original Final Fantasy VII remains a defining entry in the genre: a party-driven RPG with a memorable world, a strong central mystery, and a materia system that encourages experimentation. Its cultural reach is immense, but it earns this placement on its own merits as an adventure with an unusually cohesive cast and setting. It is separate from the modern remake trilogy, whose story and structure are not a one-to-one substitute for the original.
1. Final Fantasy VII Remake
Final Fantasy VII Remake takes the opening Midgar portion of the original and expands it into a full-scale action RPG. Its mix of real-time attacks, tactical pauses, character switching, and a more intimate look at the cast makes it the best overall pick here for many modern players. It is also the first part of a larger retelling: continue with Rebirth for the next chapter, rather than expecting Remake to cover the whole original story.
Which edition should you look for?
Square Enix’s North American store lists a FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE & REBIRTH Twin Pack Physical Edition for PS5. The listing confirms that edition exists in the store catalog, not current stock, price, or availability at other retailers; check the seller and platform details before purchasing.
How to choose your first Square Enix game
- For classic turn-based RPGs: start with Final Fantasy X, Dragon Quest XI S, or Chrono Trigger.
- For real-time action: try Final Fantasy VII Remake or Kingdom Hearts.
- For strategy and planning: choose Final Fantasy Tactics.
- For a continuing online world: choose Final Fantasy XIV.
- For a self-contained modern story: Nier: Automata or Final Fantasy X are approachable choices.
- For an expansive franchise experience: explore Final Fantasy VII across the original and remake games, or follow Kingdom Hearts in release order.
Square Enix’s catalog spans franchises, platforms, and genres, so no single ranking can cover every worthwhile game or suit every player. Its official homepage even frames the choice directly: “Which FINAL FANTASY game should I play first?” Square Enix’s official homepage.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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