Square Enix’s Next Remaster Targets After Ivalice Chronicles Should Be These Fan Favorites

Square Enix has been a powerhouse in the gaming industry for multiple decades, and while their recent history is a bit more checkered, they still remain an incredibly influential AAA studio. Best known for their JRPG franchises including Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts, the team at Square has been slowing down on some of their new game releases and IPs, and instead filling voids with a plethora of remakes, remasters, and reimaginings, something that the industry at large has been doing frequently. Their most recent surprise announcement has got fans thinking, what else can be on the horizon?

Square Enix Has Many Classics Due For A Re-release

One game that has been at the top of the fan list due for a remaster is Square Enix’s Final Fantasy Tactics, still to this day considered one of, if not the, best tactical RPG of all time. It is also among the greatest Final Fantasy games of all time, which is a feat unto itself given how many titles have been released in that storied franchise. Square has built its legacy through its impact and influential games, many of which are classics from two or even three decades ago.

With Final Fantasy Tactics finally coming to modern consoles, it can be checked off the wishlist. So what other Squeenix games should the studio work on next? We highlight five here, but there are many more classics that also could have made the cut.

1. Chrono Trigger

The list has to start with Chrono Trigger, one of the greatest games Square ever produced. For some reason only Square understands, the team has already remastered the follow-up game, Chrono Cross. Perhaps it has to do with source code, but regardless, while Cross is also a very good game, it is not to the level that Chrono Trigger delivered. In fact, Chrono Trigger mastered the multiple endings and divergent timelines in a way that still influences games to this day. That the game is only accessible on PC and mobile on current systems is an absolute insult, one that Square can rectify moving forward.

2. Xenogears

Xenogears is on this list for quite a different reason than the previous entry. Unlike Chrono Trigger, Xenogears is not some influential masterpiece. The game is still fantastic and has an incredible, deep storyline and vast world and cast that is well ahead of its time. However, the game had development issues, so much so that they actually had to cut back on the overall story to get the game out, and it ultimately branched off to entirely new franchises. If Square Enix actually chose to remaster the PS1 game, it could not only fit better in a modern world, but also complete the story that was not finished in the team’s full vision.

3. Vagrant Story

Vagrant Story may quite possibly be Square Enix’s single most underrated game of all time. Originally thought to be a spin-off of the Final Fantasy series, and still somewhat unclear on the developer’s actual inspirations, it utilizes the world of Ivalice (made famous by both Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII) but with an entirely different combat structure. The unique action style takes getting used to, and could likely be smoothed over by a remaster. But carrying the game is its masterful, impactful storytelling and character development. It has not been available to play since PS3 and PS Vita, which absolutely has to change.

4. Brave Fencer Musashi

Probably the least known of the list, Brave Fencer Musashi was one of Square Enix’s ventures into a sword-based real-time action adventure. Nothing about the game on its own was unique. Day and Night cycles existed before, as did the 3D polygonal art style and the action combat. Put all together, though, and the game excelled. It has a charm about it that is often not met in modern gaming, and its attempts at comedy can be both amusing and cringeworthy, but in a nostalgic ’90s sort of way. Stuck on the PS1 and some PSN networks, the game deserves a complete visual refresh, and for more players to experience this hidden gem.

5. Final Fantasy Tactics Trilogy (Advance and A2: Grimoire of the Rift)

I recognize this is a bit of a cheat, given it is two games. Square Enix attempted to capitalize on the critical success of Final Fantasy Tactics by developing two sequels, both released on handheld Nintendo platforms. The two are far different than the original, though, with entirely new gameplay mechanics, and a far lighter storyline (and in A2’s case, a nearly non-existent one). The two games are not as well-known as the original, but each features its own enjoyment and charm, perfecting new mechanics while delivering some historic ideas that were brought to later games. If Tactics is getting Remastered, so too should its successors.

Final Thoughts

Other games could join the list as well, including Parasite Eve, The Legend of Dragoon, Bushido Blade, Final Fantasy XI, Bahamut Lagoon, and older Star Ocean entries. Really, that Square Enix has so many classic games deserving of a modern facelift is a credit to their long and storied history, and this is before we even get into major names that could get the Final Fantasy VII style Remake treatment, like Final Fantasy VI, VIII, or IX. With Square Enix growing their list of rereleased games, any of the above are legitimate possibilities. Which one would you like to see come to fruition most?