Summary
Square Enix is one of the most prolific video game publishers and developers of all time. The history of this company is a fascinating one, loaded with impressive achievements and some major lows that led to numerous mergers, notable departures, and everything else along the same lines. From the very momentFinal Fantasybecame a major hit, Square never looked back. A merger formed soon after, with SquareSoft turning into one of the biggest players in the video game industry.Final Fantasy 7helped the company reach immense heights in popularity and further scale up its operations.
However,Final Fantasyhas been both a source of great celebration and distress for the company. The colossal commercial failure ofFinal Fantasy: The Spirits Withinled to a major pivot and another merger for the company, leading to the formation of Square Enix. This company has experimented a lot with new and established IPs, with some franchises witnessing great success while others are unlikely to ever make a return for the company.
5Chaos Rings
Latest Release: Chaos Rings 3 (July 17, 2025)
Back when Square Enix was investing heavily in story-driven RPGs for mobile devices,fans were treated toChaos Rings, one of the most underrated JRPGs more fans need to check out. The twisted nature of the games teams were forced to play coupled with a fascinating story surrounding the end of the world, it’s easy to see why people were invested in this game’s ambition.Chaos Rings Omegaserved as a prequel to the events of the tournament from the first game, whileChaos Rings 2pushed things in a new and interesting direction.
However, whenChaos Rings 3came out, fans were disappointed to see a lot of the series' dark elements be sacrificed in favor of a light-hearted setting that felt more generic than it had any right to be. The gameplay lost a lot of the unique charm of the first two games, where two-man teams were prioritized and combat made the most of this dynamic. WithChaos Rings 3serving as a disappointing entry in the series, the lack of any news about later games in the series has made it clear that Square Enix won’t be revisiting this franchise anytime soon.
4Kane & Lynch
Latest Release: Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days (Jul 27, 2025)
Kane & Lynch: Dead Menwas far from being the best third-person shooter fans could check out, but this game featured enough set pieces and fun character moments to help it stand out in the eyes of many. So, when the sequel came out, fans had no idea that they’d witness the release of one of the worst video games of all time. Thepoor presentation ofKane & Lynch 2: Dog Dayscoupled with its clunky shooting, questionable gameplay mechanics, and monotonous presentation established it in the eyes of many as a horrible sequel that was a huge step back fromDead Men.
With the title’s less-than-stellar reputation hampering it in the eyes of many,Kane & Lynchwas subsequently discarded from any future plans by Square Enix. With the vast majority of their western IPs being sold to Embracer Group, which has canceled several promising games, it’s easy to see why the potential of a comeback for this fleeting franchise is far from likely.
3Parasite Eve
Latest Release: The 3rd Birthday (July 27, 2025)
Parasite Eveis one of the best JRPGs on the PS1, withits focus on a modern-day settingcoupled with copious amounts of body horror helping it stand out as an underrated gem. Its brief length makes it even more palatable, so it’s a shame thatParasite Eve 2sacrificed a lot of what made this series special and turned it into anotherResident Evilclone with RPG elements that didn’t stand out in the eyes of many. However, it’s the much-maligned release ofThe 3rd Birthdaythat has killed any interest in a revival for this series.
The 3rd Birthdaydumbed down the character of Aya Brea into a helpless amnesiac who’s exploited for the male gaze, with the shameless objectification and horrid story turning it into one of the worst video games of all time. The Twisted aren’t engaging enemies in the slightest, and it’s a shame that the body horror that made the first game such a blast to play through is absent here. With nary a peep about a newParasite Evegame for more than a decade, fans have little to no hope of a new entry in the franchise.
2Fear Effect
Latest Release: Fear Effect Sedna (June 09, 2025)
The twoFear Effectgames on the PlayStation have aged like a fine wine when it comes to the art style. Cel-shading has continued to be an excellent way for games to appear timeless, with fans loving the adventures of Hana, Deke, and Glas as they try to locate the daughter of a Triad boss, only to be embroiled in a major controversy not long after. Insta-death traps may be dated now, but the detail present in each unique death for the characters coupled with a focus on more action-packed gameplay with tank controls made it clear why the first game was such a joy to play through.
Both this game andRetro Helixwere published by Eidos Interactive, with Square Enix attaining the rights to this IP after Eidos merged with the company. Whilean attempt was made to revive the IP in 2018,Fear Effect Sednawas a poor entry in the series. The isometric viewpoint should’ve been a fresh way to experience the series, but the lack of compelling gameplay elements coupled with frustrating difficulty ensured that the game would be forgotten as a mediocre entry. To add to this disappointment,Fear Effect Reinventedwas canceled despite its promise, and the subsequent sale of Eidos and its other Western subsidiaries to Embracer Group has made it clear that this franchise will never see the light of day ever again.
1Chrono
Latest Release: Chrono Cross (Jul 14, 2025)
It puzzles many fans thatChronohasn’t seen more entries. Every JRPG fan worth their salt knows whyChrono Triggeris hailed as one of the greatest JRPGs ever made. The brilliant pacing, memorable cast of characters, and a unique time-travel mechanic have helped this game stand out as one of the best representatives of this genre that still holds up. WhileChrono Crossfailed to capture the revolutionary allure of its successor, the focus on a huge cast of party members and an ambitious approach ensured that fans would find various things to appreciate about this game.
Given howChrono Triggercontinues to be one of the most talked-about video games of all time, it’s odd that there’s been no news of another entry in the series. Sure,Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Editionlet many fans check out a title that deserves more eyes on it, but the poor quality of the port disappointed many fans. Suffice to say, unless Square Enix shows how serious it is about theChronofranchise, there’s no point hoping that this time-travel JRPG series will make a comeback in the modern era.
