Square Enix is one of the biggest developers in the video game industry today, but they didn't become this popular overnight. Previously known as SquareSoft before their merge in 2003, the developer has created some of the most beloved game series ever made, with the likes of Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts now being household names. While they are most well known for their RPGs, they also aren't shy about covering dark themes in their large catalog of long-running games, with some of them exploring some very bleak concepts and ideas.
5 Darkest Capcom Games
Not even a few cheesy one-liners could lighten up the mood in these dark and twisted Capcom titles.
While a few of their games simply have a creepy or unnerving moment here or there, they also have others that are designed to be truly thought-provoking due to the dark events that are scattered throughout their stories. It's time to take a look at just how dark Square Enix decided to go with some of its games, and what gave them such an edge in the eyes of many players. It should be noted that this list will also include the developers' history as SquareSoft since they are the original developers of these series that would continue on after the merge with Enix.
5 The Last Remnant
Darkest Moment: The Conqueror Declares War On The Town Of Athlum And Kills Hundreds Of Civilians In The Process
The Last Remnant is a fairly niche RPG set in a rich world full of many different races with their own cultures and traditions. While the gameplay is serviceable, it's in the plot where the game really shines, with the entire story being a political thriller that takes a deep look at the nature of war and conflict. This whole backdrop already gives the game a pretty dark angle, and things only go from bad to worse when the protagonist's sister is kidnapped in the first few hours of the game to kick off the story.
There are still some lighthearted moments here and there that come from the party members, of which there are many to recruit, and their banter in between battles. While the combat itself isn't too gruesome or gory, it's when taking a step back and reflecting on the game's wider context that it can seem pretty dark and disturbing.
4 Romancing SaGa 3
Darkest Moment: The Rise Of Morastrum Killing Every Newborn Except For One To Create The Child Of Destiny
Romancing SaGa 3 is somewhat of a hidden gem from Square's early catalog, but there's no denying that the entire premise of the game is pretty dark. Every 3 centuries, an event known as the Rise of Morastrum occurs where a dark star blocks out the sun, and all who are born in that year are forced to perish, except for one survivor who is known as the Child of Destiny.
These children are said to have mystical and otherworldy powers that can alter the state of the world and its people, and with another eclipse on the horizon, a band of heroes must set out to find the child to understand what their intentions are, and what abilities they possess. The game still has plenty of lighthearted moments sprinkled throughout, and it does end on a bittersweet note, but this is definitely one of Square's darker setups for a story.
3 Final Fantasy 10
Darkest Moment: Sin Launching A Full-Scale Attack On Zanarkand And Destroying The Entire City
Final Fantasy 10 is an incredibly layered game thematically, covering many different topics including religion, war, sacrifice, and the overuse of technology, but what makes the game especially sad is that it becomes clear very quickly that the story isn't going to end on a good note for everyone. The game's plot primarily revolves around Sin, a giant aquatic monster that launches a devastating attack on the population every few years. The people of Spira believe that Sin's attacks are punishment for their reliance on Machina, a form of technology that was used over 1000 years ago.
This is already quite a distressing set-up, especially when talking to NPCs who will discuss how they are very fearful of the next attack, or even mentioning the people they've lost to Sin's previous appearances. It's also revealed that Yuna's pilgrimage to try and fend off Sin is going to result in her death, which leads to some very upsetting scenes, such as when she confesses her love to Tidus and hopes that they can one day see Zanarkand together. While Sin is eventually defeated once and for all by the end of the game, the "death" of Tidus is still a real gut punch, and the whole plot leading up to this point is presented from a really dark and gloomy perspective.
2 Kingdom Hearts X
Darkest Moment: Witnessing Hundreds Of Young Keyblade Warriors Being Killed In The Keyblade War
It can be hard trying to explain to someone who hasn't played Kingdom Heartsjust how serious their stories can get, considering they are usually full of happy-go-lucky Disney characters. The truth is though, Square Enix successfully managed to mix this massive cast of colorful Disney icons with their signature RPG stories that explored some very serious topics and themes.
Kingdom Hearts Games Tier List
With 18 years of Kingdom Hearts games there have been some ups and downs for the popular Disney/Square Enix crossover franchise.
Kingdom Hearts X though felt unusually dark for the series, with every major character going through some pretty horrifying events throughout the story. The Disney magic that showered the previous games felt eerily absent this time around, with the plot being set just before and during the devastating Keybalde War. This event resulted in a lot of Keyblade weilders losing their lives, many of whom the game depicts as being either children or early teens. It's also left very unclear by the finale if the main characters' lives will ever be the same, with the game having a very dark and unnerving angle to it from start to end.
1 Final Fantasy 6
Darkest Moment: Kefka Turns The World To Ruin And Mercilessly Oppresses And Kills Everyone Who Disobeys Him By Smiting Them
The sixth entry in the long-running Final Fantasy series is often regarded as one of the best by fans, not only because of its extremely memorable characters and villain but also because of how masterfully it subverts expectations through its story. Final Fantasy 6 already starts off on a pretty sad note, with Terra waking up with amnesia after being controlled by the maniacal Kefka who forced her to commit some horrific acts, but the story gradually gets more and more disturbing and dark once the Empire begins to grow in power.
By the mid-point of the game, when it feels like the party might be edging closer to figuring out how to defeat the Empire, an apocalyptic event occurs, and the planet becomes a World of Ruin. The event itself completely decimates the land, ruining all-natural landscapes and killing many people in the process. There's even an incredibly dark scene where Celes, after learning that Kefka has taken over the world, attempts to take her own life, highlighting just how terrifying this villain really was now that he had limitless power.
There are many points where the party members in the game are constantly questioning where they went wrong, and how such a horrific event could happen, making for a very sad but memorable story that has stuck with fans of the game ever since it was released.