Square Enix is one of the most well-known developers and publishers in the world, with several high-profile franchises under its belt. Dragon Quest, Star Ocean, and Kingdom Hearts have all developed huge followings over the years, with each iteration growing in size and scope. Despite the success of these JRPG's though, Square Enix is best known for its Final Fantasy series, which is arguably among the most popular franchises in the entire video game industry. With two huge new Final Fantasy games potentially arriving this year, and two other games both having released to critical acclaim already, Square Enix could find itself enjoying its most successful year ever by the time 2023 draws to a close.
Even though 2023 is still in its infancy, Square Enix hasn't wasted any time in getting the year off to a fast start. After publishing Luminous Productions' Forspoken, a huge open-world action RPG that received a mixed reception upon its release, Square then followed this up in February with Theatrhythm Final Bar Line, a rhythm game that incorporates Final Fantasy characters and music. Octopath Traveler 2 was also released, serving as the follow-up to the highly rated Octopath Traveler, a HD- 2D JRPG featuring traditional turn-based combat. Both games have received praise from fans and critics alike.
2023 is a Big Year For Square Enix
The Theatrhythm series, while perhaps slightly unconventional, has built up a cult following over the years, and the most recent iteration is easily its biggest yet. Featuring more characters and tracks from the Final Fantasy series, as well as music from other Square Enix games which can be purchased as DLC, Final Bar Line currently holds a score of 87.5 on Metacritic. Octopath Traveler proved to be a triumphant return to traditional JRPG roots when it was released in 2018, and the sequel has managed to maintain the high standards set by its predecessor. The rich, HD visuals compliment the 2D style beautifully, and the turn-based battles are simple to get to grips with, but nuanced sufficiently to provide strategic layers where needed.
Despite the success of both of these titles, the most anticipated games from Square Enix right now are undoubtedly the two that are coming from its high-profile Final Fantasy franchise. Final Fantasy 16 is set to release in June for PS5 and will be the first mainline entry in the series for seven years, which represents the biggest gap between installments in the franchise's 36-year history. A return to a more traditional high-fantasy setting has been boldly paired with a shift toward a more action-orientated combat system, in a move that risks alienating some of the series' more traditional JRPG fans. Despite this, the game's creators are confident it will successfully showcase the series to a brand-new audience, while also satisfying long-standing fans.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has tentatively been given a Winter 2023 release date and is the highly anticipated sequel to 2020's Final Fantasy 7 Remake, a reimagining of the 1997 PS1 classic that many consider to be the greatest JRPG of all time. Final Fantasy 7Remake only covered the first portion of FF7's plot, so Rebirth and its sequel have a lot of narrative ground left to cover. The game should pick up right where Remake left off, as Cloud and his friends leave Midgar behind and attempt to track Sephiroth down. It is set to feature many more memorable, well-loved locations and characters such as Wutai, Gold Saucer, and Cid.
Fans would do well to keep in mind that the size and scale of the FF7 Remake project mean there is a chance that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth may not see the light of day until 2024. Much of the developer's marketing right now will be geared toward FF16 which is set for a June release, meaning Rebirth details will probably be scarce until late summer. Whether Rebirth releases this year or not though, providing Final Fantasy 16 is well-received, 2023 will surely go down as one of Square Enix's most memorable years.