Square Enixis a gaming company that has created a wide range of games over the years ever since 2003. While firstonly being popular in Japan, eventually Square Enix managed to branch out to a western audience that had fallen in love with many of the different franchises the company had created.
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However, for Square Enix to become a success across the world, thecompany had to experiment with their gamesin order to mix up genres and attract new players with games that had not yet been attempted. With so many titles over the years these are by far themost experimental games that have been developed or published by Square Enix.
8Babylon’s Fall
Babylon’s Fallwas an action role-playing game coupled with the hack and slash genre that was created by PlatinumGames and published by Square Enix. While the game was praised for its combat through interesting combos and doges, many players felt the game’s progression itself of advancing through a tower became repetitive, especially due to its enemies.
Unfortunately, althoughBabylon’s Fallwas quite the experimental game for Square Enix to publish, it wasn’t very successful. Only six months after the game was released to players Square Enix announced that they wouldn’t be supporting the game any longer and the online servers for the title werecompletely shut downas of February 2023.
7Final Fantasy
Arguably, whileFinal Fantasymay be the greatest franchise that Square Enix has released and continues to add on to, at one point this game was also quite the experimental game for the company to release. Evidently, this risk paid off as many players have fell in love withtheFinal Fantasyfranchiseas well as any spin-off series that has released from it.
A great example of this is the gameTheatrhythm Final Fantasy, a rhythm game that allows players to listen to various songs that have made up the soundtracks of some of the most loved Final Fantasy games. These titles have continued to be created over the years with the most recent releasing on Switch calledTheatrhythm Final Bar Line.
6Drakengard
Drakengardis a role-playing game that was the original ancestor to the now popular title known asNier. That series classed as a spin-off to this one and therefore took a lot of its influence from the features and mechanics that were experimented with throughout this franchise.
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Published by Square Enix, this brutal game that follows the story of a prince that hopes to get revenge during a grim religious war. Combining the game play of the much-lovedDynasty Warriorswith the aerial battles ofAce Combat, turnedDrakengardinto a series many players have come to enjoy.
5Harvestella
Life simulation games are quite common with many players falling in love with them across both platforms and companies,Harvestellawas a new sort of life simulation released by Square Enix in 2022. While many players likened this new game with its own combat moments and farming features to that ofRune Factory, many players felt thatHarvestellaheld its own unique style with an interesting spin.
Out of all its features the event of ‘Quietus’ is by far the most fascinating, this happens at theend of each seasonwhere all the crops wither and residents aren’t allowed outside their home. Finding out what causes this problem is exactly what the main story is about.
4Dragon Quest Builders
Similar to what was mentioned withFinal Fantasy,Dragon Questis another franchise that was successfully created and published by Square Enix. Since the success of the original title, the game has found itself a part of various spin-offs including its own rhythm game.
However, a brilliantly experimental game that many players have enjoyed is also theDragon Quest Builders; as a sandbox role-playing games, players are tasked with rebuilding the world since its recent destruction. Set in a parallel world of the originalDragon Quest, players can experience life if the hero were to accept the Dragonlord’s deal.
3Various Daylife
WhileVarious Daylifeitself may not be one of the most experimental concepts in gaming, the platform in which Square Enix first decided to publish it in 2019 caused it to become a staple ofthe Apple Arcade.
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With a mix of reviews from critics and players,Various Daylifewas a title that many either felt was experimentally successful or should’ve been rethought. Besides this, there was some enjoyment from the RPG if it was played in small intervals. It was later ported to other platforms such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC in 2022 so that a wider audience could enjoy it.
2Forspoken
Forspokenwas a story that has yet to be seen by Square Enix, following the adventures of a woman named Frey who was teleported into a fantasy world from her home in New York; players are free to adventure around the open world of Athia.
Sadly,Forspokenwas another title published by Square Enix that wasn’t as well received by its audience as expected. However, the developers of the game, Luminous Productions pledged tocontinue to improve itbefore they were absorbed into the main body of Square Enix in May 2023.
1Murdered: Soul Suspect
Unlike any other game published by Square Enix,Murdered: Soul Suspecthad no only anintriguing experimental storybut also gameplay that sunk many players deeper. Set in a fictional version of Salem, players take on the role of the detective Ronan as he hunts for the Bell Killer who is terrorizing the town.
After being murdered by this killer, Ronan finds himself trapped as a ghost as he must find out who the Bell Killer is if he hopes to pass over. While solving this mystery the players will also stumble into many other ghosts that need the player’s help to pass over. This madeMurdered: Soul Suspectan incredibly interesting game with plenty in store for players.
