With theFinal Fantasy 7 Remakegarnering a mostly positive reception, one cannot help but imagine what other games Square Enix could give the same treatment to. At this point, the publisher’s main goal is to releaseFinal Fantasy 7’s subsequent parts over the next couple of years, but gaming will stretch beyond that.
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In this case, Square Enix remade arguably its most popular game ever, ensuring there is already a huge customer base waiting for the remake. While that is clearly a smart strategy, it is arguably the company’s less-successful titles that would benefit the most from the remake treatment. Whether revisiting an all-time classic or doing justice to a game that failed to live up to its potential, here are somegames Square Enix should remakeafterFinal Fantasy 7.
Updates July 28, 2025, Mark Sammut:Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 1 came out to a mostly positive reception, and the action RPG went on to receive a substantial expansion and a PC port. As of the moment, Square Enix has yet to announce a sequel, although one has to assume that it is just a matter of time before Cloud and Tifa return. Exciting as that prospect is, the Japanese company is sitting on a massive library of properties that also deserve another chance in the spotlight. Whatgames should Square Enix remake?
11Drakengard
The success ofNieR: Automatahas paved the way for Yoko Taro’s peculiar brand of genius to find a wider audience. PlatinumGames' combat inAutomatacannot be dismissed, but the game’s memorable storyline is its true crowning achievement.
As the title that started it all, the originalDrakengardwould be the most natural candidate for a full remake, especially sinceNieris recent enough to get away with a remaster. Set in a dark fantasy world called Midgard,Drakengardexplores various mature themes in a narrative that is arguably the strongest in the franchise. The gameplay and visuals were pretty bad even in 2004 and would greatly benefit from a significant touch-up.
10The Bouncer
Going with a slightly different approach for this entry –The Bounceris not a great game. Putting aside questionable spin-offs, this PlayStation 2 trainwreck ranks comfortably among Square’s most disappointing releases. A beat ‘em up heavy on story and light on gameplay,The Bouncerremains quite a unique entry in the genre and does boast a fantastic soundtrack and a decent enough storyline.
As proven by titles likeAsura’s Wrath, this type of game can work; unfortunately,The Bouncer’s combat is too frustrating to be mindless fun and too shallow to be truly engrossing. A remake would only need to improve the core combat to turn this dud into a triumph.
9Super Mario RPG
OK, this one is a bit different from the rest of the games in this article sinceSuper Mario RPGwas not published by Square Enix; obliviously, that privilege went to Nintendo. Consequently, a remake of this SNES classic would need the big N’s approval, and the company has shown no interest in revisiting this era of the plumber’s storied history. On the off chance that a remake were to receive the greenlight, Square Enix would be the best developer for the job.
As the forefather ofPaper MarioandMario & Luigi,Super Mario RPGholds up incredibly well in nearly every department: turn-based combat, plot, and music. Even the visuals are still charming, although they could definitely be modernized.
8Parasite Eve
Parasite Evewas Square’s attempt to do a horror game akin toResident Evilwhile retaining the publisher’s trademark RPG elements. The end result is a flawed but great game with an engrossing narrative, memorable characters, and a combat system that leaves something to be desired.
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RPG mechanics like upgradable weapons and a decent amount of exploration work surprisingly well with the more grounded neo-noir tone, but the same cannot be said about the random encounters and pseudo-turn-based combat. Whether Square Enix opts to just remakeParasite Eveas a traditional horror game or to tweak the RPG elements to allow for more enjoyable combat, this is one title that deserves a remake.
7Einhänder
Square Enix is not just a JRPG factory, even if nearly all the company’s most iconic properties fall within that bracket. During the PS1 era, Square took a break fromFinal Fantasyto venture into shmup territory, producing one of the better examples of the genre’s potential on Sony’s console.Einhänderis a straightforward shoot ‘em up for the most part, but it does the basics extremely well while offering impressive visuals for the late ’90s.
Shmups are not that popular in today’s gaming culture, andEinhänderhas been somewhat forgotten over the last two decades. Still, there will always be room for ashoot ‘em upin the gaming world, and a budget remake of this PS1 release would fit right in.
6Treasure Hunter G
In many ways,Treasure Hunter Goffers very little that is truly unique. The grid-based combat does not stand out amidst a sea ofShining Force,Tactics Ogre, andFire Emblemtitles, while the story doesn’t deviate too far from the blueprint popularized byDragon Quest. There is also a heavy focus on exploration and adventuring, but the locations are quite prototypical.
So, why recommend such an unoriginal title? Even if many of its ingredients can be found elsewhere,Treasure Hunter Gexecutes each one of them splendidly. Due to being a 1996 Super Famicom game that was released only in Japan,Treasure Hunter Ghas mostly been forgotten, which is a shame. While it does not justify a huge remake likeFinal Fantasy 7, a budget release for the Nintendo Switch would be wonderful.
5Xenogears
If there is a game that deserves the fullFinal Fantasy 7treatment, thenXenogearsis it. Survived through theXenoblade Chroniclesseries, 1998’sXenogearsis still the best entry in the franchise, offering a pure JRPG experience that perfectly blends character development, story, accessible but deep gameplay, and mechas.
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A remake could do wonders forXenogears, especially since its presentation was always one of its weaker aspects.
4Brave Fencer Musashi
Considering Square Enix seems to be prioritizing action RPGs in recent years, a remake ofBrave Fencer Musashialmost makes too much sense. With a more lighthearted story and a generally adventurous tone,Brave Fencer Musashiwas a welcome change of pace from Square’s other projects of the time.
Brave Fencer Musashi’s combat could be almost seen as a precursor to the likes ofKingdom Heartsand the laterFinal Fantasyentries, and it arguably did it better than some of those games.
3Threads Of Fate
Action RPGs are not a recent passion of Square Enix, the gameplay style just was not the developer’s default during the ’90s.Threads of Fateis an underappreciated gem that debuted after the launch of the PS2 in North America, diminishing its potential. It is also a pretty stellar title that features gorgeous polygon visuals, simplistic but fun combat, and a charming adventurous tone.
An entry-level action RPG that could also be enjoyed by seasoned players,Threads of Fatehit a sweet spot rarely struck by most games, including Square’sFinal FantasyMystic Quest. As unlikely as a remake seems, it would be more than welcome and also suits Square Enix’s recent focus on action-oriented RPGs.
2Vagrant Story
Despite being one of the best JRPGs on the original PlayStation,Vagrant Storyreleased too late in the console’s life to garner a reputation similar to the likes ofFinal Fantasy 7. Set in a grim medieval world in the middle of a civil war,Vagrant Storyis a character-driven epic about one man’s struggle to take down a cult figure who kidnaped a duke’s son.
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It is a lonely affair that is purposefully zapped of any humor, leading to an experience that is quite unlike any other Square JRPG. This is also reflected in the combat and progression system, which are more about efficiency than style.Vagrant Storyis already a masterpiece, but a remake could introduce so many new players to this often overlooked title.
