Square Enix games that need complete remakes

Key recommendations

• Xenogears, a thought-provoking classic RPG, deserves a remake to attract new players.
• Parasite Eve, an intense horror classic, could be given new life with modern gaming technology.
• Vagrant Story, a fantasy epic with great character arcs, needs a remake for modern consoles.

If there's one thing Square Enix has never been short of, it's classic RPGs. The Japanese video game publisher has proven to be a force in the genre for decades. Long before the merger between Square and Enix took place, Square was already a giant in the gaming industry.

Throughout previous generations of home console gaming, publisher efforts have been groundbreaking and compelling affairs. Franchises such as Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy revolutionized the potential of the RPG genre and heavily influenced it in the decades since they first began with gamers. Needless to say, with so many classics from the original PlayStation days, Square Enix has no shortage of incredible games that could be rediscovered with an update for modern consoles. These are a few that are worth redoing.

5 Xenogears

A complicated classic with a deep, thought-provoking plot

• Initial release date: February 11, 1998
• Platforms: PlayStation, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable
• Gender: RPG, adventure

This thoughtful epic served as an explosive start to the well-received Xeno series. Filled with complex psychological and spiritual themes, the game proved to be another successful RPG for Square Enix at the time of its release. Players are taken to the land of Ignas, where a chaotic, long-running conflict between two countries has caused rampant destruction. Needless to say, all is not as it seems, as player character Fei Fong Wong uncovers a variety of mysteries and conspiracies concerning an oppressive, tyrannical threat.

Despite its huge acclaim at the time, long-running rumors Xenogears 2it was never realized. With a remake, this game could not only wow a new generation of gamers, but it could also set the stage for the long-awaited second part to finally go into production.

4 Parasite Eve

An intense horror classic with high stakes

The horrors of spontaneous combustion are used to surprising effect in this atmospheric RPG. Serving as a sequel to a popular Japanese novel of the same name by Hideaki Sena, the game allows players to tackle a devastating plot that ends humanity over the course of six grueling days.

Players are introduced to Aya Brea, a New York City cop who must grapple with Eve's death. The titular villain is revealed to be staring at human extinction via a mass spontaneous combustion event. While the plot might sound absurd at first glance, it turns out to be full of curious, philosophical implications, major twists and two epic climaxes, with a surprise final boss that materializes shortly after players seem to complete the main plot. An important moment in horror games, Parasite EveIts ambitious storytelling, tension and atmosphere could be brought to amazing new life with modern game console technology.

3 The Tramp's Story

A well-developed fantasy epic with great character arcs and lore

This imaginative RPG takes players to the mysterious world of Valendia, where players must investigate Leá Monde, a destroyed city. Players take control of Ashley Riot, a Valendian military agent who looks out for both the city and a dangerous cult that has been causing trouble there.

Widely praised for its rich and complex narrative, The Tramp's Story impressed gamers and critics alike with its intricate combat systems and groundbreaking graphics for the time. It enjoyed a sizable fan following years after its release. The Tramp's StoryIts epic action, character development and plot would undoubtedly be a hit even today. A revamp for modern game consoles would help shed new light on one of the original PlayStation's greatest hits.

2 Final Fantasy 6

A classic installment with a great ensemble cast

This classic chapter in the lover Final Fantasy the series served as the last time the franchise used two-dimensional graphics. Needless to say, the visuals and gameplay feel rather dated compared to many of the epics that followed. Given its classic status, this makes it the perfect candidate to receive a remake.

With 14 huge playable characters, the game takes you through a dramatic story that revolves around a steampunk world full of oppression and magical mystery. With a rich story and a variety of multiple-choice highlights, Final Fantasy 6 is a rich epic that wowed gamers of the 90s. With an upgrade to its gameplay and technical features, its incredible story and world-building could be a smash hit once again.

1 Chrono Trigger

A time-traveling classic that wowed critics and gamers alike

This seminal time-travel RPG is considered an all-time gaming classic, and rightly so. The game saw an all-star creative team step in to bring the world to life. Dragon Ballis Akira Toriyama, Final Fantasyto Hironobu Sakaguchi and Dragon QuestThe Yuji Horii were all heavily involved in the development of the game.

The game's combat system was revolutionary for the time, bucking the usual RPG trends by keeping all enemies on screen. Both melee and supernatural offense are offered to players as they lead their team through more than one stretch of time in a dangerous fantasy world. While the gameplay was impressive for 1995, the two-dimensional, isometric gameplay feels very dated for today. To do its classic plot and world justice, a full remake would allow this beloved hit to resonate with an entire generation of newer gamers.