List of Square Enix video game franchises

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This is a list of video game franchises by Square Enix , a Japanese video game development and publishing company formed from the merger of Enix and Square on April 1, 2003. [1] Square Enix acquired Taito in September 2005, which continues to publish its own video games, [2] and acquired game publisher Eidos Interactive in April 2009, which was merged with Square Enix's European publishing wing and renamed as Square Enix Europe. [3]

Contents

Since its inception, the company has developed or published hundreds of titles in various video game franchises on numerous gaming systems. The company is best known for its role-playing video game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy , Dragon Quest , and Kingdom Hearts series. Of its properties, the Final Fantasy franchise is the best-selling, with a total worldwide sales of over 173 million units. [4] [5] The Dragon Quest series has sold over 85 million units worldwide [4] [5] and is one of the most popular video game series in Japan, [6] while the Kingdom Hearts series has shipped over 36 million copies worldwide. [4] [5]

This list includes franchises in which Square Enix, or its original components Enix and Square, or its subsidiaries, were the primary developer or publisher, even if the series was begun prior to the subsidiary's acquisition. Franchises are defined as any set of interconnected media consisting of more than one release, and video game franchises are defined as franchises which were initially created as a video game or series of video games.

Video game franchises

Key
  Franchise primarily developed by Square, Enix, or Square Enix
† Franchise primarily developed by a subsidiary of Square, Enix, or Square Enix
 *  Franchise primarily published but not developed by Square, Enix, Square Enix, or their subsidiaries
Franchises
FranchisePrimary genreFirst releasedLatest release
7th Saga * Action role-playing, puzzle 1993, The 7th Saga 1999, Mystic Ark: Theatre of Illusions
ActRaiser * Side-scroller, platformer, action role-playing 1990, ActRaiser [7] 1995, Terranigma [8]
All Star Pro-Wrestling Professional wrestling 2000, All Star Pro-Wrestling [9] 2003, All Star Pro-Wrestling III [10]
Arkanoid† Breakout clone 1986, Arkanoid [11] 2022, Arkanoid: Eternal Battle
Battle Gear † Racing 1996, Side by Side [12] 2006, Battle Gear 4 Tuned Professional Version [13]
Battlestations † Action, real-time tactics 2007, Battlestations: Midway [14] 2009, Battlestations: Pacific [14]
Birdie King † Sports 1982, Birdie King [15] 1984, Birdie King 3 [16]
Bubble Bobble † Platformer, puzzle 1983, Chack'n Pop 2021, Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey [17]
Bravely Role-playing 2012, Bravely Default [4] 2021, Bravely Default II
Bushido Blade* Fighting 1997, Bushido Blade [9] 1998, Bushido Blade 2 [9]
Championship Manager * Sports, simulation 1992, Championship Manager [18] 2016, Championship Manager 17 [19]
Chaos Heat† Survival horror, third-person shooter 1998, Chaos Heat2000, Chaos Break -Episode from "Chaos Heat"-
Chaos Rings * Role-playing 2010, Chaos Rings [4] 2014, Chaos Rings III [20]
Chase† Racing 1988, Chase H.Q. 2007, Chase H.Q. 2
Chocobo Role-playing, roguelike, racing 1997, Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon2012, Chocobo's Chocotto Farm
Chrono Role-playing 1995, Chrono Trigger [4] 1999, Chrono Cross [9]
Cleopatra Fortune† Puzzle 1996, Cleopatra Fortune 2002, Cleopatra Fortune Plus
Conflict † Tactical shooter 2002, Conflict: Desert Storm [21] 2008, Conflict: Denied Ops [14]
Darius† Action 1986, Darius [22] 2021, Dariusburst Another Chronicle EX+
Death Trap Interactive fiction, visual novel 1984, The Death Trap 1986, Alpha
Densha de Go! † Train simulator 1996, Densha de Go! [23] 2020, Densha de Go!! Hashirou Yamanote-sen [24]
Dragon Quest * Role-playing 1986, Dragon Quest [4] 2022, Dragon Quest Treasures
Drakengard * Action role-playing 2003, Drakengard [10] 2021, Nier Reincarnation
Dungeon Siege* Action role-playing 2002, Dungeon Siege 2011, Dungeon Siege III
E. V. O.* Role-playing, side-scroller 1990, E.V.O.: The Theory of Evolution1992, E.V.O.: Search for Eden
Eclipse† Space flight simulator 1994, Total Eclipse 1996, Titan Wars
Elevator Action† Platformer 1983, Elevator Action 2011, Elevator Action Deluxe
Exit† Platformer, puzzle 2005, Exit 2009, Exit 2
Fear Effect* Action-adventure 2000, Fear Effect [14] 2018, Fear Effect Sedna [14]
Fighting Force† Fighting, beat 'em up 1997, Fighting Force [14] 1999, Fighting Force 2 [14]
Final Fantasy Role-playing 1987, Final Fantasy [4] 2024, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Front Mission Tactical role-playing 1995, Front Mission [8] 2019, Left Alive
Gangsters* Strategy 1998, Gangsters: Organized Crime 2001, Gangsters 2: Vendetta
Gex † Platformer 1994, Gex [25] 1999, Gex: Deep Pocket Gecko [14]
Groove Coaster * Rhythm game 2011, Groove Coaster2018, Groove Coaster 4: Starlight Road
Gunslinger Stratos † First-person shooter 2012, Gunslinger Stratos2017, Gunslinger Stratos Σ
Hanjuku Hero Real-time strategy 1988, Hanjuku Hero [7] 2005, Hanjuku Galaxy Lunch [26]
Hat Trick Hero† Sports 1990, Football Champ 1995, Hat Trick Hero '95
Heimdall* Action role-playing 1991, Heimdall 1994, Heimdall 2: Into the Hall of Worlds
Just Cause * Sandbox, third-person shooter, action-adventure 2006, Just Cause [14] 2018, Just Cause 4 [27]
Itadaki Street Party game, board game 1991, Itadaki Street: Watashi no Omise ni Yottette [4] 2017, Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary [28]
Kane & Lynch* Third-person shooter 2007, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men 2010, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
KiKi KaiKai† Shooter 1986, KiKi KaiKai 2021, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
Kingdom Hearts [lower-alpha 1] Action role-playing 2002, Kingdom Hearts [4] 2020, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
Life Is Strange * Graphic adventure 2015, Life Is Strange 2021, Life Is Strange: True Colors
Lord of Vermilion † Collectible card 2008, Lord of Vermilion [4] 2017, Lord of Vermilion IV
Lufia * Role-playing 1993, Lufia & the Fortress of Doom [29] 2010, Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals [24]
Mana Role-playing 1991, Final Fantasy Adventure [4] 2020, Trials of Mana
Million Arthur * Role-playing, collectible card 2012, Kaku-San-Sei Million Arthur [4] 2018, Kou-Kyou-Sei Million Arthur
Mini Ninjas* Action-adventure 2009, Mini Ninjas 2013, Mini Ninjas Mobile
Musashi Role-playing 1990, Adventures of Musashi 2005, Musashi: Samurai Legend [26]
Ogre† Tactical role-playing, real-time strategy 1993, Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen [30] 2010, Tactics Ogre: Wheel of Fate [31]
Operation Wolf† Shooting gallery 1987, Operation Wolf 1998, Operation Tiger
Pandemonium† Platformer 1996, Pandemonium! 1997, Pandemonium 2
Parasite Eve Role-playing, third-person shooter 1998, Parasite Eve [9] 2010, The 3rd Birthday [24]
Power Blade* Action, platformer 1991, Power Blade 1992, Power Blade 2
Psychic Force† Fighting 1995, Psychic Force 2005, Psychic Force Complete
Qix† Puzzle 1981, Qix 2009, Qix++
Rakugaki Ōkoku† Role-playing 2002, Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color 2004, Graffiti Kingdom
Ray† Scrolling shooter 1994, RayForce 1998, RayCrisis: Series Termination
SaGa Role-playing 1989, The Final Fantasy Legend [4] 2019, Romancing SaGa 3 [32]
Shellshock* Shooter 1995, Shellshock: Jus' Keepin' da Peace 2009, Shellshock 2: Blood Trails [14]
Sonic Blast Man† Beat 'em up 1990, Sonic Blast Man 2011, Sonic Blast Heroes [33]
Space Invaders † Fixed shooter 1978, Space Invaders [4] 2020, Space Invaders Forever
Speed Race † Racing 1974, Speed Race [34] 1998, Automobili Lamborghini: Super Speed Race 64 [35]
Star Ocean * Role-playing 1996, Star Ocean [9] 2022, Star Ocean: The Divine Force
Supreme Commander* Real-time strategy 2007, Supreme Commander 2010, Supreme Commander 2
The World Ends With You Action role-playing game 2007, The World Ends With You [36] 2021, Neo: The World Ends with You [37]
Thunderhawk† Combat flight simulator 1992, Thunderhawk 2001, Thunderhawk: Operation Phoenix
Tobal* Fighting 1996, Tobal No. 1 [9] 1997, Tobal 2 [9]
Urban Chaos* Action-adventure, first-person shooter 1998, Urban Chaos [14] 2006, Urban Chaos: Riot Response [14]
Valkyrie Profile * Role-playing 1999, Valkyrie Profile [9] 2022, Valkyrie Elysium
Wonder Project* Life simulation 1994, Wonder Project J 1996, Wonder Project J2

Former franchises

FranchisePrimary genreFirst releasedLast published by Square Enix
Deus Ex † Real-time tactics, first-person shooter 2000, Deus Ex [14] 2017, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – VR Experience [38]
Hitman † Stealth, action-adventure 2000, Hitman: Codename 47 2016, Hitman
Legacy of Kain † Action-adventure 1996, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain [25] 2003, Legacy of Kain: Defiance [14]
Thief † Stealth, action-adventure 1998, Thief: The Dark Project [14] 2014, Thief [20]
Tomb Raider † Action-adventure 1996, Tomb Raider [4] 2018, Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Notes

  1. ↑ Being a crossover between Square Enix and Disney, the copyrights of the franchise belong to both Square Enix and Disney.

See also

Related Research Articles

Square Co., Ltd. was a Japanese video game development studio and publisher. It was founded in 1986 by Masafumi Miyamoto, who spun off part of his father's electronics company Den-Yu-Sha. Among its early employees were designers Hironobu Sakaguchi, Hiromichi Tanaka, Akitoshi Kawazu and Koichi Ishii, artist Kazuko Shibuya, programmer Nasir Gebelli, and composer Nobuo Uematsu. Initially focusing on action games, the team saw popular success with Final Fantasy in 1987. A role-playing video game, it became the first in a franchise of the same name. Later notable staff included directors Yoshinori Kitase and Takashi Tokita, designer and writer Yasumi Matsuno, artists Tetsuya Nomura and Yusuke Naora, and composers Yoko Shimomura and Masashi Hamauzu.

<i>Tomb Raider</i> Video game franchise

Tomb Raider, known as Lara Croft: Tomb Raider from 2001 to 2008, is a media franchise that originated with an action-adventure video game series created by British video game developer Core Design. The franchise is currently owned by CDE Entertainment; it was formerly owned by Eidos Interactive, then by Square Enix Europe after Square Enix's acquisition of Eidos in 2009 until Embracer Group purchased the intellectual property alongside Eidos in 2022. The franchise focuses on the fictional British archaeologist Lara Croft, who travels around the world searching for lost artefacts and infiltrating dangerous tombs and ruins. Gameplay generally focuses on exploration, solving puzzles, navigating hostile environments filled with traps, and fighting enemies. Additional media has been developed for the franchise in the form of film adaptations, comics and novels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taito</span> Japanese toy and video game company

Taito Corporation is a Japanese company that specializes in video games, toys, arcade cabinets, and game centers, based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. The company was founded by Michael Kogan in 1953 as the Taito Trading Company, importing vodka, vending machines, and jukeboxes into Japan. It began production of video games in 1973. In 2005, Taito was purchased by Square Enix, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary by 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Square Enix</span> Japanese entertainment company

Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. is a Japanese multinational holding company, video game publisher and entertainment conglomerate. It releases role-playing game franchises, such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts, among numerous others. Outside of video game publishing and development, it is also in the business of merchandise, arcade facilities, and manga publication under its Gangan Comics brand.

Enix Corporation was a Japanese multimedia publisher who handled and oversaw video games, manga, guidebooks, and merchandise. It was founded in 1975 by Yasuhiro Fukushima as Eidansha Boshu Service Center, initially as a tabloid publisher and later attempting to branch into real estate management. Beginning in 1982, Enix began publishing video games. Three notable early collaborators were designers Yuji Horii and Koichi Nakamura, and composer Koichi Sugiyama. Horii, Nakamura and Sugiyama would all work on the 1986 role playing video game (RPG) Dragon Quest for the Family Computer; one of the earliest successful RPGs for consoles, it spawned a franchise of the same name which remains Enix's best-known product.

IO Interactive A/S (IOI) is a Danish video game developer based in Copenhagen, best known for creating and developing the Hitman and Kane and Lynch franchises. IO Interactive's most recent game is Hitman 3, which was released in January 2021.

Eidos Interactive Limited was a British video game publisher based in Wimbledon, London. Its games series included Championship Manager (1992), Tomb Raider (1996) and Hitman (2000). Domark was founded by Mark Strachan and Dominic Wheatley in 1984. In 1995, it was acquired by software company Eidos. Ian Livingstone, who held a stake in Domark, became executive chairman of Eidos and held various roles including creative director. Eidos took over U.S. Gold in 1996, which included developer Core Design, and merged its operations including Domark, which created publishing subsidiary Eidos Interactive. The company acquired Crystal Dynamics in 1998, and owned numerous other assets. In 2005, parent Eidos was taken over by games publisher SCi. The combined company, SCi Entertainment Group, which was briefly renamed Eidos, was itself taken over by Square Enix in 2009.

<i>Just Cause</i> (video game) 2006 action-adventure game

Just Cause is a 2006 third-person action-adventure game set in an open world environment. It is developed by Swedish developer Avalanche Studios and published by Eidos Interactive, and is the first game in the Just Cause series. It was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360. The area explored during the game is described as being over 1,024 km2 (395 sq mi) in size, with 21 story missions and over 300 side missions to complete.

<i>Crystal Defenders</i> Two tower defense video games by Square Enix

Crystal Defenders is a set of two tower defense video games developed and published by Square Enix. The games use the setting of Ivalice and design elements from Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift, forming part of the wider Final Fantasy franchise. The games feature a selection of characters sporting Final Fantasy-based character classes, and play out tower defense scenarios against recurring series of monsters. The first game in the series is Crystal Guardians, which was released in three parts for Japanese mobile phones in 2008. It was adapted for iOS later that year as Square Enix's first game for the platform, and renamed Crystal Defenders. Under that name, the game was also released between 2009 and 2011 for Android, Xbox Live Arcade, WiiWare, and PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable via the PlayStation Store. It was re-released with graphical improvements for iOS as Crystal Defenders Plus in 2013. A sequel, Crystal Defenders: Vanguard Storm, was released for iOS in 2009.

<i>Mini Ninjas</i> 2009 video game

Mini Ninjas is a 2009 action-adventure game developed by IO Interactive and published by Eidos Interactive for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360. A Mac OS X version of the game was released on July 8, 2010, by Feral Interactive. In December 2011, it was announced that the game would be also made available as a browser game for Google Chrome.

<i>Dragon Quest Builders</i> 2016 video game

Dragon Quest Builders is a 2016 sandbox action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Android iOS, and Microsoft Windows and published by Nintendo for Nintendo Switch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Square Enix Montreal</span> Canadian video game developer

Square Enix Montréal was a Canadian video game developer based in Montreal. It created the Go series of turn-based puzzle games for mobile devices based on former Eidos Interactive intellectual properties.

Square Enix Image Studio Division, is a Japan-based CGI animation studio dedicated towards creating video game cut scenes and full-length feature films for Square Enix. Square Enix Image Studio Division was founded as Visual Works as the CGI department for Square and was responsible for creating the pre-rendered CG sequences for the company, starting with Final Fantasy VII in 1997.

References

  1. ↑ "Consolidated Financial Results for the Six Months Ended September 30, 2004" (PDF). Square Enix. November 18, 2004. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 6, 2006. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  2. ↑ Klepek, Patrick (September 28, 2005). "Square Enix Swallows Taito". 1UP.com . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on August 7, 2011. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
  3. ↑ Magrino, Tom (July 9, 2009). "Square Enix retires Eidos publishing label". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on March 31, 2014. Retrieved June 15, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Square Enix franchises and businesses". Square Enix. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 23, 2015. Retrieved September 22, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 "2022 Annual Report" (PDF). Retrieved October 29, 2022.
  6. ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (December 11, 2006). "Dragon Quest 9 set for DS". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on October 12, 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2011.
  7. 1 2 "1990 ~ 1985 Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "1995 ~ 1991 Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "2000 ~ 1996 Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  10. 1 2 "2004 ~ 2001 Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Taito's 'Arkanoid' Arrives in App Store". Touch Arcade. September 7, 2009. Archived from the original on August 21, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Side by Side DX". Highway Games. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  13. ↑ "Battle Gear 4 by Taito Corporation". Highway Games. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 "Eidos Interactive Games". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  15. ↑ "Birdie King". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  16. ↑ "Birdie King 3". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  17. ↑ Minotti, Mike (April 15, 2021). "Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey launches for Oculus Quest on May 20". Venturebeat. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Championship Manager: Domark Group Ltd". Internet Archive. December 23, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Championship Manager". Square Enix. Archived from the original on August 15, 2016. Retrieved September 21, 2016.
  20. 1 2 "2014 Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  21. ↑ "SCi Entertainment Group Games". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on November 2, 2014. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  22. ↑ "DariusBurst Second Prologue Now Available on the App Store". Square Enix. February 10, 2012. Archived from the original on June 25, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Let's Go By Train! [import] review". GamesRadar . Future. April 9, 2007. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  24. 1 2 3 "2010 Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  25. 1 2 "Crystal Dynamics Games". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  26. 1 2 "2005 Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  27. ↑ "2015 Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  28. ↑ "2012 Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  29. ↑ "RPGFan Reviews- Lufia & the Fortress of Doom". RPGFan. July 9, 1999. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  30. ↑ "Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen - Super NES". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
  31. ↑ "2011年ゲームソフト年間売上TOP1000" [2011 Game Software Annual Sales Top 1000]. Famitsū Gēmu Hakusho 2012ファミ通ゲーム白書2012 [Famitsu Game Whitebook 2012] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Enterbrain. May 24, 2012. p. 394. ISBN   978-4-04-728022-9. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012.
  32. ↑ "2019 ~ Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix . Retrieved March 8, 2020.
  33. ↑ "Sonic Blast Heroes". Archived from the original on October 3, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  34. ↑ Kohler, Chris (2005). Power-Up: How Japanese Video Games Gave the World an Extra Life. BradyGames. pp. 16–19. ISBN   0-7440-0424-1.
  35. ↑ "Super Speed Race Jr". GameSpot . CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  36. ↑ "2007 ~ Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix . Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  37. ↑ "2021 ~ Square Enix" (in Japanese). Square Enix . Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  38. ↑ "Square Enix Games". IGN . Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved September 25, 2015.

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