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 genre(s)Number of games [a] First releasedLatest release
7th Saga * Action role-playing, puzzle 41993, The 7th Saga 1999, Mystic Ark: Theatre of Illusions
ActRaiser * Side-scroller, platformer, action role-playing 51990, ActRaiser [7] 1995, Terranigma [8]
All Star Pro-Wrestling Professional wrestling 32000, All Star Pro-Wrestling [9] 2003, All Star Pro-Wrestling III [10]
Arkanoid Breakout clone 111986, Arkanoid [11] 2022, Arkanoid: Eternal Battle
Battle Gear Racing 131996, Side by Side [12] 2006, Battle Gear 4 Tuned Professional Version [13]
Battlestations Action, real-time tactics 22007, Battlestations: Midway [14] 2009, Battlestations: Pacific [14]
Birdie King Sports 31982, Birdie King [15] 1984, Birdie King 3 [16]
Bubble Bobble Platformer, puzzle 161983, Chack'n Pop 2021, Puzzle Bobble VR: Vacation Odyssey [17]
Bravely Role-playing 42012, Bravely Default [4] 2021, Bravely Default II
Bushido Blade* Fighting 21997, Bushido Blade [9] 1998, Bushido Blade 2 [9]
Championship Manager * Sports, simulation 251992, Championship Manager [18] 2016, Championship Manager 17 [19]
Chaos Heat Survival horror, third-person shooter 21998, Chaos Heat2000, Chaos Break -Episode from "Chaos Heat"-
Chaos Rings * Role-playing 42010, Chaos Rings [4] 2014, Chaos Rings III [20]
Chase Racing 41988, Chase H.Q. 2007, Chase H.Q. 2
Chocobo Role-playing, roguelike, racing 241997, Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon 2022, Chocobo GP
Chrono Role-playing 31995, Chrono Trigger [4] 1999, Chrono Cross [9]
Cleopatra Fortune Puzzle 21996, Cleopatra Fortune 2002, Cleopatra Fortune Plus
Conflict Tactical shooter 52002, Conflict: Desert Storm [21] 2008, Conflict: Denied Ops [14]
Darius Action 231986, Darius [22] 2021, Dariusburst Another Chronicle EX+
Death Trap Interactive fiction, visual novel 21984, The Death Trap 1986, Alpha
Densha de Go! Train simulator 181996, Densha de Go! [23] 2020, Densha de Go!! Hashirou Yamanote-sen [24]
Dragon Quest * Role-playing 571986, Dragon Quest [4] 2024, Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince
Drakengard * Action role-playing 62003, Drakengard [10] 2021, Nier Reincarnation
Dungeon Siege* Action role-playing 32002, Dungeon Siege 2011, Dungeon Siege III
E. V. O.* Role-playing, side-scroller 21990, E.V.O.: The Theory of Evolution1992, E.V.O.: Search for Eden
Eclipse Space flight simulator 31994, Total Eclipse 1996, Titan Wars
Elevator Action Platformer 41983, Elevator Action 2011, Elevator Action Deluxe
Exit Platformer, puzzle 22005, Exit 2009, Exit 2
Fear Effect* Action-adventure 32000, Fear Effect [14] 2018, Fear Effect Sedna [14]
Fighting Force Fighting, beat 'em up 21997, Fighting Force [14] 1999, Fighting Force 2 [14]
Final Fantasy Role-playing 100+1987, Final Fantasy [4] 2024, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Front Mission Tactical role-playing 141995, Front Mission [8] 2019, Left Alive
Gangsters* Strategy 21998, Gangsters: Organized Crime 2001, Gangsters 2: Vendetta
Gex Platformer 31994, Gex [25] 1999, Gex: Deep Pocket Gecko [14]
Groove Coaster * Rhythm game 132011, Groove Coaster2020, Groove Coaster 4MAX: Diamond Galaxy
Gunslinger Stratos First-person shooter 52012, Gunslinger Stratos2017, Gunslinger Stratos Σ
Hanjuku Hero Real-time strategy 51988, Hanjuku Hero [7] 2005, Hanjuku Galaxy Lunch [26]
Hat Trick Hero Sports 31990, Football Champ 1995, Hat Trick Hero '95
Heimdall* Action role-playing 21991, Heimdall 1994, Heimdall 2: Into the Hall of Worlds
JESUS Visual novel, adventure game 21987, JESUS 1991, JESUS 2
Just Cause * Sandbox, third-person shooter, action-adventure 42006, Just Cause [14] 2018, Just Cause 4 [27]
Itadaki Street Party game, board game 121991, Itadaki Street: Watashi no Omise ni Yottette [4] 2017, Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary [28]
Kane & Lynch* Third-person shooter 22007, Kane & Lynch: Dead Men 2010, Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days
KiKi KaiKai Shooter 51986, KiKi KaiKai 2021, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined
Kingdom Hearts [b] Action role-playing 132002, Kingdom Hearts [4] 2020, Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory
Life Is Strange * Graphic adventure 62015, Life Is Strange 2024, Life Is Strange: Double Exposure
Lord of Vermilion Collectible card 82008, Lord of Vermilion [4] 2017, Lord of Vermilion IV
Lufia * Role-playing 51993, Lufia & the Fortress of Doom [29] 2010, Lufia: Curse of the Sinistrals [24]
Mana Role-playing 171991, Final Fantasy Adventure [4] 2024, Visions of Mana
Million Arthur * Role-playing, collectible card 72012, Kaku-San-Sei Million Arthur [4] 2023, Kai-Ri-Sei Million Arthur: Ring
Mini Ninjas* Action-adventure 32009, Mini Ninjas 2013, Mini Ninjas Mobile
Musashi Role-playing 31990, Adventures of Musashi 2005, Musashi: Samurai Legend [26]
Ogre Tactical role-playing, real-time strategy 61993, Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen [30] 2010, Tactics Ogre: Wheel of Fate [31]
Operation Wolf Shooting gallery 51987, Operation Wolf 2023, Operation Wolf Returns: First Mission
Pandemonium Platformer 21996, Pandemonium! 1997, Pandemonium 2
Parasite Eve Role-playing, third-person shooter 31998, Parasite Eve [9] 2010, The 3rd Birthday [24]
Power Blade* Action, platformer 21991, Power Blade 1992, Power Blade 2
Psychic Force Fighting 71995, Psychic Force 2005, Psychic Force Complete
Qix Puzzle 51981, Qix 2009, Qix++
Rakugaki Ōkoku Role-playing 22002, Magic Pengel: The Quest for Color 2004, Graffiti Kingdom
Ray Scrolling shooter 31994, RayForce 1998, RayCrisis: Series Termination
SaGa Role-playing 151989, The Final Fantasy Legend [4] 2024, SaGa: Emerald Beyond [32]
Shellshock* Shooter 21995, Shellshock: Jus' Keepin' da Peace 2009, Shellshock 2: Blood Trails [14]
Sonic Blast Man Beat 'em up 51990, Sonic Blast Man 2011, Sonic Blast Heroes [33]
Space Invaders Fixed shooter 401978, Space Invaders [4] 2023, Space Invaders: World Defense
Speed Race Racing 151974, Speed Race [34] 1998, Automobili Lamborghini: Super Speed Race 64 [35]
Star Ocean * Role-playing 181996, Star Ocean [9] 2022, Star Ocean: The Divine Force
Supreme Commander* Real-time strategy 22007, Supreme Commander 2010, Supreme Commander 2
The World Ends with You Action role-playing game 22007, The World Ends with You [36] 2021, Neo: The World Ends with You [37]
Thunderhawk Combat flight simulator 31992, Thunderhawk 2001, Thunderhawk: Operation Phoenix
Tobal* Fighting 21996, Tobal No. 1 [9] 1997, Tobal 2 [9]
Urban Chaos* Action-adventure, first-person shooter 21998, Urban Chaos [14] 2006, Urban Chaos: Riot Response [14]
Valkyrie Profile * Role-playing 51999, Valkyrie Profile [9] 2022, Valkyrie Elysium
Wonder Project* Life simulation 21994, Wonder Project J 1996, Wonder Project J2
Yuji Horii Mysteries Visual novel, adventure game 21983, The Portopia Serial Murder Case 1985, Karuizawa Yūkai Annai

Former franchises

Former franchises
FranchisePrimary genre(s)Number of games [c] First releasedLast published by Square Enix
Deus Ex Real-time tactics, first-person shooter 72000, Deus Ex [14] 2017, Deus Ex: Mankind Divided – VR Experience [38]
Hitman Stealth, action-adventure 152000, Hitman: Codename 47 2023, Hitman: Blood Money - Reprisal
Legacy of Kain Action-adventure 61996, Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain [25] 2024, Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver 1 & 2 Remastered [14]
Thief Stealth, action-adventure 41998, Thief: The Dark Project [14] 2014, Thief [20]
Tomb Raider Action-adventure 231996, Tomb Raider [4] 2024, Tomb Raider I–III Remastered

Notes

  1. Games count includes remakes and games in the franchise not developed or published by Square, Enix, or Square Enix and their subsidiaries
  2. Kingdom Hearts is a crossover between Square Enix and Disney and the copyrights of the franchise belong to both Square Enix and Disney.
  3. Games count includes remakes and games in the franchise not developed or published by Square, Enix, or Square Enix and their subsidiaries

See also

Related Research Articles

Square Co., Ltd., also known under its international brand name SquareSoft, was a Japanese video game developer 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 the role-playing video game Final Fantasy in 1987, which would lead to the franchise of the same name being one of its tentpole franchises. 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.

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<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 and Dragon Quest, 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.

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eidos-Montréal</span> Canadian video game developer

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

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spike Chunsoft</span> Japanese video game development company

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<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, the CGI department for Square that was responsible for creating the pre-rendered CG sequences for the company, starting with Final Fantasy VII in 1997.

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