Square Enix is a very busy company. The publisher has spent the last few years churning out everything from Final Fantasy games to completely new franchises. That was especially true in 2022 and it’s already carried over into 2023 thanks to releases likeFinal Fantasy XVI,Forspoken, andOctopath Traveler 2. Even diehard fans of the publisher’s output may not have gotten around to everything it released in the last 12 months.
If you’re in that boat, I’ve got some good news. A major chunk of Square Enix’s recent game catalog is currently on sale for Prime Day. That includes a wide selection of titles fromThe Diofield ChronicletoStar Ocean: The Divine Force. Not only that, but the sale even includes discounts on most of the company’s 2023 games, including the best RPG of the year.
If you’re looking to freshen up your backlog, here are six great deals we found while combing through today’s deals. It’s an especially great “reading list” for players who have already finishedFinal Fantasy XVIand are just biding their time untilFinal Fantasy VII Rebirthnow.
Octopath Traveler 2 — $40
Did the action-focusedFinal Fantasy XVIleave you hungry for a more traditional RPG? Then you need to giveOctopath Traveler 2a try. Released earlier this year, Square Enix’s retro-inspired adventure isn’t just a nostalgic throwback to classic turn-based games, but the best pound-for-pound RPG of the year. Like its predecessor,Octopath Traveler 2puts players in control of eight disparate characters whose paths all intersect. The sequel does a much better job of tying those eight tales together with even more party interaction, addressing one of the most common complaints fans had with the originalOctopath Traveler. And, of course, it’s all presented in the series’ signature HD-2D style, bringing its vast world together with gorgeously detailed pixel art.
Forspoken — $45
Forspokengot a bad rap when it launched earlier this year. The action-RPG quickly became a laughing stock on social media as players posted clips of its “cringe” dialogue, likening its tone to that of a Marvel movie. Those critiques were fair, but they also papered over the fact thatForspokenis a much better adventure than you’d think. That’s largely thanks to its excellent open-world traversal, which has players fluidly dashing around environments using parkour magic — it almost feels like a Sonic the Hedgehog game at times. Its combat system isn’t too far off fromFinal Fantasy XVI’s either, so if you liked that game and want a little more spectacle, it’s worth grabbing it at a discount this Prime Day.
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line — $40
I’m not being ironic when I say thatTheatrhythm Final Bar Lineis my favoriteFinal Fantasy gamein three years. The rhythm game acts as a tribute to the franchise’s entire history, letting players tap along to the sounds of the series. That may not sound too exciting on paper, but what makes that work is Final Fantasy’s very long history. As you play along to 35 years worth of music, you get to see just how far video game music has come in that time. What starts as a collection of simple bleeps evolves with each passing year until it reachesFinal Fantasy VII Remake’s enormous orchestral score. Even if you don’t care for the RPG series,Theatrhythmis an extraordinary historical document for video game fans who want to study the medium’s evolution.
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin — $20
From the moment it was first announced,Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origingained a reputation as a “meme game.” Fans cracked up at its absurd debut trailer, where its one-track-minded hero, Jack Garland, repeatedly explained that his goal is to kill chaos.Stranger of Paradiseisn’t a joke, though; it’s a solid action RPG with quite a bit of meaning behind its unintentional comedy. LikeFinal Fantasy VII Remake, it almost plays like a meta-commentary of Final Fantasy at large. It’s a chaotic game about irs creators struggling to define what Final Fantasy even means anymore, a discussion that would set the stage forFinal Fantasy XVIone year later. If you laughed it off in 2022, it might be a great time to revisit it now.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion — $40
If you’re looking to kill some time beforeFinal Fantasy VII Rebirthlaunches (on two discs!) next year,Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunionmay just be the game you’re looking for. The PSP remake givesFinal Fantasy VII’s prequel new life by giving it a much-needed graphical update and combat system tweaks. While it doesn’t do much to tie intoFinal Fantasy VII Remake’s reimagined story, it does at least serve as a great introduction to Zack, who appears to play a major role inRebirth. With its discount for Prime Day, it’s as good a time as ever to learn about what happened before Cloud picked up the Buster Sword.
Dragon Quest Treasures — $40
Last year, Square Enix put out a ton of releases that just slipped under the radar. The list included intriguing new franchises likeThe Diofield ChronicleandHarvestella. One of its most under-the-radar releases, though, was a charming little Dragon Quest spinoff that’s worth checking out at a discount.Dragon Quest Treasuresis a kid-friendly exploration game that has players digging for treasures and collecting the series’ classic enemies like Pokémon. While it’s not the deepest experience, there’s a satisfying gameplay loop in here for anyone that wants a laid-back adventure full of nostalgic references to the RPG series’ past. It’s a breezy little game that’s a perfect choice for anyone’s summer vacation plans.
