5 Square Enix RPGs That Deserve an HD-2D Remake

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Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler introduced a truly beautiful art style that many consider one of the best of recent years. This unique look, called HD-2D, combines classic pixel art with modern effects like lighting and depth. It’s proven popular with other developers, and works wonderfully in both new games and updated older titles. It gives long-time fans a nostalgic experience without feeling outdated, and makes older games more accessible to new players.

Square Enix is keen to keep revisiting its classic games, and it has a huge catalog to choose from. The studio has created many groundbreaking RPGs known for their compelling stories, engaging gameplay, and beautiful visuals. While these games are still admired, they’re often hard to find on today’s consoles and PCs. Updating them with the HD-2D style wouldn’t just save these classics – it would let a whole new audience discover what made them so special.

5) Terranigma

Man, Terranigma is seriously one of the coolest action RPGs from the 16-bit days. It came out on the Super Nintendo, and it was way ahead of its time. You play as this character, Ark, and the whole goal is to basically rebuild the world – continents, towns, everything! It wasn’t just about getting stronger; you were actually changing the world as you played, which was a really unique feeling. It made progressing through the game feel so much bigger than just leveling up.

What really stood out about Terranigma was its unique tone. It skillfully mixed fun, lighthearted scenes with deeper, thoughtful ideas about life, death, and what it means to be human. Very few role-playing games from that era tried to tell a story with such depth. The game’s story feels deeply personal, as Ark’s adventure directly reflects the player’s choices.

Updating the game with modern HD-2D graphics would really bring its world and story to life. Improved visuals and lighting could make the environments feel more dynamic and immersive, especially as cities develop and grow. The game’s core concepts are still relevant, making it an ideal choice for a remake.

4) Illusion of Gaia

Illusion of Gaia is a beloved Super Nintendo game from Enix that combines exciting action RPG gameplay with a story inspired by history and mythology. Players explore a world filled with places based on real-world locations, like ancient ruins and lost civilizations. This gave the game a grand scope and a surprisingly relatable feel, which made it special for its time.

The game centered around the ability to transform. Players could switch between different forms, each offering special skills. This made fighting and solving puzzles more interesting, and kept the gameplay fresh without making things too complicated. Transforming benefited both battles and exploring the game world.

Even when it first came out, Illusion of Gaia had a beautiful and striking visual style. A remake using modern HD-2D technology could make the game’s atmosphere even more immersive, particularly in its dreamlike and enigmatic locations. Improved lighting and a greater sense of depth would really revitalize the dungeons and the overall world. This game stands out from other RPGs of its time and deserves to be rediscovered.

3) Bahamut Lagoon

As a big fan of classic RPGs, I still think about Bahamut Lagoon all the time! It was such a unique game Square (now Square Enix) made for the Super Famicom. What really stood out was how it mixed strategic, grid-based battles with raising and training dragons. You didn’t just control your warriors, you also raised dragons that actually evolved depending on what you fed them. It felt amazing to have that much control and really shape your team – it was unlike anything else back then!

The story was particularly compelling due to its political maneuvering and the connections between its characters. It delved into the ideas of loyalty and treachery against the backdrop of war. Although it wasn’t officially released in the West when it first came out, it’s gained a loyal fanbase over time. Fans created their own translations, which, despite some imperfections, demonstrate the strength of the story and writing.

A remake using HD-2D graphics would be perfect for bringing Bahamut Lagoon to a wider audience. The game’s unique blend of strategy and beautiful dragon designs would look fantastic with updated visuals. It’s precisely the type of hidden gem that would really benefit from this style. Plus, Square Enix could refine the story to appeal to today’s players and further develop the interesting mix of political intrigue and dragon-focused action.

2) Final Fantasy VI

Many consider Final Fantasy VI to be one of the best role-playing games of all time, and some even prefer it to Final Fantasy VII. Released on the Super Nintendo, it was groundbreaking for its storytelling. Instead of focusing on a single hero, the game featured a large cast of characters, letting players experience the story from many different viewpoints and feel more connected to the world and its struggles. The game dealt with serious topics like loss, finding yourself, and fighting against injustice. Its villain, Kefka, is still remembered as one of gaming’s most iconic bad guys because of his unpredictable behavior and the huge effect he has on the story.

As a huge Final Fantasy fan, I always thought Final Fantasy VI really nailed the gameplay. They took the Active Time Battle system and just made it better. But what I loved most was the Magicite system – it let you customize each character’s abilities in so many cool ways! It added a lot of depth without being confusing, and honestly, it was a clear stepping stone to the Materia system we all know and love in Final Fantasy VII. Looking back, it’s amazing how innovative this game was!

Remaking the game with a modern, pixel-art style (HD-2D) feels like a perfect choice. It would enhance the memorable moments with better graphics while still keeping the original feeling intact. It’s a very logical remake option and would likely appeal to both existing fans and new players. Plus, it wouldn’t require the massive development effort of something like Final Fantasy VII Remake. This means fans could enjoy the game as they remember it, but with improved visuals and some helpful updates.

1) Chrono Trigger

Okay, so as a gamer, I gotta say, Chrono Trigger is legendary. It’s seriously held up as the perfect example of how to make a great RPG, and it’s easily one of my all-time favorites. The team behind it was packed with talent from Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, and they really nailed it – it just felt different, avoiding a lot of the annoying stuff you’d find in other RPGs back then. What really blew my mind was the time travel – you could jump between different periods, and your choices actually mattered, changing things in other timelines and leading to a bunch of different endings. It was seriously innovative for its time!

The game’s battles weren’t just about strength – where you positioned your characters and how you combined their skills was key. Players could team up for powerful ‘tech attacks,’ making each fight feel unique and exciting. What made it even better was seeing enemies appear on the game world, instead of just stumbling into random battles, which was a common practice at the time. This approach kept combat consistently interesting.

With its classic art style, thanks to Akira Toriyama’s character designs, Chrono Trigger still looks great today. An HD-2D remake could make the game’s environments even more beautiful while keeping that beloved look. Because of its importance and enduring appeal, Chrono Trigger is the perfect game to receive this kind of update. Remaking it this way wouldn’t just be a nostalgic trip; it would celebrate the incredible creativity of a golden age of role-playing games, a creativity that still inspires games today.

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2026-04-10 01:16