Top Ten Non-Square Enix RPG's

Top Ten Non-Square Enix RPG's

Hello everyone. It's time for a Top Ten. I haven't done one of these so I'll have some very pivotal rules for this one. We're going to count down the top ten Role Playing Video Games that aren't created by Square-Enix

1. The main rules will be one game per franchise if the RPG had a series.
2. The games must not have been popular when they came out until they have had a resurgence thanks to fandoms, remasters and re-releases, featuring in popular media, etc. If they have a cult following, that still counts as well.
3. It must have sold low or had barely noticeable press coverage when the game released or it might have been shadowed by previews that gave negative press if such is to be.
4. All Square Enix Franchises are off the Board. No Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, The World Ends With You (as much as I love it), Dragon Quest, etc. Sorry Square Enix lovers but sometimes other companies can come up with some good RPG's.
5. This also counts for video games that are published by Square Enix or assisted with production from Square-Enix in the past so the Star Ocean Series is off the table and So is Super Mario RPG due to those technicalities.
6. Games will be rated by the importance of the game in the franchise (again if they do have a franchise), the improvements made overall, and extra boons like effecting video game sales/reviving old franchises/impact of future installments/cult classic love.

Ok, then here we go.

10. Shadow Hearts: Covenant: This game was made by ex-Square Enix employees when they started the now-defunct Sacnoth (later called Nautilus) company. This RPG has a darker tone compared to Final Fantasy but still has lighthearted moments of humor. Set in an alternate universe during WWI, Yuri Hyuga and friends get involved with secret societies, demon summoning, and saving the entire universe from Lovecraftian style situations. And Yuri must use his powers as a harmonixer, a human who can eat demon souls and turn into them, to stop all kinds of evils from members of the Ars Goetia, Rasputin, and the Japanese Government.

(Blanca (center) and Gepetto (left) face against one of the first enemies of the game. Seen is the Judgement Ring)

The game also features quite a bit of humor with the main cast and a couple of side characters including flamboyant twins who run a shop you visit most of the time. The enemies all have the Lovecraft vibe with tentacled plants, dolls with bugs nests inside them, large roaches and weird babies, floating zombie ghosts in chairs, the list goes on with most being palette swaps of other enemies but still do the job right.

(Yuri (in the Black Jacket) with Allies (from left) Joachim (blonde) , Lucia (back in the peach dress), Karin (redhead), and Gepetto (green suit) searching through a mystic mansion)

And another boon to this game is the character development. The side quests have each a character to help with either ultimate armor, weapon or ability in each case so don't shirk on them because it's quite enjoyable seeing them achieve their goals as well as some of the oddball humor that invades scenes at random times. But it's an overall fun cult classic that does deserve a PS2 for PS4 badly but we can still enjoy some nice play-throughs and occasional cosplay nods.


9. Fire Emblem: Awakening: Without this game, we wouldn't see the return of Fire Emblem and have its fate regulated to Super Smash Bros thanks to iconic characters like Marth and Ike. Though it did garner a small following in the West, Awakening was the game that gave the popularity and focuses needed to be engaging with a cast of unique and tactical characters all aligned differently to go forward with the goals of having the crest of Fire Emblem restored. However the main villains as well as a grand cast of heroes, anti-heroes, and tragic villains emerge as they all help stop the villainous plight truly behind the shadows.

(Logo of Fire Emblem with Chrom and other allies attacking and casting spells)

Played similarly to chess, you must control your members on a square by square board moving them to defeat enemies and grow stronger. But on the main style of the game, if your party dies, they die. IF your leaders (Prince Chrom and Robin (default name) the Tactician die, it's automatic game over. And at least one of them must be in each battle to add more difficulty to the game.

(Gameplay of Fire Emblem: Awakening, the characters must face their opponents horizontally and vertically, (diagonally if they can shoot arrows or cast spells)

But this games impact was the much needed hero of its day. This was supposed to be the last Fire Emblem Game if saled didn't go well. The Fire Emblem legacy would've died here but at least would've been off with a bang. But thanks to high sales, positive reviews, and love for each of the characters, this prompted the Fire Emblem franchise to continue with a new Fire Emblem coming for the Switch soon.

8. Mario and Luigi RPG 3: Bowser's Inside Story: Despite Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars being a collaborative effect on Nintendo and Square's part. Nintendo has done a great job with its own RPG list, especially a future franchise that'll be in the list. But before we go there, we must go here. Mario and Luigi and Paper Mario are both great RPG franchises that Nintendo made with the trademark characters but given a comedy spin when it comes to the antics of the Brothers in Mario and Luigi or the 2-D joys of Paper Mario and friends.

(The Main Chase of Bowser's Inside Story: (From Left to Right) Midbus, Fawful, Bowser, Mario, Starlow, Luigi, Peach, Toad, Toadbert, Corporal Paratroopa (flying above), Toadsworth, Broggy, and Baroque Monsieur)

In Bowser's Inside Story, you play as both Mario and Luigi, but also with Bowser for the first time in way too long since Legend of the Seven Stars. Following a comical yet slightly serious tone of good vs. evil, Fawful from Mario and Luigi: Superstar Saga has tricked Bowser into eating a Mushroom that sucks up enemies. Now with an uncontrollable appetite, he storms the Mushroom Kingdom while also allowing Fawful to control both the Mushroom and Koopa Kingdoms. And an illness called the Blorbs is oversizing the Mushroom Kingdom Citizens, making them unable to fight or do anything at all.

(Gameplay showing Mario and Luigi inside Bowser and his Bone Thwomps (left) and attacking enemies controlled by Fawful (right))

For the battles, you chose an attack and if you time the presses successfully, the system rewards you with more damage against enemies whether you jump upon them or hit them with your hammer. Also the skills you do also have certain requirements to achieve max damage, from drawing lines with your stylus to hitting A and B at the right time. Also Each Brother and Bowser is controlled with different buttons, Mario is controlled by A, Luigi by B, and Bowser has X and Y.

The Game's main draw is the oddball scenario and the comedy mostly known throughout the Mario and Luigi RPG series and this one was chosen for being the funniest and being the first Mario and Luigi RPG on the DS/3DS. And to make even the Mario fans happier, BIS will be rereleased on 3DS in 2019.


7. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch  This game combines the best of two worlds: Studio Ghibli and RPG's. Level-5 had a cult hit RPG with Dark Cloud and its sequel. However, their main popularity with the RPG world rose with this collaboration came across with a combo of Monster Hunting elements, a grand score by Joe Hisaishi, and a wonderful voiced British Cast. (I'd say that the cast brings more of the whimsical elements of the game to life.)

(The first main city of Ni No Kuni, Ding Dong Dell)

Focused upon Oliver, a young boy trying to revive his dead mother by finding her soul mate in The Other World (Where the title Ni no Kuni roughly translated means) he travels to find a world of heartbroken people and as a wizard, plans to restore their hears and find the Saga Alicia. Meeting new friends and going on an adventure that even sets certain magical laws as well as understanding the power of his magic, Oliver and his friends Esther, Swaine, and Prince Marcassain must fight against the the evil White Witch and her Djinn, Shadar.

(The Main Cast and some of the familars you will face in Ni no Kuni. In the main center are Oliver: (Center) Esther (Oliver's left) and Swaine (Oliver's Right).  )

The World is a Treasure Trove of Imagination, Fantasy, and Wonder. It's a wonderful Alice in Wonderland Tale of its own right and the RPG elements mostly focus on it being a real time RPG while also incorporating common tropes of JRPG's like abilities that cost magic to use. The most notable is the Monster Gatherer aspect and many of the monsters are quite interest but it's kind of sad that many of them that you collect are re-skins when they level up. But you can also upgrade certain abilities of theirs with sweet treats though certain families prefer some treats over others and must be fed that to gain affinity and higher stats.And with the sequel, this game shines due to having the back power of Studio Ghibli's hands and transitioning from Nintendo DS to PS3 updated everything to a beautiful game that could possibly be described one day as a work of art.

(Two of the main villains: The White Witch and her parrot Apis.)

6. Undertale: There have been many spectacular indie RPG's like Darkest Dungeon, Citizens of Earth, and (one of my personal favorite) Knights of Pen and Paper 1 and 2. But the one that can be considered the biggest success is Undertale. Combining aspects of 8-bit and old school RPG's like Earthbound and the early Shin Megami Tensei, the story focuses on a young child going to a land of faeries and decides the fate of its world.

(The main protagonist going through a town in Undertale)

The Game's Alignment system is one of the highest acclaimed pieces, even bleeding into other play-throughs like how they constantly remind you of all choices, good and bad you made. With the choice of being able to kill anyone you want or being pacifistic helps develop the game on multiple levels of philosophical and ethical questions as well as character-centric storytelling that allows anyone to get to know specific favorites more and rewarding them with those special scenes and moments. And with the game being inspired by Irish and Celtic Lore of Faeries and magic, it enriches the experience of it overall.

(Sans (the skeleton next to the MC) and the MC at Grillby's bar in 

And with its success came a multitude of fan support and with one of the largest fan bases ranging from artists, musicians, and even game creators who redeveloped and made games inspiring and sometimes bootlegging it. It's made a cultural and gaming impact on us and hopefully in the better for years to come and for future indies.


5. Dragon Age: Inquisition

Bioware has had many successes in the Western RPG world. But credit is due to Dragon Age: Inquisition. Focusing on the Civil Unrest in Thedas, a customizable MC, made into the chosen due to a mark (Totally not a MCGuffin!) on his body claiming him as such, to bring peace to the land with his advisors and allies as well as stop demons from conquering said land due to the unrest.

(The MC and some of your party fighting enemy forces in DA:I)

But unlike other RPGs, since our main character is fully customizable, more emphasis is made on the choice you make such as dealing with chosing how do accomplish missions as well as dealing and talking to you allies as you forge alliances and friendships. This adds an interesting mechanism in especially since choice matters in deciding how to get Thedas to peace. Choosing one of 3 advisers allows for 3 different paths of Diplomacy, Warfare, and Spying (thought spying helps lead towards Diplomacy and Warfare, though your own allies might find the prospects of trusting you difficult.) This mechanic makes the socio-political atmosphere more interactive compared to the conquering against the blight run world of Fereldin in Dragon Age:Origins.

(The main logo art of the game featuring the main cast)

Also, in this fantasy setting, there's a bit more in the social diversity range and group to anyone interested with an extensive treasure trove of editing your avatar to fit your personal wants as well as grand storytelling with each party members own trials and tribulations like Dorian confronting his father with his homosexuality to Blackwall, the devout Grey Warden hoping for peace despite his purge on the forces of evil.


4. Dark Souls: The game, the strife, a newborn legend. Well, at least it makes more sense  when you decide to look at all the parts of the information and looking at way too many lore and philosophy meanings for the story of Dark Souls. But this game has been a video game cultural icon, even if it has been overused in quote and meme culture. (I.E. This game is the Dark Souls of RPGS, even though in general Dark Souls is an RPG game.)

(One of the inventory menus showcasing items that will help you survive your strife in Dark Souls)

Dark Souls did something similar to Undertale, go back to the games of the past to find inspiration. The thing they took instead however, was the archaic style of older video games: little plot, hard difficulty, and overwhelming frustration! The game focuses on a nameless protagonist looking for what he's lost as his true self in a void of death, destruction, and nihilism. The only hint of what to do is what others are saying about reclaiming humanity and finding a new path to your salvation.

(One of the Bosses you can face in Dark Souls: The Gaping Dragon. The Teeth coming out of the stomach has a slight parallel to Cthulu's tentacled form with overemphasis and body horror twists and disconjunctions)

But with the constant struggle to beat over the top, Lovecraftian style bosses from Elditch Nightmares, a constant and psycho-maddeding reincarnation cycle, and what seems like no place is safe and there is no where to really go, Dark Souls still manages to immerse us in both its world and lore and with going back to early gaming days basics, manages a challenge of both gaming and intellectual prowess. (This is due to Namco offering a $10,000 prize to explain the full plot of the Dark Souls Saga back in 2016 and that has many people from Wisecrack to Nerdy, INC to come up with the Philosophical and Plot structures of Dark Souls.) And it is to this minimalist plot requiring deep exploration and constant struggle for greatness which is what will make Dark Souls continue it's triumph for many generations to come.


3. Persona 5:

(The Protagonist going to attack the Shadow Silky in Persona 5. Also features the battle menu.)

The game, the anticipation, the success. This was a contender from Game of the Year by many beloved fans and reviewers alike. And with a combo of a grand plot, adding to the traditional fighting elements of Personas with reintroducing 3 attack elements, and adding extra features to make every choice count even more than the last one, Persona 5 becomes a titan of RPG greatness.

(The Protagonist treading around Yongen-Jaya, his new neighborhood he moves to in Persona 5)

Focusing on the memories of a vagrant youth, he recalls how he was accused of a crime he never committed and how he ended up a Shujin academy and the friends and enemies he'd make. Luckily, with some power from Igor (a mysterious owner of The Velvet Room) and his assistants, Caroline and Justine, Akira or Ren (depending on whether you prefer the Manga or Anime name respectively) becomes a Phantom Thief, stealing the hearts of criminals while making it off like a king, and uncovering a conspiracy that has allowed strange occurrences to happen all over Shibuya and general Tokyo.

(The Cast of Phantom Thieves talking about the next heist and the next villain's heart to steal.)

With your daily aspects, you do a life sim with day to day interactions like playing video games, hanging out with friends, working out, attending school, increasing your personal states like Courage and Intellect, and buying the things you'll need to enter the dungeons. By night you become the Phantom Thieves. Explore the many palaces of the minds of the villains you plan to reform while improving social standings with a close knit group of friends and tricksters and rebels.

2. Pokemon X and Y: If we are going to discuss Non-Square Enix RPG's, let's discuss Pokemon. Pokemon is predominantly the first J-RPG that many of us will be familiar with due to growing up with it just like with Final Fantasy, Star Ocean, or the Mana series. One on one battles in a turn-based system of knocking our enemies out. Pokemon X and Y are chosen as due to their impact on the future of Pokemon games, and what it was designed as.

(Pokemon X and Y starters (From Left to Right: Chespin, Fennekin, and Froakie)

This game was the love letter to Pokemon fans all over the world with the Second Generation of a Pokemon game featuring a real world inspiration out of Japan. (Unova, the first one was based on New York City and Manhattan Island and Kalos is based on France.) But the extra additions, primarily the updated graphics and the 3D realism and fantastic elements of Pokemon make it an extra special experience as well as a new update to keep Pokemon fresh and alive from transitioning from 2-D to 3-D.

(The Map of Kalos Region)

This game's theme on Beauty makes sense given France is a capital of culture of the arts, beautiful chateaus and scenery of the French Countryside and Rhine, and the many vineyards to enjoy as well as offering DS Photo compatatbilites to have you snapshot Kalos as a real tourist destination. And it also added fashion choices to buy from the many stores you can find in the cities and towns of Kalos. And with 72 additional pokemon to the mix, people have already found their fan favorites.

(The new 3D models seen in X and Y for  Luminous City.)

And now for the Honorable mentions:

Odin Sphere: Liefaisir: Vanillaware has a wonderful collection of video games with fantasy and storybook-esque designs and graphics but Odin Sphere takes the cake. Odin Sphere originally was released for PS2 but re-released for PS3 and PS4. Focused on the tale of 5 heroes as they pursue their own goals and eventually end up saving the world, Odin Sphere is an episodic video game focused on a cast of fantastical and artistically designed people with an intriguing interwoven story.

Dark Cloud: This game was Level-5's dungeon Crawler RPG and Town Builder Combo that focused on 6 heroes restoring order and peace to a world torn by a catastrophic Nazi-like warring nation. With the cities all over being destroyed, Toan and his friends must go searching into the realms to restore the towns and eventually fight through many regenerating dungeons and placing correctly the right way to restore the town.

Knights of Penn and Paper 1 & 2: Both are parodies of the Dice Rolling RPG Dungeons and Dragons but with its own layout and land. With choosing crazy character combos (Like a Paris Hilton rich girl Rogue or a Jock Wizard), lampooning Wizards of the Coast, regular Fantasy Tropes, and other D&D style scenarios and an all too on the nose meta-narrative parody plot, this game is both hilarious and loving at the same time, giving a tongue in cheek perspective on the game we love.

Darkest Dungeon: The Lovecraft tribute RPG has the same similarity to Dark Souls in difficulty so don't get clingy to your units too much. Even if you do, always expect them to die or go mad. With a Gothic Victorian aesthetic style to the game, the Cthulu Madness overreach with multiple members dying, having different mental issues and problems more than physical ailments, and the constant need to explore the Darkest Dungeon though such a spiral will heed one either into madness and/or death, Dark Dungeon does a great service to the source material that is the Lovecraftian Mythos.

Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne This games Gothic aesthetic, post-apocalyptic themes and philosophical choice matters scenario has wonderful mechanics. Despite the dated graphics and minimal voice acting in cut scenes (only battle grunts are even heard), the game is often rated not only as one of the greatest hidden gems of all time but sometimes the greatest PS2 RPG of all time.


And now for number one ...

1. The Elder Scrolls: Skyrim Bathsheba went all out from what they have done with Elder Scrolls IV and added more of the Drakenborn lore as well as allowing much to alignment and created an entire world and culture loosely taken from Slavic and Nordic lore and history.

(One of the first town's you'll come across, Riverwood in Skyrim)

The game pits you against two factions of the realm of Skyrim, The Imperials and the Stormcloaks. Each has their own moral compass and ideologies that make them morally ambiguous with The Imperials allowing the disintegration of the Stormcloaks and the sovereignty of their lives but wish to restore peace as well as offer better rights for elves and minorities. The Stormcloaks wish to restore Skyrims culture and sovereignty away from a tyrannical empire but would restrict people back to traditions (like racism against elves and other races) irregardless of anything other than the idea of "preserving culture." It makes for a powerful and potent moral dilemma that makes it difficult but noteworthy.

(The skills trees of Skyrim: More than what is featured!)

Another praiseworthy aspect is the RPG Tree of skills coming from a variety of means to level up and how it can be accomplished. Though the many ideas of certain classes are present, it instead allows free reign of allowing anyone to challenge themselves or better themselves with a roundabout warrior, mage, or thief as the general three classes. But you can really make it whatever you wish as you find special runestones to upgrade yourself and fight the many monsters and armies of Skyrim.

Also, the expansive terrain and the socio-political culture is rich thanks to careful and meticulous world building Bethseba has implemented in their design to make exploration the world both a treat and a rewarding experience for those who progress farther through the game and can chose to do the main storyline or not.