Summary
If there is one thingSquare Enixis great at, it’s adapting to the times. Once Apple launched their App Store on iPhones, Square Enix was close behind. They developed original titles likeChaos Rings,which were good, but most games never reached the heights of their console counterparts.
So, in a smart move, Square Enix started porting their classic games onto iOS devices. Not every port was perfect, but it gave a lot of lapsed Square Enix fans a way to play games easily on their phones. Decades later, there are now a ton of good ports and original titles from the developer on the App Store. These are just some quick highlights.
Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roarsis a card-based RPG with minimal input expected from players. Characters don’t run around a world map, and instead, there’s a board-like structure to explore. Battles are turn-based, but cards take the place of traditional RPG menus.
It was a huge effort from Square Enix, as this was the first of three games in this series in just about a year. After this, there was alsoThe Forsaken MaidenandThe Beast of Burden, which are all worth recommending too, and the order one plays them isn’t too important.
Theatrhythm Final Fantasyis a perfect game for iOS as it is very touch-centric. ThisFinal Fantasyspinoff is a rhythm-based RPG wherein players have to tap to the beat through several classic songs in the games represented in this collection.
From the franchise’s theme song in the first game to the bombastic orchestra of “One-Winged Angel” inFinal Fantasy 7, it is all one big nostalgia trip. The iOS version did a few things better than the original 3DS version, and it did a few things worse. Overall, despite the lower review scores between the two, it is still worth playing.
6Kingdom Hearts Union X
Metacritic Score: 70
Kingdom Hearts Union Xwas an original game first made for web browsers, but then it hit the mobile market with a lot of changes. The battle system, for example, used cards instead of medallions, but it was always turn-based.
Of the many spinoffs in theKingdom Heartsfranchise, this is the one to skip as it is a gacha-based experience. However, fans who take their time with it will get a lot of value from the gameplay. Plus, there are later story elements that will help fill in the gaps of the fabled Keyblade War.
It’s hard to believe that one of the best ways toplayChrono Triggeris on iOS. It didn’t used to be, as the port had some wonky graphics, as did the Steam version. Both have been fixed now, so at least they look and play closer to the SNES original.
It’s wild that the game hasn’t touched a console in years though, but Square Enix has been making a lot of remakes and 2D-HD ports of some of their classics includingSuper Mario RPGandLive a Live. So, who knows what the future holds for this turn-based, time-traveling classic? Fans will have to be happy with the iOS version, which again, is surprisingly good now.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lionsis in the same boat asChrono Trigger,as it is hard to find on modern consoles. That’s why it is recommended above all other games in this franchise, besidesTheatrhythm Final Fantasy,for its intuitive controls, as this is the best version besides the original on PS1.
This version is based on the PSP port, which was great, but there were slowdown issues with spells and the load times weren’t marvelous either. The iOS version fixes a lot of the technical issues, but it isn’t perfect. Still, this would be a good version for Square Enix to use as a base for a future console remaster.
Dragon Quest 3: The Seeds of Salvationwas originally an NES game that the West got along with its slightly improved Game Boy Color port. However, the best version of the game was never released outside of Japan, aka. the SNES remake.
This iOS port is the closest version players in the West will get to it besides relying on emulation and fan translations. Of the many games in this series available on iOS, this is the one to pick up. Also, it’s the first game to introduce a class system, called Vocations, and it’s still genuinely fun to experiment with.
Secret of Manaon iOS is even better than the version that was ported to a Switch collection in 2019. That version was a straight SNES port, whereas this iOS version got a slight HD upgrade. The best RPGs to play on mobile devices are turn-based, as they tend to ask players fewer ways to input controls.
Secret of Manais an action RPG, though with virtual controls, and they can sometimes be finicky in other games. These virtual controls work surprisingly well on iOS, and it is currently the best way to experience this SNES marvel.
The World Ends With You: Solo Remixis, without a doubt, the best iOS port Square Enix has ever reeleased on the App Store. The original game on DS was experimental too, as nearly everything was touch-based. It made sense then to remaster it for iOS devices instead of consoles, although the Switch version, which took a while to come around, was decent.
Not a whole lot was added besides remixed music and graphical improvements, but that was okay. The game was nearly perfect on the DS anyway, and all it needed was a new platform for a chance to breathe again.
