The ’90s are considered a golden era for Japanese console RPGs, much of thanks to the incredible releases from Squaresoft on PS1 and Super Nintendo. The time I spent with games like Final Fantasy VII, Secret of Mana, and Saga Frontier set the standard for the RPG genre at the time, and made a mark on me I’ll never forget. And thanks to GOG’s Square Enix Publisher Sale, you can add many of these titles to your PC library for cheap. The sale runs through June 6 and offers discounts up to 70% on 11 classics from the Final Fantasy, SaGa, and Mana series. Like all games on GOG, these Square Enix classics are offered DRM-free, meaning you can download and keep them forever without needing to sign into a launcher like Steam or the Epic Game Store.
While all of the games in GOG’s sale are worth your consideration, I would recommend Final Fantasy VIII Remastered, which is a great way to experience one of Square Enix’s most creative RPGs. You can grab it for just $8 (was $20). Four other Final Fantasy titles are also discounted in the sale, including the 3D remakes of Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV–both of which first launched on the Nintendo DS and PSP–as well as the PC versions of the original Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy IX HD. GOG’s version of FFVII is notable as its the closest to the original experience you can get on PC.
The sale also includes two Mana series games that are now on GOG for the first time. The Legend of Mana Remaster takes you on a journey to seek out the great mana tree. The original version of the game launched on PlayStation back in 1999 and was lauded for its gorgeous pixel art and excellent soundtrack from Yoko Shimomura (the same composer behind Kingdom Hearts and Final Fantasy XV). This remastered edition features enhanced graphics and quality of life features. Trials of Mana, which is a full HD remake of the previously Japan-exclusive Secret of Mana follow-up, Seiken Densetsu 3, is also on sale for just $15 (was $50).
GOG’s sale isn’t all Final Fantasy and Mana, however. It also includes remastered editions of several SaGa series games like SaGa Frontier Remastered, which brings the 1998 PS1 classic to modern platforms with retouched visuals and other modernized touches. Like other SaGa games, its notable for the ways it subverts common console RPG design of the era, offering a non-linear experience where you can play as one of eight heroes. You can pick it up for just $12.50 (was $25). You’ll find a list of all 11 games included in GOG’s Square Enix publisher sale below.
GOG’s Square Enix Publisher Sale
- Final Fantasy III 3D Remake — $8 (
$16) - Final Fantasy IV 3D Remake — $8 (
$16) - Final Fantasy VII — $4.79 (
$12) - Final Fantasy VIII Remastered — $8 (
$20) - Final Fantasy IX — $6.29 (
$21) - Legend of Mana — $12 (
$30) - Romancing SaGa 2 — $7.50 (
$25) - Romancing SaGa 3 — $8.69 (
$29) - SaGa Frontier Remastered — $12.49 (
$25) - SaGa Scarlet Grace: Ambitions — $9 (
$30) - Trials of Mana — $15 (
$50)
