Million Arthur: Arcana Blood (2019)

This action-packed fighting game plunges players into the rich and conflict-ridden world of "Britain," a land populated by a million King Arthurs, each vying for the singular title of true king. These formidable leaders harness the might of ancient knights and powerful faeries as they navigate a landscape rife with civil war and external threats. "Million Arthur: Arcana Blood" elevates the strategic combat with an impressive roster of guest fighters, including "Otherworldly Riesz" from "Trials of Mana," "Otherworldly Koume Sakiyama" from "LORD of VERMILION IV," and "Otherworldly Iori Yagami" from "THE KING OF FIGHTERS XIV." Alongside these familiar faces from other beloved franchises, players can also command the iconic characters from the "Million Arthur" series, customizing their experience by choosing from 13 distinct playable characters and assembling a team of three support characters from a pool of 31 to forge their own unparalleled battle style. "Million Arthur: Arcana Blood" exemplifies the kind of genre-bending innovation and extensive content that marks Square Enix's most memorable titles. While perhaps not a flagship RPG, its inclusion on a "Best Games by Square Enix" list is justified by its ambitious crossover nature, offering a fresh take on the fighting genre through its unique lore and the inclusion of beloved characters from other IPs, a practice Square Enix has often explored to great success. The game boasts the comprehensive features expected of a top-tier fighting experience, including an engaging Original Story Mode, a robust Training Mode, and thrilling Online Versus Mode with lobby matches for up to six players and skill-matched ranked battles. The narrative, overseen by Kazuma Kamachi, and the stellar musical contributions from KOTOKO and Yoko Shimomura further solidify its pedigree, delivering a polished and memorable experience that aligns with Square Enix's commitment to high-quality production values and captivating storytelling, even within a different genre.