25 Years Ago, Square Enix Released One of the Most Beloved RPGs in History

Square Enix has released some of the most popular and well-received JRPGs in video game history. From Chrono Trigger to Dragon Quest to Final Fantasy, Square Enix's vast library has a colorful history, and one of its most significant releases turns 25 years old this year.

2026 will mark the 25th anniversary of the release of Final Fantasy 10, the first major title in the series built for the PlayStation 2, and the first one to have voice acting. The game was released on July 19, 2001, in Japan and would come to North America on December 18 that same year.

Final Fantasy 10 follows the story of Tidus and the world of Spira, as he is whisked away from his home of Zanarkand by a colossal, destructive monster known as Sin. He then embarks on a pilgrimage with summoner Yuna and her guardians to defeat the world-ending threat.

The game features turn-based combat with a twist: players can switch out their party members during battle, and also see the turn order, which allows players to strategize and adapt to the changing circumstances in battle.

According to Metacritic, the original release of Final Fantasy 10 sits at an impressive metascore of 92. Critics praise the game's combat, story, themes, characters, visuals, and soundtrack. There was some minor criticism directed at the game's linear environments and departure from using a world map like previous Final Fantasy games.

According to data from VGChartz, Final Fantasy 10 would go on to sell over 20 million units (when combined with its direct sequel, Final Fantasy 10-2), making it the best-selling game in the franchise.

For the 25th anniversary, Square Enix has launched an official anniversary site (text in Japanese). A new art book will be available, as well as all other kinds of anniversary merchandise.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 8, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 8, 2026 at 12:50 PM.