Sometimes referred to as 2.5D, the HD-2D style developed by Square Enix’s Team Asano gives JRPGs a new option that’s not fully pixel, and not fully 3D. While there aren’t a lot of options for games that are made in this style yet, some still make better use of the style than others.
HD-2D gives you the retro feeling of old pixel games, but with the depth of a 3D games from the way that the maps are created. Officially, only Square Enix games use the HD-2D style, but there are some other studios that are imitating it to create their own versions of 2.5D. The combination is fun and clever, so it’s no surprise that it’s being chosen as the style for new games.
6
Star Ocean The Second Story R
An Out-of-This-World Journey
Star Ocean The Second Story R is a remake, and its use of the HD-2D style showed how effective it can be for remakes of these older games. It leans heavier into sci-fi compared to other Square Enix titles, but the story and gameplay are quite standard for an RPG, making it an enjoyable ride if you’re a fan of the genre.
Star Ocean tells the story of Claude and Rena, who are from different worlds and end up having to work together to figure out how to handle a threat to all of civilization. With multiple possible endings, you can replay the game and get quite a bit of time out of it. However, while this is a great choice to start with for the HD-2D style if you like sci-fi or played the original game, it might not be the perfect option if you prefer more traditional fantasy settings.
5
Triangle Strategy
Strategy Meets Story
Unlike Star Ocean, Triangle Strategy isn’t a remake. Instead, it’s a new game that used the HD-2D style to create a challenging strategy game that includes the depth of storytelling and multiple story paths that are expecting from Square Enix games. If you’re looking for a game that makes you think and one where your choices matter.
However, Triangle Strategy focuses a lot on the plot that impacts the world rather than smaller plots driven by the characters, and that can make the characters feel less interesting when you’re playing. If you aren’t a strategy fan or prefer a game with characters that draw you in, then I suggest trying a different game on this list.
4
Live A Live
Variety Is the Spice of Life
Live A Live is the game with the most variety on this list, and possibly among all available HD-2D games and games that imitate the style. This is because of how diverse the cast of characters, stories, and settings are. While the battle mechanics are lackluster compared to other games, part of this could be due to the fact that the original Live A Live was released in 1994, and this is a remake.
Live A Live includes seven main characters, but the settings for their stories vary wildly. If you want a game that lets you go through multiple stories instead of one longer story and mixes up the settings, then this is a classic RPG remake option for you to try out.
3
Octopath Traveler Games
The Series that Defined HD-2D
There are multiple games in the Octopath Traveler series, and all of them use the HD-2D style. Additionally, all of them are great games to play. I love the second game the most, and I was able to play that one first, so you don’t need to play them in order to understand the story. As far as original games and not remakes using HD-2D go, Octopath Traveler is the best among them. It’s no surprise that this series helped make the style popular in the first play.
Similar to Live A Live, Octopath includes a set of eight main characters for each game. This makes the length feel more manageable, as you have smaller stories for each character that give you points that act as natural stopping points. Since the game is more modern, the combat style is much better than Live A Live as it’s simply better designed.
2
Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake
An Old Favorite with New Life
Dragon Quest is a beloved franchise, so of course its third game being remade in the HD-2D style would make it one of the best HD-2D games available. As far as its narrative goes, it’s the beginning of the Erdick Trilogy, and it keeps the charm of the original game while adding a modern feel through the use of HD-2D.
As a remake of a game from 1988, there are still elements in the remake that fall flat compared to the modern entries for Dragon Quest. The runtime is solid, and even though you don’t have the natural stopping points that games like Octopath offer, the combination of its pacing and enjoyable gameplay make it easy to lose track of time as you play.
1
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles
A Remake That Resonates
The story of Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles focuses on the disconnect and inequality between the nobility and the common folk, along with the corruption and plots from both the church and political rulers. Originally released during a time of economic uncertainty, the remake somehow managed to released during another time of uncertainty that made it resonate again.
The Ivalice Chronicles has classic turn-based combat, a more detailed world with the help of the HD-2D style, and characters that are complex, making the injustices they face hit harder. If you play only one HD-2D game, it has to be FF Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles. This is the gold standard for remakes of classic RPGs.
HD-2D is still rather new, but it’s clear that it’s going to stay around in the gaming industry, and it should. It’s proven to be an amazing option for remaking older games to make them feel modern while retaining their natural charm. I can’t wait to see how Square Enix will use this style next, and how other developers will adopt their own variations of it.
