Legend says Square was nearly out of money, so this would be their final fantasy. Instead, Final Fantasy (1987 in Japan, 1990 in the US) saved the company and named one of gaming's biggest franchises.

For many American kids it was the first true console RPG — build a party of four from a roster of classes, grind, sail an airship, and chase the four crystals through a story with actual stakes. Dragon Warrior came first, but Final Fantasy felt grand.

The job system, the orchestral-ambitions-on-an-8-bit-chip score, the world map opening up as you gained ships and airships — it set the table for everything Square did next.