What’s on your dream list?

Square Enix quietly dropped a survey in mid-February 2026 asking Japanese account holders what classic games they’d like to see remade or remastered — and how they’d like them done. It’s the kind of corporate outreach that instantly sets fan forums ablaze: which franchises make the cut, which visual styles should be used (HD‑2D, full 3D, “doll” models, pixel remasters), and what new features would make you open your wallet again. The survey went out around February 16, 2026, and only invited responses from Japanese account holders. (gonintendo.com)

Why this matters now

• Remakes and remasters have been a reliable strategy for Square Enix and other publishers to both celebrate legacy titles and generate revenue while new projects gestate.
• Team Asano’s success with HD‑2D (Octopath Traveler, Dragon Quest HD‑2D projects) made format choices meaningful — fans aren’t just asking for “a remake,” they’re arguing over the how as much as the what. (gamesradar.com)
• The survey isn’t an announcement of a specific project, but these kinds of data-gathering efforts shape internal priorities. If enough voices push for the same title or feature set, it increases the odds that a remake moves up the queue. (gonintendo.com)

What Square Enix asked (high level)

• Which Square Enix games fans want remade or remastered.
• Preferred remake/remaster formats: HD‑2D, 3D, “doll” aesthetic, pixel remaster, etc.
• Purchase drivers: expanded story content, post‑game additions, voice acting, quality-of-life features, and so on. (gonintendo.com)

The conversations fans are having

Scan the replies and message boards and you’ll find recurring requests:

• Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy VI, Xenogears, Vagrant Story, Parasite Eve, and other PS1/SNES-era classics.
• Arguments about whether certain games should be “preserved” with a faithful remaster or reimagined with new systems (think FF7 Remake vs. pixel remasters).
• Strong desire for format experiments: many want HD‑2D for classics, while others want full 3D reboots or polished pixel remasters that preserve the original feel. (reddit.com)

There’s also a cultural wrinkle: this particular survey targeted Japanese account holders, so it reflects a domestic sample. Global demand might differ (and Square Enix often triangulates both domestic and international feedback when planning big investments). (gonintendo.com)

A practical look at why some remakes get greenlit

• Commercial logic: remakes and remasters are lower-risk than entirely new AAA projects. They leverage nostalgia, recognizable IP, and existing story/assets.
• Technical feasibility: some titles are easier to update (2D pixel games → pixel remaster) than others with complex systems or licensed engines.
• Team fit: studios like Team Asano specialize in HD‑2D aesthetics — if a candidate title suits their strengths, its chances improve. (gamesradar.com)

What this survey could mean for specific titles

• Chrono Trigger: perennial top‑of‑wishlists. Legal and rights complexities (and the creators’ wishes) make this one tricky, but fan demand remains intense. (gamesradar.com)
• Xenogears and Vagrant Story: often asked for remasters — both have cult followings and would generate buzz if handled well. (gamesradar.com)
• Final Fantasy entries: Square Enix has already been iterating on FF remakes and spin‑projects; survey results could accelerate smaller projects (pixel remasters, HD‑2D reinterpretations) alongside major remakes. (nintendolife.com)

What fans should ask (and what to temper expectations with)

• Ask for specifics: are you asking for a faithful remaster, a quality‑of‑life update, or a full reimagining? Studios often weigh development cost against expected return.
• Be realistic on timelines: even a greenlit remake takes years. If you see Square Enix polling in February 2026, don’t expect a release the same year.
• Remember rights and creators: some IP (or key creatives) may not be available, or stakeholders may disagree on how to update the work.

Five quick things to remember

• Surveys are one piece of many inputs — they inform but don’t guarantee projects.
• Format matters: how a game is remade affects both cost and fan reception.
• Fan passion helps, but internal priorities and publisher strategy do too.
• Square Enix has the teams and precedent to make standout remakes, but those teams are often busy with existing commitments.
• Domestic surveys (Japan only) might underrepresent western fan priorities.

My take

Seeing Square Enix ask these targeted questions on February 16, 2026, feels like a good-faith signal: the company knows nostalgia sells, but it’s trying to be smarter about how those classics come back. I want passionate suggestions — but framed. Tell them which systems should be preserved, which can be modernized, and what new content would add real value. A poll isn’t a promise, but it’s a map: if enough roads point to the same destination, development teams notice.

Sources

• Square Enix survey asks fans about potential remakes/remasters. GoNintendo. February 16, 2026.
  https://www.gonintendo.com/contents/57779-square-enix-survey-asks-fans-about-potential-remakes-remasters

• Talented Square Enix team behind Octopath Traveler and Dragon Quest's HD‑2D JRPGs asks fans what remake they'd like next. GamesRadar. February 2026.
  https://www.gamesradar.com/games/jrpg/talented-square-enix-team-behind-octopath-traveler-and-dragon-quests-hd-2d-jrpgs-asks-fans-what-remake-theyd-like-next-and-im-praying-for-chrono-trigger/

• Square Enix throws a bone to Xenogears fans on the classic JRPG's 28th anniversary. GamesRadar. February 11, 2026.
  https://www.gamesradar.com/games/jrpg/square-enix-throws-a-bone-to-xenogears-fans-on-the-classic-jrpgs-28th-anniversary-but-with-no-remake-or-remaster-in-sight-folks-are-behaving-exactly-as-youd-expect-im-on-my-knees-here/

• Discussion threads and community reaction. Reddit (r/totallyswitched, r/SquareEnix). February 17–18, 2026.
  https://www.reddit.com

(Note: the GoNintendo article above reported the survey to Japanese account holders on or around February 16, 2026.)