If you’re knee-deep in nostalgia or just craving some retro gaming challenge that’s off the beaten path, then this list is for you. We’re talking about treasures from Squaresoft, the powerhouse that merged with Enix to form what we know today as Square Enix. While some of their games, like Final Fantasy, have become household names across the globe, several gems have never made the jump across the language barrier. Here’s our top ten!

1. Bahamut Lagoon

Featuring dragons bonded with human partners and a unique mix of tactical gameplay and traditional JRPG elements, Bahamut Lagoon has intrigued gamers since its release but remains officially untranslated.

2. Live A Live

This game tackles an assortment of storylines – ranging from prehistoric times to the distant future. It’s a storytelling experiment that’s definitely deserving of a wider audience.

3. Seiken Densetsu 3

The direct sequel to Secret of Mana, this game featured branching plotlines and beautiful graphics for the SNES but has stayed out of reach for English speakers without fan-translated versions.

4. Front Mission Series

Tactical mecha combat and a deep storyline make the Front Mission series a must-play for mech fans. Only a handful of its titles have been officially localized.

5. Treasure Hunter G

This turn-based tactical treasure offers a distinctive claymation visual flair and a compelling storyline involving – you guessed it – hunting treasures!

6. Rudra no Hihou

Treasure of the Rudras boasts a unique magic system based on creating spells through literal wordplay. Such novel mechanics sadly didn’t translate into an international release.

7. Hanjuku Hero

Mixing humor with half-baked (egg pun intended) heroes in a strategy RPG? Only from the minds at Squaresoft.

8. Romancing SaGa Series

While some titles have been remade and translated, the original trio of Romancing SaGa games remains untranslated, leaving a void in many JRPG fans’ hearts.

9. Tactic Ogre

A predecessor to the Final Fantasy Tactics series, Tactic Ogre is a strategy RPG opens a text window which resonate with historical and ethical dilemmas. It’s a classic in Japan that’s slipped through the translation cracks.

10. Radical Dreamers

Known as a side-story to Chrono Trigger, its text-based adventure gameplay was largely experimental and annoyingly still just a dream for non-Japanese gamers.

Squaresoft’s catalogue tells the history of a pivotal time in gaming, and these top ten untranslated titles are some of the finest uncut jewels in their crown. While they’ve been kept from a broader audience due to the language barrier, the gaming world is an evolving landscape, and hope springs eternal for future localizations.

For now, they remain whispering legends among retro gamers and enthusiasts alike, encouraging us to explore the realms of fan translations or, for the truly dedicated, to pick up a new language altogether. Happy retrogaming, folks!