Square Enix has been named the top game publisher of 2026 by Metacritic, according to the site’s annual rankings released on March 25. The rankings are based on scores from games released in 2025, using a weighted average of Metascores.
Established in 1999, Metacritic aggregates reviews from media outlets and critics globally, assigning a weighted score that has become a key benchmark within the gaming industry. Developers frequently use the site’s scores to gauge the success of their titles.
This marks the 16th iteration of Metacritic’s publisher rankings, evaluating companies that have released at least five qualifying titles. The scoring considers four key areas: average Metascore, the percentage of games scoring 75 or higher, the percentage of low-scoring games (below 49), and the number of “must-play” titles with a score of 90 or above. This comprehensive approach provides a detailed assessment of a publisher’s overall quality, and consistency.
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Square Enix released nine qualifying games in 2025 – a total of 19 individual scores across different platforms – achieving an average Metascore of 84. Remarkably, every title received a score above 75, resulting in a 100% high-evaluation rate. The publisher secured first place with a total score of 330.5, marking its first time topping the list. The success of major publishers like Square Enix demonstrates the increasing importance of critical reception in the competitive gaming market.
Leading the charge was the PC version of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, scoring a 90. Final Fantasy Strategic Command: The Valis Chronicles and Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake both earned high marks with a score of 88, while Forspoken achieved an 84. Even Remastered: Demon’s Souls, the lowest-rated title, still received positive reviews.
Looking back at previous rankings, Square Enix placed 6th in 2025. This year’s average score represents a significant improvement from 79, indicating a clear increase in overall quality. The continued success of the Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest franchises was a key factor in the company’s rise to the top.
Gamirror Games (formerly Gamera Games), a Chinese publisher, took second place with an average Metascore of 82 across five released titles in 2025, also maintaining a perfect record of no low-scoring games. Absolum, with a score of 87, was a major contributor to their success.
Capcom secured the third position, highlighted by a 90 for Monster Hunter Wilds and an 87 for the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Street Fighter 6. Capcom has consistently ranked within the top three for the past three years, demonstrating a strong track record of development and publishing. The upcoming releases of Resident Evil: Requiem and Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twin Dragons are already receiving positive attention, suggesting continued success in future rankings.
Historically, Sega topped the list in 2025, Capcom in 2024, and Sony in 2023. Square Enix’s win this year extends a four-year streak of Japanese game companies claiming the number one spot, underscoring their continued strength in the global market.
Other major publishers saw varying results: Microsoft ranked 5th, Take-Two Interactive 6th, Sega 7th, and Electronic Arts made a significant jump from 23rd to 8th place. Sony, yet, fell out of the top 20, landing at 21st, attributed to less favorable reviews of titles like Stellar Blade and Destiny 2 DLC.
Metacritic’s Game Publisher Rankings – Historical List
- 2026: Square Enix
- 2025: Sega
- 2024: Capcom
- 2023: Sony
- 2022: Microsoft
- 2021: Sega
- 2020: 505 Games
- 2019: Capcom
- 2018: Bethesda Softworks
- 2017: Electronic Arts
- 2016: Sega
- 2015: Nintendo
- 2014: Take-Two Interactive
- 2013: Electronic Arts
- 2012: Microsoft
- 2011: Take-Two Interactive
