List of Square Enix companion books

Dozens of Square Enix companion books have been produced since 1998, when video game developer Square began to produce books that focused on artwork, developer interviews, and background information on the fictional worlds and characters in its games rather than on gameplay details.^[1][2] The first series of these books was the Perfect Works series, written and published by Square subsidiary DigiCube. They produced three books between 1998 and 1999 before the line was stopped in favor of the Ultimania (アルティマニア, Arutimania) series, a portmanteau of ultimate and mania.^[3] This series of books is written by Studio BentStuff, which had previously written game guides for Square for Final Fantasy VII. They were published by DigiCube until the company was dissolved in 2003. Square merged with video game publisher Enix on April 1, 2003, to form Square Enix,^[4] which resumed publication of the companion books.

Various Ultimania books at a Books Kinokuniya in San Francisco, California

Both the Perfect Works and Ultimania books have focused primarily on Square and Square Enix's role-playing video game franchises, such as the Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts series; over half of the more than 75 books are for games related to the Final Fantasy series. Sometimes, multiple books have been written per game or revised editions have been published years afterwards. One of the books, Final Fantasy IX Ultimania Online, was solely published online as part of an experiment by Square Enix with online content delivery; another for Final Fantasy XI was planned, but the idea was abandoned as unsuccessful and all subsequent books have been published traditionally.^[5][6]

The books are written and edited by Studio BentStuff; beginning with Final Fantasy VII Remake Ultimania in 2020, they switched to be credited to both Studio BentStuff and its parent company Digital Hearts, and since 2023 with Final Fantasy XVI Ultimania they have been credited solely to Digital Hearts.^[7] The Ultimania series had sold over 10 million books by July 2007,^[8] increasing to over 12 million copies sold as of 2017.^[9] The highest selling Square Enix companion books are Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania (over 2.2 million copies) and Final Fantasy X Scenario Ultimania (over 1 million copies).^[10] All of the books have been released solely in Japanese, but Dark Horse Books published English translations of the three-volume 2012 Final Fantasy 25th Memorial Ultimania as Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive in June 2018, and an English translation of the 2014 Kingdom Hearts Series Memorial Ultimania as Kingdom Hearts Ultimania: The Story Before Kingdom Hearts III in June 2021.^[11][12]

Perfect Works

Perfect Works titles

Title	Game	Date	ISBN	Ref.
Xenogears Perfect Works	Xenogears	October 10, 1998	ISBN 978-4-9250-7532-9	[13]
SaGa Frontier II Perfect Works	SaGa Frontier 2	July 15, 1999	ISBN 978-4-9250-7554-1	[14]
Front Mission 3 Perfect Works	Front Mission 3	November 20, 1999	ISBN 978-4-9250-7566-4	[15]

Ultimania

Ultimania titles

Title	Game	Date	ISBN	Ref.
Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania	Final Fantasy VIII	March 31, 1999	ISBN 978-4-9250-7549-7	[16]
SaGa Frontier II Ultimania	SaGa Frontier 2	June 18, 1999	ISBN 978-4-9250-7553-4	[17]
Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana Ultimania	Legend of Mana	September 30, 1999	ISBN 978-4-9250-7564-0	[18]
Chrono Cross Ultimania	Chrono Cross	January 27, 2000	ISBN 978-4-9250-7573-2	[19]
Vagrant Story Ultimania	Vagrant Story	April 13, 2000	ISBN 978-4-9250-7575-6	[20]
Final Fantasy IX Online Ultimania	Final Fantasy IX	December 29, 2000	Internet-only	[5]
Final Fantasy X Scenario Ultimania	Final Fantasy X	September 14, 2001	ISBN 978-4-8878-7010-9	[21]
Final Fantasy X Battle Ultimania	Final Fantasy X	September 14, 2001	ISBN 978-4-8878-7011-6	[22]
Final Fantasy X Ultimania Ω	Final Fantasy X	January 31, 2002	ISBN 978-4-8878-7021-5	[23]
Final Fantasy IX Ultimania	Final Fantasy IX	February 28, 2002	ISBN 978-4-8878-7025-3	[24]
Kingdom Hearts Ultimania	Kingdom Hearts	June 13, 2002	ISBN 978-4-8878-7042-0	[25]
Kingdom Hearts Ultimania Revised Edition	Kingdom Hearts	January 9, 2003	ISBN 978-4-8878-7090-1	[26]
Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania	Final Fantasy X-2	May 31, 2003	ISBN 978-4-8878-7126-7	[27]
Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Ω	Final Fantasy X-2	February 13, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1161-3	[28]
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles World Ultimania	Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles	March 19, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1162-0	[29]
Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania	Final Fantasy X-2	April 16, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1205-4	[28]
Final Fantasy X-2 International+Last Mission Ultimania	Final Fantasy X-2 International+Last Mission	April 16, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1163-7	[28]
Final Fantasy X Scenario Ultimania	Final Fantasy X	May 28, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1215-3	[28]
Final Fantasy X Battle Ultimania	Final Fantasy X	May 28, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1216-0	[28]
Final Fantasy X Ultimania Ω	Final Fantasy X	May 28, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1214-6	[28]
Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania	Final Fantasy VIII	June 25, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1243-6	[28]
Final Fantasy IX Ultimania	Final Fantasy IX	June 25, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1244-3	[28]
Chrono Cross Ultimania	Chrono Cross	July 30, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1249-8	[28]
Seiken Densetsu: Legend of Mana	Legend of Mana	July 30, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1250-4	[18]
Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories Ultimania	Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories	December 17, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1344-0	[28]
Kingdom Hearts Ultimania Revised Edition	Kingdom Hearts	December 17, 2004	ISBN 978-4-7575-1349-5	[28]
Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song Ultimania	Romancing SaGa: Minstrel Song	July 15, 2005	ISBN 978-4-7575-1487-4	[28]
Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Ω	Final Fantasy VII	September 9, 2005	ISBN 978-4-7575-1520-8	[28]
Kingdom Hearts Series Ultimania α ~Introduction of Kingdom Hearts II~	Kingdom Hearts	December 9, 2005	ISBN 978-4-7575-1597-0	[28]
Kingdom Hearts II Ultimania	Kingdom Hearts II	February 23, 2006	ISBN 978-4-7575-1621-2	[28]
Final Fantasy XII Scenario Ultimania	Final Fantasy XII	June 16, 2006	ISBN 978-4-7575-1696-0	[28]
Final Fantasy XII Battle Ultimania	Final Fantasy XII	June 16, 2006	ISBN 978-4-7575-1697-7	[28]
SaGa Frontier II Ultimania	SaGa Frontier 2	July 20, 2006	ISBN 978-4-7575-1733-2	[28]
Vagrant Story Ultimania	Vagrant Story	July 20, 2006	ISBN 978-4-7575-1734-9	[28]
Final Fantasy XII Ultimania Ω	Final Fantasy XII	November 24, 2006	ISBN 978-4-7575-1821-6	[28]
Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+ Ultimania	Kingdom Hearts II Final Mix+	May 2, 2007	ISBN 978-4-7575-2013-4	[28]
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings Ultimania	Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings	June 14, 2007	ISBN 978-4-7575-2024-0	[28]
Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System Ultimania	Final Fantasy XII International Zodiac Job System	September 6, 2007	ISBN 978-4-7575-2100-1	[28]
Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania	Final Fantasy VII	September 13, 2007	Part of the Final Fantasy VII Potion box set	[30]
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Ultimania	Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII	October 18, 2007	ISBN 978-4-7575-2126-1	[28]
Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 1: Character	Final Fantasy series	January 31, 2008	ISBN 978-4-7575-2206-0	[28]
Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario	Final Fantasy series	April 10, 2008	ISBN 978-4-7575-2251-0	[28]
Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 3: Battle	Final Fantasy series	June 19, 2008	ISBN 978-4-7575-2320-3	[28]
Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania α	Dissidia Final Fantasy	December 4, 2008	ISBN 978-4-7575-2466-8	[31]
Chrono Trigger Ultimania	Chrono Trigger	January 20, 2009	ISBN 978-4-7575-2469-9	[28]
Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania	Dissidia Final Fantasy	January 29, 2009	ISBN 978-4-7575-2488-0	[28]
Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania Revised Edition	Final Fantasy VII	April 16, 2009	ISBN 978-4-7575-2560-3	[28]
Final Fantasy XI Story Ultimania Ver.090409	Final Fantasy XI	June 11, 2009	ISBN 978-4-7575-2507-8	[28]
Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days Ultimania	Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days	June 25, 2009	ISBN 978-4-7575-2578-8	[28]
Final Fantasy XIII Scenario Ultimania	Final Fantasy XIII	January 28, 2010	ISBN 978-4-7575-2775-1	[28]
Final Fantasy XIII Battle Ultimania	Final Fantasy XIII	January 28, 2010	ISBN 978-4-7575-2776-8	[28]
Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep Ultimania	Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep	March 25, 2010	ISBN 978-4-7575-2788-1	[28]
Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania Ω	Final Fantasy XIII	September 30, 2010	ISBN 978-4-7575-2958-8	[28]
Kingdom Hearts Re:coded Ultimania	Kingdom Hearts Re:coded	November 4, 2010	ISBN 978-4-7575-3050-8	[28]
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Ultimania Action Side	Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy	March 10, 2011	ISBN 978-4-7575-3161-1	[32]
Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy Ultimania RPG Side	Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy	March 31, 2011	ISBN 978-4-7575-3162-8	[33]
Final Fantasy Type-0 Ultimania	Final Fantasy Type-0	November 30, 2011	ISBN 978-4-7575-3432-2	[28]
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Scenario Ultimania	Final Fantasy XIII-2	January 31, 2012	ISBN 978-4-7575-3496-4	[28]
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Battle Ultimania	Final Fantasy XIII-2	January 31, 2012	ISBN 978-4-7575-3497-1	[28]
Kingdom Hearts 3D [Dream Drop Distance] Ultimania	Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance	May 1, 2012	ISBN 978-4-7575-3615-9	[28]
Final Fantasy XIII-2 Ultimania Ω	Final Fantasy XIII-2	June 21, 2012	ISBN 978-4-7575-3619-7	[28]
Final Fantasy 25th Memorial Ultimania Volume 1	Final Fantasy series	December 18, 2012	ISBN 978-4-7575-3769-9	[28]
Final Fantasy 25th Memorial Ultimania Volume 2	Final Fantasy series	December 18, 2012	ISBN 978-4-7575-3770-5	[28]
Final Fantasy 25th Memorial Ultimania Volume 3	Final Fantasy series	December 18, 2012	ISBN 978-4-7575-3771-2	[28]
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Ultimania	Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII	December 19, 2013	ISBN 978-4-7575-4158-0	[28]
Final Fantasy X HD Remaster Ultimania	Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster	December 26, 2013	ISBN 978-4-7575-4159-7	[28]
Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster Ultimania	Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster	January 30, 2014	ISBN 978-4-7575-4160-3	[28]
Kingdom Hearts Series Memorial Ultimania	Kingdom Hearts series	October 2, 2014	ISBN 978-4-7575-4384-3	[28]
Biohazard Revelations 2 Ultimania	Resident Evil: Revelations 2	March 26, 2015	ISBN 978-4-7575-4600-4	[28]
Final Fantasy XV Ultimania - Scenario Side-	Final Fantasy XV	December 28, 2016	ISBN 978-4-7575-5214-2	[28]
Final Fantasy XV Ultimania - Battle + Map Side -	Final Fantasy XV	December 28, 2016	ISBN 978-4-7575-5215-9	[28]
Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age Ultimania	Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age	July 13, 2017	ISBN 978-4-7575-5339-2	[28]
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT Ultimania	Dissidia Final Fantasy NT	January 11, 2018	ISBN 978-4-7575-5615-7	[28]
Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space World Ultimania	Another Eden	July 31, 2018	ISBN 978-4-7575-5800-7	[28]
Kingdom Hearts III Ultimania	Kingdom Hearts III	February 28, 2019	ISBN 978-4-7575-6001-7	[28]
Final Fantasy VII Remake Ultimania	Final Fantasy VII Remake	April 28, 2020	ISBN 978-4-7575-6586-9	[28]
Final Fantasy VII Remake Material Ultimania	Final Fantasy VII Remake	October 29, 2020	ISBN 978-4-7575-6869-3	[34]
Final Fantasy VII Remake Material Ultimania Plus	Final Fantasy VII Remake	July 25, 2021	ISBN 978-4-7575-7347-5	[35]
Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Memorial Ultimania	Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remasters	April 20, 2023	ISBN 978-4-7575-8707-6	[36]
Final Fantasy XVI Ultimania	Final Fantasy XVI	September 7, 2023	Included with Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster FF35th Anniversary Limited Edition	[37]
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Ultimania	Final Fantasy VII Rebirth	April 12, 2024	ISBN 978-4-7575-9134-9	[38]
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Material Ultimania	Final Fantasy VII Rebirth	December 27, 2024

References

1. "Final Fantasy X Ultimania Guide". IGN. 2001-08-20. Archived from the original on 2012-11-05. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
2. Ashcraft, Brian (2009-04-01). "Final Fantasy VII Ultimania Book Getting Revision". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 2024-05-25. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
3. Studio BentStuff, ed. (1999-03-31). Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania (in Japanese). DigiCube. p. 3. ISBN 978-4-925075-49-7.
4. "Consolidated Financial Results for the Six Months Ended September 30, 2004" (PDF). Square Enix. 2004-11-18. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2006-05-06. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
5. Ultimania シリーズ［6］ [Ultimania Series [6]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
6. "Final Fantasy XI Playtest". IGN. 2002-04-05. p. 3. Archived from the original on 2013-06-25. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
7. "Digital Hearts Acquires Game Strategy Guide Production Business from Studio BentStuff" (PDF) (Press release). Hearts United Group. 2018-02-13.
8. アルティマニアシリーズの累計発行部数が1,000万部を突破！ [The cumulative circulation of the Ultimania series has exceeded 10 million!] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. 2007-12-29. Archived from the original on 2011-10-04. Retrieved 2013-03-05.
9. "会社情報" [Company Information]. Studio BentStuff (in Japanese). 15 June 2016. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
10. "会社沿革" [Company History]. Studio BentStuff (in Japanese). 15 June 2016. Archived from the original on 11 May 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
11. "NYCC 2017: Summon the Superlative Final Fantasy Reading Experience!". Dark Horse Comics. 2017-10-03. Archived from the original on 2018-10-04. Retrieved 2017-10-03.
12. "Kingdom Hearts Ultimania: The Story Before Kingdom Hearts III HC". Dark Horse Comics. 2021-06-23. Archived from the original on 2024-03-06. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
13. Xenogears Perfect Works the Real thing―スクウェア公式ゼノギアス設定資料集 [ペーパーバック] (in Japanese). Retrieved 2013-03-02.
14. スクウェア公式 サガフロンティア2設定資料集 [大型本] [Square Official Saga Frontier 2 Setting Documents Collection [Large Book]] (in Japanese). 1999-07-15. ISBN 978-4-925075-54-1.
15. Front Mission 3 Perfect Works―スクウェア公式フロントミッションサード設定資料集 [大型本] [Front Mission 3 Perfect Works―Square Official Front Mission Third Setting Document Collection [Large Book]] (in Japanese). 1999-11-20. ISBN 978-4-925075-66-4.
16. Ultimania シリーズ［1］ [Ultimania Series [1]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
17. =Ultimania シリーズ［2］ [Ultimania Series [2]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2012-04-21. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
18. Ultimania シリーズ［3］ [Ultimania Series [3]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
19. Ultimania シリーズ［4］ [Ultimania Series [4]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
20. Ultimania シリーズ［5］ [Ultimania Series [5]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
21. Ultimania シリーズ［7］ [Ultimania Series [7]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
22. Ultimania シリーズ［8］ [Ultimania Series [8]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
23. Ultimania シリーズ［9］ [Ultimania Series [9]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
24. Ultimania シリーズ［10］ [Ultimania Series [10]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2012-05-05. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
25. Ultimania シリーズ［11］ [Ultimania Series [11]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
26. Ultimania シリーズ［12］ [Ultimania Series [12]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
27. Ultimania シリーズ［13］ [Ultimania Series [13]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
28. "アルティマニアシリーズ 公式ページ | Square Enix Game Books Online" [Ultimania series official page | Square Enix Game Books Online] (in Japanese). Square Enix. Archived from the original on 2020-10-03. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
29. Ultimania シリーズ［15］ [Ultimania Series [15]] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2010-04-09. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
30. 大判でフルカラー208ページの豪華仕様！「ファイナルファンタジーVII 10thアニバーサリー アルティマニア」 [Large format, full-color, 208-page luxurious specification! "Final Fantasy VII 10th Anniversary Ultimania"] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. 2007-07-31. Archived from the original on 2012-03-07. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
31. 「ディシディア ファイナルファンタジー アルティマニアα」大判サイズで12月4日に発売！ ["Dissidia Final Fantasy Ultimania α" will be released on December 4 in large format!] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Archived from the original on 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2020-06-21.
32. 「ディシディア デュオデシム ファイナルファンタジーアルティマニア -アクションSIDE-」3月10日発売！ ["Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy Ultimania -Action SIDE-" will be released on March 10!] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. 2011-03-02. Archived from the original on 2013-05-01. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
33. 「ディシディア デュオデシム ファイナルファンタジーアルティマニア -RPG SIDE-」DLCコード付きで3月31日発売！ ["Dissidia Duodecim Final Fantasy Ultimania -RPG SIDE-" Released with DLC code on March 31st!] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. 2011-03-25. Archived from the original on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2013-03-01.
34. ファイナルファンタジーVII リメイク マテリアル アルティマニア [Final Fantasy VII Remake Material Ultimania] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. Retrieved 2022-04-17.
35. ファイナルファンタジーVII リメイク マテリアル アルティマニア プラス [Final Fantasy VII Remake Material Ultimania Plus]. Square Enix (in Japanese). Retrieved 2022-04-17.
36. ファイナルファンタジーI-VI ピクセルリマスター メモリアル アルティマニア [Final Fantasy I-VI Pixel Remaster Memorial Ultimania] (in Japanese). Studio BentStuff. 2023-04-20. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
37. ファイナルファンタジーXVI アルティマニア [Final Fantasy XVI Ultimania]. Square Enix (in Japanese). 2024-09-08. Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-12-02.
38. ファイナルファンタジーVII リバース アルティマニア [Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Ultimania]. Square Enix (in Japanese). 2024-04-12. Retrieved 2024-12-02.

External links

• Studio Bent Stuff official Ultimania series list (2007 archive)
• Square Enix Ultimania list (2020 archive)