The
Mana series, known in Japan as , is a medieval-fantasy
action role-playing game series from
Square (now
Square Enix), created by
Koichi Ishii. The series began as a handheld
side story to Square's
flagship franchise
Final Fantasy, though the
Final Fantasy-inspired elements were subsequently dropped starting with the second installment,
Secret of Mana, as the games became their own series. It has since grown to include games of various genres within the
fictional world of Mana, with recurring stories involving a
world tree, its associated holy sword, and the fight against forces that would steal their power. Several character designs, creatures, and musical themes reappear frequently.