The status of controlled nuclear fusion research is reviewed for two major compact toroidal confinement concepts: the field reversed configuration (FRC) and the spheromak. The FRC is an inherently high beta concept offering the advantages of a cylindrical geometry, a natural divertor and the possibility of axial movement of the confined plasma during the formation/burn cycle. The essential techniques of FRC formation, translation and magnetic compression heating have been successfully demonstrated, and gross instabilities driven by plasma rotation have been controlled. Emphasis of present FRC research is on formation symmetry, and on the effects of reducing the large gyroradii of the ions on stability and confinement. The spheromak, like the reversed field pinch, embodies a nearly force-free equilibrium whose evolution is governed significantly by the principle that magnetic helicity is conserved during relaxation processes that minimize magnetic energy. Recent spheromak research has shown how improved edge conditions can enhance global confinement by reducing relaxation and turbulence. Attention to this issue has led to major gains in spheromak energy confinement and plasma beta, and to the discovery of new pressure driven effects.