Few game franchises are more popular or influential than Final Fantasy. Produced by Square(later Square Enix), Final Fantasy introduced kids around the world to the RPG genre and turn-based combat.
The name has become synonymous with role-playing games and its elements can be seen in most games of the genre even those made today on the newest consoles. Here’s a look back at all 16 games in the main franchise.
1. Final Fantasy
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Original Release Year: 1987
Release Console: NES
The game that started it all. The first Final Fantasy combined simple storytelling technique with a turn-based RPG combat system.
It’s a system that has been emulated and reproduced countless times over the decades since. For the time, it’s graphics were considered revolutionary and the amount of content in the game was unrivaled.
The story revolved around four heroes who each carry an elemental orb. These powerful orbs were corrupted by dark forces, which resulted in worldwide devastation.
The heroes spend the game traveling from one random battle to another while fighting to restore light to the orbs. Final Fantasy was known for its blend of technology and magic as well as its large variety of races, including humans, mermaids, and robots.
2. Final Fantasy II
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Original Release Year: 1988
Release Console: NES/Family Computer(Japan)
The huge success of the original game meant that Square was ready to release a sequel the following year, though it was not originally released in North America.
Final Fantasy II includes a lot of similar elements to the original while introducing new concepts that remain with the franchise to this day.
One of the most notable introductions was the chocobo, a large, flightless bird used for transportation and seen in nearly all FF games since.
Another significant change that was well-received was the removal of the traditional experience(XP) system.
In the original game, XP was received for each character after a battle and attributed towards their level progress. Final Fantasy II introduced a progression system where individual stats could be improved by repeated use.
3. Final Fantasy III
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Original Release Year: 1990
Release Console: NES/Family Computer(Japan)
The third installment of the franchise also did not receive an initial release in the United States. However, it was still incredibly popular among fans who could get their hands on the game.
Once again, the franchise maintains its random battle encounters and turn-based combat system. They do introduce a new job system that allows players to change their character job or class at different points in the game. Square also decided to return to the original XP system used in the first game.
The story again involves the four crystals of light and the effects their power can have. This time, an advanced civilization is attempting to control the orbs and harness their energy. Their attempts fail and the civilization suffers serious damage. Even worse, fortune-tellers predict that the events will repeat again in the future.
4. Final Fantasy IV
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Original Release Year: 1991
Release Console: Super Nintendo
Though the fourth game in the series, Final Fantasy IV is often referred to as Final Fantasy II in the United States.
That is because it is only the second game from the franchise to receive an initial launch in North America. It’s also the first game in the franchise to play on the new and improved Super Nintendo console.
Final Fantasy IV packed a ton of new elements into a familiar setting. There are once again dark knights, evil sorcerers, and elemental crystals with the power to destroy the world. But Square made some added some significant changes that would eventually become familiar elements of the franchise.
The introduction of an Active Time Battle (ATB) combat system improved the standard turn-based battles significantly.
Adding a time system to the battle encounters was a simple change but it added a great deal of excitement and tension to every fight. It meant that players had to react appropriately before the enemy and couldn’t waste hours developing strategies and playing safe.
5. Final Fantasy V
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Original Release Year: 1992
Release Console: Super Nintendo
Another year and another Final Fantasy game that would only see an initial release in Japan. It would eventually become popular in the United States after being ported to the Sony PlayStation and Game Boy Advance.
But Square did not need a global release to support the brand. Final Fantasy V sold more than 2 million copies despite its release limitations.
FF V focused more on customization than any of the previous games. The new and improved job system was the primary source of customization.
Players could freely switch jobs just as with the two previous games. Players could potentially master a set of 22 different jobs on every playable character.
They also managed to merge the ability points progression system and the traditional XP system to create a very rewarding experience.
6. Final Fantasy VI
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Original Release Year: 1994
Release Console: Super Nintendo
The sixth game in the series often goes by the title Final Fantasy III in the United States because it is only the third game in the franchise to receive a North America launch.
FF VI is the first game in the franchise not directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi. One of the most memorable aspects of playing the game was listening to the music. The sounds and music in FFVI won multiple awards and have been featured on many different albums.
The game, its world, and the characters continue to grow more diverse and more complex. There are a total of fourteen different playable characters available at different points in the game.
Customization options for these characters were greater than ever before. The addition of equipable items called relics added another layer of strategy and possibility to encounters.
7. Final Fantasy VII
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Original Release Year: 1997
Release Console: Sony PlayStation
Final Fantasy VII is perhaps the most well-known game in the franchise. So many changes and improvements are packed into this game that it attracted people who disliked previous FF games.
It was the first Final Fantasy game to be released on CD-ROM and not the Nintendo cartridge. The utilization of CD-ROM technology allowed the team to add far more content to the game than any of the previous versions.
Final Fantasy VII was also the first game in the series to be rendered with 3D graphics. The game used 3D character models and 2D backgrounds to create a very unique look. Though we may have better graphics today, they were considered revolutionary and breathtaking during their time.
The graphics weren’t the only good quality. Fans loved the music, the story, and the advanced combat system.
The story’s protagonist and antagonist are two of the most well-known and loved characters in the franchise.
The original Final Fantasy game is often considered one of the best RPGs of its time. Final Fantasy VII was considered all-around one of the best video games ever produced. It still maintains a significant following.
8. Final Fantasy VIII
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Original Release Year: 1999
Release Console: Sony PlayStation
FF VIII struggled to set itself apart from its predecessor. That’s not necessarily a bad thing since FFVII was a remarkable game.
It was actually the fastest-selling game in the franchise likely because of its predecessor’s success. One point of significant fanfare was the opening cut scene, which later received a 2nd place rank on a list of top 10 video game openings published by Game Informer. The ending was also ranked very highly by IGN.
Overall, FFVIII followed a very familiar formula and it worked well. They took everything that fans loved from FFVII and then improved it.
All while adding one or two new core changes, such as the removal of magic points as an energy source for spells. The only thing fans really missed from the previous game was the character Cloud Strife.
9. Final Fantasy IX
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Original Release Year: 2000
Release Console Sony PlayStation
13 years have passed between the release of the first Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy IX. All of that time spent developing, expanding, and improving the core game system really paid off.
Final Fantasy IX may not be as well-known today as Final Fantasy VII, but many fans agree that it was the best game in the series.
The game had several very strong selling points and was different enough from the previous games to really stand out.
What elements made FFIX such a noteworthy video game? First, the story and the characters were crafted perfectly.
Each character is unique and likable in some way. Second, the game returns to the simple class-based system used in earlier games while still allowing a great deal of customization.
Finally, a variety of new side quests and activities were added to the game and fans loved them. The most popular being the Tetra Master card game.
10. Final Fantasy X
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Original Release Year: 2001
Release Console: Sony PlayStation 2
The tenth game in the series was the first to make it to the next generation of home video game consoles. And just like FFVII growing significantly thanks to the newly released PlayStation, FFX uses the powerful PS2 to bring its world to life.
Previous games used 3D graphics, but this was the first in the series to rely entirely on 3D characters and backgrounds rather than a combination of 2D and 3D components.
Another significant change with this installation was the removal of the ATB combat system and the introduction of the Conditional Time-Based system.
The CTB emulates some aspects of the ATB but still provides players with an unlimited amount of time to take their turn. Not everyone was a fan of this change because it removed some excitement from the combat scenarios.
11. Final Fantasy XI: Online
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Original Release Year: 2002
Release Console: Sony PlayStation 2/Windows PC
The first thing you’ll notice about Final Fantasy XI is that it is an online game. It’s the franchise’s first attempt at producing a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG). It also happened to be the first time an MMORPG allowed players on the PlayStation 2 and the PC to play together online.
Final Fantasy XI remained relevant on consoles far longer than it did on PC. It was the last game to use the online services provided by PS2.
It was never as popular as the previous titles in the franchise but it did help the company break down new barriers in gaming and learn valuable lessons that they would apply to their future Final Fantasy MMORPG game.
12. Final Fantasy XII
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Original Release Year: 2006
Release Console: Sony PlayStation 2
Final Fantasy XII hit shelves in 2006 and immediately sold almost 1.5 million copies. It was loved by critics, yet many fans felt indifferent towards the significant changes to the game.
FFXII was the first and only FF game as well as the only PS2 game to receive a perfect score from the gaming magazine Famitsu in Japan.
One change that left fans divided was the removal of random encounters. Those encounters had formed the backbone of the combat and leveling system of every Final Fantasy game except for Final Fantasy XI: Online.
Enemies were clearly visible on the world map and interaction with those enemies would lead to combat. Other changes include an open world map, camera controls, and an entirely new skills and equipment system.
13. Final Fantasy XIII
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Original Release Year: 2009
Release Console: XBOX 360/Sony PlayStation 3
The next generation of consoles was released in 2005 and 2006. It wasn’t until 2009 that we received the first game in the main FF franchise on one of these systems.
Once again, several changes were made to the core of the game that really divided the players, the fans, and the critics. The visuals were stunning and the gameplay was exciting, but it lost a lot of the character and flavor that is attributed to Final Fantasy.
In particular, fans were not happy about the extremely linear nature of the story and gameplay. Fans were introduced to the open-world concept several titles prior and they loved it.
Oddly enough, the critics who were not long-time fans of the series praised the linear gameplay because of its simplicity.
14. Final Fantasy XIV: Online
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Original Release Year: 2010
Release Console: Windows PC
It had been 8 years since Square Enix released their first Final Fantasy MMORPG. It had come and gone with some mild success and they were ready to try again.
Final Fantasy XIV hit the shelves and was a complete failure. It was the worst launch of any Final Fantasy game in the main franchise due to several serious problems with the gameplay, the menus, and the bugs.
15. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
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Original Release Year: 2013
Release Console: Windows PC/Sony PlayStation 3
Final Fantasy XIV only remained online for roughly two years. Its reception was so negative that they stopped charging membership fees and canceled ports to the PS3 and Xbox 360.
Luckily, one year later, the game had been reworked significantly and was recently on Windows PC and PS3.
The new version used an entirely different game engine and was considered a success. It remains one of the most popular MMORPGs online today.
The director of the game hired an entirely new development team and implemented a new game engine to overcome the various technical problems.
It retained the impressive graphics and musical score from the failed game but with a new interface, infrastructure, and gameplay. Unfortunately, they also reintroduced the monthly membership fee.
16. Final Fantasy XV
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Original Release Year: 2016
Release Console: Sony PlayStation 4/Xbox One
We now move to an even newer generation of consoles with Final Fantasy XV. The development team learned from the mistakes of FFXIII and decided to return to the open-world structure that fans loved.
It also features a return of more sci-fi elements than some previous titles. Though, while it embraces these similarities, it also makes a massive change to the combat system.
Unlike previous titles, FFXV uses a real-time battle system rather than a turn-based system. Players need to react in real-time with attacks, abilities, and defensive maneuvers.
The combat is more exciting but it loses the strategical element that fans of turn-based combat enjoy. However, fans who are fine with real-time combat absolutely love FFXV and you can’t blame them. It’s big, beautiful, and filled with so much to do.
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