The Final Fantasy series has dozens of games, so when you first approach the series it can be overwhelming as to which games to play first. With the first game releasing all the way back in 1987, the franchise has gone through a lot of change, and with no linear story or connection in most of the titles, you can really start wherever your fancy.
Credit: Square Enix
Some starting points are better than ever, Final Fantasy has a lot of great games and a some that require a little more effort to get into. In that respect, there’s definitely right places to start with the franchise, and we’re here to let you know which Final Fantasy game to play first.
Final Fantasy VI (which was confusingly released as Final Fantasy III in North America originally), is the final game in the series with an entirely 2d sprite aesthetic. As a result, this timeless story is the perfect place for fans who want to get the experience of playing classic Final Fantasy in the most modern package.
Credit: Square Enix
The Pixel Remaster is definitely the preferred way to play today, but the game also has a port on Game Boy Advance, which garnered the game one of the highest review scores of any Final Fantasy title. With an incredible soundtrack, graphics which evoke the golden age of gaming, and one of the best Final Fantasy stories, this is a quintessential Final Fantasy experience.
Starting from Final Fantasy VII, the game shifted into a 3D format to push the boundaries of what was possible in making a game. The series also adjusted its art style and tone to lean into the more serious narrative, with VII, and VIII both appealing to a more edgy, teenage demographic. For Final Fantasy IX, however, the game returned to a more traditional fantastical style with cuter characters and designs.
Credit: Square Enix
But FFIX also maintained the serious tone in much of its story. Still in the era of gaming that FFIX released, its cutesy design choices lead to lower sales than its contemporaries. However, the game was still a critical success, and is today regarded as one of the greatest games in the series. It’s a must-play for Final Fantasy fans, and a perfect place to experience Final Fantasy’s traditional combat systems before its shift to action RPGs.
From the mid 2010s, Final Fantasy began to move away from its traditional turn-based roots, and embraced a more modern action RPG style that began with Final Fantasy XIII and shifted into full focus for later games. By the release of Final Fantasy XV, the series was a fully-fledged action RPG title, and later remakes of older titles would adopt this mantra.
Credit: Square Enix
That’s where Final Fantasy VII Remake comes in, the adaption of Final Fantasy’s most beloved title, FF VII Remake takes all the characters and story that people loved, and gave it a more modern and approachable package. The game’s smooth combat, enticing graphics, and the famous Final Fantasy VII romance and deeper characterizations are a perfect starting point for new FF fans.
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