The Final Fantasy series has been around for over three decades. Almost every main game in the series has been re-released in one form or another. Sometimes they’re just ports, with nothing added to the game aside from being compatible with a new system. Then there are some games that have gotten remade more times than you can count.
You would think that the latest version of each main game would be the best one to play, but that’s not always the case. So then, what are the best ways to play these classics?
14 Final Fantasy 1 And 2
WINNER: Dawn of Souls (Game Boy Advance)
RUNNER-UP: Anniversary (PSP)
13 Final Fantasy 3
WINNER: Pixel Remaster (iOS/Android, PC)
The recent Pixel Remaster series covering the first six mainline Final Fantasy games is, in many ways, superb. It’s a worthy way to play any of these entries for the first time, with great graphics, better-than-ever soundtracks, and more. But that doesn’t always mean they’re the best way to play overall, a fact (or, admittedly, an opinion) which applies to the first two games more.
The Pixel Remaster series has a grievous wound to it, after all, and it’s the lack of bonus content added to most of the games in versions past the first and prior to this newest line. That’s especially painful in the first Final Fantasy, which, between Dawn of Souls and Anniversary, had added enough extra dungeons to feel like two games in one. And Dawn of Souls in particular is quite literally two games in one, as it bundles the first two installments, including a Final Fantasy 2 with a strong bonus dungeon of its own.
With all that content nowhere to be found in Pixel Remaster, we recommend the earlier stuff if it’s an option. Dawn of Souls’ FF1 technically lacks the one more dungeon added in Anniversary, making for a close call, but we have too soft a spot for the more pixelated look on the GBA.
12 Final Fantasy 4
WINNER: The Complete Collection (PSP)
Final Fantasy 3’s an interesting case study. In its native Nintendo Entertainment System format, it never released overseas. It wasn’t until 2006, some 17 years later, that the West got a taste of the game, albeit in a heavily modified, full-fledged remake for Nintendo DS. It’s a solid game for what it is, but many fans concur that every effort to make for a more complex story and multifaceted gameplay system resulted in a blander retelling and more constrained combat.
Enter Pixel Remaster, and if there’s one mainline Final Fantasy we can say with personal certainty is best-played in these 2021/2022 versions, it’s FF3. Not only do Westerners get soemthing more akin to the original for the first time, but just enough tweaks are made to improve the whole system considerably. It’s lush, the music is far superior (a PR tradition, to be sure), and it’s just so much more fun to experiment with than the remake ever offered.
The one hurdle here is that, as of this writing, Pixel Remaster versions of Final Fantasy 1-6 remain locked to mobile and PC platforms. Perhaps they’ll eventually pop up on consoles.
RUNNER-UP: 3D Remake (DS)
We’ve hit another wall where the Pixel Remasters, despite the gorgeous orchestrated soundtrack and shinier riff on the original graphics, can’t surpass the past.
Final Fantasy 4’s been ported to so many consoles, it’s enough to make one’s head spin, but it wasn’t until its GBA port, Final Fantasy 4 Advance, that a heaping helping of excellent new content was added, with miniature trials for every playable character, a fresh new postgame dungeon, and the revolutionary ability to use more than just the “main five” characters at the end.
Some strange lag issues were the price to pay for all that, sadly, but the PSP’s Complete Collection (so named for bundling in the less-than-great 2000s sequel, The After Years) has all of that and a nice coat of paint besides. If it had Pixel Remaster’s music, it would be a ten-out-of-ten for sure; as it stands, it’s a nine.
As for the 3D remake, as the Nintendo DS version is often referred to now, it is in many ways well worth playing in its own right. Gone are the character dungeons, as well as the connected opportunity to use more than the main five in the final area. That’s a shame, but a bold new ‘Augments’ system helps build those main five cast members into powerhouses in cool ways, and extra bosses offer tough challenges on replays.
Decent voice acting and the fun of a three-dimensional environment sweeten the deal, though it’s all a bit patchwork (per the DS’ graphical limitations) and leaves us in slight favor of the most refined 2D approach on PSP.
11 Final Fantasy 5
RUNNER-UP: Advance (Game Boy Advance)
10 Final Fantasy 6
WINNER: Advance* (Game Boy Advance)
Pixel Remaster ekes another win, but this time it’s much closer. Final Fantasy 5 Advance, way back in 2006, took a game that, outside of Japan, had previously only known a rough translation and glitches galore on PS1 after skipping its SNES source entirely… and transformed it into a beautifully cheeky localization that highlights all the thrills of easygoing high adventure storytelling. Oh, and the gameplay’s better than ever, with — you guessed it — some sterling added content.
That content is, predictably, vanquished in Pixel Remaster. Make no mistake, that still sucks here, but most of that content came in the form of four new Job Classes very late in the game that are a ton of fun but also break pretty much every semblance of difficulty. For that reason, and since FF5 is one of the richest battle and customization experiences in the franchise even without fresh bells and whistles, it’s easier to give Advance runner-up status.
Once you’ve heard Pixel Remaster’s unforgettable soundtrack, you’ll have a hard time going back, too.
RUNNER-UP: Pixel Remaster (iOS/Android, PC)
This debate comes in at a tie. The original release on Super Nintendo was already good, but the GBA version made it slightly better, thanks to a revised script, slightly tweaked graphics, and extra quests.
Oh, sweet Final Fantasy 6. Dear, sweet thing. Lauded by millions as the best game in the series, and by millions more as not far behind, and yet with the most convoluted series of releases, each with their pros and cons, none with every pro. It’s a mess.
This is a great game no matter where you play it, except perhaps its original mobile port that is, amusingly enough, no longer available through legal means. The blowback involved in its uneven and downright garish new art style, not to mention some seriously ugly user interface issues, negated for many the fact that it contained all the juicy added content from the GBA Advance version with better sound quality.
Sound is, indeed, Advance’s most dubious issue, as well as some washed-out color problems. Combined, this can cause the game to seem somewhat less enchanting; vivid hues are muted, and powerful songs are partly stifled. That’s why we attached an asterisk to our winner. We’re not going to tell you where to look, nor will we formally condone anything, but legend has it, there are patches on the internet to alleviate the bulk of both woes. Some even resell the game for relatively cheap on a physical cartridge in this fashion.
If you go that route, it’s hard to recommend anything else. The Dragon’s Den dungeon and extra Espers add a lot to the game and are just a joy to mess around with.
But if you’re choiced between Pixel Remaster and just about any other prior version except Advance? Go for it. Label us a broken record, but once again, the music alone is worth the charge.
9 Final Fantasy 7
WINNER: Any modern hardware (PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, Switch, PC)
HONORABLE MENTION: Remake (PS4, PS5, PC)
8 Final Fantasy 8
WINNER: Remastered (PS4/5, Xbox One/Series, Switch, PC)
While the games only get more complicated (and in several cases, more world-famous) starting with the legendary Final Fantasy 7, our insight into their best versions actually dwindles considerably. That’s because the difference in port quality between most of these remaining games isn’t nearly as wide a gulf.
Modern hardware that runs FF7 will give you a loving dose without any substantial setbacks. Play in bed on Switch or even Steam Deck. Multitask at your computer. Be wonderfully weird and play it on a shiny new PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X despite the premium (and cutting-edge) cost of the machine. Whatever, you’ll be fine.
We gave Remake honorable mention because it’s hard not to cite it in some way, shape, or form here. We count it as a different game overall, however, so it’s not been truly considered. We just didn’t want you to get the wrong idea; FF7 Remake has had a largely warm reception, and I look forward to the second title, Rebirth.
7 Final Fantasy 9
WINNER: PC*
Final Fantasy 8 received a (formally titled) Remastered version a couple of years back, and it’s really the only way to play unless you have a very strong preference for the blurry and at times frankly ugly character models of the original PlayStation version. If you’re into trophy-hunting, anything but Switch. If portability makes your heart pitter-patter? Switch. Simple stuff.
RUNNER-UP: Switch
6 Final Fantasy 10
WINNER: Xbox Series
So, here’s the thing about Final Fantasy 9. Its backgrounds appear kind of awful beyond the original PlayStation release because the games are given the high-definition treatment in a classically mistaken way. Character sprites now pop out like ravens in the snow, and once-rich details have been lost in the background. The number of times I’ve seen people say “I remember the backgrounds looking way sharper before” is uncountable; always, I’ll assure them, at one time you did.
That said, they look less troublesome on Nintendo Switch, and if played in handheld, you’ll seldom notice any major blurriness. Still, PC’s probably optimal — but the asterisk strikes back. You can restore your game to the brilliance of its original PlayStation presence with the HD makeover and minimal baggage.
Don’t be afraid to give FF9 a test drive on any machine. It’s good times.
RUNNER-UP: Any other modern hardware
5 Final Fantasy 11
DEFAULT: PC
Final Fantasy 10 holds up well on every platform. Some continue to disagree with the revamped faces of Tidus and Yuna in all the remasters, but by and large, we’re happy. Folks in the Americas are especially happy, as the PlayStation 3 remaster of 10 and its spinoff sequel 10-2 contained the International version’s content (not so international, after all) that was only available in Japan and Europe previously.
This same fact applies to every version going forward, making it hard to tell anybody to rely upon the original discs. We singled-out the Xbox Series version for one simple reason: it’s the prettiest, with the greatest graphical capability. But PS5’s nearly there, and PS4/Xbox One/Switch/PC are all just fine.
No wrong way to go here.
Time was, FF11 was available on PS2 and Xbox 360 (yes, Xbox 360). It’s probably safe to recommend PC, as that’s the only way one can play this landmark MMO.
4 Final Fantasy 12
WINNER: Any modern hardware
3 Final Fantasy 13
The relative ease of post-FF6 suggestions continues. The golden rule with Final Fantasy 12 is to spring for any version but the original on PS2, as the genius of its complex gameplay systems doesn’t fully spring to life without the addition of the Job Class System added in International (again, not so international after all!) and kept in the PS4/Xbox One/Switch/PC The Zodiac Age remaster.
Switch sacrifices a few ounces of fidelity in favor of portability, but then, that’s how it tends to go, isn’t it?
2 Final Fantasy 14
WINNER: PC or PS5
We gave FF10 the narrow Xbox Series edge, but we’re all-in for Final Fantasy 13. This famously divisive entry and its direct sequels can only be found on PS3 where it originated, on PC thereafter, and in recent years, on the Xbox Marketplace.
On PS3, they hold up fairly well visually. But, you know, they’re on PS3. That’s actually becoming something of a barrier as time goes on. The PC ports are honestly not the best, though fan mods can help.
On Xbox Series S and X, however, holy heck. These are practically remasters, good and true. Microsoft’s wizardry makes them shine to such a degree that we’re honestly not sure Final Fantasy 15 looks as good.
RUNNER-UP: PS4
1 Final Fantasy 15
WINNER: PS5
When it comes to Square Enix’s award-winning and money-making machine that is Final Fantasy 14, the question really boils down to whether you’d prefer to play on PC or on Sony consoles. If you’re a computer gaming fan, voila, you’re good to go.
If you aren’t, then logic quite correctly dictates that the better your platform, the better your graphical and performance results. PlayStation 5 runs FF14 as smooth as butter, with options to crank it all the way to 4K or settle for just shy and a steady 60 frames per second. PS4 remains supported, and is by all means a valid choice, though there will come that inevitable, far-off day that it — like PS3 before it — will no longer be supported going forward.
RUNNER-UP: Xbox Series
NEXT: The Best Final Fantasy 7 Mods, Ranked
Brotherly-road-trip-turned-rushed-Shakespearean-tragedy Final Fantasy 15 is here in all its uneven splendor. It launched on PlayStation 4 back in late 2016, followed by a PC port. Technically speaking, that’s all it’s received; much like FF13 on Xbox, it has no true “remasters.”
But the benefits of booting up the Regalia on PS5 or Xbox Series are well worth considering. Improved load times, steadier lighting, minute graphical enhancements, and improvements to frame pacing are all here. Xbox Series X is presently capable of running the game at a slightly higher max resolution, but PlayStation 5 takes the cake for being very nearly as good while also free to PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Obviously, if Plus doesn’t suit your fancy, that’s not going to mean much!
