Which FINAL FANTASY spinoff should I play?
FINAL FANTASY has seen many incredible adventures beyond the numbered entries, from RPGs to fighting games and more. But which should you play?The numbered FINAL FANTASY games are unique experiences each to themselves, with playable characters ranging from one to fourteen, varieties of gameplay styles, and a myriad of mini-games. So, it should come to no surprise that the spinoff series’ entries don’t disappoint either.
They cover a wide range of genres, tones, styles, and gameplay and offer unique experiences you can’t get elsewhere. Of course, if you’ve never played on, it may be daunting to know where to start - there are so many after all - so we’ve got a way to help you make the decision.
What follows is a breakdown of some of the best available options, and what makes them stand out from their mainline siblings.
STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN
- Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Epic Games Store, Steam
There’s nothing wrong with starting at the beginning, and this action game inspired by the very first FINAL FANTASY will most certainly keep you engaged.
You play as Jack, along with his four comrades, as they sweep through the land to restore balance and order, and ultimately defeat Chaos… if it even exists.
The game has incredibly satisfying action gameplay. You fight in real time in this action RPG earning points to level up your jobs, gradually giving yourself access to more abilities to mix and match capabilities for each fight.
STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN might just be your next favorite game…
- If you want challenging, hard-hitting gameplay
- If you like tailoring characters to suit various situations
- If you love FINAL FANTASY – the game is very connected to the original game, and features familiar motifs from across the series
Get STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN
FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition
- Available on: PS4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android
CRYSTAL CHRONICLES is a light and charming RPG where you work together with friends to save the world.
You create your own character who gets appointed to the town role of myrrh hunter. Myrrh is a substance from a rare tree that keeps crystals imbued with power and the dangerous miasma that infects the land at bay. You quest into caves and dungeons once a year for the resources to keep yours and neighboring towns’ crystals in peak condition.
This is a multiplayer FINAL FANTASY game, which on its own makes it a unique addition to the series. There are some endgame dungeons that crank the difficulty up a lot, so if you’re hungry for a challenge, you’re covered.
You can try the game for yourself with FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition Lite, and even play the entire game with a friend, so long as one of you has purchased the full adventure!
Go ahead and load up FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition…
- If you’re looking for a charming, easy to play game you can enjoy with friends online
- If you enjoy non-linear exploration and character advancement
- If you can’t get enough of crafting
Get FINAL FANTASY CRYSTAL CHRONICLES Remastered Edition
CRISIS CORE ーFINAL FANTASY VIIー REUNION
- Available on: PS5, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam
A prequel to the original FINAL FANTASY VII, CRISIS CORE follows the story of Zack Fair and his growth from rookie to SOLDIER 1st Class. It features encounters with the likes of Cloud and Sephiroth as well as brand new characters.
CRISIS CORE is an action-RPG with a few twists, the most obvious being a slot reel that constantly plays during combat. Depending on the results of the spin, Zack can acquire a buff, throw out an extra attack, summon a monster, or activate a limit break. It could also result in nothing, so there’s no letting the reels fight for you during the action.
Get yourself ready for CRISIS CORE ーFINAL FANTASY VIIー REUNION…
- If you played FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE or FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH and thought, “I want more of this world!”
- If you played the original CRISIS CORE and want to experience the game with dramatically improved graphics and gameplay
- If you want a pickup and play RPG that’s packed with memorable characters
Get CRISIS CORE ーFINAL FANTASY VIIー REUNION
Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY!
- Available on: PS4, Nintendo Switch
For most of the FINAL FANTASY series, chocobos are stalwart companions, mighty steeds, collectors of loot, and more besides. With Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY! the series’ famous feathered friends take center stage.
Chocobo and his friend Cid come upon a mysterious town where everyone loses their memory when the town bell rings. The brave bird and his allies venture into the victims’ mindscapes to puzzle out what’s going on and how they can restore the people’s missing memories.
It may sound intense, but it’s a very relaxed experience. Time only passes when you move, so you can explore the many mystery dungeons at your own pace - and with lots of classic FINAL FANTASY jobs available there are tons of options for taking on the monsters within.
It’s a gameplay style that everyone can pick up quickly, but without feeling basic - which also makes it a great co-op game!
Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY! will prove a lot of fun…
- If you want a game that’s simple to play, but with surprising challenge and depth.
- If you played the original FINAL FANTASY FABLES: Chocobo's Dungeon on the Wii and want to see an improved version of this classic game
- If you like dressing up super-cute animals
Get Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY!
Chocobo GP
- Available on: Nintendo Switch
Since we can’t get enough of Chocobo, let’s get the burly bird on roller skates and onto the track! That’s the premise behind Chocobo GP . It’s not just Chocobo, of course - there are new characters and even a story, all built around the core of a tremendously fun racing game.
The game features playable characters and locations from throughout the main FINAL FANTASY series. You can race Terra from FINAL FANTASY VI against Vivi from FINAL FANTASY IX, race with a buddy locally, or hop online and race as many as 63 other players.
Chocobo GP is as much a celebration of FINAL FANTASY as it is a spinoff, and definitely worth your time. Go ahead and load it up…
- If you can’t get enough challenging racing games
- If you crave characters with quirky and perky personalities
- If you love adorable Chibi-style art
THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE
- Available on: PS4, Steam
The FINAL FANTASY series is known to have some of the best music in video games. THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE gives players a chance to embrace the music… and use it to smite their foes.
With more than a hundred playable characters and 385 songs in the standard edition alone, to call THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE’s library extensive would be an understatement. The game lifts tracks from 29 entries in the FINAL FANTASY series, so no matter what your favorite tune might be, you’ll probably play it here.
Add the additional music packs, which feature tracks from other Square Enix series, including the SaGa, Mana, NieR, The World Ends with You franchise and more, and you have a near endless extravaganza of music.
Like other rhythm action games, the objective is to press buttons and move the analog stick in time with the on-screen prompts. Now take that sentence but add “addictive” to every third word or so, and you’ve got a good idea of the game’s structure.
THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE should be the next game you play…
- If you like rhythm-based gameplay
- If you want a joyous celebration of the FINAL FANTASY series - and Square Enix games as a whole
- If you would rather wrestle a behemoth than pick a “favorite” FINAL FANTASY
Get THEATRHYTHM FINAL BAR LINE
DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT
- Available on: PS4, Steam
Take the iconic heroes and villains of the FINAL FANTASY series and pit them against each other in explosive battles in this flashy fighting game. Between the counters, dodges, attacks (physical and magical), you’ve got two other characters to engage with as the battles are all three-on-three.
The goddess Materia and the god Spiritus clash against each other and have brought in characters from the FINAL FANTASY series to resolve the fighting. Everyone from FINAL FANTASY VII’s Cloud Strife to FINAL FANTASY XV’s Noctis Lucis Caelum come together in epic battles for dominance.
DISSIDIA FINAL FANTASY NT is a good time …
- If you’re looking for a fighting game with mechanics you can really sink your teeth into
- If you’re hungry for a competitive multiplayer FINAL FANTASY experience
- If you want to build a team out of the most iconic FINAL FANTASY heroes and villains
WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY MAXIMA
- Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam
This utterly charming RPG captures the spirit of classic FINAL FANTASY with fast turn-based battles, familiar monsters and some of the greatest characters from the series.
You play as Reynn and Lann - two siblings who are sent into the vast world of Grymoire in order to rediscover their lost past. This mysterious land is home to many familiar monsters from the FINAL FANTASY series, many of which can be captured and used to support you in battle.
You’ll also be able to call on the support of some of FINAL FANTASY’s greatest heroes, from the original Warrior of Light, to Cloud Strife, Lightning and many more!
It features a satisfying and strategic turn-based battle system that lets you stack your monsters and heroes to gain an advantage over your foes. Add a compelling story, marvelous music and lashings of FINAL FANTASY fan service, and it makes for an incredible celebration of the series!
Enter the WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY MAXIMA…
- If you enjoy classic turn-based RPGs with great combat
- If you enjoy capturing and evolving monsters
- If you like adventures with a light-hearted and whimsical vibe
Get WORLD OF FINAL FANTASY MAXIMA
FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0 HD
- Available on: PS4, Xbox One, Steam
In FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0 HD, you take command of Class Zero – a group of 14 students from a magical academy. When the Militesi Empire instigates a war, these young heroes rise up to defend their country.
The game tells a much darker tale than most FINAL FANTASY games, with a grittier feel and more serious presentation than much of the rest of series. It balances that with the series’ more fantastical elements to create a tone that remains unique within the series.
It’s also memorable for its thrilling combat. You control up to three members of Class Zero at a time, each with their own weapon and special attacks. The real-time action balances strategy and timing to create very satisfying and endlessly compelling battles.
The mission-based structure means that you’re never doing the same thing for too long, making for a great pick-up-and-play experience too.
So, join Class Zero in FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0…
- If you like a large cast with distinct abilities and personalities
- If you enjoy games with a mission-based structure you can dip in and out of
- If you want to experience a grittier tale than most FINAL FANTASY games
FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS
- Available on: Steam, iOS, Android,
FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS doesn’t just remake FINAL FANTASY VII for mobile platforms, it zooms out to provide a comprehensive look at the world through multiple points of view. Cloud is a major character, obviously, but you can also play chapters as Zack, or even a young Sephiroth if you’re curious what his upbringing was like.
The turn-based gameplay definitely aims for a nostalgic tempo, while the stunning graphics attest that we do indeed live in the future. It’s an awesome FINAL FANTASY VII experience, and with regular updates, one that fans must play.
Add FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS to your to-play stack…
- If you’re eager for classic turn-based combat on the go
- If you want a comprehensive FINAL FANTASY VII experience
- If you’re a phone game fan
Get FINAL FANTASY VII EVER CRISIS
WAR OF THE VISIONS FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS
- Available on: iOS, Android, PC
On the continent of Ardra, any number of different nations have broken into open warfare. As Mont Leonis, the prince of the Kingdom of Leonis, You can experience the story of the history of the battle.
WAR OF THE VISIONS FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS takes a deep roster of characters, throws in guests from a variety of games, and marries them to the gameplay style of FINAL FANTASY TACTICS. The result is, well, glorious.
Install WAR OF THE VISIONS FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS on your phone right now…
- If you need to play a deep and strategic tactical RPG
- If you want to engage other players in PVP battles and play cooperatively in a guild
- If you like mobile games with a rich narrative
Get WAR OF THE VISIONS FINAL FANTASY BRAVE EXVIUS
That will do it for the key FINAL FANTASY spinoffs playable today. Did we mention your favorite? Let us know on social media!