Every Final Fantasy Remake

Remakes are a big thing right now, and until there are a lot of disasters from big studios, they'll probably remain a good idea for companies. Dead universe and Resident Evil 4 were a huge hit for the horror genre. Crash and Spyro have seen decent remakes for platform fans everywhere, even if they can be categorized as mere remasters.

Either way, studios are cashing in hard on nostalgia, and that goes double, maybe even triple, with Square Enix. While they did the makeovers Final Fantasy especially games, there were really only six of them. Remasters are more their bread and butter, but let's put aside the ones they like and focus on the actual six remakes they've helped create so far.

5 Final Fantasy Origins

A combination of the two games that started it all

Final Fantasy Origins was a collection that included the first two games in the series remastered with more 16-bit graphics compared to their NES 8-bit counterparts. Technically, for the first time these games were remastered for the WonderSwan Color, which was a Japan-only portable console. This collection is based on those versions with additional improvements. The reason this collection is a big deal, especially for the West, is because it was the first time North America had experienced it Final Fantasy 2 15 years after debuting in Japan in 1988. Final Fantasy IV was dismissed as Final Fantasy 2 in North America and it put the entire series out of business until Final Fantasy VII showed up

History and names aside, these two games are classics, but they couldn't be more different. Final Fantasy allowed players to create a party of four from multiple jobs including monks and black mages with traditional turn-based combat and a leveling system. Final Fantasy 2 gave players named characters and leveling up depended on what actions were taken in battle, leading to the creation of an entirely new series within Squaresoft: Saga series. While this PS1 collection isn't the best way to enjoy these games, Final Fantasy 1 & 2: Dawn of Souls it's better on GBA Final Fantasy Origins is still important in the history of the franchise, again especially in the West.

4 Final Fantasy 4 (DS)

Elevating the game to narrative

Final Fantasy IV had been ported several times before this, but this was the first time these popular characters were rendered in polygonal forms. The game was remastered for the DS and featured voice acting on top of new graphics along with some new content and gameplay improvements. While not as bombastic as some console games, the in-game cinematics were well directed. It was also easier than other iterations of the game, making it a good jump into the game for new players.

The DS was Square Enix's excuse to go back to the well to remake and port classic games from their library on a lower budget. Remodeling Final Fantasy IV it wouldn't make much sense on the PS3, but it made sense on the DS. That said, fans of this entry in the series would definitely want a bigger and bolder remake one day. It's an important entry that moved the narrative forward with a well-rounded and rotating cast of party members from Cecil to Tellah, so it deserves respect.

3 Final Fantasy 3 (DS)

The Job System was born

While Final Fantasy IV is a better game overall, FFinal Fantasy 3 the DS remake is better. Like Final Fantasy Origins regarding Final Fantasy 2that was the first time Final Fantasy 3 has been made available since its launch in 1990 in Japan. This was the only other version he got, so he remained lost in time until he rose from the dead and hit the DS. This is the entry that introduced the replaceable Job system to the system Final Fantasy series.

Players could learn spells as a Black Mage and then take some of those concepts into their work as thieves. It's a basic quest system compared to other, more elaborate entries that came after, but it's still a fun system to experiment with. For Final Fantasy fans, it was a treat to play this game for the first time. That, more than Final Fantasy IVit needed and deserved a complete remake because the NES version is too clunky to sit down and play.

2 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Part Two A Strong

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is the second part of a likely three-part remake series. He continues his journey from Final Fantasy 7 Remake where Cloud and the others finally leave Midgar and end up in the City of the Ancients. Without spoiling anything, this should give long-time fans of the original a clue as to what's going on in the game story-wise. The game remains action-packed, though it's fleshed out with party combos and the addition of Red 13 and Cait Sith as playable characters in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.

It is also a fully open world game, while the first part was limited to the Midgar is Yuffie DLC. Square Enix has beautifully added so much attention to detail that this is an even bolder step forward in the remastering process with plenty of mini-games and laugh-out-loud moments. It's easily one of the best RPGs of 2024, not to mention games in general, but it's not as good as its predecessor.

1 Final Fantasy 7 Remake

A Promise Fulfilled in a Wink

Final Fantasy 7 Remake should be the smaller of the two remake games. It is limited to one area, contains fewer playable characters, and is shorter. However, this game makes great use of these limitations to enhance what was otherwise just a four, maybe seven hour portion of the original game. There's definitely some filler content with the fetch quests, but it also shines more brightly on supporting characters like AVALANCHE comrades Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge in Final Fantasy 7 Remake. It was a game that Square Enix had to introduce to fans and convince them that they knew what they were doing.

To the surprise of fans, it turned out better than expected because there was a secret inside. It wasn't a remake in the traditional sense of the word. It was the beginning of a time-loop sequel, which seemed fitting for the wild things that happened in the original game. Now the big question is, can they complete the landing on third down? It's hard to say, but there will never be a better feeling than what fans experienced when this game first launched. It was a promise finally fulfilled ten years later after Square Enix teased its PS3 tech demo Final Fantasy VII running on hardware.