Best Final Fantasy Games you can play right now
Given its console origins, the Final Fantasy series is not often associated withthe best Android gaming phonesin general commerce, which makes sense to a degree. Square Enix has been busy over the years, seeding the Play Store with new original Final Fantasy games and ports of old ones, available alongsidethe best apps around. The famousseries of awesome RPGsbenefits from a touch interface, especially the older titles that had simpler inputs.
AP loves a good role-playing game experience, so here’s our roundup of the best Final Fantasy games available on the Play Store. Enjoy the best of a series that never seems to end, ironically.
Who needs touch controls when you’ve got physical buttons?
11Final Fantasy IX
A high-quality port of the PlayStation title, Final Fantasy IX presents a great RPG setting and plot, with engaging characters on a quest to save the world. The explorable overworld is pleasant to look at, chocked full of personality and tiny details in that classic pixilated kind of way. You don’t have to worry about lugging around a mountain of useless junk items either, the game allows the fusion of items, turning two useless resources into a single valuable asset. While some of the mechanic names have been changed, turn-based combat remains familiar for series veterans, with character-specific attacks and abilities to change the flow of combat.
Interestingly, Final Fantasy IX includes a gameplay style similar to a rhythm game, tasking the player with pressing the correct inputs to gain the upper hand in a duel; a cool little gameplay twist for a great port.
10Final Fantasy IV
Describing itself as the “ultimate pixel remaster”, Final Fantasy IV definitely won’t disappoint fans of the original, recapturing everything great with some cool modern additions. Combat is engaging and strategy-focused, with unique attacks and the introduction of the active time battle system, which adds a ticking clock element to the flow of combat that demands urgency; this mechanic became a staple of the series in future entries. The game looks great, with cute sprites and really cool enemy designs.
The UI has been updated slightly to fit the touch interface more efficiently, keeping things accessible for the mobile platform.
9Final Fantasy Dimensions
Final Fantasy Dimensions presents a fully-fledged JRPG experience on your phone. The plot involves a world split in half, with two parties of unique adventurers embarking on a quest to mend the broken planet. Through thirteen separate episodes, you’ll play through individual stories for your party characters, learning more about who you send into battle. The combat takes the form of good old-fashioned turn-based brawls, with the player wielding up to five characters at a time.
Final Fantasy Dimensions bases its character progression around its job mechanic; each character can be assigned to a specific task in combat, increasing the power of these skills. There is a difficulty curve problem, with bosses being frustratingly hard and normal random encounters being insultingly easy. But if that does not dissuade you, Final Fantasy Dimensions offers a satisfying JRPG experience.
8Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy V is a mobile remake of the classic Famicom release, redesigned for a touchscreen interface. The plot is very similar to Final Fantasy Dimensions, an unlikely band of heroes formed to save the world. The job system in this release stands out, providing various character classes with specific roles during combat, granting special abilities as characters level up. These special abilities can also be paired together to create more useful attack chains, such as the ability to hit multiple times in one turn.
Ultimately, we have familiar territory for RPG lovers and a digestible barrier to entry for newcomers.
7Final Fantasy III (3D Remake)
Just in case all that pixel art was getting on your nerves, Final Fantasy III (3D Remake) recreates Final Fantasy III in full 3D. The gameplay is largely unaltered by the additional dimension, leaving the expected turn-based combat trappings unspoiled. The touchscreen interface works great, as you’re able to now simply touch the menu options rather than selecting them manually with a d-pad.
The established job system is still here, and there’s a new quick save feature that ensures you’re able to jump in and out with ease. Despite the 3D graphics looking a little dated, Final Fantasy III 3D Remake presents its additions to the classic FF formula very well.
6Final Fantasy Vlll Remastered
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered is an HD remake of the PS1 game. Notably, this release offers features that are handy for bypassing cutscenes and skipping random encounters, perfect quality-of-life improvements. Everything that you remember about the original release is present here, with a fresh coat of paint, including the junction system. You ascribe an ability to your character and gain stats by draining your enemies of magic during battle. Leveling up is rendered only semi-necessary, as enemy strength scales with your level and not your junction, resulting in gameplay that’s considered easy.
But if you’re curious about this entry in the series and have yet to play, the Android port is the perfect opportunity to see what FF VIII is all about.
5FINAL FANTASY BE: WOTV
Putting users in control of their party, FINAL FANTASY BE: WOTV provides versatile combat that rewards creativity, a variety of mission types that further the story, and myriad quality-of-life options to help users feel at home. Take advantage of 3D elevated terrain to get the drop on enemies and use character-exclusive skills to finish them. Gather more characters as you play to customize your powerful party.
Multiple game modes and events keep FINAL FANTASY BE: WOTV interesting, and the gripping story seals the deal.
4Final Fantasy VI
Final Fantasy VI is a remake of the classic title, decked out with improved graphics and touch controls. The benefits of time come across very overtly with this one, with a slew of features added to distinguish this remake from the original. This includes an auto-battle feature and an improved user interface, continuing the quality-of-life improvements applied to these older titles. The static nature of the series’ gameplay does have a serious drawback, the presumption of knowledge.
The game assumes that you are familiar with the series and its primary loop, meaning it’s not the best entry point for newcomers. Despite this, the game is unspoiled by the platform transition, providing the SNES experience you remember.
3Final Fantasy Tactics: War Of The Lions
An entry with a little more spice to its story and combat, Final Fantasy Tactics: War Of The Lions presents an interesting political plot told through strategic gameplay. The plot concerns a civil war between two leaders who wish to rule the kingdom, detailing the twists and turns of this dirty, underhanded conflict. In bold contradiction to the formula, however, victory is not attained simply by smacking your enemies to death. Final Fantasy Tactics: War Of The Lions introduces real-time strategy elements to combat, quite possibly the progenitor for more modern interpretations of turn-based battles.
Levels take place in small enclosed maps, with your party on one side and the enemy on the other. While your levels and items are important for success, your positioning is also vital, as you are required to maneuver your unit across the terrain to accost your opponents. This adds a Chess quality to the game, which shakes up the classic JRPG formula significantly.
2Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis
Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis presents an active-time battle RPG running through Final Fantasy VII’s more notable segments alongside original story content, pitting the player’s party against challenging enemies in group combat. Weapon, armor, and ability upgrades are dictated by a gatcha system governed by random chance, viewable on an interface that’s a little intimidating at first, but intuitive once you know where to go. Combat employs a party stance system that allows players to prioritize defense against enemy attacks, or focus on bringing as much pain as possible. Pay attention to your enemy’s weak spots and elemental vulnerabilities to deal maximum damage.
While it does capitalize on nostalgia, Final Fantasy VII: Ever Crisis’s original content holds its own story-wise, and the combat system is complex enough to keep fans happy.
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Broader branding hints at wider paid-tier ambitions
More visual changes
Goodbye, text-only analysis
Strong alternatives to aging competitors
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