Why Final Fantasy 17 Should Be Turn Based

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It’s surprising to realize that the last main Final Fantasy game with classic, turn-based battles was released nearly twenty-five years ago. Final Fantasy X remains the most recent core game in the series to use that traditional combat style.

Over the years, the Final Fantasy series tried out different battle systems, including fast-paced, real-time combat and combinations of different approaches. But the classic style of Final Fantasy, the one many of us remember fondly, hasn’t been featured prominently in a while.

Switching to real-time strategy felt right because the older style of warfare games was becoming stale and the genre was naturally looking for new directions.

It’s not that traditional turn-based battles are a thing of the past. Actually, over the last ten years, it’s become clear that this style of combat hasn’t disappeared at all – in fact, it’s more popular now than ever before.

Games like Persona 5 Royal, Dragon Quest 11, and the recent Game of the Year winner, Clair Oscur: Expedition 33, have proven over the last decade that turn-based combat remains incredibly popular. It’s not just a small, dedicated interest – it’s a vital and enduring element of the gaming world.

It’s unlikely that Final Fantasy XVII will return to traditional turn-based combat. While Square Enix is giving the game’s director freedom to choose the combat system, the popularity of action-based combat in recent Final Fantasy games makes that direction the most probable.

Despite current trends, a return to the classic turn-based combat system would be perfect for Final Fantasy XVII. I doubt Square Enix executives would agree, but if I can persuade you of this, I’ll consider my point made.

Turning Heads

Turn-Based Combat Used To Be The Default For JRPGs

Growing up, turn-based battles were huge for me. Honestly, if I hadn’t gotten totally hooked on Final Fantasy VII, I might never have discovered how much I loved that style of gameplay. It really shaped my taste in games!

Even when the genre shifted towards more action-packed gameplay, I didn’t mind if the older battle systems felt old-fashioned by today’s standards. Those classic mechanics still resonated with me deeply, and that feeling hasn’t faded.

I love how intricate modern JRPG battles can be, but sometimes I really crave the straightforwardness of older games. It’s not that they are simple, though – often, that simplicity masks surprisingly deep gameplay mechanics.

One of the main reasons I enjoy Final Fantasy VII so much is how it cleverly connected simple turn-based combat to deeper game mechanics, like the Materia system and customizing weapons. It’s still incredibly engaging to play!

After playing Final Fantasy X, I struggled to accept the direction the series was taking. It wasn’t that I thought the newer games were bad, just that it was hard to adjust, and I wasn’t sure I’d like them as much.

I’ve really enjoyed a lot of the Final Fantasy games released after Final Fantasy 10. I’m a huge fan of Final Fantasy XII, and I think you would be too!

I didn’t care how outdated or non-modern those older battle mechanics felt in contemporary times.

I really enjoy the battle systems in some of the more recent Final Fantasy games. Specifically, Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy VII Remake, and its excellent follow-up, Rebirth, all have amazing combat.

Despite embracing newer combat systems, I always secretly missed the classic, turn-based battles. I’d even convinced myself they were a thing of the past, so I was often surprised when a game still used them. But really, it’s simple: turn-based combat never disappeared, it just evolved.

A Decade Of Turn-Based Masterpieces

Turn-Based Combat Didn’t Die, It Got Better

Beginning in 2016, turn-based Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) experienced a remarkable surge in popularity. It wasn’t just a few standout titles; instead, a steady stream of truly exceptional games were released.

Persona 5 first launched in 2016 and was followed by an enhanced version, Persona 5 Royal, in 2020. But this isn’t just a great Japanese role-playing game – Persona 5 Royal is considered by many to be one of the best ever created, thanks to its compelling blend of stylish battles and addictive everyday life simulation, all crafted with remarkable quality.

2016 also saw the release of Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, another critically acclaimed title from Atlus. The game built on the innovative Press Turn system, demonstrating that the genre offered more than just simple turn-based combat. Many considered SMT4 to be one of the best JRPGs available on the 3DS.

In 2017, Square joined the trend with Dragon Quest XI, a game that helped define the genre. It’s remained true to its classic turn-based combat system and shows that while innovation is great, it’s also important to stay connected to what made something successful in the first place.

Starting in 2016, turn-based JRPGs went on a run that can only be described as generational.

Dragon Quest has always stood out because it consistently appears when the JRPG genre is facing challenges, serving as a reminder of what makes these games so beloved. It doesn’t need to innovate; it essentially defined the genre, and Dragon Quest XI perfectly demonstrated this. The game is a timeless masterpiece, excelling in every aspect – from its beautiful music and art style to its engaging turn-based combat.

Recently, a series of successful games reached its peak with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. This game was a huge win for fans of turn-based combat, and remarkably, it even attracted players who hadn’t enjoyed that style of gameplay before. It went on to achieve massive recognition, completely winning over the judges and dominating the 2025 Game Awards.

Despite what you might hear online, turn-based combat isn’t a dying genre – it’s actually been quite successful for the last ten years. While Final Fantasy has moved in a different direction, many other popular series have continued to improve and build upon traditional turn-based gameplay.

Sweet Seventeen

Final Fantasy XVII Should Join The Turn-Based Brigade

Square decided to move away from traditional turn-based game mechanics because the company was evolving. A wave of more realistic and modern game designs became dominant, and it was an unstoppable trend. The gaming landscape of the seventh generation was largely defined by the popularity of gritty, morally ambiguous military shooters, which had a broad appeal.

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As a longtime fan, it always felt like Square was reacting to what was hot in gaming, not trying to reinvent the wheel. Everyone was moving away from those slower, strategic turn-based battles – they seemed like something from the past. Honestly, those fast-paced action games, like shooters you see on Twitch, and titles like Devil May Cry and God of War, ended up changing JRPGs way more than people realized at the time. It wasn’t about how things looked, it was about how people were actually playing.

The shift in Final Fantasy games to a more action-oriented combat style happened as a response to changing trends. Although it’s been over twenty years since a main Final Fantasy title used the traditional turn-based battle system, Square Enix openly acknowledges and celebrates the series’ history. Remasters and re-releases of older games are praised specifically for their classic battle mechanics, and aren’t downplayed or avoided.

Over the last ten years, and especially with a recent turn-based RPG winning a major award, it’s become clear that people still really enjoy this style of combat. It’s far from being a thing of the past, and might actually be gaining popularity.

Fast-paced action games, such as Devil May Cry and God of War, actually influenced the Japanese Role-Playing Game (JRPG) genre more than people realized.

The director of Final Fantasy 17 – whether it’s Naoki Hamaguchi, who worked on Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, or someone new – will face a significant challenge. The game needs to stand out after a decade of fantastic turn-based Japanese role-playing games, including one that recently won a major industry award.

Considering how well Square’s recent Final Fantasy games with action-based combat have performed, it’s very unlikely that the next installment, FF17, will return to a turn-based system. It would be a surprising and unexpected move for them, as modern Final Fantasy is so strongly associated with action-oriented gameplay.

It seems impossible that Square could overlook this. It’s not simply about appealing to fans’ memories; it’s about recognizing and potentially reviving a core element that made the franchise so popular in the first place.

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2025-12-29 18:41