10 Best Minigames in Final Fantasy

A big part of the Final Fantasy experience is having fun side activities to take a break from the main story – usually, that story involves saving the world! These minigames aren’t always great, but the best ones are so good they could easily stand on their own as simple, addictive games – the kind you’d play on your phone and lose hours to.

Even if a small game isn’t fun, it might still be worth doing. These games often give you valuable rewards, making them important steps to take before progressing further.

10. Triple Triad

A Collector’s Dream Game

Triple Triad is a card game found in several Final Fantasy titles, but the version in Final Fantasy 14 is particularly well-developed. It’s a fun way to fill the time when new content isn’t available, and you can even earn MGP and Gil by selling any duplicate cards you get.

Triple Triad stays fun because new cards are added often, and changing the rules shifts which decks are the most powerful. It also makes you really think about where to play your cards. Plus, you can earn a mount in Final Fantasy XIV by collecting all the Triple Triad cards.

9. Queen’s Blood

A Minigame That Deserves Its Own Spinoff

The Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy, with the first two games out now, includes a ton of minigames, and many of them are really fun to play. Queen’s Blood is proving to be the most popular, with players enjoying it so much that they’ve asked for it to be developed as a standalone game.

Queen’s Blood is a card game that builds on elements from previous games in the series, like Triple Triad and Tetra Master. It also draws inspiration from titles like chess and Gwent (from The Witcher), resulting in a fresh yet strangely familiar gameplay experience.

8. Chocobo Racing

A Staple of the Franchise

Chocobo Racing has been featured in several Final Fantasy games, and it was popular enough to get its own dedicated game in 1999. While it’s similar to a typical horse racing game, the versions in Final Fantasy – particularly in FF14 – often have a surprising amount of strategy and detail.

Chocobo Racing isn’t just about selecting a chocobo and hoping for the best. You’ll need to actively manage your chocobo’s energy and know how far it can go, all while breeding stronger, faster chocobos to increase your chances of winning races.

7. Tetra Master

FF9’s Card Game Like Triple Triad

Following the card game Triple Triad in Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy IX introduced Tetra Master, a similar but slightly different card game. While Tetra Master is enjoyable, many players find that it’s more complicated than Triple Triad, and this extra complexity unfortunately creates some problems with the game’s design.

Okay, so Tetra Master… it’s got a lot of random chance, which can be super annoying, honestly. It’s a fun little side thing in Final Fantasy IX, a nice breather from the main story, but figuring out the rules is tough. It took me a while to get the hang of it! But, when you do finally understand it and start winning, it feels really rewarding, like you actually accomplished something. It’s a weird little game, but I kind of like that challenge.

6. Chocobo Hot and Cold

World Exploration Is Made Fun

Chocobo Hot and Cold is a fun minigame in Final Fantasy 9 that feels like the classic childhood game. It’s a side quest that also lets you explore many different parts of the game world as you play.

Sometimes, wandering around in games can feel like a tedious task. Thankfully, Final Fantasy IX offers a fun mini-game called Chocobo Hot and Cold, which encourages you to explore the world with a clear goal, making it feel much more organic and enjoyable.

5. Fishing

Often the Most Relaxing Minigame When Done Well

Fishing minigames are a frequent feature in video games, and Final Fantasy is no different. The one in Final Fantasy XV is especially calming, and it’s surprisingly easy to get lost in it, putting off the main story for hours. In fact, many players find the side activities in FF15 more enjoyable overall, though the game’s troubled development process likely impacted the main storyline.

If you’re hoping for a more in-depth fishing experience than the one in Final Fantasy XV, check out Final Fantasy XIV. Fishing is a full-fledged job you can learn, and it’s a great way to earn in-game currency (Gil) and even provide yourself with food that gives you helpful buffs.

4. Fort Condor

A Minigame with a Great Reward

Fort Condor is a strategy game within Final Fantasy 7, and it appears to be the first of many minigames the series has included. Originally, players could access it on the second disc of the game. However, in the remake trilogy, it becomes available with the release of Rebirth.

This minigame takes players through a large part of the game’s content. Unlike many other minigames in Final Fantasy VII, it focuses on careful troop placement and strategic thinking to complete missions. Some players love this strategic element, while others find it frustrating and prefer to skip it. Ultimately, your enjoyment will depend on whether you generally like strategy games.

3. Snow Game

A Delightful Break from Chasing Sephiroth

Snowboarding was a fun side activity in the original Final Fantasy 7, known as the Snow Game. However, it hasn’t been included in the remake series so far. This is because the part of the story where you could play it won’t happen until the very last game of the remake. If snowboarding does make an appearance, it will likely be near the beginning of that final installment.

The minigame is simple to understand and a fun surprise when you discover it. You can play it at the Icicle Inn, and there’s also a similar version at the Gold Saucer.

2. Run Wild

Rocket League Arrives in FF7 Rebirth

The FF7 Rebirth remake features a minigame called Run Wild, found in Costa del Sol. It’s a surprisingly full-featured activity, comparable to the Gold Saucer in terms of things to do. Playing it feels a lot like a version of Rocket League.

Subscribe to the newsletter for deeper Final Fantasy minigame guides

Discover more minigame coverage by subscribing to the newsletter: curated deep dives into mechanics, deck and breeding strategies, collectible tracking, and reward guides to help you savor Final Fantasy’s best side content and complete collections.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Okay, so there’s this mini-game called Run Wild, and it’s seriously a blast! You actually get to play as Red XIII, which is awesome, and you’re up against a bunch of other creatures. Basically, you just try to score by getting the ball into the other team’s goal – sounds simple, right? But the physics are a little wonky, and it’s kind of a chaotic free-for-all, which makes it challenging but super fun during that part of the game. I always have a good time with it!

1. Blitzball

Tidus’ Passion in Life

Blitzball, a minigame in Final Fantasy 10, tends to be a love-it-or-hate-it experience for players. There’s rarely a neutral opinion! Fortunately, you can finish the game without playing it, even though it’s a central part of the game’s world and the main characters Tidus and Wakka spend a lot of time playing.

The minigame is actually quite simple – you just need to pass the ball to Tidus. What makes it feel challenging is how it’s presented with all the dramatic cutscenes. This keeps players engaged and wanting to try again, even when they’d probably rather continue the main story towards Zanarkand.

Final Fantasy games don’t need all the extra minigames they include, but they’re usually enjoyable and offer a nice break from the main story. They’ve become such a regular part of the series that new Final Fantasy releases almost don’t feel complete without them.

2026-05-03 15:40