Best Final Fantasy Games With Almost No Grinding

Key Takeaways

Final Fantasy games vary in the need for grinding, with titles like FF4 and FF16 being more lenient.
Dirge of Cerberus and FF8 provide grind-free experiences due to gameplay mechanics.
Linear games like Final Fantasy 10 and 13 have built-in leveling systems, reducing the need for grinding.

As a seasoned Final Fantasy player with countless hours spent exploring various worlds and battling countless foes, I must say that the series has truly evolved over the years. From the early days of grinding for levels to the more recent focus on open-world exploration and character action, it’s fascinating to see how the franchise has adapted to its audience.

Grinding, that is, taking out as many enemies as possible to level up a party of characters, has become a standard part of the gameplay loop for most JRPGs, including the Final Fantasy games. In truth though, not every fan of the genre likes the act of grinding, especially when they simply want to get on with the story and explore the world.

It’s fortunate that each installment of the Final Fantasy series tends to offer unique gameplay experiences, as their formulas can vary significantly from one another. This means that while some games may require you to grind levels (EXP), others might be more forgiving in this regard. If you’re interested in exploring the world of Final Fantasy without worrying about maintaining party levels, weapons, and equipment through grinding, I recommend checking out the following titles:

8 Final Fantasy 4

The Fourth Game In The Series Is Pretty Straightforward, Depending On The Version Being Played

In contrast to the earlier games numbered 1 through 3, Final Fantasy 4 offers significantly less need for players to repeatedly battle enemies (grinding). Nevertheless, the level of grinding required might vary depending on the specific version of the game being played. Although none of them are as demanding in terms of grinding as the first three games, some versions may still necessitate a bit more effort from the player.

In comparison to other versions, the initial NA release on SNES and the PSP adaptation are generally recognized for their lack of grinding due to their simpler battles and abundant EXP rewards. Conversely, the DS version offers a more challenging experience that might necessitate additional fights to maintain the level of difficulty. Nevertheless, this classic JRPG is predominantly a smooth and relaxed journey that doesn’t demand players to exhaustively hunt down enemies in order to progress successfully.

7 Dirge Of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7

Dirge Of Cerberus’ Lack Of Party Members And Equipment Makes For A Grind-Free Experience

The game titled Dirge of Cerberus, a spin-off from the popular series Final Fantasy 7, offers a significantly distinct play style compared to other games in the series, as it functions more like a third-person shooter. Unlike traditional games in the series where you manage numerous party members and an abundance of equipment, this game allows players to customize Vincent Valentine’s guns to gain unique abilities and enhancements. However, the customization options are somewhat limited compared to other aspects of the game.

In this scenario, Vincent can handle the monsters that obstruct his goal of preventing Omega’s awakening without needing to grind. While some longtime Final Fantasy enthusiasts might find it different from the usual, Dirge of Cerberus remains an enjoyable game, offering a nice change from the complex and challenging mainline RPG series.

6 Final Fantasy 13

Final Fantasy 13’s Hallway-Style Areas Don’t Leave Much Room For Additional Battles

In simpler terms, the game Final Fantasy 13 is sometimes jokingly criticized as being like one long corridor. While this criticism might be an overstatement, it does have some basis in truth. Until Chapter 11, when the party reaches Gran Pulse, there’s limited opportunity for players to level up their characters, as they are required to follow predetermined paths with a specific number of enemies to encounter en route.

Players might struggle to lag behind in level progression, but they can still encounter problems if they invest their Crystarium points inappropriately on roles and overlook each character’s unique abilities. As previously mentioned, there is a small opportunity for enhancing weapons and armor on Gran Pulse initially, but soon the game transitions back into a more linear, story-driven format.

5 Final Fantasy 10

So Long As Players Pay Attention To The Sphere Grid, Grinding Out EXP Won’t Be Necessary

Just like my experience with Final Fantasy 13, I found that Final Fantasy 10 follows a mostly linear path where encounters with enemies are somewhat random as I progress. This setup means that my character will automatically earn EXP, weapons, and armor without the need for extensive grinding to reach the game’s end in a standard playthrough. However, there’s an exception to this rule.

If players guide their characters along unintended routes in the Sphere Grid, it can cause characters to become weaker than their teammates. Typically, the Sphere Grid provides a clear path for character development, but those who prefer to explore creative paths may have to spend extra time leveling up to correct any imbalances.

4 Final Fantasy 7 Remake

Final Fantasy 7 Remake Is Paced In A Way Where Players Are Rarely Ever Underleveled

In contrast to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, its precursor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake, presented a much more restricted and focused gaming experience compared to the expansive world filled with monsters and minigames in the former. However, this constriction wasn’t necessarily negative as it greatly enhanced the game’s pacing, enabling players to progress through the story swiftly without frequent encounters with enemies for extended periods, unless they aimed to fully complete the game.

In simpler terms, Remake‘s swift and smooth battle system allows players to quickly engage or disengage from fights. Many battles provide ample Experience Points (EXP), eliminating the necessity for prolonged grinding sessions. While those aiming for a complete game experience might find some additional tasks, casual players can expect an uninterrupted journey without excessive grinding during their adventure.

3 Final Fantasy 8

Enemy Levels Will Scale With The Party’s Level In Final Fantasy 8

In the majority of Final Fantasy games, the levels of opponents are separate from your party’s, allowing for exploration into higher-level dungeons often used for gaining EXP and weapons. However, Final Fantasy 8 bucked this trend by having enemies adjust their level in accordance with the characters. Therefore, aiming to reach an extremely high level becomes largely unnecessary.

This mechanic, nevertheless, maintains that the game remains engagingly difficult by limiting player’s accumulation of excessive power, instead steering their attention towards the storyline, discovery, and card play. It’s true that the Junction system allows players to amass spells through persistent effort if they choose, but this isn’t compulsory; they can still acquire everything necessary by battling a few enemies occasionally.

2 Final Fantasy 15

Final Fantasy 15 Is More Centered Around Exploring The Vast Open World Than Grinding

In a somewhat surprising turn for a “Final Fantasy” game, levels aren’t as significant in the 15th installment because much of Noctis’ adventure revolves around open-world exploration and traveling with friends in the Regalia. To provide players with greater flexibility to roam, Square Enix opted to reduce the emphasis on extensive leveling sessions.

Admittedly, this does mean the game is somewhat of a refined taste since the battle system in general does become a little basic, but it’s largely because it prioritizes flashiness over substance, which many people enjoy. However, there’s still an incredibly compelling story here packed full of of memorable characters, especially the main party of four, so it’s still worth a playthrough.

1 Final Fantasy 16

Clive’s Immense Powers Mean Players Can Breeze Through The Game Without Needing To Put In Extra Work

In contrast to previous games in the series, Final Fantasy 16 primarily embraces the character-action genre, with an emphasis on swift combat and defeating hordes of enemies using only a few simple button inputs. While it retains some role-playing game (RPG) elements for variety, the overall playstyle is reminiscent of a dynamic, fast-paced beat ’em up experience.

In this fresh gameplay style, Clive initially possesses extraordinarily potent abilities and continues to acquire even greater ones as he progresses and learns each Eikon’s ways. Consequently, there’s little necessity for grinding, unless players choose to overlook all the side quests; in such cases, they might need to engage in a handful of additional battles to catch up. Essentially, this is a game that primarily focuses on storytelling, allowing players to effortlessly advance levels without ever lagging behind.

2024-11-14 14:35