Final Fantasy Games With The Deepest Lore, Ranked

Key Takeaways

Final Fantasy games offer deep lore with themes of change, complex histories, and acceptance of death.
Final Fantasy 15 has rich lore spread across games, movies, and anime, but unlocking a deeper understanding is challenging.
Final Fantasy 14’s ever-evolving world blends high fantasy with advanced tech, drawing from franchise history.

As someone who’s spent countless hours immersed in the rich tapestry of stories that Final Fantasy has woven over the years, I have to say that the intricacy and depth of the shared universe of Ivalice is truly a marvel. Having delved deep into the world of Ivalice through games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy 12, and even Vagrant Story, I can attest to the fact that this world is not just wide but incredibly deep.

Over time, the “Final Fantasy” series has captivated audiences with its intricate, immersive fantasy realms, populated by unique cultures, characters, and ethereal visual aesthetics. As gaming technology advanced, it opened up new possibilities for storing larger amounts of data and telling stories in a more subtle, nuanced manner.

Nowadays, stories about the remnants of a technologically advanced civilization or a dragon’s reasons might have once been purely imaginative, but there are numerous examples from the “Final Fantasy” series that offer deeply compelling narratives, whether they’re presented within a single game, multiple ones, or spanned across various media sources.

7 Final Fantasy 9

A Deeply Introspective Love Letter To The Past

In a more relaxed and straightforward manner: Unlike other Final Fantasy games that often carry a theme or message, Final Fantasy 9 stands out as particularly philosophical, even though it might not appear so at first glance. This game was designed as a tribute to the pixel era and the PlayStation era, and it frequently references locations, characters, and themes from across the series.

In essence, “Final Fantasy 9” is a game that revolves around themes of adapting to change and confronting mortality. Its richly crafted universe encompasses forgotten civilizations, alternate realms, and profound philosophical reflections. While some of its backstory may need careful excavation, the narrative delves deeply into these topics. For instance, it explores Freya’s lost love, Vivi’s somber beginnings, and the true nature of the primary antagonist.

6 Final Fantasy 15

An Epic Tapestry Woven Through A Web Of Transmedia

Despite being marketed as a character-driven road trip adventure in the style of a coming-of-age story, Final Fantasy 15, on closer inspection, has a rich and complex lore that is not always fully appreciated due to its unique delivery method. The criticism that some of this lore is too obscure or hidden is warranted. For instance, crucial information about the Starscourge, crystals, and Astrals can be found in eight Cosmogeny books scattered throughout the game world. Unfortunately, there’s no other way to explore the lore comprehensively apart from these books.

For those wanting to immerse themselves in the narrative of this game, it can be challenging since key parts of the story are found not only within the game itself, but also in a live-action movie and an anime series (Kingsglaive and Brotherhood). To truly grasp the game’s storyline, let alone its lore, a comprehensive timeline guide for Final Fantasy 15 and its associated media becomes necessary. This could explain why much of the game’s lore often gets overlooked.

5 Final Fantasy 7 Compilation

Lore Compiled Over Two Decades

In the setting of Final Fantasy 7, the story unfolds within a world that resembles ours post-industrialization. Regrettably, as in our reality, a significant portion of the population’s past and cultural heritage was sacrificed for the advancement of technology and private profits. This might lead one to think that the planet’s history (and consequently its lore) has been obliterated.

The numerous offshoots (spin-offs and sequels) of Final Fantasy 7, such as Crisis Core, Dirge of Cerberus, Advent Children, the Remake series, and others, serve as an accumulation that delves deeper into the lore and character histories. They provide fans with a chance to explore more about the planet’s development, the Lifestream, Jenova, and other aspects of the mythology.

4 Final Fantasy 13 Trilogy

Deep Lore Buried Behind Menus

It’s no surprise that the trilogy of the Final Fantasy 13 series is rich in lore given its span of three games’ worth of narrative. Yet, these thirteen games are often not associated with intricate storytelling. Instead, they are frequently viewed as being linear and hard to understand due to the limited exploration options in the first game and the complex and confusing terminology it employs.

For those who are willing to put in the work by exploring the menus and sifting through the data logs, they will uncover a wealth of details about the world-building, including the intricate relationship between Cocoon and Pulse, the characteristics of Fal’Cie and l’Cie, and insights into Lightning, Fang, and Vanille’s pasts.

3 Final Fantasy 10 & 10-2

An Intimate And Richly-Realized World Of Culture

In creating Final Fantasy 10, the development team aimed to spin a heartfelt, emotional narrative that was as engaging as it was immersive. To achieve this, they focused on crafting expressive characters, realistic dialogue, and cinematic storytelling. Although the game’s path followed a more straightforward course compared to previous titles, the intricate details of each location, such as local lore, peculiar social nuances, and cultural traditions, kept the vibrant world of Spira feeling dynamic and captivating during the entire adventure.

A significant portion of Final Fantasy 10 centers around the spiritual doctrines of Yevon and Sin. However, with the arrival of its first sequel, Final Fantasy 10-2, players were granted the opportunity to traverse Spira in a post-Sin era, allowing for a more profound exploration of the thoughts, beliefs, and political transformations that had previously been hidden beneath Yevon’s fall, as well as the destinies of the characters from Final Fantasy 10.

2 Final Fantasy 14

A Celebration Of The Series’ Lore With New Twists And Avenues

In other words, massively multiplayer online games are designed to provide an extended play experience, which means that their virtual worlds are richly detailed with intriguing histories and legends. As these games continue to grow through updates and expansions, their environments become more dynamic, offering fresh threads for players to speculate about.

Just like in the tradition of Final Fantasy games, Eorzea beautifully merges classic high-fantasy elements with modern technology, while also pulling from the entire history of the series to enrich its universe with vibrant details. The evolving narrative, influenced by expansions such as “Heavensward,” “Shadowbringers,” and “Endwalker,” delves into the destinies of ancient deities, shattered societies, and the struggle between light and darkness.

1 Final Fantasy 12 / Tactics

The Stories Shared Setting Of Ivalice

Instead of constantly generating sequels and spin-offs due to their popularity like other Final Fantasy games, the interconnected universe of Ivalice (featured in Final Fantasy Tactics games, Final Fantasy 12, and even Vagrant Story) builds upon a complex web of storylines by gradually expanding the world with each new title.

In Ivalice lore, both its breadth and depth are notable. The Tactics series, often overlooked, boasts a rich level of historical and political realism, ranging from the Lion War to the Archadian rebellion. Additionally, it maintains the traditional elements of myth-making, such as:

2024-09-23 02:35