The Best Final Fantasy Games With Character Customization

Summary

Final Fantasy games offer character customization options, appealing to players who prefer putting their own personality into the game.
FF titles like Crystal Chronicles, Type-0, and FF XV: Comrades offer varying degrees of character customization options.
Final Fantasy 11 and 14 stand out for their rich customization choices, with FF 14 offering a more welcoming and diverse costume selection.

Characters such as Cloud (from Final Fantasy VII), Zidane, and Clive are adored protagonists within their respective video games in the Final Fantasy series. Notably, Cloud has been featured frequently in various crossover games that aren’t necessarily tied to Final Fantasy 7. Some gamers enjoy experiencing well-constructed narratives with predefined characters, while others prefer injecting their unique personalities into the gameplay experience.

Let’s discuss the top Final Fantasy games that allow for extensive character customization, taking into account both the variety of options available and the game’s overall quality. Although character creation is more prevalent in Western RPGs compared to Japanese ones, there have been instances of character customization opportunities within the Final Fantasy series, some of which have garnered significant popularity.

7. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles

Co-Op On The GameCube

The game Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles originally debuted on the GameCube, emphasizing four-player cooperative gameplay. Characters were customizable based on four distinct races – Clavats, Lilties, Yukes, and Selkies – each equipped with unique weaponry. Magic spells could be discovered within dungeons but would vanish once the dungeon was completed, ensuring that no race had a monopoly on magical abilities.

In the initial versions of ‘Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates’ and ‘Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time’, there weren’t a lot of options to personalize your characters, primarily focusing on different hair and clothing colors. However, these aspects were expanded upon in the sequels.

6. Final Fantasy Awakening

Back To School

Developers: Square Enix, Perfect World Games
Publisher: Oasis Games (NA version)
Released: February 2, 2018 (NA version)
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One

Originally released for the PlayStation Portable (PSP), Final Fantasy Type-0, has since been made available on consoles as well. The game is set in a military academy and gives players more than a dozen characters to control throughout its story. In a separate mobile version titled Final Fantasy Awakening, players are allowed to create their own cadets and customize their avatars with various options such as hairstyles, facial features, and weapons.>

The game retained the hack-and-slash style gameplay similar to its predecessor, performing well on mobile devices. It initially debuted in China back in 2016 and arrived in North America two years later. Regrettably, much like many mobile spinoffs of Final Fantasy, it is no longer accessible as of 2020; however, during its active period, it offered an enjoyable multiplayer experience to play on the move.

5. Final Fantasy 15 Multiplayer: Comrades

A Co-Op Game In The Dark Timeline

Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix
Released: December 12, 2018 (as a standalone product)
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One

Initially, Final Fantasy 15 Multiplayer: Comrades came as part of the main Final Fantasy 15 game release, but later it was developed separately and made available on digital console platforms. The game unfolds towards the end of the storyline when monsters become increasingly aggressive. In this version, players are teamed up with a hunter to control the monster menace. They have the opportunity to meticulously customize their character in various aspects.

In this game, players had limited options for selecting their weapons, often choosing between a katana or daggers, and the missions were compact, giving the impression that the game was initially designed for mobile platforms. However, despite these smaller missions, players can team up with others in four-player co-op mode on numerous missions. The game, titled Final Fantasy Awakening , is still accessible to play, and while it occurs towards the end of the main storyline in FF 15, one doesn’t necessarily need prior knowledge about Noctis and his group to appreciate it.

4. Final Fantasy 7: The First Soldier

Shinra’s Secret Project

In a market saturated with Battle Royale games, Final Fantasy 7: The First Soldier offers a refreshing take on the genre. It’s a prequel that unfolds before the main game, focusing on Shinra’s SOLDIER experimentation. In this game, matches serve to identify and promote rookies, with the victor being crowned as the first official SOLDIER for Shinra.

Users can personalize their characters, adjust their equipment much like a job system, and compete with others online via mobile devices. Unfortunately, “The First Soldier” ceased operations in 2023, just two years after its launch, which is disappointing for fans of “Final Fantasy 7”. But there’s hope that it might return on gaming consoles one day.

3. Final Fantasy 11

The First MMO

Choosing Final Fantasy 11 makes sense considering most MMOs provide extensive character customization. As its first MMO, it was initially challenging for players within the world of Vana’diel, yet they persevered due to the substantial rewards that came with investing time.

Initially, players can select from five distinct races such as Hume, Elvaan, Tarutaru, Mithra, and Galka, along with fundamental roles like Warrior, Black Mage, or Thief. As they progress, they will unlock additional roles. A significant draw at the time was its multiplayer functionality. Launched for PC in Japan in 2002, Final Fantasy 11 eventually made its way to PS2 and Xbox 360. Despite having a successor MMO, Square Enix continues to provide support for Final Fantasy 11, with the last expansion, Voracious Resurgence, wrapping up its series of updates in 2023.

2. Final Fantasy Explorers

Monster Hunter Portable

Final Fantasy Explorers often doesn’t receive the recognition it ought to have. It adopted the essence of the Monster Hunter gameplay and streamlined it for a fresh audience, paving the way for the reinvention of the core mechanics in Monster Hunter World. The visual style is also more adorable, featuring customizable characters that resemble anime figures. Players can refine their avatars even further by crafting unique weapon and armor sets.

In addition to the regular costumes, there are special ones that can be unlocked, inspired by characters from the franchise such as Cloud from Final Fantasy 7, who comes with his iconic Buster Sword. This is a unique experience exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS, where players can engage in cooperative gameplay for up to four players, navigating an action RPG environment together.

1. Final Fantasy 14

Starting From Scratch

In 2013, following a rocky start in 2010, Final Fantasy 14 built significantly upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, Final Fantasy 11. The game now boasts a variety of playable races such as Hyur, Elezen, Lalafell, Miqo’te, and Roegadyn. Additionally, players can opt for initial Jobs like Archer, Pugilist, or Gladiator. As characters progress, they unlock new skills and potential career paths. Over time, expansions have been added to enrich the gameplay experience by introducing fresh Job options and new destinations.

In the realm of Eorzea, I’ve found that the diverse array of costume options makes it feel even more inviting compared to its MMO predecessors. For countless fans like myself, Final Fantasy 14 stands out as the epitome of the Final Fantasy universe, offering an unparalleled experience whether you choose to embark on this adventure solo or alongside friends.

2025-06-05 16:37