The Consoles With The Most Final Fantasy Games

Key Takeaways

Final Fantasy
games have extensive history with various gameplay styles, catering to both turn-based and action combat preferences.
Nintendo Wii was home to five new
Final Fantasy
games, including the
Crystal Chronicles
series, which utilized motion controls effectively.
PlayStation 4 boasts the largest library of
Final Fantasy
games, with new entries like
Final Fantasy 15,
along with its tie-in games, and
Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

As a lifelong fanatic of the Final Fantasy series, I must confess that the PlayStation 4 has been nothing short of a dream come true for me. The sheer number of new and remastered Final Fantasy games available on this console is simply staggering!

Final Fantasy is a classic in the Role-Playing Game (RPG) genre, catering to both fans of turn-based and action combat styles. Spanning over decades, there are numerous games associated with it that outnumber one’s fists. Completing them all without a break would likely require several months.

That’s an astounding thought to consider, but so is this: Which console or portable gave Final Fantasy fans the most bang for their buck? That is to say, which system natively had the most Final Fantasy games on it, not taking into consideration ports or remasters? Here are the results.

5 Wii (5 New Games)

Crystal Chronicles Thrives On Nintendo’s Motion-Based Console

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon

The saga of Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles commenced on the GameCube as a multiplayer game with action elements. However, it thrived most notably on the Wii console, where Square Enix emphasized its exclusive collaboration with Nintendo. Two games, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Darklord, were strategy simulations blended with tower defense, both of which were positively received following their digital releases. The third installment in the multiplayer series, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time, was launched on the DS, and an innovative feature allowed communication between the two platforms during gameplay.

Subsequently came the more daring title, “Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers,” a game that offered an action-packed narrative experience and skillfully utilized the Wii’s motion controls. Furthermore, “Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon” was another installment in the Chocobo-centric Roguelike series. Over time, it was remade for systems like the Switch, rebranded as “Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon EVERY BUDDY!,” and it also supported cooperative gameplay. Additionally, numerous other “Final Fantasy” games were made available digitally through the Virtual Console.

4 PlayStation 2 (6 New Games)

From Voice Acting To Legacy Sequels, The PS2 Broke New Ground

Final Fantasy 10
Final Fantasy 10-2
Final Fantasy 11
Final Fantasy 12
Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special
Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7

The PlayStation 2 (PS2) has been renowned for its status as the best-selling video game console in history, a feat largely attributed to its extensive role-playing game (RPG) library from Square Enix. One of the key contributors to this success was “Final Fantasy X,” which made a significant impact due to its groundbreaking use of voice acting in the main series for the first time. This game was not just visually impressive, but it also set a new trend by incorporating voiceovers. Interestingly, “Final Fantasy X” was the initial mainline game to receive a sequel, titled “Final Fantasy X-2,” which revolved around Yuna’s quest to locate Tidus. To add to this, the PS2 also hosted the franchise’s first massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, “Final Fantasy 11.”

In 2006, Final Fantasy 12 wrapped up the primary series for the PS2 with a bang, setting a high standard before the PS3 era began. The series also featured some unusual titles, such as Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7, an action-shooter game focusing on Vincent from Final Fantasy 7. Lastly, Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special brought together characters from both series for a board game RPG, but it was exclusively available in Japan in 2004.

3 PlayStation (7 New Games)

Square And Final Fantasy Helped Sony Dominate Their First Generation

Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 8
Final Fantasy 9
Final Fantasy Tactics
Chocobo’s Mysterious Dungeon
Chocobo’s Dungeon 2
Chocobo Racing

As a dedicated gaming enthusiast, my journey with Sony and Square Enix truly began on the PlayStation 1 (PS1), long before they were one united force. Back then, Square and Enix were separate entities, each carving their own path in the gaming world. The release of Final Fantasy 7 was a game-changer for both the franchise and role-playing games as a whole. With its captivating graphics and mature themes, it piqued the interest of numerous gamers, making them fans of the RPG genre. Although not quite as successful, Final Fantasy 8 and Final Fantasy 9 were also worthwhile additions to the series. They kept the franchise on a roll with back-to-back hits. Nestled between these three mainline entries was Final Fantasy Tactics, marking the beginning of the franchise’s tactical RPG era.

Initially, Chocobos made their debut on the PlayStation 1, boasting a trio of games. The first was “Chocobo’s Mysterious Dungeon,” an adventure that saw exclusive release in Japan. However, its sequel, “Chocobo’s Dungeon 2,” found global distribution and continued the original’s Roguelike gameplay style. Last but not least, “Chocobo Racing” was a humorous racing game modeled after “Mario Kart,” starring Chocobo, mages, monsters, and even some well-known mainline characters like Cloud. Additionally, three compilations were launched on the PS1: “Final Fantasy Anthology,” “Final Fantasy Chronicles,” and “Final Fantasy Origins.”

2 Nintendo DS (7 New Games)

Portability Bred New Innovations

Final Fantasy: The Four Heroes of Light
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings
Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales
Chocobo to Maho no Ehon: Majo to Shojo to Gonin no Yusha

The Nintendo DS is nearly unmatched as one of the greatest RPG platforms ever, given its portability and extensive game library that goes beyond Square Enix and Final Fantasy. For instance, Final Fantasy: The Four Heroes of Light served as a reboot for the series, offering increased difficulty and a return to turn-based combat, which appears to have sparked the development of Bravely Default within Square Enix. Additionally, Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift was an impressive sequel that surpassed its GBA predecessor in quality. Furthermore, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates and Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time were also engaging multiplayer games.

In a nutshell: The game titled “Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings” followed the original game, continuing its storyline, but instead of being an MMO-style RPG, it was reimagined as a Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game. Another title called “Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales” features various mini-games centered around the popular character, Chocobo. As for “Chocobo to Maho no Ehon: Majo to Shojo to Gonin no Yusha“, as its name suggests, it was a unique sequel exclusive to Japan. Apart from these seven new games, there were also enhanced remakes of “Final Fantasy 3 ” and “ Final Fantasy 4,” featuring upgraded graphics and added voice acting.

1 PlayStation 4 (11 New Games)

The Ultimate Final Fantasy Dream

Platinum Demo: Final Fantasy 15
Final Fantasy 15
A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy 15
Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy 15
Final Fantasy 15: Pocket Edition
World of Final Fantasy
Dissidia Final Fantasy NT
Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
Final Fantasy 7 Remake

As a devoted fan, I can’t help but marvel at the sheer abundance of Final Fantasy games available on my trusted PS4 console. It seems like almost every mainline title from the series can be enjoyed on this platform, either through digital downloads or remastered versions. Let’s delve into the recent additions, beginning with Final Fantasy 15. This game has a fascinating array of tie-ins that expand the story. The first of these was the Platinum Demo: Final Fantasy 15, which served as both a demo and a prequel featuring a younger Noctis. Although it’s brief, it packs quite the punch, much like the enigmatic P.T. There was also A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy 15, a prequel focusing on Noctis’ father, which offers an engaging old-school brawling experience.

The VR version of “Final Fantasy 15” was a fishing game, while “Final Fantasy 15: Pocket Edition” was a simplified, chibi-style retelling of the original game, initially launched on iOS and later on platforms like PS4. Apart from these, there was also “World of Final Fantasy”, which was like Pokemon but featured characters from various Final Fantasy games, such as Squall (from Final Fantasy 8) and Rikku (from Final Fantasy 10) interacting together.

Discussing games from the Final Fantasy franchise, “Dissidia Final Fantasy NT” was initially a fighting game launched in arcades in 2015 and later expanded for PS4 in 2018. Similarly, “Itadaki Street: Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary” was a board game RPG, while “Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin” offered a cooperative experience similar to the Souls series. “Theatrhythm Final Bar Line” provided a rhythm-based musical journey, and finally, “Final Fantasy 7 Remake” debuted on PS4, marking the start of what’s expected to become a trilogy. Despite the word “Remake” in the title, it brings about more transformative changes for the series than just a simple remake, hence its popularity on the PS4. In summary, the PS4 has been the platform where the Final Fantasy series has reached its peak so far.

2024-08-25 04:34