Top 10 Final Fantasy Spinoffs You Never Knew Were Awesome

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Summary

  • The Final Fantasy series has numerous spinoff titles, some developed by familiar names like Arika and Team Ninja.
  • Theatrhythm Final Bar Line offers a unique rhythm-based gameplay experience with intricate mock battles.
  • World of Final Fantasy, co-developed by Tose, introduces a cute art style, Pokemon-style monster collection, and turn-based combat.

Final Fantasy began as a humble dream when it was first created for the NES in 1987 by Squaresoft. It was hard to imagine that it would eventually grow into an extensive gaming dynasty with countless game and media spinoffs that are difficult to list in one go. Over time, many of these spinoff titles were developed by either Squaresoft or Square Enix following their merger.

For several game titles, they introduced new content. This ranged from racing games to action-packed ones. Are these top-tier games within the series or merely entertaining spin-offs? To gain a better understanding, let’s delve into their history and assess their rankings based on overall quality.

6. Chocobo GP (Arika)

A Prominent Multiplayer Developer

In simpler terms, “Chocobo GP” is actually the second game featuring Chocobos in a racing genre, following the original one called “Chocobo Racing” on PlayStation 1. In this game, players can select their racer from a variety of series characters, such as monsters and heroes, to participate in races similar to “Mario Kart”. Notably, this newer version was developed by Arika, a company founded by former Capcom developers.

Despite parting ways with Capcom, these developers continue to collaborate with them on diverse Street Fighter adaptations. Notably, they’ve gained significant recognition for their Battle Royale game series, which reimagines iconic titles from the 80s and 90s. This collection includes games like Pac-Man 99, Tetris 99, and Super Mario Bros. 35.

5. Theatrhythm Final Bar Line (indieszero And sAs)

Hopefully Not THE Finale

In simpler terms, “Theatrhythm Final Bar Line” is a third game that falls under the category of rhythm games based on the popular series, “Final Fantasy.” This game allows players to gather a group of characters who are heroes, and they can engage in turn-based battles inspired by various mainline and spinoff titles. These battles are set to classic music tracks. Compared to other rhythm games such as “Parappa the Rapper,” this one is more complex.

Two game developers, indieszero and sAs, collaborated on the creation of the game, with both having previously worked together with Square Enix on various “Theatrhythm” titles for the 3DS. Outside of Square Enix, gamers who prefer portable devices might recognize their work from the two “Retro Game Challenge” games on the DS. These games weren’t rhythm games; instead, they paid tribute to different gaming eras through mini-games.

4. Final Fantasy Explorers (Racjin, Co-Developed)

Summon Hunter

Final Fantasy Explorers was jointly developed with Racjin, a company that has collaborated with Square Enix on multiple games, with Racjin taking the primary role. Regrettably, two of their most prominent creations remained exclusive to Japan; these being Final Fantasy Legend 2 and Final Fantasy Legend 3. Remarkably, these games, which were clandestine early installments in the SaGa series, initially appeared on Game Boy, but they received upgraded remakes exclusively for Nintendo DS in Japan.

In simpler terms, “Final Fantasy Explorers” can be described as a game that mimicked the style of “Monster Hunter,” with the exception that developers were not involved in its creation. Players could pick a role or job for their character, customize their appearance, select a weapon, and then embark on monster-hunting missions within specific regions. This gameplay structure was reminiscent of other titles, but it thrived on the Nintendo 3DS due to its cooperative multiplayer feature.

3. Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin (Team Ninja)

A Soulslike Prequel

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a game in the Soulslike genre, created by Team Ninja. Apart from FromSoftware, they have experience with this genre since they developed the Nioh series under Koei Tecmo’s wing. However, they are primarily recognized for creating games like Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden.

Prior to the release of this spinoff, Team Ninja had previously created “Dissidia Final Fantasy NT”, a fighting game. For fans who appreciate Job systems in this series and are eager to try something more accessible in the Soulslike genre, “Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin” is an exciting action addition. This game also supports cooperative play for up to three players, so gather two friends and enjoy the fun together!

2. World Of Final Fantasy (Tose)

Stacking With Pokemon

In a friendly and effortless rewording:

The game titled “World of Final Fantasy” is known for its affectionate charm within the series, due to its super-deformed art style that turns traditional heroes and monsters into even more lovable characters. The story follows two siblings, Lann and Reynn, who are mysteriously drawn into a universe blending various Final Fantasy personalities, including Cloud from “Final Fantasy 7“. Players, taking on the roles of these twins, have the chance to gather monsters in a manner reminiscent of Pokemon, and then engage them in turn-based battles.

Tose served as the main developer in charge of assisting Square Enix on various projects related to portable console ports. They were instrumental in porting games like “Final Fantasy Tactics” to PSP, “Chrono Trigger” to PS1 and DS, and “Final Fantasy 4” to GBA. This is just a small fraction of their work in the field of porting, but it ultimately led Square Enix to give them an opportunity to create their own game within the Final Fantasy universe, which resulted in “World of Final Fantasy”.

1. Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (Matrix Software)

If Only They Could Remake More

Matrix Software’s tale shares similarities with Tose’s. Notably, they both made significant contributions to Square Enix’s collection by remaking DS versions of Final Fantasy 3 and Final Fantasy 4, which were warmly received. This could have paved the way for Square Enix to grant Matrix Software free reign in creating Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light.

This game shared the strategic, turn-based mechanics with its predecessors, but introduced an innovative element – characters could earn Crowns to transform into diverse classes. Additionally, cooperative play was available on the DS, which was relatively new for the Final Fantasy series at that time. For gamers seeking a tough challenge and a distinctive visual style, it’s worth searching out “Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light” as it remains exclusive to the DS.

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2025-04-17 04:37