View source for Software:Final Fantasy

{{short description|Japanese media franchise}}
{{Infobox video game series
|title = Final Fantasy
|creator = Hironobu Sakaguchi
|composer = Nobuo Uematsu<br>Yoko Shimomura
|image = Final Fantasy wordmark.svg
|developer = [[Company:Square (video game company)|Square]], [[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]]
|publisher = Square, Square Enix
|genre = [[Software:Role-playing video game|Role-playing video game]]
|platforms = {{collapsible list|title=Various|titlestyle=font-weight:normal;font-size:12px;background:transparent;text-align:left|[[Software:Arcade video game|Arcade]]<br />[[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]]<br />[[Software:BlackBerry OS|BlackBerry OS]]<br />[[Engineering:Game Boy|Game Boy]]<br />Game Boy Advance<br />[[Engineering:GameCube|GameCube]]<br />[[Software:IOS|iOS]]<br />Java ME<br />[[Engineering:MSX|MSX]]<br />[[Engineering:Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Entertainment System]]<br />Nintendo DS<br />{{wipe|Nintendo 3DS}}<br />[[Engineering:Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch]]<br />[[Engineering:Ouya|Ouya]]<br />[[Engineering:PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]]<br />[[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]]<br />[[Engineering:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]]<br />[[Engineering:PlayStation 4|PlayStation 4]]<br />[[Engineering:PlayStation 5|PlayStation 5]]<br />[[Engineering:PlayStation Portable|PlayStation Portable]]<br />[[Engineering:PlayStation Vita|PlayStation Vita]]<br />Stadia<br />Super NES<br />[[Engineering:Wii|Wii]]<br />[[Software:Windows|Windows]]<br />[[Software:Windows Phone|Windows Phone]]<br />WonderSwan<br />[[Engineering:Xbox 360|Xbox 360]]<br />[[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]]<br />Xbox Series X/S}}
|spinoffs = {{ubl|''[[Software:Kingdom Hearts|Kingdom Hearts]]''|''Mana''|''[[Software:SaGa|SaGa]]''}}
|first release version = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]''
|first release date = December 18, 1987
|latest release version = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XVI|Final Fantasy XVI]]''
|latest release date = June 22, 2023
|artist=Tetsuya Nomura|producer=Yoshinori Kitase<br>Tetsuya Nomura}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''Final Fantasy'''''|ファイナルファンタジー|Fainaru Fantajī|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a fantasy [[Engineering:Anthology series|anthology]] media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi which is owned and developed and published by [[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] (formerly [[Company:Square (video game company)|Square]]). The franchise centers on a series of fantasy [[Software:Role-playing video game|role-playing video game]]s. The [[Software:Final Fantasy (video game)|first game in the series]] was released in 1987, with 16 numbered main entries having been released to date.

The franchise has since branched into other video game genres such as [[Software:Tactical role-playing game|tactical role-playing]], [[Software:Action role-playing game|action role-playing]], [[Finance:Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|massively multiplayer online role-playing]], [[Software:Racing video game|racing]], [[Software:Third-person shooter|third-person shooter]], [[Software:Fighting game|fighting]], and [[Software:Rhythm game|rhythm]], as well as branching into other media, including films, anime, manga, and novels.

''Final Fantasy'' is mostly an [[Engineering:Anthology series|anthology series]] with primary installments being stand-alone role-playing games, each with different settings, plots and main characters; however, the franchise is linked by several recurring elements, including game mechanics and recurring character names. Each plot centers on a particular group of heroes who are battling a great evil, but also explores the characters' internal struggles and relationships. Character names are frequently derived from the history, languages, pop culture, and mythologies of cultures worldwide. The mechanics of each game involve similar battle systems and maps.

''Final Fantasy'' has been both critically and commercially successful. Several entries are regarded as some of the greatest video games, with the series selling more than {{nowrap|185 million}} copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling video game franchises of all time. The series is well known for its innovation, visuals, such as the inclusion of [[Software:Full motion video|full-motion video]]s, photorealistic character models, and music by Nobuo Uematsu. It has popularized many features now common in role-playing games, also popularizing the genre as a whole in markets outside {{wipe|Japan}}.

== Media ==

=== Games ===
The [[Software:Final Fantasy (video game)|first installment]] of the series was released in Japan on December 18, 1987. Subsequent games are numbered and given a story unrelated to previous games, so the numbers refer to volumes rather than to sequels. Many ''Final Fantasy'' games have been [[Internationalization and localization|localized]] for markets in North America, Europe, and Australia on numerous [[Engineering:Video game console|video game console]]s, [[Engineering:Personal computer|personal computer]]s (PC), and [[Engineering:Mobile phone|mobile phone]]s. As of June 2023, the series includes the main installments from ''[[Software:Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]'' to ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XVI|Final Fantasy XVI]]'', as well as direct sequels and [[Engineering:Spin-off (media)|spin-off]]s, both released and confirmed as being in development. Most of the older games have been remade or re-released on multiple platforms.<ref name="OldRe-released">{{cite web|url=https://kotaku.com/5931304/what-in-the-world-is-final-fantasy-a-beginners-guide-to-the-biggest-rpg-series-on-the-planet |title=What In The World Is Final Fantasy? A Beginner's Guide To The Biggest RPG Series On The Planet |author=Jason Schreier |publisher=Kotaku |date=July 8, 2012 |access-date=May 16, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061851/http://kotaku.com/5931304/what-in-the-world-is-final-fantasy-a-beginners-guide-to-the-biggest-rpg-series-on-the-planet |archive-date=March 4, 2016}}</ref>

==== Main series ====
{{Timeline of release years
| range1        = 1997
| range1_color  = 
| compressempty = 
| summary       = ''Final Fantasy'' was introduced in 1987 and the second installment came out in 1988. ''Final Fantasy III'' was released in 1990 and games ''IV'' and ''V'' came out in 1991 and 1992. ''Final Fantasy VI'' was released two years later in 1994, followed by a two gap until the seventh title came out in 1997. ''Final Fantasy VIII'' was released in 1999, and later games were released subsequent years until 2002: ''IX'' in 2000, ''X'' in 2001, and ''XI'' 2002. ''Final Fantasy XII'' was released after a four-year gap, with ''Final Fantasy XIII'' released three years later in 2009. It was followed the next year by the Windows PC version of ''Final Fantasy XIV'', released in 2010; it was reworked and released again in 2013. ''Final Fantasy XV'' was released in 2016. ''Final Fantasy XVI'' was released in 2023.
| 1987  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]''
| 1988  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy II|Final Fantasy II]]''
| 1990  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy III|Final Fantasy III]]''
| 1991  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy IV|Final Fantasy IV]]''
| 1992  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy V|Final Fantasy V]]''
| 1994  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VI|Final Fantasy VI]]''
| 1997  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VII|Final Fantasy VII]]''
| 1999  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VIII|Final Fantasy VIII]]''
| 2000  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy IX|Final Fantasy IX]]''
| 2001  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy X|Final Fantasy X]]''
| 2002  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XI|Final Fantasy XI]]''
<!--| 2003 =  Please do not include ''Final Fantasy X-2''. All direct sequels are omitted from this list. -->
<!-- Direct sequels commented out: | 2004 = ''[[Software:Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII|Before Crisis]]'' -->
| 2006a = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XII|Final Fantasy XII]]''
<!-- Direct sequels commented out: 
| 2006b = ''[[Software:Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII|Dirge of Cerberus]]''
| 2007a = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings|Final Fantasy XII]]''
| 2007b = ''[[Software:Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII|Crisis Core]]''
-->
| 2009  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XIII|Final Fantasy XIII]]''
| 2010  = [[Software:Final Fantasy XIV (2010 video game)|''Final Fantasy XIV'']] (original)
| 2013  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XIV|Final Fantasy XIV]]''
| 2016  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XV|Final Fantasy XV]]''
| 2023  = ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XVI|Final Fantasy XVI]]''
}}

Three ''Final Fantasy'' installments were released on the [[Engineering:Nintendo Entertainment System|Nintendo Entertainment System]] (NES). ''[[Software:Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]'' was released in Japan in 1987 and in North America in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy - Release Summary |url=http://www.gamespot.com/nes/rpg/finalfantasy/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210201933/http://www.gamespot.com/nes/rpg/finalfantasy/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec1.html |title=The Main Final Fantasies |work=The History of Final Fantasy |publisher=GameSpot |first=Andrew |last=Vestal |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120708141802/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec1.html |archive-date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It introduced many concepts to the console RPG genre, and has since been remade on several platforms.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main" /> ''[[Software:Final Fantasy II|Final Fantasy II]]'', released in 1988 in Japan, has been bundled with ''Final Fantasy'' in several re-releases.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy II - Release Summary |url=https://www.gamespot.com/nes/rpg/finalfantasy2/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210212423/http://www.gamespot.com/nes/rpg/finalfantasy2/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveII">{{cite web|url=https://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-ii-final-fantasy/22650 |title=Final Fantasy Retrospective Part II |publisher=GameTrailers |date=July 23, 2007 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628180935/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-ii-final-fantasy/22650 |archive-date=June 28, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The last of the NES installments, ''[[Software:Final Fantasy III|Final Fantasy III]]'', was released in Japan in 1990,<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy III - Release Summary |url=http://www.gamespot.com/nes/rpg/finalfantasy3/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214121803/http://www.gamespot.com/nes/rpg/finalfantasy3/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=February 14, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> but was not released elsewhere until a Nintendo DS [[Software:Video game remake|remake]] came out in 2006.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveII" />

The [[Engineering:Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] (SNES) also featured three installments of the main series, all of which have been re-released on several platforms. ''[[Software:Final Fantasy IV|Final Fantasy IV]]'' was released in 1991; in North America, it was released as ''Final Fantasy II''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy II (SNES) - Release Summary |url=https://www.gamespot.com/snes/rpg/finalfantasy2/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213052720/http://www.gamespot.com/snes/rpg/finalfantasy2/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=February 13, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|year=1991|editor=Square Co|title=Final Fantasy II instruction manual| page=74|publisher=Square Co|id=SFS-F4-USA-1}}</ref> It introduced the "Active Time Battle" system.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/166/166322p1.html |title=Final Fantasy Chronicles |website=IGN |date=July 18, 2001 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805230122/http://psx.ign.com/articles/166/166322p1.html |archive-date=August 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Software:Final Fantasy V|Final Fantasy V]]'', released in 1992 in Japan, was the first game in the series to spawn a sequel: a short anime series, ''Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals''.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy V - Release Summary |url=http://www.gamespot.com/snes/rpg/finalfantasy5/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090213024209/http://www.gamespot.com/snes/rpg/finalfantasy5/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=February 13, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IGN-FF-Anime">{{cite web|url=http://anime.ign.com/articles/842/842025p1.html |title=Gaming to Anime: Final Fantasy VI |website=IGN |last=Isler |first=Ramsey |date=December 17, 2007 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811130521/http://anime.ign.com/articles/842/842025p1.html |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VI|Final Fantasy VI]]'' was released in Japan in 1994, titled ''Final Fantasy III'' in North America.<ref name="FFVI-Release">{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy III (SNES) - Release Summary |url=http://www.gamespot.com/snes/rpg/finalfantasy3/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913073812/http://www.gamespot.com/snes/rpg/finalfantasy3/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=September 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Engineering:PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] console saw the release of three main ''Final Fantasy'' games. ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VII|Final Fantasy VII]]'' (1997) moved away from the [[2D computer graphics|two-dimensional (2D) graphics]] used in the first six games to [[3D computer graphics|three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics]]; the game features [[Polygon (computer graphics)|polygonal]] characters on [[Pre-rendering|pre-rendered]] backgrounds. It also introduced a more modern setting, a style that was carried over to the next game.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/> It was also the second in the series to be released in Europe, with the first being ''[[Software:Final Fantasy Mystic Quest|Final Fantasy Mystic Quest]]''. ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VIII|Final Fantasy VIII]]'' was published in 1999, and was the first to consistently use realistically proportioned characters and feature a vocal piece as its theme music.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy VIII - Release Summary |url=https://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy8/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090415042438/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy8/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=April 15, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Software:Final Fantasy IX|Final Fantasy IX]]'', released in 2000, returned to the series' roots, by revisiting a more traditional ''Final Fantasy'' setting, rather than the more modern worlds of ''VII'' and ''VIII''.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy IX - Release Summary |url=https://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy9/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430042107/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy9/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Three main installments, as well as one online game, were published for the [[Engineering:PlayStation 2|PlayStation 2]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.ign.com/games/final-fantasy-x/ps2-14008|title=Final Fantasy X - PlayStation 2 - IGN|website=IGN|access-date=October 18, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125212221/http://uk.ign.com/games/final-fantasy-x/ps2-14008|archive-date=January 25, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.ign.com/games/final-fantasy-xi/ps2-14009|title=Final Fantasy XI - PlayStation 2 - IGN|website=IGN|access-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://uk.ign.com/games/final-fantasy-xii/ps2-488222|title=Final Fantasy XII - PlayStation 2 - IGN|website=IGN|access-date=October 18, 2012}}</ref> ''[[Software:Final Fantasy X|Final Fantasy X]]'' (2001) introduced full 3D areas and voice acting to the series, and was the first to spawn a sub-sequel (''[[Software:Final Fantasy X-2|Final Fantasy X-2]]'', published in 2003).<ref name="FFX-Releases">{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy X - Release Summary |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy10/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711082847/http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy10/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=July 11, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveVII">{{cite web|url = https://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-vii-final-fantasy/24248|title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part VII| publisher = GameTrailers| date = August 28, 2007|access-date = August 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622021020/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-vii-final-fantasy/24248 |archive-date=June 22, 2009}}</ref> The first massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) in the series, ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XI|Final Fantasy XI]]'', was released on the PS2 and PC in 2002, and later on the [[Engineering:Xbox 360|Xbox 360]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy&nbsp;XI - Release Summary |url=https://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy11/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090525022118/http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy11/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=May 25, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="FF-Retro-8">{{cite web| url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-viii-final-fantasy/24494|title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part VIII|publisher = GameTrailers|date = September 4, 2007|access-date = August 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622021025/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-viii-final-fantasy/24494 |archive-date=June 22, 2009}}</ref> It introduced real-time battles instead of [[Software:Random encounter|random encounter]]s.<ref name="FF-Retro-8" /> ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XII|Final Fantasy XII]]'', published in 2006, also includes real-time battles in large, interconnected playfields.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XII - Release Summary |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy12/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811165821/http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy12/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IGN-Evo">{{cite web|url=https://au.ps2.ign.com/articles/756/756635p1.html |title=The Evolution of Final Fantasy |last=Kolan |first=Patrick |website=IGN |date=January 18, 2007 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812000715/http://au.ps2.ign.com/articles/756/756635p1.html |archive-date=August 12, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The game is also the first in the main series to utilize a world used in a previous game, namely the land of Ivalice, which was previously featured in ''[[Software:Final Fantasy Tactics|Final Fantasy Tactics]]'' and ''[[Software:Vagrant Story|Vagrant Story]]''.<ref>{{cite web|year=2004 |title=Interview |url=https://www.ffworld.com/?rub=ff12&page=interview_jp-mai04 |work=FFWorld.com |access-date=May 25, 2007 |language=fr |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011201410/http://ffworld.com/?rub=ff12&page=interview_jp-mai04 |archive-date=October 11, 2007}}</ref>

In 2009, ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XIII|Final Fantasy XIII]]'' was released in Japan, and in North America and Europe the following year, for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.<ref name="xbox360">{{cite web|url=http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/888/888967p1.html |title=E3 2008: Final Fantasy XIII Coming to Xbox 360 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823082454/http://xbox360.ign.com/articles/888/888967p1.html |archive-date=August 23, 2011 |last=Thang |first=Jimmy |date=July 14, 2008 |website=IGN |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/finalfantasy13/news.html?sid=6209172 |title=Square Enix fast-tracking FFXIII localization - Report |first=Tom |last=Magrino |website=GameSpot |date=May 5, 2009 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121206002901/http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/finalfantasy13/news.html?sid=6209172 |archive-date=December 6, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It is the flagship installment of the ''Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy'' series<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/708/708994p1.html |title=Famitsu with More on Fabula Nova |website=IGN |first=Anoop |last=Gantayat |date=May 17, 2006 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813060829/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/708/708994p1.html |archive-date=August 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and became the first mainline game to spawn two sub-sequels (''[[Software:Final Fantasy XIII-2|XIII-2]]'' and ''[[Software:Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII|Lightning Returns]]'').<ref name="ShackInterview">{{cite web|url=http://www.shacknews.com/article/81728/fabula-nova-crystallis-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xiii-an |title=Fabula Nova Crystallis & a decade of Final Fantasy XIII: an interview with producer Yoshinori Kitase |author=Yoon, Andrew |publisher=Shacknews |date=October 24, 2013 |access-date=October 26, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306083235/http://www.shacknews.com/article/81728/fabula-nova-crystallis-a-decade-of-final-fantasy-xiii-an |archive-date=March 6, 2016}}</ref> It was also the first game released in Chinese and [[Engineering:High-definition video|high definition]] along with being released on two consoles at once. ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XIV (2010 video game)|Final Fantasy XIV]]'', a MMORPG, was released worldwide on [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]] in 2010, but it received heavy criticism when it was launched, prompting Square Enix to rerelease the game as ''Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn'', this time to the [[Engineering:PlayStation 3|PlayStation 3]] as well, in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XIV Online Release |website=GameSpot |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/finalfantasy14/similar.html?mode=versions |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817173648/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/final-fantasy-14/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=August 17, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XV|Final Fantasy XV]]'' is an action role-playing game that was released for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/6/10/4409956/playstation-4-games-announced-e3-2013/in/4166593 |title=Sony reveals new PlayStation 4 games at E3, including 'Final Fantasy XV', 'The Order: 1886' and 'Transistor' |author=Andrew Webster |publisher=TheVerge |date=June 10, 2013 |access-date=June 10, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614044646/http://www.theverge.com/2013/6/10/4409956/playstation-4-games-announced-e3-2013/in/4166593 |archive-date=June 14, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-15-release-date-confirmed-for-2016/1100-6429527/|title=Final Fantasy 15 Release Date Confirmed for 2016|last=Brown|first=Peter|website=GameSpot|date=August 6, 2015|access-date=August 6, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150806111629/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/final-fantasy-15-release-date-confirmed-for-2016/1100-6429527/|archive-date=August 6, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> Originally a ''XIII'' spin-off titled ''Versus XIII'', ''XV'' uses the mythos of the ''Fabula Nova Crystallis'' series, although in many other respects the game stands on its own and has since been distanced from the series by its developers.{{refn|Citations:<ref name="edge">{{cite web|date=June 25, 2007 |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/interview-tetsuya-nomura/ |title=Interview: Tetsuya Nomura |publisher=Edge Online |access-date=August 27, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103112724/http://www.edge-online.com/features/interview-tetsuya-nomura/ |archive-date=November 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name="VGinterview">{{cite web|url=http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/final_fantasy_15/news/final_fantasy_15_quite_far_into_development_given_high_priority_by_square.html|title=Final Fantasy 15 'quite far into development, given high priority' by Square|author=Schammell, David|work=VideoGamer.com|date=February 13, 2014|access-date=February 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213153739/http://www.videogamer.com/ps4/final_fantasy_15/news/final_fantasy_15_quite_far_into_development_given_high_priority_by_square.html|archive-date=February 13, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="TGSnomura">{{cite magazine|title=【PS4クリエイターインタビュー】『ファイナルファンタジーXV』新世代機で描かれる『FF』を野村哲也氏が語る|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201309/20040216.html|magazine=Famitsu|access-date=January 28, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128102401/https://www.famitsu.com/news/201309/20040216.html|archive-date=January 28, 2014|date=September 20, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|author=Juba, Joe|title=Final Fantasy XV - The Clearing Storm|magazine=Game Informer|publisher=[[Company:GameStop|GameStop]]|issue=277|date=May 2016|pages=38–64}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.famitsu.com/news/201508/07085495.html|script-title=ja:『ファイナルファンタジーXV』発売時期を示唆、『Just Cause 3』との技術協力も決定【gamescom 2015】|magazine=Famitsu|language=ja|date=August 7, 2015|access-date=August 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150807145900/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201508/07085495.html|archive-date=August 7, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.finaland.com/?rub=site&page=news&id=5516|title=Gamescom 2015: Hajime Tabata Interview (English)|publisher=Finaland|date=August 11, 2015|access-date=August 15, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811145957/http://www.finaland.com/?rub=site&page=news&id=5516|archive-date=August 11, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>}} The latest mainline entry, ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XVI|Final Fantasy XVI]]'',<ref>{{Citation|title=Final Fantasy 16 Announced for PS5 [Update: Square Retracts PC Announcement] - IGN|date=September 16, 2020 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ps5-final-fantasy-16|language=en|access-date=September 17, 2020|archive-date=September 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200917150010/https://www.ign.com/articles/ps5-final-fantasy-16|url-status=live}}</ref> was released in 2023 for [[Engineering:PlayStation 5|PlayStation 5]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-12-09 |title=Final Fantasy XVI launches June 22, 2023 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2022/12/final-fantasy-xvi-launches-june-22-2023 |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref>

==== Remakes, sequels and spin-offs ====
{{See also|List of Final Fantasy video games#Main series-related games{{!}}List of Final Fantasy spin-offs|List of Square Enix mobile games|Category: Final Fantasy spin-offs}}
''Final Fantasy'' has spawned numerous [[Engineering:Spin-off (media)|spin-offs]] and metaseries. Several are, in fact, not ''Final Fantasy'' games, but were rebranded for North American release. Examples include the [[Software:SaGa|''SaGa'' series]], rebranded ''[[Software:The Final Fantasy Legend|The Final Fantasy Legend]]'', and its two sequels, ''[[Software:Final Fantasy Legend II|Final Fantasy Legend II]]'' and ''[[Software:Final Fantasy Legend III|III]]''.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXI">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-xi-final-fantasy/26204 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part XI | publisher = GameTrailers | date = October 10, 2007 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609084827/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-ix-final-fantasy/25003 | archive-date=June 9, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Software:Final Fantasy Mystic Quest|Final Fantasy Mystic Quest]]'' was specifically developed for a United States audience, and ''[[Software:Final Fantasy Tactics|Final Fantasy Tactics]]'' is a [[Software:Tactical role-playing game|tactical RPG]] that features many references and themes found in the series.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveX">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-x-final-fantasy/25549 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part X | publisher = GameTrailers | date = September 25, 2007 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605002753/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-x-final-fantasy/25549 | archive-date=June 5, 2009}}</ref><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveIX">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-ix-final-fantasy/25003 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part IX | publisher = GameTrailers | date = September 15, 2007 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609084827/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-ix-final-fantasy/25003 | archive-date=June 9, 2009}}</ref> The spin-off ''Chocobo'' series, [[Software:Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles|''Crystal Chronicles'']] series, and ''[[Software:Kingdom Hearts|Kingdom Hearts]]'' series also include multiple ''Final Fantasy'' elements.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXI"/><ref>{{Cite news |date= July 2007|title= Tetsuya Nomura Interview|magazine= Edge|publisher= Future Publishing|issue= 177|pages= 80–81|url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/interview-tetsuya-nomura/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103112724/http://www.edge-online.com/features/interview-tetsuya-nomura/ |archive-date= November 3, 2013}}</ref> In 2003, the ''Final Fantasy'' series' first sub-sequel, ''Final Fantasy X-2'', was released.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy X-2 - Release Summary |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasyx2/similar.html?mode=versions |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818065251/http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasyx2/similar.html?mode=versions |archive-date=August 18, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy XIII'' was originally intended to stand on its own, but the team wanted to explore the world, characters and mythos more, resulting in the development and release of two sequels in [[Software:Final Fantasy XIII-2|2011]] and [[Software:Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII|2013]] respectively, creating the series' first official trilogy.<ref name="ShackInterview"/> ''[[Software:Dissidia Final Fantasy|Dissidia Final Fantasy]]'' was released in 2009, a [[Software:Fighting game|fighting game]] that features heroes and villains from the first ten games of the main series.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/101/1014058p1.html |title=Dissidia Final Fantasy Review |first=Ryan |last=Clements |date=August 14, 2009 |website=IGN |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825064920/http://psp.ign.com/articles/101/1014058p1.html |archive-date=August 25, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was followed by a [[Software:Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy|prequel]] in 2011,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/115/1151515p1.html |title=Heroes of Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy |first=Ryan |last=Clements |date=February 22, 2011 |website=IGN |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713005302/http://psp.ign.com/articles/115/1151515p1.html |archive-date=July 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> a [[Software:Dissidia Final Fantasy NT|sequel]] in 2015<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/14/square-enix-announces-dissidia-final-fantasy-for-japan-arcades|title=Square Enix announces Dissidia Final Fantasy for Japan Arcades|publisher=IGN|date=February 13, 2015|access-date=February 14, 2015|archive-date=February 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214163956/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/02/14/square-enix-announces-dissidia-final-fantasy-for-japan-arcades|url-status=live}}</ref> and a [[Software:Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia|mobile spin-off]] in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2017/01/dissidia-final-fantasy-opera-omnia-launches-february-1-japan|title=Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia launches February 1 in Japan|first=Sal|last= Romano|date=January 31, 2017|publisher=Gematsu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.siliconera.com/dissidia-final-fantasy-omnia-opera-arriving-january-30-2018/|title=Dissidia Final Fantasy: Omnia Opera Arriving On January 30, 2018|date=January 24, 2018|first=Jenni|last= Lada|publisher=Siliconera}}</ref> Other spin-offs have taken the form of subseries—''[[Software:Compilation of Final Fantasy VII|Compilation of Final Fantasy VII]]'', ''Ivalice Alliance'', and ''Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy''. In 2022, Square Enix released an [[Software:Action role-playing game|action-role playing]] title ''[[Software:Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin|Stranger of Paradise]]'' developed in collaboration with [[Company:Team Ninja|Team Ninja]], which takes place in an alternate, reimagined reality based on the setting of the original ''[[Software:Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]'' game, depicting a prequel story that explores the origins of the antagonist Chaos and the emergence of the four Warriors of Light.<ref>{{Cite web |title="STRANGER OF PARADISE FINAL FANTASY ORIGIN ANNOUNCED FOR 2022 RELEASE ON PLAYSTATION®5, PLAYSTATION®4, XBOX SERIES X{{!}}S, XBOX ONE AND PC" - Square Enix North America Press Hub |url=https://press.na.square-enix.com/STRANGER-OF-PARADISE-FINAL-FANTASY-ORIGIN-ANNOUNCED-FOR-2022-RELEASE-O |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=press.na.square-enix.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-06-13 |title=Team Ninja's Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Announced |url=https://www.siliconera.com/team-ninjas-stranger-of-paradise-final-fantasy-origin-announced/ |access-date=2022-05-08 |website=Siliconera |language=en-US}}</ref> Enhanced 3D remakes of ''[[Software:Final Fantasy III (2006 video game)|Final Fantasy III]]'' and ''[[Software:Final Fantasy IV (2007 video game)|IV]]'' were released in 2006 and 2007 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Final Fantasy III|url=https://www.gamespot.com/final-fantasy-iii/|access-date=July 2, 2020|website=GameSpot|language=en|archive-date=October 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010211456/https://www.gamespot.com/final-fantasy-iii/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|title=Final Fantasy IV [2007] - IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/games/final-fantasy-iv-3d|language=en|access-date=July 2, 2020|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731144802/https://www.ign.com/games/final-fantasy-iv-3d|url-status=live}}</ref> The first installment of the ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VII Remake|Final Fantasy VII Remake]]'' project was released on the PlayStation 4 in 2020.<ref>{{Citation|title=Final Fantasy VII Remake - IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/games/final-fantasy-vii-remake|language=en|access-date=July 2, 2020|archive-date=June 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630005952/https://www.ign.com/games/final-fantasy-vii-remake|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Other media ===
====Film and television====
{{VG timeline
| compressempty = yes
|title = ''Final Fantasy'' in film and television
|1994 = ''Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals''
|2001a = ''Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within''
|2001b = ''Final Fantasy: Unlimited''
|2005a = ''Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children''
|2005b = ''Last Order: Final Fantasy VII''
|2016a = ''Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV''
|2016b = ''Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV''
|2017a = ''Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light''
|2019a = ''Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn – Prologue''
}}
Square Enix has expanded the ''Final Fantasy'' series into various media. Multiple anime and [[Computer-generated imagery|computer-generated imagery]] (CGI) films have been produced that are based either on individual ''Final Fantasy'' games or on the series as a whole. The first was an original video animation (OVA), ''Final Fantasy: Legend of the Crystals'', a sequel to ''Final Fantasy V''. The story was set in the same world as the game, although 200 years in the future. It was released as four 30-minute episodes, first in Japan in 1994 and later in the United States by Urban Vision in 1998. In 2001, Square Pictures released its first feature film, ''Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within''. The film is set on a future [[Astronomy:Earth|Earth]] invaded by [[Astronomy:Extraterrestrial life|alien]] life forms.<ref name="MC-Spirits">{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/final-fantasy-the-spirits-within |title=Overview over ''Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'' reviews |access-date=August 3, 2011 |website=Metacritic |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828161005/http://www.metacritic.com/movie/final-fantasy-the-spirits-within |archive-date=August 28, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''The Spirits Within'' was the first animated feature to seriously attempt to portray photorealistic CGI humans, but was considered a box office bomb and garnered mixed reviews.<ref name="MC-Spirits"/><ref name="Edge177">{{Cite magazine|date=June 25, 2007 |title=Final Frontiers |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future Publishing |issue=177 |pages=72–79 |access-date=August 3, 2011 |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/news/squares-final-frontier?page=0%25252C2.0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706145547/http://www.next-gen.biz/news/squares-final-frontier?page=0%2C2.0 |archive-date=July 6, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="FFMovie-RPGamer">{{cite web|last=Long |first=Andrew |year=2003 |publisher=RPGamer |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q2-2003/042503e.html |title=Square-Enix Gives Chrono Break Trademark Some Playmates |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110817150918/http://www.rpgamer.com/news/Q2-2003/042503e.html |archive-date=August 17, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

A 25-episode anime television series, ''Final Fantasy: Unlimited'', was released in 2001 based on the common elements of the ''Final Fantasy'' series. It was broadcast in Japan by TV Tokyo and released in North America by ADV Films.

In 2005, ''Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children'', a feature length [[Engineering:Direct-to-video|direct-to-DVD]] CGI film, and ''Last Order: Final Fantasy VII'', a non-canon OVA,<ref name="twentyulti">{{Cite book | year=2008 | editor=Studio BentStuff | title=Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania File 2: Scenario | language=ja | publisher=Square Enix | isbn=978-4-7575-2251-0 | page=226}}</ref> were released as part of the ''Compilation of Final Fantasy VII''. ''Advent Children'' was animated by Visual Works, which helped the company create CG sequences for the games.<ref name="Hist of FF7">{{cite web|url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/870/870770p1.html |title=IGN Presents: The History of Final Fantasy VII |website=IGN |first=Rus |last=McLaughlin |date=April 30, 2008 |access-date=September 14, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917074604/http://retro.ign.com/articles/870/870770p1.html |archive-date=September 17, 2008}}</ref> The film, unlike ''The Spirits Within'', became a commercial success.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/final-fantasy-vii-advent-children |title=Anime News Network: Final Fantasy VII Advent Children review |work=Anime News Network |author=Santos, Carlo |date=April 28, 2006 |access-date=August 2, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090808071847/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/final-fantasy-vii-advent-children |archive-date=August 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3143876&did=1 |title=Final Fantasy VII Advent Children review |website=1UP.com |author=Mielke, James |date=September 16, 2005 |access-date=February 25, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060323050744/http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3143876&did=1 |archive-date=March 23, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/ff/ff7ac/reviews/ff7acstrev1.html |title=Final Fantasy VII Advent Children – Staff Review |publisher=RPGamer |author=Beckett, Michael |access-date=August 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113040145/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/ff/ff7ac/reviews/ff7acstrev1.html |archive-date=November 13, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://release.square-enix.com/na/2009/05/12.html |title=Final Fantasy VII Advent Children Complete |date=May 12, 2009 |publisher=Square Enix |access-date=February 19, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216033500/http://release.square-enix.com/na/2009/05/12.html |archive-date=February 16, 2012}}</ref> ''Last Order'', on the other hand, was released in Japan in a special DVD bundle package with ''Advent Children''. ''Last Order'' sold out quickly<ref name="fringe">{{cite web|url=http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/2005/12/feature/01-3.php |title=The Legacy of Final Fantasy VII |first1=Janet |last1=Crocker |first2=Lesley |last2=Smith |first3=Tim |last3=Henderson |first4=Adam |last4=Arnold |publisher=AnimeFringe |access-date=August 5, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080529062038/http://www.animefringe.com/magazine/2005/12/feature/01-3.php |archive-date=May 29, 2008}}</ref> and was positively received by Western critics,<ref name="talkie">{{cite web|url=http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/26907/final-fantasy-vii-advent-children-limited-edition/ |date=March 7, 2007 |title=Final Fantasy VII - Advent Children: Limited Edition |work=DVD Talk |first=Todd Jr. |last=Douglass |access-date=August 11, 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100323224741/http://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/26907/final-fantasy-vii-advent-children-limited-edition/ |archive-date=March 23, 2010}}</ref><ref name="acrelease">{{cite web|url=http://dvd.ign.com/articles/765/765583p1.html |date=February 16, 2007 |title=Double Dip Digest: Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (Limited Edition Collector's Set) |first=Chris |last=Carle |website=IGN |access-date=August 5, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120707221136/http://dvd.ign.com/articles/765/765583p1.html |archive-date=July 7, 2012}}</ref> though fan reaction was mixed over changes to established story scenes.<ref name="change">{{cite web|url=http://psp.ign.com/articles/869/869858p1.html |date=April 28, 2008 |title=Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII UK Interview |work=IGN |first=Dave |last=McCarthy |access-date=March 8, 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221203131/http://psp.ign.com/articles/869/869858p1.html |archive-date=February 21, 2009}}</ref>

Two animated tie-ins for ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XV|Final Fantasy XV]]'' were released as part of a larger multimedia project dubbed the ''Final Fantasy XV'' Universe. ''Brotherhood'' is a series of five 10-to-20-minute-long episodes developed by A-1 Pictures and Square Enix detailing the backstories of the main cast. ''Kingsglaive'', a CGI film released prior to the game in Summer 2016, is set during the game's opening and follows new and secondary characters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2016/03/30/kingsglaive-final-fantasy-xv-revealed-advent-children-style-cgi-film/|title=Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV Revealed As An Advent Children-Style CGI Film|author=Sato|publisher=Siliconera|date=March 30, 2016|access-date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331145520/http://www.siliconera.com/2016/03/30/kingsglaive-final-fantasy-xv-revealed-advent-children-style-cgi-film/|archive-date=March 31, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2016/03/31/kingsglaive-final-fantasy-xv-directed-advent-children-director/|title=Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV Is Being Directed By Advent Children Director|author=Sato|publisher=Siliconera|date=March 31, 2016|access-date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331150113/http://www.siliconera.com/2016/03/31/kingsglaive-final-fantasy-xv-directed-advent-children-director/|archive-date=March 31, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/2016/03/30/brotherhood-final-fantasy-xv-follows-noctis-childhood-adulthood/|title=Brotherhood: Final Fantasy XV Follows Noctis From Childhood To Adulthood|last=Lada|first=Jenni|publisher=Siliconera|date=March 30, 2016|access-date=March 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160331151825/http://www.siliconera.com/2016/03/30/brotherhood-final-fantasy-xv-follows-noctis-childhood-adulthood/|archive-date=March 31, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.famitsu.com/matome/ff15/2016_04_01_repo.html|script-title=ja:『FFXV』の期待値を最大限に高めるプロジェクト"FINAL FANTASY XV UNIVERSE"――"UNCOVERED FINAL FANTASY XV"詳細リポ|magazine=Famitsu|date=April 1, 2016|access-date=April 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160401130412/http://www.famitsu.com/matome/ff15/2016_04_01_repo.html|archive-date=April 1, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, Square Enix released a short anime, produced by Satelight Inc, called ''Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn – Prologue'' on their YouTube channel which acts as the background story for the final piece of DLC for ''Final Fantasy XV'' giving insight into Ardyn's past.

Square Enix also released ''Final Fantasy XIV: Dad of Light'' in 2017, an 8-episode Japanese soap opera based, featuring a mix of live-action scenes and ''Final Fantasy XIV'' gameplay footage.

As of June 2019, Sony Pictures Television is working on a first ever live-action adaptation of the series with Hivemind and Square Enix. Jason F. Brown, Sean Daniel and Dinesh Shamdasani for Hivemind are the producers while Ben Lustig and Jake Thornton were attached as writers and executive producers for the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/live-action-final-fantasy-series-sony-pictures-tv-1203253669/|title='Final Fantasy' Live-Action Series in the Works at Sony Pictures Television|website=Variety|last=Thorne|first=Will|date=June 27, 2019|access-date=June 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627165658/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/live-action-final-fantasy-series-sony-pictures-tv-1203253669/|archive-date=June 27, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Other media====
Several video games have either been adapted into or have had spin-offs in the form of manga and novels. The first was the novelization of ''Final Fantasy II'' in 1989, and was followed by a manga adaptation of ''Final Fantasy III'' in 1992.<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:ファイナルファンタジー2 夢魔の迷宮 |url=http://books.yahoo.co.jp/book_detail/AAD37156/ |work=Yahoo! Japan: Books |publisher=[[Company:Yahoo!|Yahoo!]] |language=ja |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725221106/http://books.yahoo.co.jp/book_detail/AAD37156/ |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:悠久の風伝説 ファイナルファンタジー3より 3 |url=http://books.yahoo.co.jp/book_detail/AAG17288/ |work=Yahoo! Japan: Books |publisher=[[Company:Yahoo!|Yahoo!]] |language=ja |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725221127/http://books.yahoo.co.jp/book_detail/AAG17288/ |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The past decade has seen an increase in the number of non-video game adaptations and spin-offs. ''Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'' has been adapted into a novel, the spin-off game ''[[Software:Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles|Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles]]'' has been adapted into a manga, and ''Final Fantasy XI'' had a novel and manga set in its continuity.<ref>{{cite book |title=Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (Mass Market Paperback) |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780743424196 |isbn=0743424190 |last1=Smith |first1=Dean Wesley |year=2001|publisher=Pocket Books/Star Trek}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=December 18, 2003 |title=FF Crystal Chronicles Goes Comic |url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/446/446676p1.html |website=IGN |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810173037/http://cube.ign.com/articles/446/446676p1.html |archive-date=August 10, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|script-title=ja:ファイナルファンタジー11 星の誓い |url=http://books.yahoo.co.jp/book_detail/AAO05348/ |work=Yahoo! Japan: Books |publisher=[[Company:Yahoo!|Yahoo!]] |language=ja |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725221059/http://books.yahoo.co.jp/book_detail/AAO05348/ |archive-date=July 25, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy&nbsp;XI T-1 |url=http://www.fleuvenoir.fr/sf-fantasy-poche-jeux-video-fiche-livre-9782265085596.html |language=fr |publisher=Fleuve Noir |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720220456/http://www.fleuvenoir.fr/site/sf-fantasy-poche-jeux-video-fiche-livre-9782265085596.html |archive-date=July 20, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Seven novellas based on the ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VII|Final Fantasy VII]]'' universe have also been released. The ''Final Fantasy: Unlimited'' story was partially continued in novels and a manga after the anime series ended.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2002-03-20/final-fantasy-unlimited-to-end-at-26 |title=Final Fantasy: Unlimited To End at 26 |work=Anime News Network |date=March 20, 2002 |access-date=August 3, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106104132/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2002-03-20/final-fantasy-unlimited-to-end-at-26 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The ''Final Fantasy X'' and ''XIII'' series have also had novellas and audio dramas released. ''[[Software:Final Fantasy Tactics Advance|Final Fantasy Tactics Advance]]'' has been adapted into a radio drama, and ''Final Fantasy: Unlimited'' has received a radio drama sequel.

A trading card game named ''Final Fantasy Trading Card Game'' is produced by Square Enix and Hobby Japan, first released Japan in 2012 with an English version in 2016.<ref name="FFTCG1">{{cite web | url=https://kotaku.com/oh-no-the-final-fantasy-trading-card-game-launches-in-1787220000 | last=Fahey | first=Mike | title=Oh No, The Final Fantasy Trading Card Game Launches in English Next Month | date=September 29, 2016 | publisher=Kotaku | access-date=October 3, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731203149/http://kotaku.com/oh-no-the-final-fantasy-trading-card-game-launches-in-1787220000 | archive-date=July 31, 2017 | url-status=live}}</ref> The game has been compared to ''Magic: the Gathering'', and a tournament circuit for the game also takes place.<ref name="FFTCG2">{{Cite web |last=Duffy |first=Owen |title=The 'Final Fantasy Trading Card Game' Unpicks a Very Particular Secret of Mana |date=May 7, 2017 |url=https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/53nm3d/the-final-fantasy-trading-card-game-unpicks-a-very-particular-secret-of-mana |access-date=October 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208001919/https://waypoint.vice.com/en_us/article/53nm3d/the-final-fantasy-trading-card-game-unpicks-a-very-particular-secret-of-mana |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="FFTCG3">{{Cite web |last=Vincent |first=Brittany |title=Final Fantasy's Trading Card Game is Getting Its Own Tournament |date=July 13, 2017 |url=http://twinfinite.net/2017/07/final-fantasys-trading-card-game-is-getting-its-own-tournament/ |access-date=October 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208001918/http://twinfinite.net/2017/07/final-fantasys-trading-card-game-is-getting-its-own-tournament/ |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== Common elements ==
Although most ''Final Fantasy'' installments are independent, many [[Software:Gameplay|gameplay]] elements recur throughout the series.<ref name="ArtOfGameWorlds">{{cite book | title = The Art of Game Worlds | first = Dave | last = Morris | chapter = Insider Secrets: Final Fantasy X-2b| pages = 98–102 | publisher = HarperCollins | isbn = 0-06-072430-7 | year = 2004}}</ref><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec2.html | title = Final Fantasy Series | work = The History of Final Fantasy | publisher = GameSpot | first = Andrew | last = Vestal | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709115341/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec2.html | archive-date=July 9, 2006}}</ref> Most games contain elements of fantasy and science fiction and feature recycled names often inspired from various cultures' history, languages and mythology, including Asian, European, and [[Place:Middle East|Middle-Eastern]].<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/> Examples include weapon names like Excalibur and Masamune—derived from Arthurian legend and the Japanese swordsmith Masamune respectively—as well as the spell names Holy, Meteor, and Ultima.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/> Beginning with ''Final Fantasy IV'', the main series adopted its current logo style that features the same [[Typeface|typeface]] and an emblem designed by Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano. The emblem relates to a game's plot and typically portrays a character or object in the story. Subsequent remakes of the first three games have replaced the previous logos with ones similar to the rest of the series.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/>

=== Plot and themes ===
[[File:Final Fantasy V death crystal screenshot.png|thumb|''Final Fantasy V'' is similar to the earlier games in the series, in that the heroes must attempt to retrieve crystals to save the world from an ancient evil.]]

The central conflict in many ''Final Fantasy'' games focuses on a group of characters battling an evil, and sometimes ancient, antagonist that dominates the game's world. Stories frequently involve a [[Earth:Sovereign state|sovereign state]] in rebellion, with the protagonists taking part in the rebellion. The heroes are often destined to defeat the evil, and occasionally gather as a direct result of the antagonist's malicious actions.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII">{{cite web|url=http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/r0ogno/gt-retrospectives-final-fantasy-retrospective--part-vii |title=Final Fantasy Retrospective Part&nbsp;XIII |publisher=GameTrailers |date=November 2, 2007 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130905043019/http://www.gametrailers.com/full-episodes/r0ogno/gt-retrospectives-final-fantasy-retrospective--part-vii |archive-date=September 5, 2013}}</ref> Another staple of the series is the existence of two villains; the main villain is not always who it appears to be, as the primary antagonist may actually be subservient to another character or entity.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/> The main antagonist introduced at the beginning of the game is not always the final enemy, and the characters must continue their quest beyond what appears to be the final fight.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/>

Stories in the series frequently emphasize the internal struggles, passions, and tragedies of the characters, and the main plot often recedes into the background as the focus shifts to their personal lives.<ref name="IGN-Evo"/><ref>{{cite book | title = Japan Pop!: Inside the World of Japanese Popular Culture | first = Timothy J. | last = Craig | year = 2000 | publisher = M.E. Sharpe | isbn = 0-7656-0561-9 | url-access = registration | url = https://archive.org/details/japanpopinsidew00crai}}</ref> Games also explore relationships between characters, ranging from love to rivalry.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/> Other recurring situations that drive the plot include [[Medicine:Amnesia|amnesia]], a hero corrupted by an evil force, mistaken identity, and self-sacrifice.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref name="videogamesandart"/><ref name="egm">{{cite magazine|title=Interview with Yoshinori Kitase and Tetsuya Nomura |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly |issue=196 |date=October 2005 |url=http://www.ff7citadel.com/press/int_egm.shtml |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110818173016/http://www.ff7citadel.com/press/int_egm.shtml |archive-date=August 18, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Magical orbs and crystals are recurring in-game items that are frequently connected to the themes of the games' plots.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/> Crystals often play a central role in the creation of the world, and a majority of the ''Final Fantasy'' games link crystals and orbs to the planet's [[Philosophy:Energy (esotericism)|life force]]. As such, control over these crystals drives the main conflict.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/><ref name="1upinterview">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3151333 |title=FFXIII Interview: Nomura, Kitase, Hashimoto and Toriyama |publisher=1up.com |date=June 7, 2006 |first=Luke |last=Smith |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805002459/http://www.1up.com/news/ffxiii-interview |archive-date=August 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Philosophy:Classical element|classical element]]s are also a recurring theme in the series related to the heroes, villains, and items.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/> Other common plot and setting themes include the [[Astronomy:Gaia hypothesis|Gaia hypothesis]], an apocalypse, and conflicts between advanced [[Engineering:Technology|technology]] and [[Earth:Nature|nature]].<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/><ref name="videogamesandart">{{cite book | title = Videogames and art | first1 = Andy | last1 = Clarke | first2 = Grethe | last2 = Mitchell | year = 2007 | publisher = Intellect | isbn = 978-1-84150-954-9}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_finalfantasyxii_ps2 | title = This Great Fantasy Interview | first = Rob | last = Fahey | website = Eurogamer | page = 2 | date = October 31, 2006 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125070658/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/i_finalfantasyxii_ps2 | archive-date=January 25, 2009}}</ref>

=== Characters ===
The series features a number of recurring character archetypes. Most famously, every game since ''Final Fantasy II'', including subsequent remakes of the original ''Final Fantasy'', features a character named Cid. Cid's appearance, personality, goals, and role in the game (non-playable ally, party member, villain) vary dramatically. However, two characteristics many versions of Cid have in common are being a scientist or engineer, and being tied in some way to an airship the party eventually acquires. Every Cid has at least one of these two traits.

Biggs and Wedge, inspired by two ''Star Wars'' characters of the same name, appear in numerous games as minor characters, sometimes as comic relief.<ref name="IGN-Evo"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/> The later games in the series feature several males with effeminate characteristics.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200702/N07.0228.1154.25773.htm | title = Ten Gaming Clichés | first = Jeff | last = Cork | magazine = Game Informer | date = February 28, 2007 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071010053837/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200702/N07.0228.1154.25773.htm | archive-date = October 10, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/441/441293p1.html |title=Final Fantasy&nbsp;XII Q&A |date=November 20, 2003 |website=IGN |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110620082644/http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/441/441293p1.html |archive-date=June 20, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Recurring creatures include Chocobos, Moogles, and Cactuars.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Adler|first=Matthew|date=April 6, 2020|title=Why Final Fantasy is the Biggest RPG Series of All Time|url=https://in.ign.com/final-fantasy-vii/146623/feature/why-final-fantasy-is-the-biggest-rpg-series-of-all-time|access-date=October 20, 2020|website=IGN India|language=en-in}}</ref> Chocobos are large, often flightless birds that appear in several installments as a means of long-distance travel for characters. Moogles are white, stout creatures resembling teddy bears with wings and a single antenna. They serve different roles in games including mail delivery, [[Engineering:Metalsmith|weaponsmiths]], party members, and [[Software:Saved game|saving the game]]. Cactuars are anthropomorphic [[Biology:Cactus|cacti]] with ''haniwa''-like faces presented in a running or dashing pose. They usually appear as recurring enemy units, and also as summoned allies or friendly [[Software:Non-player character|non-player character]]s in certain titles. Chocobo and Moogle appearances are often accompanied by specific musical themes that have been arranged differently for separate games.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref name="IGN-Evo"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/>

=== Gameplay ===
In ''Final Fantasy'' games, players command a party of characters as they progress through the game's story by exploring the game world and defeating enemies.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/> Enemies are typically [[Software:Random encounter|encountered randomly]] through exploring, a trend which changed in ''Final Fantasy XI'' and ''XII''. The player issues combat orders—like "Fight", "Magic", and "Item"—to individual characters via a menu-driven interface while engaging in battles. Throughout the series, the games have used different battle systems. Prior to ''Final Fantasy XI'', battles were turn-based with the protagonists and antagonists on different sides of the battlefield. ''Final Fantasy IV'' introduced the "Active Time Battle" (ATB) system that augmented the turn-based nature with a perpetual time-keeping system. Designed by Hiroyuki Ito, it injected urgency and excitement into combat by requiring the player to act before an enemy attacks, and was used until ''[[Software:Final Fantasy X|Final Fantasy X]]'', which implemented the "Conditional Turn-Based" (CTB) system.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref name="IGN-Evo"/><ref name="VM-FFHistory">{{cite web|url=http://www.virginmedia.com/games/features/finalfantasyhistory2.php |title=(Never the) Final Fantasy |first=David |last=Jenkins |publisher=Virgin Media |date=February 28, 2007 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810220557/http://www.virginmedia.com/games/features/finalfantasyhistory2.php |archive-date=August 10, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This new system returned to the previous turn-based system, but added nuances to offer players more challenge.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveVII"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/final-fantasy-x |title=Final Fantasy&nbsp;X (PS2) Reviews |date=January 1, 2000 |website=1UP.com |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629031105/http://www.1up.com/reviews/final-fantasy-x |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy XI'' adopted a real-time battle system where characters continuously act depending on the issued command.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/p_ffxi_ps2 | title = Final Fantasy XI | first = Tom | last = Bramwell | website = Eurogamer | date = January 2, 2002 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310202551/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/p_ffxi_ps2 | archive-date=March 10, 2009}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy XII'' continued this gameplay with the "Active Dimension Battle" system.<ref name="BRADY35">{{cite book |editor=BradyGAMES |title=Final Fantasy&nbsp;XII Official Strategy Guide |year=2006 |publisher=DKPublishing |isbn=0-7440-0837-9 |pages=35–36}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy XIII''{{'}}s combat system, designed by the same man who worked on ''X'',<ref name="IGNstaff">{{Cite news|url=http://ps3.ign.com/articles/706/706153p1.html |title=E3 2006: FFXIII Staff Check |work=IGN |publisher=News Corporation|first=Anoop |last=Gantayat |date=May 9, 2006 |access-date= December 15, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080403232803/http://ps3.ign.com/articles/706/706153p1.html |url-status=live |archive-date=April 3, 2008}}</ref> was meant to have an action-oriented feel, emulating the cinematic battles in ''Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children''. ''Final Fantasy XV'' introduces a new "Open Combat" system. Unlike previous battle systems in the franchise, the "Open Combat" system (OCS) allows players to take on a fully active battle scenario, allowing for free range attacks and movement, giving a much more fluid feel of combat. This system also incorporates a "Tactical" Option during battle, which pauses active battle to allow use of items.<ref name="XIIIbattle">{{cite web | last=Bramwell | first=Tom | date=June 7, 2006 | title=FF to look like Advent Children? | url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news070606ffxiii | website=Eurogamer | access-date=July 27, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624094706/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/news070606ffxiii | archive-date=June 24, 2009 | url-status=live}}</ref>

Like most RPGs, the ''Final Fantasy'' installments use an [[Software:Experience point|experience level]] system for character advancement, in which experience points are accumulated by killing enemies.<ref>{{cite book | title = Vintage Games | first1 = Bill | last1 = Loguidice | first2 = Matt | last2 = Barton | year = 2009 | publisher = Focal Press/Elsevier | isbn = 978-0-240-81146-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title = Final Fantasy Anthology Official Strategy Guide | publisher = BradyGames | year = 1999 | isbn = 1-56686-925-0 | author = David Cassady.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | year = 2004 | title = Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania | publisher = Studio BentStuff | language = ja | isbn= 4-7575-1243-0 | author = Sutajio bento sutaffu.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | year = 2004 | title = Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania Omega | publisher = Square-Enix | language = ja | isbn= 4-7575-1161-2 | author = Sutajio bento sutaffu.}}</ref> Character classes, specific jobs that enable unique abilities for characters, are another recurring theme. Introduced in the first game, character classes have been used differently in each game. Some restrict a character to a single job to integrate it into the story, while other games feature dynamic job systems that allow the player to choose from multiple classes and switch throughout the game. Though used heavily in many games, such systems have become less prevalent in favor of characters that are more versatile; characters still match an archetype, but are able to learn skills outside their class.<ref name="IGN-Evo"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/>

Magic is another common RPG element in the series. The method by which characters gain magic varies between installments, but is generally divided into classes organized by color: "White magic", which focuses on spells that assist teammates; "Black magic", which focuses on harming enemies; "Red magic", which is a combination of white and black magic, "Blue magic", which mimics enemy attacks; and "Green magic" which focuses on applying [[Software:Status effect|status effect]]s to either allies or enemies.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/><ref name="VM-FFHistory"/> Other types of magic frequently appear such as "Time magic", focusing on the themes of time, space, and gravity; and "Summoning magic", which [[Unsolved:Evocation|evokes]] legendary creatures to aid in battle and is a feature that has persisted since ''Final Fantasy III''. Summoned creatures are often referred to by names like "Espers" or "Eidolons" and have been inspired by mythologies from Arabic, [[Religion:Hindu mythology|Hindu]], Norse, and [[Religion:Greek mythology|Greek]] cultures.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/>

Different means of transportation have appeared through the series. The most common is the airship for long range travel, accompanied by chocobos for travelling short distances, but others include sea and land vessels. Following ''Final Fantasy VII'', more modern and futuristic vehicle designs have been included.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/>

== Development and history ==
=== Origin ===
[[File:Hironobu Sakaguchi 20070706 Japan Expo 1.jpg|thumb|Hironobu Sakaguchi, creator of the ''Final Fantasy'' series|alt=A man sitting in a chair and speaking in a microphone.]]
In the mid-1980s, Square entered the Japanese video game industry with simple RPGs, [[Software:Racing video game|racing games]], and [[Software:Platform game|platformers]] for [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]]'s Famicom Disk System. In 1987, Square designer Hironobu Sakaguchi chose to create a new fantasy role-playing game for the cartridge-based NES, and drew inspiration from popular fantasy games: [[Company:Enix|Enix]]'s ''Dragon Quest'', Nintendo's ''The Legend of Zelda'', and [[Company:Origin Systems|Origin Systems]]'s ''Ultima'' series. Though often attributed to the company allegedly facing bankruptcy, Sakaguchi explained that the game was his personal last-ditch effort in the game industry and that its title, ''Final Fantasy'', stemmed from his feelings at the time; had the game not sold well, he would have quit the business and gone back to college.<ref name="developmentFF">{{cite web|url=http://www.develop-online.net/news/28960/Sakaguchi-discusses-the-development-of-Final-Fantasy |title=Sakaguchi discusses the development of Final Fantasy |author=Fear, Ed |date=December 13, 2007 |work=Develop |publisher=Intent Media |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809114048/http://www.develop-online.net/news/28960/Sakaguchi-discusses-the-development-of-Final-Fantasy |archive-date=August 9, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="IntroSE">{{cite web|title=An Introduction to Square-Enix |url=http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/1554/An-Introduction-to-SquareEnix/p2/ |publisher=IGN |work=TeamXbox |last=Berardini |first=César A. |date=April 26, 2006 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716200245/http://features.teamxbox.com/xbox/1554/An-Introduction-to-SquareEnix/p2/ |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="FF-Retro-1">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-i-final-fantasy/22250 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part I | publisher = GameTrailers| date = July 15, 2007 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090608140809/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-i-final-fantasy/22250 | archive-date = June 8, 2009 | url-status = live}}</ref> Despite his explanation, publications have also attributed the name to the company's hopes that the project would solve its financial troubles.<ref name="IntroSE"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/ | title = The History of Final Fantasy: Introduction | work = The History of Final Fantasy | last = Vestal | first = Andrew | publisher = GameSpot | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210055911/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/ | archive-date=February 10, 2009}}</ref> In 2015, Sakaguchi explained the name's origin: the team wanted a title that would abbreviate to "''FF''", which would sound good in Japanese. The name was originally going to be ''Fighting Fantasy'', but due to concerns over trademark conflicts with the roleplaying gamebook series of the same name, they needed to settle for something else. As the English word "Final" was well-known in Japan, Sakaguchi settled on that. According to Sakaguchi, any title that created the "''FF''" abbreviation would have done.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.famitsu.com/news/201505/24079276.html|title=『FF』はどのように世界に広がっていったのか？坂口博信氏と浜村弘一ファミ通グループ代表が"国際日本ゲーム研究カンファレンス"にて語る|magazine=Famitsu|date=May 24, 2015|access-date=May 29, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150526221313/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201505/24079276.html|archive-date=May 26, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

The game indeed reversed Square's lagging fortunes, and it became the company's flagship franchise.<ref name="Edge177"/><ref name="IntroSE"/> Following the success, Square immediately developed a second installment. Because Sakaguchi assumed ''Final Fantasy'' would be a stand-alone game, its story was not designed to be expanded by a sequel. The developers instead chose to carry over only thematic similarities from its predecessor, while some of the [[Software:Gameplay|gameplay]] elements, such as the character advancement system, were overhauled. This approach has continued throughout the series; each major ''Final Fantasy'' game features a new setting, a new cast of characters, and an upgraded battle system.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveII"/> Video game writer John Harris attributed the concept of reworking the game system of each installment to [[Company:Nihon Falcom|Nihon Falcom]]'s ''Dragon Slayer'' series,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4066/game_design_essentials_20_rpgs.php?page=13 |author=John Harris |title=Game Design Essentials: 20 RPGs - Dragon Slayer |website=Gamasutra |page=13 |date=July 2, 2009 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111012154920/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/4066/game_design_essentials_20_rpgs.php?page=13 |archive-date=October 12, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> with which Square was previously involved as a publisher.<ref>{{cite web|author=Kurt Kalata |url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/dragonslayer/dragonslayer.htm |title=Dragon Slayer |publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723142515/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/dragonslayer/dragonslayer.htm |archive-date=July 23, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The company regularly released new games in the main series, but the time between the releases of ''XI'' (2002), ''XII'' (2006), and ''XIII'' (2009) were much longer than previous games. Following ''Final Fantasy XIV'', Square Enix released ''Final Fantasy'' games either annually or biennially. This switch was to mimic the development cycles of Western games in the ''[[Software:Call of Duty|Call of Duty]]'', ''[[Software:Assassin's Creed|Assassin's Creed]]'' and ''Battlefield'' series, as well as maintain fan-interest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-21-se-wants-to-release-a-final-fantasy-every-year-or-two |title=SE wants to release a Final Fantasy every year or two |website=Eurogamer |first=Wesley |last=Yin-Poole |date=November 21, 2011 |access-date=November 22, 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123161322/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-11-21-se-wants-to-release-a-final-fantasy-every-year-or-two |archive-date=November 23, 2011}}</ref>

=== Design ===
For the original ''Final Fantasy'', Sakaguchi required a larger production team than Square's previous games. He began crafting the game's story while experimenting with gameplay ideas. Once the gameplay system and game world size were established, Sakaguchi integrated his story ideas into the available resources. A different approach has been taken for subsequent games; the story is completed first and the game built around it.<ref name="UltimateHistory">{{cite book | title = Ultimate History of Video Games | first = Steven | last = Kent |  pages = 541–542 | chapter = The Mainstream and All Its Perils | publisher = Three Rivers Press | isbn = 0-7615-3643-4 | year = 2001}}</ref> Designers have never been restricted by consistency, though most feel each game should have a minimum number of common elements. The development teams strive to create completely new worlds for each game, and avoid making new games too similar to previous ones. Game locations are conceptualized early in development and design details like building parts are fleshed out as a base for entire structures.<ref name="ArtOfGameWorlds"/>

The first five games were directed by Sakaguchi, who also provided the original concepts.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Staff">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec3.html | title = Staff Spotlight | work = The History of Final Fantasy | publisher = GameSpot | first = Andrew | last = Vestal | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060709115353/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec3.html | archive-date=July 9, 2006}}</ref> He drew inspiration for game elements from anime films by Hayao Miyazaki; series staples like the airships and chocobos are inspired by elements in ''Castle in the Sky'' and ''Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind'', respectively.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Rogers |first=Tim |date=March 27, 2006 |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/defense-final-fantasy-xii |title=In Defense of Final Fantasy XII |magazine=Edge |publisher=Next Generation |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130831220204/http://www.edge-online.com/features/defense-final-fantasy-xii/2/ |archive-date=August 31, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Sakaguchi served as a producer for subsequent games until he left Square in 2001.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Staff"/> Yoshinori Kitase took over directing the games until ''Final Fantasy VIII'',<ref name="FFVI-GSDetails">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/snes/rpg/finalfantasy3/tech_info.html | title = Final Fantasy III (SNES) - Tech Info | website = GameSpot | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212080247/http://www.gamespot.com/snes/rpg/finalfantasy3/tech_info.html | archive-date=February 12, 2009}}</ref><ref name="FFVII-GSDetails">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy7/tech_info.html |title=Final Fantasy VII - Tech Info |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826111050/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy7/tech_info.html |archive-date=August 26, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="FFVIII-GSDetails">{{cite web | url = http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy8/tech_info.html | title = Final Fantasy VIII - Tech Info | website = GameSpot | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412002920/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy8/tech_info.html | archive-date=April 12, 2009}}</ref> and has been followed by a new director for each new game. Hiroyuki Ito designed several gameplay systems, including ''Final Fantasy V''{{'}}s "[[Software:Final Fantasy V#Job System|Job System]]", ''Final Fantasy VIII''{{'}}s "Junction System" and the Active Time Battle concept, which was used from ''Final Fantasy IV'' until ''IX''.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/><ref name="FFVI-GSDetails"/> In designing the Active Time Battle system, Ito drew inspiration from Formula One racing; he thought it would be interesting if character types had different speeds after watching race cars pass each other.<ref>{{cite web|title=30 Things You (Probably) Didn't Know About Final Fantasy |page=6 |author=Jeremy Parish |website=1UP.com |url=http://www.1up.com/features/final-fantasy-thirty-things-you-did-not-know?pager.offset=5 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103175047/http://www.1up.com/features/final-fantasy-thirty-things-you-did-not-know?pager.offset=5 |archive-date=November 3, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Ito also co-directed ''Final Fantasy VI'' with Kitase.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/><ref name="FFVI-GSDetails"/> Kenji Terada was the scenario writer for the first three games; Kitase took over as scenario writer for ''Final Fantasy V'' through ''VII''. Kazushige Nojima became the series' primary scenario writer from ''Final Fantasy VII'' until his resignation in October 2003; he has since formed his own company, Stellavista. Nojima partially or completely wrote the stories for ''Final Fantasy VII'', ''VIII'', ''X'', and its sequel ''X-2''. He also worked as the scenario writer for the spin-off series, ''Kingdom Hearts''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/349279/super-smash-bros-brawl-storyline-penned-by-final-fantasy-vii-writer |title=Super Smash Bros. Brawl Storyline Penned By Final Fantasy VII Writer |first=Michael |last=McWhertor |publisher=Kotaku |date=January 25, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110815135139/http://kotaku.com/349279/super-smash-bros-brawl-storyline-penned-by-final-fantasy-vii-writer |archive-date=August 15, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Daisuke Watanabe co-wrote the scenarios for ''Final Fantasy X'' and ''XII'', and was the main writer for the ''XIII'' games.<ref name="ultimaniaomega">{{cite book | title=Final Fantasy X Ultimania Omega | publisher=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] | pages=191–193, 476 | author=Studio BentStuff | language=ja}}</ref><ref name=dvd>{{cite web|title=Video interview with FINAL FANTASY XII Directors |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYIzjBbO2FQ |work=FINAL FANTASY XII Collector's Edition Bonus DVD |publisher=Square Enix Co., Ltd |access-date=April 8, 2011 |date=October 31, 2006 |quote=Hiroshi Minagawa: In the course of development, Jun Akiyama and Daisuke Watanabe came up with many ideas but ultimately we had to abandon many of them. I'd heard their original ideas and I wish we could have included them all. Once we began development and many of the systems were in place, the team had many progressive ideas. It was the most enjoyable part of the project. But as we approached the project's end, I had to point out features we had to drop in order for the game to be finished. Which is unfortunate, since I'm sure people would have enjoyed the game that much more if we could have left all our original ideas in. |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206221711/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYIzjBbO2FQ |archive-date=December 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name="FamitsuWatanabe">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.famitsu.com/news/201407/11056946.html|title=『ファイナルファンタジーXIII REMINISCENCE -tracer of memories-』著者、渡辺大祐氏にインタビュー|trans-title=Final Fantasy XIII: Reminiscence -tracer of memories-: Interview with author Daisuke Watanabe|magazine=Famitsu|date=July 11, 2014|access-date=July 11, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711075338/http://www.famitsu.com/news/201407/11056946.html|archive-date=July 11, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Ff6 magitek.jpg|thumb|upright|''Final Fantasy VI'' artwork by Yoshitaka Amano, who provided designs for much of the series.]]

Artistic design, including character and monster creations, was handled by Japanese artist Yoshitaka Amano from ''Final Fantasy'' through ''Final Fantasy VI''. Amano also handled title logo designs for all of the main series and the image illustrations from ''Final Fantasy VII'' onward.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Staff"/> Tetsuya Nomura was chosen to replace Amano because Nomura's designs were more adaptable to 3D graphics. He worked with the series from ''Final Fantasy VII'' through ''X'', then came back for ''XIII'', and for the basic design of ''XV''.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXIII"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Staff"/> For ''Final Fantasy IX'' character designs were handled by Shukō Murase, Toshiyuki Itahana, and Shin Nagasawa.<ref name="FFIX-GSDetails">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy9/tech_info.html |title=Final Fantasy IX - Tech Info |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428184413/http://www.gamespot.com/ps/rpg/finalfantasy9/tech_info.html |archive-date=April 28, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> For ''Final Fantasy XV'', Roberto Ferrari was responsible for the character design. Nomura is also the character designer of the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series, ''Compilation of Final Fantasy VII'', and ''Fabula Nova Crystallis: Final Fantasy''.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/hot-100-game-developers-2007 |title=The Hot 100 Game Developers of 2007 |magazine=Edge |publisher=Next Generation |date=March 3, 2007 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120820032431/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/hot-100-game-developers-2007 |archive-date=August 20, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other designers include Nobuyoshi Mihara and Akihiko Yoshida. Mihara was the character designer for ''Final Fantasy XI'', and Yoshida served as character designer for ''Final Fantasy Tactics'', the Square-produced ''[[Software:Vagrant Story|Vagrant Story]]'', and ''Final Fantasy XII''.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveIX"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy XI Tech Info |url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy11/tech_info.html |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221101604/http://www.gamespot.com/ps2/rpg/finalfantasy11/tech_info.html |archive-date=December 21, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Graphics and technology ===
Because of graphical limitations, the first games on the NES feature small [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] representations of the leading party members on the main world screen. Battle screens use more detailed, full versions of characters in a side-view perspective. This practice was used until ''Final Fantasy VI'', which uses detailed versions for both screens. The NES sprites are 26&nbsp;[[Pixel|pixel]]s high and use a [[Palette (computing)|color palette]] of 4&nbsp;colors. 6&nbsp;[[Engineering:Film frame|frames of animation]] are used to depict different character statuses like "healthy" and "fatigued". The SNES installments use updated graphics and effects, as well as higher quality audio than in previous games, but are otherwise similar to their predecessors in basic design. The SNES sprites are 2 pixels shorter, but have larger palettes and feature more animation frames: 11 colors and 40 frames respectively. The upgrade allowed designers to have characters be more detailed in appearance and express more emotions. The first game includes [[Software:Non-player character|non-player character]]s (NPCs) the player could interact with, but they are mostly static in-game objects. Beginning with the second game, Square used predetermined pathways for NPCs to create more dynamic scenes that include comedy and drama.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveIV">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-iv-final-fantasy/23185 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part IV | publisher = GameTrailers | date = August 5, 2007 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611203037/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-iv-final-fantasy/23185 | archive-date=June 11, 2009}}</ref>

In 1995, Square showed an [[Software:Final Fantasy VI#Legacy|interactive SGI technical demonstration]] of ''Final Fantasy VI'' for the then next generation of consoles. The demonstration used [[Company:Silicon Graphics|Silicon Graphics]]'s prototype [[Engineering:Nintendo 64|Nintendo 64]] workstations to create 3D graphics.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveIV"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Related">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec4.html|title=Related Final Fantasies|work=The History of Final Fantasy|publisher=GameSpot|first=Andrew|last=Vestal|access-date=August 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060714232545/http://www.gamespot.com/features/vgs/universal/finalfantasy_hs/sec4.html |archive-date=July 14, 2006}}</ref> Fans believed the demo was of a new ''Final Fantasy'' game for the Nintendo 64 console. 1997 saw the release of ''Final Fantasy VII'' for the Sony PlayStation.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Related"/><ref name="IGN-StateOfRPG">{{cite web|url=http://cube.ign.com/articles/634/634965p1.html |title=State of the RPG: GameCube |first=Matt |last=Casamassina |website=IGN |date=July 19, 2005 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810173031/http://cube.ign.com/articles/634/634965p1.html |archive-date=August 10, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The switch was due to a dispute with Nintendo over its use of faster but more expensive [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]]s, as opposed to the slower and cheaper, but much higher capacity [[Engineering:Compact disc|compact disc]]s used on rival systems.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveV"/><ref>{{Cite magazine| date=September 2007| title=10 Years of PlayStation Through the Eyes of PSM| magazine=PlayStation: The Official Magazine| publisher= Future Publishing| issue=127| pages=34–43}}</ref> ''VII'' introduced [[3D computer graphics|3D graphics]] with fully [[Rendering (computer graphics)|pre-rendered]] backgrounds.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveV"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy&nbsp;VII (PS1) - Review |url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3111181&p=27&sec=REVIEWS |website=1UP.com |date=May 9, 2004 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104085304/http://www.1up.com/reviews/final-fantasy-vii_2 |archive-date=November 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It was because of this switch to 3D that a [[CD-ROM]] format was chosen over a cartridge format.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveV"/><ref name="IGN-N64week">{{cite web|url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/914/914568p1.html |title=Nintendo 64 Week: Day Two |first=Levi |last=Buchanan |website=IGN |date=September 30, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726163234/http://retro.ign.com/articles/914/914568p1.html |archive-date=July 26, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The switch also led to increased production costs and a greater subdivision of the creative staff for ''VII'' and subsequent 3D games in the series.<ref name="ArtOfGameWorlds"/>

[[File:FFVIIInavigation.png|thumb|left|''Final Fantasy VIII'', along with ''VII'' and ''IX'', used pre-rendered backgrounds.]]

Starting with ''Final Fantasy VIII'', the series adopted a more photo-realistic look.<ref name="development2">{{cite journal|language=ja |title=Interview with ''Final Fantasy VIII'' developers |date=June 5, 1998 |journal=Famitsu Weekly |url=http://playstationjapan.tripod.com/ff8iview2.html |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717103530/http://playstationjapan.tripod.com/ff8iview2.html |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |format=Translation by Coxon, Sachi |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveVI">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-vi-final-fantasy/23726 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part VI | publisher = GameTrailers | date = August 20, 2007 | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090604180803/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-vi-final-fantasy/23726 | archive-date=June 4, 2009}}</ref> Like ''VII'', [[Software:Full motion video|full motion video]] (FMV) sequences would have video playing in the background, with the polygonal characters composited on top. ''Final Fantasy IX'' returned to the more stylized design of earlier games in the series, although it still maintained, and in many cases slightly upgraded, most of the graphical techniques used in the previous two games.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveVI"/> ''Final Fantasy X'' was released on the PlayStation 2, and used the more powerful hardware to render graphics in real-time instead of using pre-rendered material to obtain a more dynamic look; the game features full 3D environments, rather than have 3D character models move about pre-rendered backgrounds. It is also the first ''Final Fantasy'' game to introduce voice acting, occurring throughout the majority of the game, even with many minor characters.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveVII"/> This aspect added a whole new dimension of depth to the character's reactions, emotions, and development.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveVII"/><ref>{{cite web | year = 2001 | title = Behind The Game The Creators | url = http://na.square-enix.com/games/FFX/btg/creators.html#1 | publisher = [[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805012633/http://na.square-enix.com/games/FFX/btg/creators.html | archive-date=August 5, 2011}}</ref>

Taking a temporary divergence, ''Final Fantasy XI'' used the PlayStation 2's online capabilities as an MMORPG.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/359/359081p1.html |title=Final Fantasy XI – Big Plans, Big Money |website=IGN |date=May 10, 2002 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525060509/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/359/359081p1.html |archive-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Initially released for the PlayStation 2 with a PC port arriving six months later, ''XI'' was also released on the Xbox 360 nearly four years after its original release in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Shippin' Out 4/17-4/21: Final Fantasy XI Online, Brain Age |url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/longestjourney2wt/news.html?sid=6147765 |website=GameSpot |last=Thorsen |first=Tor |date=April 17, 2006 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210132150/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/longestjourney2wt/news.html?sid=6147765 |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> This was the first ''Final Fantasy'' game to use a free rotating camera. ''Final Fantasy XII'' was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2 and uses only half as many polygons as ''Final Fantasy X'', in exchange for more advanced textures and lighting.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3112825&p=2 |title=Final Fantasy XII (PS2) Previews |website=1UP.com |date=November 9, 2003 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106153212/http://www.1up.com/previews/final-fantasy-xii_19 |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rpgfan.com/previews/ff12/index.html |title=Final Fantasy XII - Preview First Look |publisher=RPGFan |last=Winkler |first=Chris |date=December 4, 2003 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110813140103/http://www.rpgfan.com/previews/ff12/index.html |archive-date=August 13, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> It also retains the freely rotating camera from ''XI''. ''Final Fantasy XIII'' and ''XIV'' both make use of Crystal Tools, a [[Middleware|middleware]] engine developed by Square Enix.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/finalfantasy13/news.html?sid=6149412 |title=E3 06: Square Enix announces trio of Final Fantasy XIII games |last1=Shoemaker |first1=Brad |last2=Tochen |first2=Dan |website=GameSpot |date=May 8, 2006 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118164237/http://www.gamespot.com/ps3/rpg/finalfantasy13/news.html?sid=6149412 |archive-date=November 18, 2006 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-square-enix-unveils-crystal-tools-engine/ |title=GDC08: Square Enix unveils Crystal Tools engine |last=Yoon |first=Andrew |work=Joystiq |date=February 22, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629165104/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/22/gdc08-square-enix-unveils-crystal-tools-engine/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Music ===
[[File:Nobuo uematsu 001.jpg|thumb|upright|Nobuo Uematsu, primary composer for the series]]
''Final Fantasy'' games feature a variety of music, and frequently reuse themes. Most of the games open with a piece called "Prelude", which has evolved from a simple, 2-voice arpeggio in the early games to a complex, melodic arrangement in recent installments.<ref name="IGN-Evo"/><ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/><ref name="FF-Retro-1"/> Victories in combat are often accompanied by a victory fanfare, a theme that has become one of the most recognized pieces of music in the series. The basic theme that accompanies Chocobo appearances has been rearranged in a different musical style for most installments. Recurring secret bosses such as Gilgamesh are also used as opportunities to revive their musical themes.

A theme known as the "Final Fantasy Main Theme" or "March", originally featured in the first game, often accompanies the ending credits.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Series"/> Although leitmotifs are common in the more character-driven installments, theme music is typically reserved for main characters and recurring plot elements.<ref name="Edge177"/>

Nobuo Uematsu was the primary composer of the ''Final Fantasy'' series until his resignation from Square Enix in November 2004.<ref name="Edge177"/> Other notable composers who have worked on main entries in the series include Masashi Hamauzu, Hitoshi Sakimoto,<ref>{{cite web|title=Artist: 浜渦正志 |publisher=[[MusicBrainz]] |url=http://musicbrainz.org/artist/deff82b2-f269-47fc-b0bc-383a5c911acb.html |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505190515/http://musicbrainz.org/artist/deff82b2-f269-47fc-b0bc-383a5c911acb |archive-date=May 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Artist: 崎元仁 |publisher=[[MusicBrainz]] |url=http://musicbrainz.org/artist/53a2cda4-31d0-405e-8a9d-5027c2479ebb.html |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120505190631/http://musicbrainz.org/artist/53a2cda4-31d0-405e-8a9d-5027c2479ebb |archive-date=May 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and Yoko Shimomura. Uematsu was allowed to create much of the music with little direction from the production staff. Sakaguchi, however, would request pieces to fit specific game scenes including battles and exploring different areas of the game world.<ref name="1UP-DayWithUematsu">{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=3&cId=3166165 |title=A Day in the Life of Final Fantasy's Nobuo Uematsu |website=1UP.com |first=James |last=Mielke |date=February 15, 2008 |access-date=August 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501134825/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=3&cId=3166165 |archive-date=May 1, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Once a game's major scenarios were completed, Uematsu would begin writing the music based on the story, characters, and accompanying artwork. He started with a game's main theme, and developed other pieces to match its style. In creating character themes, Uematsu read the game's scenario to determine the characters' personality. He would also ask the scenario writer for more details to scenes he was unsure about.<ref>{{cite magazine | url = http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/91770fed-1a80-4874-9f48-af88afab5fa4.htm | title = Nobuo Uematsu: The Man Behind The Music | first = Meagan | last = VanBurkleo | date = May 25, 2009 | magazine = Game Informer | access-date = August 4, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605074528/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/91770fed-1a80-4874-9f48-af88afab5fa4.htm | archive-date=June 5, 2009}}</ref> Technical limitations were prevalent in earlier games; Sakaguchi would sometimes instruct Uematsu to only use specific notes.<ref name="1UP-DayWithUematsu"/> It was not until ''Final Fantasy IV'' on the SNES that Uematsu was able to add more subtlety to the music.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveIV"/>

== Reception ==
Overall, the ''Final Fantasy'' series has been critically acclaimed and commercially successful, though each installment has seen different levels of success. The series has seen a steady increase in total sales; it sold over 10 million software units worldwide by early 1996,<ref name="cvg174">{{citation|title=Final Fantasy VII|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=174|date=May 1996|pages=106–11}}</ref> more than {{Nowrap|25 million}} units by 1999,<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MwKaAAAAIAAJ|title=J@pan, Inc|publisher=LINC Japan|year=1999|volume=1-10|pages=1, 56|quote=Square Co. is the maker of the ''Final Fantasy'' series, of which it's sold more than {{nowrap|25 million}} units worldwide. (...) ''Final Fantasy'' series, sales of which have reached some {{nowrap|25 million}} copies.}}</ref> more than {{nowrap|33 million}} units and nearly {{US$|1 billion|long=no}} revenue (between {{US$|{{Inflation|US|1|2001|r=1}}–{{Inflation|US|1|1987|r=1}} billion|long=no}} adjusted for inflation) by 2001,<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=McNichol |first1=Tom |title=Split Screen Play |url=http://www.wired.com/2001/09/square/ |access-date=5 November 2021 |magazine=WIRED |date=September 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307114518/http://www.wired.com/2001/09/square/ |archive-date=March 7, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> 45 million units by August 2003, 63 million by December 2005, and 85 million by July 2008.<ref name="85mil">{{cite press release|url=http://www.mcvuk.com/press-releases/38274/SONG-SUMMONER-The-Unsung-Heroes |title=Square Enix announces Song Summoner: The Unsung Heroes |publisher=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] |access-date=August 2, 2011 |date=July 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816045434/http://www.mcvuk.com/press-releases/read/square-enix-announces-song-summoner-the-unsung-heroes |archive-date=August 16, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.square-enix.com/na/company/press/2003/11082003/ |title=Square Enix U.S.A. announces details for Final Fantasy XI |date=August 11, 2003 |publisher=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812051609/http://www.square-enix.com/na/company/press/2003/11082003/ |archive-date=August 12, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.square-enix.com/eu/en/whatsnew/oxmEN.pdf |title=(Official Xbox Magazine press release) Playable Beta Disc for Xbox 360 Console to be included with February 2006 Issue |date=December 19, 2005 |publisher=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812051659/http://www.square-enix.com/eu/en/whatsnew/oxmEN.pdf |archive-date=August 12, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By June 2011, the series had sold over {{Nowrap|100 million}} units,<ref name="100mil">{{cite web|url=http://gamasutra.com/view/news/35096/Final_Fantasy_Series_Hits_100M_Units_Shipped.php |title=Final Fantasy Series Hits 100M Units Shipped |website=Gamasutra |date=June 7, 2011 |last=Rose |first=Mike |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110819083134/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/35096/Final_Fantasy_Series_Hits_100M_Units_Shipped.php |archive-date=August 19, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> and by March 2014, it had sold over 110 million units.<ref name="square-enix2">{{cite web|title=Businesses - SQUARE ENIX HOLDINGS CO., LTD. |publisher=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] |date=March 31, 2014 |url=http://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/group/index.html |access-date=August 15, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140922134825/http://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/group/index.html |archive-date=September 22, 2014}}</ref> Its high sales numbers have ranked it as one of the best-selling video game franchises in the industry; in January 2007, the series was listed as number three, and later in July as number four.<ref name="Edge177"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/10/nintendo-holds-key-to-franchise-longevity-profitability/ |title=Nintendo holds key to franchise longevity, profitability |first=James |last=Ransom-Wiley |date=January 10, 2007 |work=Joystiq |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629212141/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/01/10/nintendo-holds-key-to-franchise-longevity-profitability/ |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 2019, the series had sold over 149 million units worldwide.<ref name="2019_SE">{{cite web|url=https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/356047/SQUARE_ENIX_SPREADS_HOLIDAY_CHEER_WITH_MERRY_OFFERINGS_ON_FINAL_FANTASY_MOBILE_TITLES.php|title=SQUARE ENIX SPREADS HOLIDAY CHEER WITH MERRY OFFERINGS ON FINAL FANTASY MOBILE TITLES|website=Gamasutra|date=December 20, 2019|access-date=January 7, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227061433/https://www.gamasutra.com/view/pressreleases/356047/SQUARE_ENIX_SPREADS_HOLIDAY_CHEER_WITH_MERRY_OFFERINGS_ON_FINAL_FANTASY_MOBILE_TITLES.php|archive-date=February 27, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> As of October 2021, the series had sold over 164 million units worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://press.na.square-enix.com/SQUARE-ENIX-ANNOUNCES-DUNGEON-ENCOUNTERS-A-NEW-DUNGEON-EXPLORATION-RPG|title = "SQUARE ENIX ANNOUNCES "DUNGEON ENCOUNTERS", A NEW DUNGEON EXPLORATION RPG LAUNCHING ON OCTOBER 14" - Square Enix North America Press Hub}}</ref> By March 2022, the series reached cumulative global physical and digital sales of 173 million units.<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Reports｜Investor Relations {{!}} SQUARE ENIX HOLDINGS CO., LTD. |url=https://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/ir/library/ar.html |website=www.hd.square-enix.com |access-date=29 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Several games within the series have become best-selling games. At the end of 2007, the seventh, eighth, and ninth best-selling RPGs were ''Final Fantasy VII'', ''VIII'', and ''X'' respectively.<ref name="GWR08-RPG">{{cite book | editor= Craig Glenday | title= Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008 | series= Guinness World Records | date= March 11, 2008 | publisher= Guinness | isbn= 978-1-904994-21-3 | pages= [https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0/page/156 156–167] | chapter= Record Breaking Games: Role-Playing Games | chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0 | url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec00guin_0/page/156}}</ref> The original ''Final Fantasy VII'' has sold over 14.4 million copies worldwide,<ref>{{cite web |title=Annual Reports｜Investor Relations {{!}} SQUARE ENIX HOLDINGS CO., LTD. |url=https://www.hd.square-enix.com/eng/ir/library/ar.html |website=www.hd.square-enix.com |access-date=29 October 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref>https://press.na.square-enix.com/THRILLING-NEW-TRAILER-FOR-FINAL-FANTASY-VII-REBIRTH-SPOTLIGHTS-NOTORIO</ref> earning it the position of the best-selling ''Final Fantasy'' game.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.square-enix.com/na/company/press/2005/05152005/ |title=Square Enix Announces Release Date of Final Fantasy VII Advent Children |publisher=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] |date=May 15, 2005 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812051719/http://www.square-enix.com/na/company/press/2005/05152005/ |archive-date=August 12, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Within two days of ''Final Fantasy VIII''{{'}}s North American release on September 9, 1999, it became the top-selling video game in the United States, a position it held for more than three weeks.<ref name="charts">{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy VIII Tops Videogame Charts |date=October 5, 1999 |url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/071/071008p1.html |website=IGN |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805230113/http://psx.ign.com/articles/071/071008p1.html |archive-date=August 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy X'' sold over 1.4 million Japanese units in pre-orders alone, which set a record for the fastest-selling console RPG.<ref name="GWR08-RPG"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/096/096716p1.html |title=Final Fantasy X Sells Like Crazy; World Not Shocked |website=IGN |date=July 19, 2001 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604124308/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/096/096716p1.html |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The MMORPG, ''Final Fantasy XI'', reached over 200,000 active daily players in March 2006<ref>{{cite web | last = Woodard | first = Christopher | title = GDC: Creating a Global MMO: Balancing Cultures and Platforms in Final Fantasy XI | website = Gamasutra | date = March 24, 2006 | url = http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2635/gdc_all_about_ninetynine_nights_.php | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101207102248/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/2635/gdc_all_about_ninetynine_nights_.php | archive-date=December 7, 2010}}</ref> and had reached over half a million subscribers by July 2007.<ref name="Edge177"/> ''Final Fantasy XII'' sold more than 1.7 million copies in its first week in Japan.<ref>{{cite web|last=Jenkins |first=David |date=March 24, 2006 |title=Japanese Sales Charts, Week Ending March 19 |publisher=Gamasutra |work=[[Company:Media Create|Media Create]] |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=8671 |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805164730/http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=8671 |archive-date=August 5, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> By November 6, 2006—one week after its release—''XII'' had shipped approximately 1.5 million copies in North America.<ref>{{cite web|date=November 6, 2006 |title=Square Enix Announces Record Shipment With Final Fantasy XII |publisher=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] |url=http://www.square-enix.com/na/company/press/2006/1106_1/ |access-date=August 2, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811181421/http://www.square-enix.com/na/company/press/2006/1106_1/ |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy XIII'' became the fastest-selling game in the franchise,<ref name="GSpyfast">{{cite web|url=http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/final-fantasy-xiii/1078865p1.html |title=Final Fantasy XIII: Biggest First Week in Franchise History |date=March 19, 2010 |access-date=March 19, 2010 |publisher=GameSpy |last=Sharkey |first=Mike |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507232613/http://xbox360.gamespy.com/xbox-360/final-fantasy-xiii/1078865p1.html |url-status=live |archive-date=May 7, 2011}}</ref> and sold one million units on its first day of sale in Japan.<ref name="GSUTRA1mil">{{cite web|last=Alexander |first=Leigh |date=December 18, 2009 |title=FFXIII Tops 1 Million Units Day One |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26571/FFXIII_Tops_1_Million_Units_Day_One.php |website=Gamasutra |access-date=December 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100510025507/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/26571/FFXIII_Tops_1_Million_Units_Day_One.php |url-status=live |archive-date=May 10, 2010}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn'', in comparison to its predecessor, was a runaway success, originally suffering from servers being overcrowded,<ref name="Kotaku early">{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/early-final-fantasy-xiv-launch-goes-surprise-badly-1198833060 |title=Early Final Fantasy XIV Launch Goes (Surprise!) Badly |author=Plunkett, Luke |publisher=Kotaku |date=August 25, 2013 |access-date=August 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130827150147/http://kotaku.com/early-final-fantasy-xiv-launch-goes-surprise-badly-1198833060 |archive-date=August 27, 2013}}</ref> and eventually gaining over one million unique subscribers within two months of its launch.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/203676/Final_Fantasy_XIV_hits_15M_registrations_after_relaunch_woes.php |title=Final Fantasy XIV hits 1.5M registrations after relaunch woes |last=Ligman |first=Kris |date=October 30, 2013 |work=Gamasutra |publisher=Think Services |access-date=October 31, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303202202/http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/203676/Final_Fantasy_XIV_hits_15M_registrations_after_relaunch_woes.php |archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref>

The series has received critical acclaim for the quality of its visuals and soundtracks.<ref name="Edge177"/> In 1996, ''Next Generation'' ranked the series collectively as the 17th best game of all time, speaking very highly of its graphics, music and stories.<ref name="NG1996">{{cite magazine |title=Top 100 Games of All Time |magazine=Next Generation|issue=21 |page=64 |publisher=Imagine Media |location=United States |date=September 1996}}</ref> In 1999, ''Next Generation'' listed the ''Final Fantasy'' series as number 16 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time", commenting that "by pairing state-of-the-art technology with memorable, sometimes shamelessly melodramatic storylines, the series has successfully outlasted its competitors [...] and improved with each new installation".<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Top 50 Games of All Time |magazine=Next Generation|issue=50 |publisher=Imagine Media |date=February 1999|page=79}}</ref> It was awarded a star on the Walk of Game in 2006, making it the first franchise to win a star on the event (other winners were individual games, not franchises). WalkOfGame.com commented that the series has sought perfection as well as having been a risk taker in innovation.<ref name="Walk">{{cite web | url = http://www.walkofgame.com/inductees/inductees.html | title = 2006 Walk of Game Inductees | publisher= Walk of Game | access-date = August 2, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080702165340/http://www.walkofgame.com/inductees/inductees.html | archive-date = July 2, 2008}}</ref> In 2006, [[GameFAQs]] held a contest for the best video game series ever, with ''Final Fantasy'' finishing as the runner-up to ''[[Software:The Legend of Zelda|The Legend of Zelda]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/bse|title=Summer 2006: Best. Series. Ever|website=[[GameFAQs]]|access-date=August 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606181323/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/bse |archive-date=June 6, 2009}}</ref> In a 2008 public poll held by The Game Group plc, ''Final Fantasy'' was voted the best game series, with five games appearing in their "Greatest Games of All Time" list.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.game.co.uk/lowdown.aspx?lid=9321 | title = Greatest Games Results | publisher = The Game Group plc | year = 2008 | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206155411/http://www.game.co.uk/lowdown.aspx?lid=9321 | archive-date=February 6, 2009}}</ref>

Many ''Final Fantasy'' games have been included in various lists of top games. Several games have been listed on multiple IGN "Top Games" lists.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://top100.ign.com/2003/index.html | title = IGN's Top 100 Games | website = IGN | year = 2003 | access-date = August 6, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090222013658/http://top100.ign.com/2003/index.html | archive-date=February 22, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://top100.ign.com/2005/index.html | title = IGN's Top 100 Games | website = IGN | year = 2005 | access-date = August 6, 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227082124/http://top100.ign.com/2005/index.html | archive-date=February 27, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title = Top 99 Games of All Time: Readers' Pick | url = http://microsites.ign.com/kfc/top99games/ | website = IGN | year = 2005 | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218133535/http://microsites.ign.com/kfc/top99games/ | archive-date=February 18, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://ps2.ign.com/articles/772/772296p3.html | title = The Top 25 PS2 Games of All Time | author = IGN PlayStation Team | website = IGN | date = March 16, 2007 | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228201618/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/772/772296p3.html | archive-date=February 28, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ie.ign.com/top/ps2-games/79 |title=Top 100 PlayStation 2 Games |access-date=November 17, 2012 |website=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618075638/http://ie.ign.com/top/ps2-games/79 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ie.ign.com/top/ps2-games/24 |title=Top 100 PlayStation 2 Games |access-date=November 17, 2012 |website=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130618040824/http://ie.ign.com/top/ps2-games/24 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 18, 2013}}</ref> Twelve games were listed on ''Famitsu''{{'s}} 2006 "Top 100 Favorite Games of All Time", four of which were in the top ten, with ''Final Fantasy X'' and ''VII'' coming first and second, respectively.<ref name="Top100-famitsu">{{cite magazine | last = Campbell | first = Colin | year = 2006 | title=Japan Votes on All Time Top 100 | url = http://www.next-gen.biz/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100 | magazine=Edge | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806220418/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100 | archive-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> The series holds seven Guinness World Records in the ''Guinness World Records Gamer's Edition 2008'', which include the "Most Games in an RPG Series" (13 main games, seven enhanced games, and 32 spin-off games), the "Longest Development Period" (the production of ''Final Fantasy XII'' took five years), and the "Fastest-Selling Console RPG in a Single Day" (''Final Fantasy X'').<ref name="GWR08-RPG"/><ref name="guinness">{{cite web | url = http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/300708_ffiv.aspx | title=Record Breaking Final Fantasy Series heads to The Record Breaking Nintendo DS | first = Doug | last = Parsons | date=July 30, 2008 | publisher = Guinness World Records | access-date=August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602083919/http://gamers.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/300708_ffiv.aspx | archive-date=June 2, 2009}}</ref> The 2009 edition listed two games from the series among the top 50 consoles games: ''Final Fantasy XII'' at number 8 and ''VII'' at number 20.<ref>{{cite book | title= Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition | series= Guinness World Records | date= February 3, 2009 | publisher= Guinness | isbn= 978-1-904994-45-9 | pages= [https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_o9k7/page/190 190–191] | chapter= Top 50 Console Games | chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_o9k7/page/190}}</ref> In 2018, ''Final Fantasy VII'' was inducted as a member of the World Video Game Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Locklear |first1=Mallory |title=Video Game Hall of Fame inducts 'Tomb Raider' and 'Final Fantasy VII' |url=https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/03/video-game-hall-of-fame-inducts-tomb-raider-final-fantasy-vii/ |website=Engadget |date=May 3, 2018 |access-date=May 7, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203202105/https://www.engadget.com/2018/05/03/video-game-hall-of-fame-inducts-tomb-raider-final-fantasy-vii/ |archive-date=February 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

However, the series has garnered some criticism. ''IGN'' has commented that the menu system used by the games is a major detractor for many and is a "significant reason why they haven't touched the series".<ref name="IGN-Evo"/> The site has also heavily criticized the use of random encounters in the series' battle systems.<ref name="IGNReview8">{{cite web | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/153/153847p1.html | title=IGN: Final Fantasy VIII Review | website=IGN | last = Lundigran | first = Jeff | date=September 10, 1999 | access-date=August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211123532/http://psx.ign.com/articles/153/153847p1.html | archive-date=February 11, 2009}}</ref><ref name="IGNReview9">{{cite web | url=http://psx.ign.com/articles/162/162190p1.html | title=IGN: Final Fantasy IX Review | website=IGN | last = Smith | first = David | date=November 22, 2000 | access-date=August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212170216/http://psx.ign.com/articles/162/162190p1.html | archive-date=February 12, 2009}}</ref> ''IGN'' further stated that the various attempts to bring the series into film and animation have either been unsuccessful, unremarkable, or did not live up to the standards of the games.<ref name="IGN-FF-Anime"/> In 2007, ''Edge'' criticized the series for a number of related games that include the phrase "''Final Fantasy''" in their titles, which are considered inferior to previous games. It also commented that with the departure of Hironobu Sakaguchi, the series might be in danger of growing stale.<ref name="Edge177"/>

Several individual ''Final Fantasy'' games have garnered extra attention; some for their positive reception and others for their negative reception. ''Final Fantasy VII'' topped ''GamePro's'' "26 Best RPGs of All Time" list,<ref name="GamePro">{{cite magazine | title=The 26 Best RPGs of the All Time | url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/218144/the-26-best-rpgs-page-4-of-4/ | magazine=GamePro | date=November 5, 2008 | access-date=August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806220746/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/218144/the-26-best-rpgs-page-4-of-4/ | archive-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> as well as GameFAQs "Best Game Ever" audience polls in 2004 and 2005.<ref>{{cite web | title=Spring 2004: Best. Game. Ever | url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/c04spr | website=[[GameFAQs]] | access-date=August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090209040851/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/c04spr | archive-date=February 9, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Fall 2005: 10-Year Anniversary Contest—The 10 Best Games Ever | url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/top10 | website=[[GameFAQs]] | access-date=August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090316073741/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/top10 | archive-date=March 16, 2009}}</ref> Despite the success of ''VII'', it is sometimes criticized as being overrated. In 2003, GameSpy listed it as the seventh most overrated game of all time, while IGN presented views from both sides.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/september03/25overrated/ | title = 25 Most Overrated Games of All Time | publisher = GameSpy | date=September 2003 | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412074612/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/september03/25overrated/ | archive-date=April 12, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://retro.ign.com/articles/958/958466p1.html |title=Is Final Fantasy VII Overrated? |first=Levi |last=Buchanan |website=IGN |date=March 3, 2009 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090310095415/http://retro.ign.com/articles/958/958466p1.html?%3F |archive-date=March 10, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[Software:Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII|Dirge of Cerberus]]'' shipped 392,000 units in its first week of release, but received review scores that were much lower than that of other ''Final Fantasy'' games.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.m-create.com/eng/e_ranking.html | title = Top 10 Weekly Software Sales | date=January 23–29, 2006 | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060205034213/http://m-create.com/eng/e_ranking.html | archive-date = February 5, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/924449-dirge-of-cerberus-final-fantasy-vii/index.html | title = Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Reviews | publisher = GameRankings | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090625203933/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/924449-dirge-of-cerberus-final-fantasy-vii/index.html | archive-date=June 25, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.metacritic.com/game/dirge-of-cerberus-final-fantasy-vii/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 | title = Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII Reviews | website = Metacritic | access-date = August 6, 2011 | url-status = live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806221819/http://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/dirge-of-cerberus-final-fantasy-vii | archive-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref> A delayed, negative review after the Japanese release of ''Dirge of Cerberus'' from Japanese gaming magazine ''Famitsu'' hinted at a controversy between the magazine and Square Enix.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/news/famitsu-digs-dirge-cerberus |website=1UP.com |title=Famitsu Digs Into Dirge of Cerberus |last=Dormer |first=Dan |date=February 8, 2006 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629031252/http://www.1up.com/news/famitsu-digs-dirge-cerberus |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Though ''Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'' was praised for its visuals, the plot was criticized and the film was considered a box office bomb.<ref name="MC-Spirits"/><ref name="Edge177"/><ref name="FFMovie-RPGamer"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within |last=Ebert |first=Roger |url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20010711/REVIEWS/107110301/1023 |publisher=RogerEbert.com |date=July 11, 2001 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090620013901/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20010711%2FREVIEWS%2F107110301%2F1023 |archive-date=June 20, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles'' for the [[Engineering:GameCube|GameCube]] received overall positive review scores, but reviews stated that the use of Game Boy Advances as controllers was a big detractor.<ref name="IGN-StateOfRPG"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/reviews/final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles |title=Reviews: FF: Crystal Chronicles |website=1UP.com |date=January 1, 2000 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629031312/http://www.1up.com/reviews/final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The predominantly negative reception of the original version of ''Final Fantasy XIV'' caused then-president Yoichi Wada to issue an official apology during a Tokyo press conference, stating that the brand had been "greatly damaged" by the game's reception.<ref name= "XIVapology">{{cite web|url=http://andriasang.com/comyby/|title=Square Enix CEO: Final Fantasy XIV Damaged FF Brand|author=Gantayat, Anoop|publisher=Andriasang.com|date=September 27, 2011|access-date=December 1, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225060037/http://andriasang.com/comyby/|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 25, 2012}}</ref>

===Rankings and aggregators===
Various video game publications have created rankings of the mainline ''Final Fantasy'' games. In the table below, the lower the number given, the better the game is in the view of the respective publication. By way of comparison, the ratings provided by ''Famitsu'' magazine and the review aggregator ''Metacritic'' are also given; in these rows, higher numbers indicate better reviews. Note that ''Metacritic'' ratings up until ''Final Fantasy VII'' largely represent retrospective reviews from online websites years after their initial release, rather than contemporary reviews from video game magazines at the time of their initial release.

{| class="wikitable col1left" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Publication<!-- Includes only sources deemed reliable per Wikipedia's internal guideline WP:VGRS. --> !! ''I'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy II|II]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy III|III]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy IV|IV]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy V|V]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VI|VI]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VII|VII]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy VIII|VIII]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy IX|IX]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy X|X]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XI|XI]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XII|XII]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XIII|XIII]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XIV|XIV]]'' !! ''[[Software:Final Fantasy XV|XV]]''
|-
|''Retro Gamer'' (2004)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Thorpe |first1=Nick |title=Flashback: Retro Gamer Readers' Top 100 Games (Circa 2004) |url=https://www.retrogamer.net/blog_post/flashback-retro-gamer-readers-top-100-games-circa-2004/ |access-date=7 February 2022 |work=Retro Gamer |publisher=Future Publishing Limited |date=6 January 2016}}</ref> || style="background:#DFB"| 2 ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:#BF7"| 1 ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|''GamePro'' (2008)<ref name="GamePro" />||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:#BF7"| 1 ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:#DFB"| 2 ||  ||  ||
|-
|''Stuff'' (2008)<ref name=Stuff2008>{{cite journal|journal=Stuff|title=100 Greatest Games|date=October 2008|pages=116–126}}</ref> ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|''Empire'' (2009)<ref name=Empire2009>{{cite web|title=The 100 Greatest Games Of All Time|date=2009|url=http://www.empireonline.com/100greatestgames/|publisher=Empire|website=www.empireonline.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515221956/http://www.empireonline.com/100greatestgames/|archive-date=May 15, 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  || || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|''Jeuxvideo'' (2011)<ref name=Jeuxvideo2011>{{cite web|title=Les 100 meilleurs jeux de tous les temps|url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/dossiers/00014196/les-100-meilleurs-jeux-de-tous-les-temps.htm|website=Jeuxvideo.com|access-date=March 5, 2019|date=March 4, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627150823/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/dossiers/00014196/les-100-meilleurs-jeux-de-tous-les-temps.htm|archive-date=June 27, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ||  ||  ||  || style="background:#FFC"| 3 ||  || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|-
|''Popular Mechanics'' (2014)<ref name=PopularMechanics>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/g134/the-100-greatest-video-games-of-all-time/ |magazine=Popular Mechanics |title=The 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time |last=Moore |first=Bo |date=June 16, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202235359/http://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/g134/the-100-greatest-video-games-of-all-time/ |archive-date=December 2, 2016}}</ref> ||  ||  ||  ||  || || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 ||  ||  || style="background:#FFC"| 3 ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|''Slant Magazine'' (2014)<ref name=Slant>{{cite web|title=The 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/100-greatest-video-games-of-all-time/p10%20100%20greatest%20video%20games%20of%20all%20time|website=slantmagazine.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712044110/http://www.slantmagazine.com/features/article/100-greatest-video-games-of-all-time/P10|archive-date=July 12, 2015|date=June 9, 2014}}</ref> ||  ||  ||  ||  || || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 ||  || 4 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 ||  ||  ||  ||  ||
|-
|''Den of Geek'' (2016)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hardgrave |first1=Laura |title=Final Fantasy: Ranking the Main Games |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/final-fantasy/244017/final-fantasy-ranking-the-main-games |access-date=September 14, 2019 |work=Den of Geek |date=November 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904044414/https://www.denofgeek.com/us/games/final-fantasy/244017/final-fantasy-ranking-the-main-games |archive-date=September 4, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> || 14 || 17 || 6 || 5 || 9 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || 10 || 4 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || 8 || 7 || 15 || 11 ||
|-
|''VentureBeat'' (2016)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Minotti |first1=Mike |title=Final Fantasy I to XV: Ranking the series from worst to best |url=https://venturebeat.com/2016/12/11/ranking-final-fantasy-i-to-xv/ |access-date=July 15, 2018 |work=VentureBeat |date=December 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715123620/https://venturebeat.com/2016/12/11/ranking-final-fantasy-i-to-xv/ |archive-date=July 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> || 12 || 14 || 13 || 10 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || 5 || 9 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || 7 || 15 || 4 || 11 || 8 || 6
|-
|''Famitsu'' (2017)<ref>{{cite news |author=Brian |title=Famitsu readers choose the top 100 best games of all time |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/famitsu-readers-choose-the-top-100-best-games-of-all-time/ |access-date=April 17, 2020 |work=Nintendo Everything |date=September 4, 2017 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180109154911/http://nintendoeverything.com/famitsu-readers-choose-the-top-100-best-games-of-all-time/ |archive-date=January 9, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> ||  ||  ||  || 9 || 8 || 7 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || 11 || 5 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 ||  ||  || 6 || 4
|-
|''GamesRadar+'' (2022)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Agnello |first1=Anthony John |date=February 3, 2022 |title=The 25 best Final Fantasy games |work=Gamesradar |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/best-final-fantasy-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715123023/https://www.gamesradar.com/best-final-fantasy-games/ |archive-date=July 15, 2018}} ''Note:'' To make ranks comparable this list skips the ranks given to non-mainline games.</ref>|| ||  || 17 || 7 || 13 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || 10 || 8 || 14 || 18 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || 21 || 4 || 15
|-
| ''Game Informer'' (2018)<ref>{{cite news |title=The Top 100 RPGs Of All Time |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/01/the-top-100-rpgs-of-all-time.aspx |access-date=November 6, 2018 |work=Gameinformer |date=January 1, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510205452/https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2018/01/01/the-top-100-rpgs-of-all-time.aspx |archive-date=May 10, 2019 |url-status=live}} ''Note:'' It shows these ''Final Fantasy'' games do not only rank higher than the other ''Final Fantasy'' games, but are also part of the top 100 RPGs of all time.</ref> || 4 || || || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || || || 5 || || || || ||
|-
|''IGN'' (2018)<ref>{{cite news |title=Ranking the Final Fantasy Games |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/15/ranking-the-final-fantasy-games |access-date=July 15, 2018 |work=IGN |date=May 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715123643/http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/05/15/ranking-the-final-fantasy-games |archive-date=July 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>|| 7 || 12 || 8 || 4 || 5  || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || 6 || 11 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || 9 ||  || style="background:#DFB"| 2  || 10 ||  ||
|-
|''Polygon'' (2018)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parish |first1=Jeremy |title=Ranking the numbered Final Fantasy games |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/12/19/16793294/ranking-the-numbered-final-fantasy-games |access-date=July 15, 2018 |work=Polygon |date=December 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016225257/https://www.polygon.com/features/2017/12/19/16793294/ranking-the-numbered-final-fantasy-games |archive-date=October 16, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>|| 14 || 15 || 12 || 4 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || 8 || 5 || 6 || 10 || 11 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || 13 || 7 || 9
|-
|''Rock, Paper, Shotgun'' (2018)<ref>{{cite news |title=The Best of Final Fantasy |url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/02/best-final-fantasy-games-pc/ |access-date=July 15, 2018 |work=Rock, Paper, Shotgun |date=March 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715123251/https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2018/03/02/best-final-fantasy-games-pc/ |archive-date=July 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>||  ||  ||  || 7 ||  || 8 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || 4 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 ||  || 6 ||  ||  || 5
|-
|''VG247'' (2018)<ref>{{cite news |title=Final Fantasy is nearly 30, so let's rank the 10 best games in the series - VG247 |url=https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/05/final-fantasy-10-best-games/ |access-date=July 15, 2018 |work=VG247 |date=December 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180715124217/https://www.vg247.com/2017/12/05/final-fantasy-10-best-games/ |archive-date=July 15, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>||  ||  ||  || 9 || 4 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || 5 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || 8 ||  || 6 || 10 ||  || 7
|-
| ''Digital Spy'' (2019)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Reynolds |first1=Matthew |title=Ranking the Final Fantasy games from worst to best |url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a636855/ranking-final-fantasy-games-worst-to-best-mainline-entries/ |access-date=September 14, 2019 |work=Digital Spy |date=April 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811051325/https://www.digitalspy.com/tech/a636855/ranking-final-fantasy-games-worst-to-best-mainline-entries/ |archive-date=August 11, 2019}}</ref> || 12 || 13 || 10 || 6 || 7 || 4 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || 11 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 ||  || 5 || 8 ||  ||9
|-
| ''[[Company:Digital Trends|Digital Trends]]'' (2019)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Petite |first1=Steven |title=Here are the Final Fantasy games, ranked from best to worst |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/all-final-fantasy-games-ranked-from-best-to-worst/ |access-date=September 14, 2019 |work=Digital Trends |date=July 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910152304/https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/all-final-fantasy-games-ranked-from-best-to-worst/ |archive-date=September 10, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> || 13 || 15 || 11 || 6 || 9 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || 7 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || 5 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || 10 || 4 || 12 || 8 ||14
|-
| NHK (2020)<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020 |title=全ファイナルファンタジー大投票 |trans-title=All Final Fantasy Big Vote |url=https://www.nhk.or.jp/anime/ff/ranking/index.html |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=NHK |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Japan Votes For Its Favorite Final Fantasy Games And Characters |url=https://nintendosoup.com/japan-votes-for-its-favorite-final-fantasy-games-and-characters/ |access-date=April 17, 2020 |work=NintendoSoup |date=March 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200315114313/https://nintendosoup.com/japan-votes-for-its-favorite-final-fantasy-games-and-characters/ |archive-date=March 15, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> || 24 || 18 || 12 || 8 || 6 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || 7 || 4 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || 9 || 15 || 14 || 5 || 10
|-
| TV Asahi (2021)<ref>{{cite news |title=Over 50,000 Japanese users vote for their favorite console games in TV Asahi poll - Top 100 announced |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2021/12/over-50000-japanese-users-vote-for-their-favorite-console-games-in-tv-asahi-poll-top-100-announced |access-date=27 December 2021 |work=Gematsu |date=27 December 2021}}</ref> ||  ||  || 8 || 7 || 4 || style="background:#FFC"| 3 || style="background:#BF7"| 1 || 10 || 5 || style="background:#DFB"| 2 || 9 ||  ||  || 6 ||
|-
| ''Famitsu'' rating (out of 40)<ref name="geimin">{{cite web|title=Famitsu Hall of Fame |url=http://geimin.net/da/db/cross_review/ |work=Geimin |access-date=February 7, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204020438/http://geimin.net/da/db/cross_review |archive-date=February 4, 2010}}</ref> || 34<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8208 |language=ja |title=ファイナルファンタジーV [スーパーファミコン] |trans-title=Final Fantasy (Famicom) |access-date=September 5, 2015 |publisher=Famitsu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924051338/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=8208 |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> || 35 || 36 || 36 || 34<ref name="FamiSFC">{{cite web|url=http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=2545 |language=ja |title=ファイナルファンタジーV [スーパーファミコン] |trans-title=Final Fantasy V [Super Famicom] |access-date=September 5, 2015 |publisher=Famitsu |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725151430/http://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=2545 |archive-date=July 25, 2015}}</ref> || 37 || style="background:#FFC"| 38 || 37 || style="background:#FFC"| 38 || style="background:#DFB"| 39 || style="background:#FFC"| 38 || style="background:#BF7"| 40 || style="background:#DFB"| 39 || style="background:#DFB"| 39<ref name="Fam">{{cite web|author=Gifford, Kevin |title="I'm glad I'm back home": Famitsu reviews FF14: A Realm Reborn |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/9/25/4771330/im-glad-im-back-home-famitsu-reviews-ff14-a-realm-reborn |website=Polygon |access-date=September 26, 2013 |date=September 25, 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926001704/http://www.polygon.com/2013/9/25/4771330/im-glad-im-back-home-famitsu-reviews-ff14-a-realm-reborn |archive-date=September 26, 2013}}</ref> || style="background:#FFC"| 38<ref name="FamScore">{{cite web|url=http://gematsu.com/2016/12/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1463 |title=Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1463 |last=Romano |first=Sal |publisher=Gematsu |date=December 13, 2016 |access-date=December 14, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161214101611/http://gematsu.com/2016/12/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1463 |archive-date=December 14, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
| ''Metacritic'' rating (out of 100)<ref>{{cite web |title=Data Tracker: How Does "Final Fantasy XIII" Compare? |url=http://www.metacritic.com/feature/how-does-final-fantasy-13-compare |website=Metacritic |access-date=July 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714011820/http://www.metacritic.com/feature/how-does-final-fantasy-13-compare |archive-date=July 14, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> || 79 || 79 || 77 || 85 || 83 || style="background:#DFB"| 92 || style="background:#DFB"| 92 || style="background:#FFC"| 90 || style="background:#BF7"| 94 || style="background:#DFB"| 92 || 85 || style="background:#DFB"| 92 || 83 || 83<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/final-fantasy-xiv-online-a-realm-reborn/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |website=Metacritic |access-date=July 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909032851/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/final-fantasy-xiv-online-a-realm-reborn |archive-date=September 9, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> || 85<ref>{{cite web |title=Final Fantasy XV: Windows Edition |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/final-fantasy-xv-royal-edition/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |website=Metacritic |access-date=July 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616063132/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/final-fantasy-xv-windows-edition |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|}

== Legacy ==
''Final Fantasy'' has been very influential in the history of video games and game mechanics. ''Final Fantasy IV'' is considered a milestone for the genre, introducing a dramatic storyline with a strong emphasis on character development and personal relationships.<ref name="gamespot">{{cite web|last=Kasavin |first=Greg |title=Final Fantasy IV Advance Review |date=December 12, 2005 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/gba/rpg/finalfantasyiv/review.html |website=GameSpot |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628234445/http://www.gamespot.com/gba/rpg/finalfantasyiv/review.html |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1992, [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]]'s Shigeru Miyamoto noted the impact of ''Final Fantasy'' on Japanese role-playing games, stating ''Final Fantasy''{{'}}s "interactive cinematic approach" with an emphasis on "presentation and graphics" was gradually becoming "the most common style" of Japanese RPG at the time.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Future of RPGs – Developer Interviews |magazine=The Super Famicom |date=27 November 1992 |volume=3 |issue=22 |pages=89–97 |lang=ja |url=https://archive.org/details/thesuperfamicom1992no.22hq/TheSuperFamicom%201992%20No.22%20HQ/page/n91/mode/2up |access-date=14 October 2021}}
* {{cite web |title=The Future of RPGs – 1992 Developer Interviews |website=Shmuplations |url=https://shmuplations.com/futureofrpgs/}}</ref> ''Final Fantasy VII'', having been the first title of the series to be officially released in the PAL territories of Europe and Oceania, is credited as having the largest industry impact of the series,<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveV">{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-v-final-fantasy/23449 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part V | publisher = GameTrailers| date = August 13, 2007 | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611163946/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-v-final-fantasy/23449 | archive-date=June 11, 2009}}</ref> and with allowing console role-playing games to gain global mass-market appeal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-08-29-dirge-of-cerberus_x.htm |title='Dirge of Cerberus' defies expectations, for better and worse |first=Alex |last=Kraus |newspaper=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |date=August 30, 2006 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629090116/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/gaming/2006-08-29-dirge-of-cerberus_x.htm |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''VII'' is considered to be one of the most important and influential video games of all time.<ref name="GameSpot-Influential">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential_rc/p15_01.html|title=15 Most Influential Games of All Time|last1=Satterfield|first1=Shane|last2=Fielder|first2=Lauren|work=GameSpot|publisher=CNET|date=2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520043957/http://www.gamespot.com/gamespot/features/video/15influential_rc/p15_01.html|archive-date=May 20, 2007|access-date=April 16, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GamePro2007">{{cite magazine | author1=Boba Fatt | author2=GamePros | title=Feature: The 52 Most Important Video Games of All Time (page 4 of 8) | url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/110068/the-52-most-important-video-games-of-all-time-page-4-of-8/ | magazine=GamePro | date=April 25, 2007 | access-date=April 25, 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913085022/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/110068/the-52-most-important-video-games-of-all-time-page-4-of-8/ | archive-date=September 13, 2008 | url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="GamePro2009">{{cite magazine |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/167229/20_games_that_changed_gaming_forever.html#slide8 |magazine=GamePro |publisher=PC World |title=20 Games That Changed Gaming Forever |date=June 24, 2009 |access-date=January 11, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170314091900/http://www.pcworld.com/article/167229/20_games_that_changed_gaming_forever.html#slide8 |archive-date=March 14, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Loguidice |first1=Bill |last2=Barton |first2=Matt |chapter=Final Fantasy (VII): It's Never Final in the World of Final Fantasy |title=Vintage Games: An Insider Look at the History of Grand Theft Auto, Super Mario, and the Most Influential Games of All Time |date=2012 |publisher=CRC Press |isbn=978-1-136-13758-7 |pages=77–92 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mKF5AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA77 |access-date=April 16, 2020 |archive-date=August 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801201329/https://books.google.com/books?id=mKF5AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA77 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The series affected Square's business on several levels. The commercial failure of ''Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'' resulted in hesitation and delays from Enix during merger discussions with Square.<ref name="FFMovie-RPGamer"/><ref name="FF-Retro-1"/> Square's decision to produce games exclusively for the Sony PlayStation—a move followed by Enix's decision with the ''Dragon Quest'' series—severed their relationship with Nintendo.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref name="IGN-StateOfRPG"/> ''Final Fantasy'' games were absent from Nintendo consoles, specifically the Nintendo 64, for seven years.<ref name="UltimateHistory"/><ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveV"/> Critics attribute the switch of strong third-party games like the ''Final Fantasy'' and ''Dragon Quest'' games to Sony's PlayStation, and away from the Nintendo 64, as one of the reasons behind PlayStation being the more successful of the two consoles.<ref name="GS-FFHistory-Main"/><ref name="IGN-StateOfRPG"/><ref name="IGN-N64week"/> The release of the Nintendo GameCube, which used optical disc media, in 2001 caught the attention of Square. To produce games for the system, Square created the [[Finance:Shell corporation|shell company]] [[Company:The Game Designers Studio|The Game Designers Studio]] and released ''[[Software:Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles|Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles]]'', which spawned its own metaseries within the main franchise.<ref name="GT-FFRetrospectiveXI"/> ''Final Fantasy XI''{{'}}s lack of an online method of subscription cancellation prompted the creation of legislation in Illinois that requires internet gaming services to provide such a method to the state's residents.<ref name="GWR09-RPG">{{cite book | title= Guinness World Records 2009 Gamer's Edition | series= Guinness World Records | date= February 3, 2009 | publisher= Guinness | isbn= 978-1-904994-45-9 | pages= [https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_o9k7/page/174 174–175] | chapter= Record Breaking Games: Role-Playing Games | chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/guinnessworldrec0000unse_o9k7/page/174}}</ref>

The series' popularity has resulted in its appearance and reference in numerous facets of popular culture like anime, TV series, and [[Webcomic|webcomic]]s.<ref>{{cite book | first = Timothy J. | last = Craig | title = Japan Pop!: Inside the World of Japanese Popular Culture | publisher = M.E. Sharpe | year = 2000 | page = [https://archive.org/details/japanpopinsidew00crai/page/140 140] | isbn = 0-7656-0561-9 | url = https://archive.org/details/japanpopinsidew00crai/page/140}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2006/05/4078.ars |first=Ben |last=Kuchera |title=Robot Chicken pokes fun at Final Fantasy |website=Ars Technica |date=May 23, 2006 |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806123115/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2006/05/4078.ars |archive-date=August 6, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vgcats.com/ffxi/ |title=Adventure Log |publisher=VG Cats |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418045027/http://www.vgcats.com/ffxi/ |archive-date=April 18, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Music from the series has permeated into different areas of culture. ''Final Fantasy IV''{{'}}s "Theme of Love" was integrated into the curriculum of Japanese school children and has been performed live by orchestras and metal bands.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-iii-final-fantasy/22905 | title = Final Fantasy Retrospective Part III | date = July 30, 2007 | publisher = GameTrailers | access-date = August 6, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090609180025/http://www.gametrailers.com/video/part-iii-final-fantasy/22905 | archive-date=June 9, 2009}}</ref> In 2003, Uematsu co-founded The Black Mages, an instrumental rock group independent of Square that has released albums of arranged ''Final Fantasy'' tunes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://na.square-enix.com/uematsu/profile/index.html |title=Nobuo Uematsu's Profile |publisher=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808175956/http://na.square-enix.com/uematsu/profile/index.html |archive-date=August 8, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dogearrecords.com/tbm3/ |title=The Black Mages-Darkness and Starlight |publisher=Dog Ear Records |language=ja |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728172412/http://www.dogearrecords.com/tbm3/ |archive-date=July 28, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Chemistry:Bronze medal|Bronze medal]]ists Alison Bartosik and Anna Kozlova performed their synchronized swimming routine at the 2004 Summer Olympics to music from ''Final Fantasy VIII''.<ref name="GWR08-RPG"/> Many of the soundtracks have also been released for sale. Numerous companion books, which normally provide in-depth game information, have been published. In Japan, they are published by Square and are called ''Ultimania'' books.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ps2.ign.com/articles/097/097559p1.html |title=Final Fantasy X Ultimania Guide |date=August 20, 2001 |website=IGN |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604124249/http://ps2.ign.com/articles/097/097559p1.html |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.square-enix.co.jp/magazine/gamebooks/ult/index.html |title=Square Enix Game Books Online |publisher=[[Company:Square Enix|Square Enix]] |language=ja |access-date=August 6, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831123347/http://www.square-enix.co.jp/magazine/gamebooks/ult/index.html |archive-date=August 31, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The series has inspired numerous game developers. ''Fable'' creator Peter Molyneux considers ''Final Fantasy VII'' to be the RPG that "defined the genre" for him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Molyneux: Final Fantasy VII Defined the RPG Genre |url=https://gematsu.com/2008/09/molyneux-final-fantasy-vii-defined-the-rpg-genre |work=Gematsu |date=September 23, 2008 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130030302/https://gematsu.com/2008/09/molyneux-final-fantasy-vii-defined-the-rpg-genre |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> BioWare founder Greg Zeschuk cited ''Final Fantasy VII'' as "the first really emotionally engaging game" he played and said it had "a big impact" on BioWare's work.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gamers Heart Japan (54 minutes) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |website=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] |publisher=GameSpot |date=April 3, 2011 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721010603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''The Witcher 3'' senior environmental artist Jonas Mattsson cited ''Final Fantasy'' as "a huge influence" and said it was "the first RPG" he played through.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kamen |first1=Matt |title=How The Witcher III deals with art and sex in games |url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/witcher-iii-interview |magazine=Wired |date=January 29, 2015 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130030433/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/witcher-iii-interview |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[Software:Mass Effect|Mass Effect]]'' art director Derek Watts cited ''Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within'' as a major influence on the visual design and art direction of the series.<ref>{{cite web |title=BioWare: Final Fantasy movie influenced Mass Effect |url=https://gematsu.com/2011/06/bioware-final-fantasy-movie-influenced-mass-effect |website=Gematsu |date=June 28, 2011 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130030250/https://gematsu.com/2011/06/bioware-final-fantasy-movie-influenced-mass-effect |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> BioWare senior product manager David Silverman cited ''Final Fantasy XII''{{'}}s gambit system as an influence on the gameplay of ''[[Software:Dragon Age: Origins|Dragon Age]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Totilo |first1=Stephen |title=You Can Play Dragon Age: Origins Sort Of Like Four Other Games |url=https://kotaku.com/5385022/you-can-play-dragon-age-origins-sort-of-like-four-other-games |website=Kotaku |date=October 19, 2009 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107182159/https://kotaku.com/5385022/you-can-play-dragon-age-origins-sort-of-like-four-other-games |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Company:Ubisoft Toronto|Ubisoft Toronto]] creative director Maxime Beland cited the original ''Final Fantasy'' as a major influence on him.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gamers Heart Japan (7 minutes) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |website=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] |publisher=GameSpot |date=April 3, 2011 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721010603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Company:Media Molecule|Media Molecule]]'s Constantin Jupp credited ''Final Fantasy VII'' with getting him into game design.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gamers Heart Japan (30 minutes) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |website=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] |publisher=GameSpot |date=April 3, 2011 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721010603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Tim Schafer also cited ''Final Fantasy VII'' as one of his favourite games of all time.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gamers Heart Japan (32 minutes) |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |website=[[Company:YouTube|YouTube]] |publisher=GameSpot |date=April 3, 2011 |access-date=November 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120721010603/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVihDspGt6k |archive-date=July 21, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also ==
* List of Final Fantasy video games
* ''[[Software:Dragon Quest|Dragon Quest]]'' – initially a competing series from [[Company:Enix|Enix]], continues to be produced alongside ''Final Fantasy'' after their merger with Square.
* ''[[Software:Kingdom Hearts|Kingdom Hearts]]'' – an action RPG series developed by Square Enix in collaboration with the American company [[Company:The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], including both Disney-related and Square Enix characters, including those of ''Final Fantasy''.
* ''[[Software:Granblue Fantasy|Granblue Fantasy]]'' – a 2013 video game featuring key staff from ''Final Fantasy''.
* ''[[Software:The Last Story|The Last Story]]'' – a 2012 video game featuring key staff from ''Final Fantasy''.
* List of Square Enix video game franchises
* List of Japanese role-playing game franchises

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{curlie|Games/Video_Games/Roleplaying/F/Final_Fantasy_Games|''Final Fantasy'' games}}
* [http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/26/ign-presents-the-history-of-final-fantasy IGN Presents the History of ''Final Fantasy'']

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[[Category:Action role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Science fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Tactical role-playing video games]]

{{Sourceattribution|Final Fantasy}}