Final Fantasy Games With Multiple Endings

Final Fantasy Games With Multiple Endings



Key Takeaways

  • Several Final Fantasy games feature multiple endings, adding depth and personalization to the stories.
  • Endings vary based on character survival or player choices, impacting the fate of the world and individual characters.
  • Titles like Final Fantasy X-2 and XIII-2 offer diverse conclusions, rewarding players for exploring content and making decisions.

The main series of JRPGs by Square Enix is known for its linear narratives and fixed endings, but some Final Fantasy titles with multiple endings break this pattern, providing new ways to conclude their stories. These variations add depth to the experience, giving players the opportunity to explore different outcomes depending on their choices and actions.

In Final Fantasy titles with multiple endings, players encounter alternative paths that impact the fate of the characters and the surrounding world. By introducing this possibility, the franchise delivers a more personalized experience, allowing each journey to become unique, engaging, and leave a lasting impact on every fan’s adventure.

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9 Final Fantasy 4: The After Years

The Sequel Features Multiple Endings Based On Character Survival

Final Fantasy 4: The After Years

Released
June 1, 2009

Developer(s)
Square Enix , Matrix Software

Developed by Square Enix and set nearly two decades after the events of Final Fantasy 4, The After Years returns to the universe of Cecil and Rosa. The game introduces a new generation of heroes, including their son Ceodore. In a new period of crisis, the game brings back iconic characters and new faces to combat evil and protect the kingdom.

Unlike Final Fantasy 4, this sequel features different endings that vary depending on which characters are alive during the final act. Some of these endings, though, are not available in more recent versions. The game now allows players to continue if a companion is knocked out during the fight.

8 Final Fantasy 5

The Outcome Of The Final Battle Can Change The Ending

Released
December 6, 1992

The fifth installment of Final Fantasy is one of the most epic in the franchise’s pixel art era, taking players on a journey to protect the four elemental crystals that maintain the world’s balance. During the final battle, the story has some variations based on whether all characters remain alive after the villain is defeated.

If no one finishes the fight knocked out, all the Warriors of Light manage to return to the new world, living their lives normally. However, if one or more characters end the combat incapacitated, they fail to escape the Void and are left behind. This causes the ending events to have differences, with the heroes mourning their fallen companions.

7 Final Fantasy 6

A Dynamic Ending Based On Recruited Characters

Final Fantasy 6

Released
October 11, 1994

Developer(s)
Square Enix , Square

In the sixth main chapter of Final Fantasy, the last before the franchise moved to 3D, players follow the story of the resistance against the Gestahlian Empire, a military force that uses magic to try to dominate the world. As Terra Branford, players must recruit various characters to fight against Kefka, who ultimately seeks to destroy the world.

When entering the World of Ruin, it’s possible to obtain multiple endings in Final Fantasy 6. The scenes differ depending on the characters found during this part of the game. In this phase, only Celes, Edgar, and Setzer are mandatory, but the other members add new scenes, such as Cyan overcoming his fear of technology to save Edgar, making the ending even more special.

6 Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13

The Protagonist’s Journey Can Branch In Different Ways

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13

Released
November 21, 2013

Lightning Returns introduces unique mechanics to the franchise, such as a time limit for completing everything. If players fail to finish all missions within this timeframe, there’s a bad ending in which Nova Chrysalia is destroyed by an explosion, ending the world. Additionally, there’s a standard ending where Lightning defeats Bhunivelze and closes the portal to the Unseen Realm.

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However, it’s possible to achieve a third ending, unlocked when enough missions are completed to unlock the fourteenth day. In this scene, an epilogue shows Lightning traveling by train in search of one of her friends.

5 Final Fantasy 15

DLCs Offer Different Endings And Expanded Stories

Released
November 9, 2016

The main campaign’s ending in Final Fantasy 15 has some variations. Developers added new scenes in a patch, enhancing the game’s final moments. However, the DLCs released later to complement the game’s story also feature various endings.

Players who enjoy seeing how a character’s actions can change the course of the story can explore the additional content. The Episode Ignis, for example, can conclude in three different ways, while the one focused on Ardyn has two endings. Lastly, Comrades includes some additional scenes if certain requirements are met during the story.

4 Final Fantasy 10-2

Multiple Conclusions Depending On Player Actions

As a direct sequel following the events of Final Fantasy 10, 10 -2 was developed by Square Enix and introduces a new main character to the story. The game follows Yuna, now a sphere hunter, on a journey to uncover new mysteries that have arisen in Spira after the previous title’s events. With the help of Rikku and Paine, she explores the world in search of answers and possibly a reunion.

Unlike the original, the sequel is known for its multiple endings, which depend on the actions and decisions made by the player throughout the adventure. By completing certain missions and making specific choices, it’s possible to unlock different outcomes, including Tidus’s return or even a scenario where Spira is destroyed. These variations offer a personalized experience, making each journey unique.

3 Final Fantasy 13-2

A Time-Traveling Adventure With Paradox Endings

Systems

Released
December 15, 2011

In this sequel to Lightning’s first chapter, the game follows Serah Farron and Noel Kreiss on an adventure through time to find the protagonist and prevent the imminent destruction of Gran Pulse. With time travel and new mechanics, the game expands the universe established in its predecessor.

Because it deals with time travel, Final Fantasy 13-2 is known for its multiple endings, presenting various possible conclusions depending on the player’s actions. In addition to the standard ending, there are eight paradox endings that offer different outcomes for the story. By collecting all fragments and completing additional missions, there’s even a secret ending, rewarding players who explore all the game’s content.

2 World Of Final Fantasy

Multiple Endings Based On Story

Released
October 25, 2016

Developer(s)
Tose

Mixing various classic characters from the franchise, World of Final Fantasy presents a charming adventure that combines these elements with new heroes, Reynn and Lann. The siblings embark on a journey through the world of Grymoire to recover their memories and discover the truth about their past.

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The story can lead to two distinct endings: a “bad ending” and a “good ending.” Initially, players unlock the bad ending by completing the main story. However, by fulfilling certain conditions and revisiting previous challenges in a second playthrough, it’s possible to reach the true ending, which presents a more satisfying conclusion to the narrative.

1 Final Fantasy Type-0

Multiple Fates In A World At War

Final Fantasy Type-0 places players at the heart of a conflict between nations, following Class Zero, a group of students with special abilities. The game offers an intense narrative, leaning more towards dark fantasy, exploring deep themes like sacrifice and the cost of war.

The title features multiple endings that depend on choices made during the campaign. In the standard ending, Class Zero faces its tragic fate, accepting the consequences of their actions to achieve victory. However, by performing specific actions when replaying the game, it’s possible to unlock additional scenes and alternative endings. To reach these conclusions, the player needs to complete the story multiple times.

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