Final Fantasy fans who missed out on the Black Friday deal on the Pixel Remaster Collection can pick it up for the same price now at Amazon and GameStop. The Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition is discounted to $55 for Nintendo Switch and PS4. Released in October with a $75 list price, the Anniversary Edition comes with a sticker sheet of Final Fantasy character sprites. It’s worth emphasizing that this is a true physical release, with all six Final Fantasy Pixel Remasters on the Switch cartridge or PS4 disc (fully compatible with PS5).
If you’re buying this for a Final Fantasy this holiday, you’ll be happy to hear that as of today (December 15), the Nintendo Switch and PS4 editions will arrive with plenty of time to spare before Christmas. If Amazon sells out and you’re considering buying the collection from GameStop, you’ll want to either order online and pick it up at your local store or find another item that brings your total over GameStop’s rather ridiculous $79 minimum for free shipping. Target has the PS4 edition for $56, and since it comes with free shipping, it’s effectively cheaper than GameStop’s deal for delivery.
The collection includes the Pixel Remaster editions of the first six mainline Final Fantasy games. Square Enix released a physical edition last year, but the small print run sold out extremely fast. October’s re-release brought the collection to major retailers for the first time as the Anniversary Edition.
$55 (was $75)
Final Fantasy I-VI Collection Anniversary Edition includes the Pixel Remasters of the following games:
- Final Fantasy I (NES, 1987)
- Final Fantasy II (NES, 1988)
- Final Fantasy III (Famicom, 1990)
- Final Fantasy IV (SNES, 1991)
- Final Fantasy V (SNES, 1992)
- Final Fantasy VI (SNES, 1994)
All six games received comprehensive graphical and audio overhauls for the Pixel Remaster series. Square Enix remodeled the sprites using the original pixel art as a foundation. Series composer Nobuo Uematsu supervised the creation of the rearranged soundtracks. You can also play the games with the original soundtracks, but the rearranged versions are great.
Numerous quality-of-life features were added, including quick save, customizable text fonts, experience multipliers, auto-battling, the ability to turn off random encounters, and more. You can also browse the in-game bestiary and illustration gallery as well as listen to classic tunes with a music player.
$55 (was $75)
Square Enix’s Pixel Remasters project debuted on PC and mobile in Summer 2021 with the three 8-bit Final Fantasy games and came to a close with Final Fantasy VI in February 2022. The collection was ported to PlayStation and Switch last year and to Xbox Series X|S in September.
The proper Final Fantasy III was exclusive to Japan until the release of the 3D remake for Nintendo DS. Long-time fans in North America may remember Final Fantasy VI, arguably the best game in the franchise, as Final Fantasy III.
The games can be played in any order, but it’s really cool to see how the series evolved from the 8-bit era on the Nintendo Entertainment System to the 16-bit era of the Super Nintendo.
$20.65 (was $25)
If you love classic Final Fantasy games, you should also check out FF Dot: The Pixel Art of Final Fantasy. This lovely 280-page hardcover book offers an in-depth look at the gorgeous artwork that, considering the existence of the Pixel Remasters, has proven to be timeless.
Final Fantasy Ultimania Archive Volume 1, which coincidentally focuses on the first six Final Fantasy games, is on sale for 50% off. It has 336 pages of concept art and commentary from game designers and artists who worked on the games that are now bundled together in one collection.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake: Material Ultimania is also on sale for 50% off at Amazon.
Here’s a list of other notable books about the Final Fantasy franchise.