Most Controversial Final Fantasy Games, Ranked

Final Fantasy is one of the most popular JRPG franchises of all time, making a name for itself way back in 1987 and never looking back since. Players love the grand adventures these games take them on, letting them bond with a host of memorable party members as they save the world from a malicious threat time and time again.

Given the illustrious history of this series, it’s easy to see why players have mixed opinions about some games. Sometimes, certain Final Fantasy games have taken too many risks, or done something so different that they become the source of much discussion and controversy.

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8

Final Fantasy 16

Barely Feels Like A JRPG

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Final Fantasy 16

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Released

June 22, 2023

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Final Fantasy 16 is a bold step forward for the series, but it’s one that didn’t gel with a lot of fans. The focus on spectacle was clear, with players enjoying some of the most awe-inspiring boss fights around if they gave this title a shot. However, the lack of diverse characters was a pain point for many fans, and that was just the start of a controversy surrounding the direction this game had taken.

In the quest to become a hack-and-slash RPG, Final Fantasy 16 lost a ton of its core identity in a way that fans didn’t appreciate. The leveling mechanics feel like an afterthought that the game could have done without. Crafting is brainless, and the simplification of its role-playing elements at a time when the genre is booming makes fans question whether such a drastic change was even required for a legendary JRPG series.

7

Final Fantasy 10-2

Some People Deem This Game To Be An Unnecessary Addition

After the merger between SquareSoft and Enix, it was clear that some big changes were going to take place in the company. This came in the form of Square Enix greenlighting the first direct sequel ever to a Final Fantasy game.

Final Fantasy 10-2 discarded the melancholic setting of the previous game to focus on a lighthearted story that didn’t shy away from a fair bit of fan service. It’s a game that splits fans down the middle. Some fans loved its unique take on the job system, while others feared the precedent this title’s release could set for a series known for its focus on an original story for each mainline entry.

6

Final Fantasy 8

The Junction System Was Clearly Not Playtested, & Leads To Broken Builds

Final Fantasy 8 is a game players love to hate. This title’s weird plot twists and broken Junction system are two of its biggest pain points. These are understandable criticisms that dilute what should have been a mind-blowing sequel to Final Fantasy 7.

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However, fans of this game will take up arms to defend a relatable story revolving around Squall’s anxiety and his unrealized feelings toward Rinoa. The time-travel shenanigans are also engaging, and make for one of the best conclusions in a Final Fantasy game that fans won’t get tired of no matter how many times they play.

5

Final Fantasy 15

Fell Short After A Ridiculously Long Development Cycle

The development of Final Fantasy 15 is one of the most turbulent periods for Square Enix, with this game taking more than a decade after its announcement to be launched. Initially devised as a title in the Final Fantasy 13 storyline, Noctis’ adventures slowly took on an identity of their own as players were enticed by the prospect of exploring a massive and beautiful open world.

However, the confusion regarding the way its narrative is told, coupled with some puzzling linear sections, turned Final Fantasy 15 into one of the most divisive entries in the series. Thankfully, the release of the Royal and Windows Editions enhanced the game’s content. Still, this title will remain one of the most controversial entries in the series. It tried to implement a real-time action system where the focus was solely on one character (although Noctis’ party members could eventually be controlled in the game’s re-release).

4

Final Fantasy 13-2

A Sequel No One Asked For

Final Fantasy 13 is one of the most divisive games in the series, and fans still hotly debate about it to this day. Regardless of one’s personal opinions about this game, everyone can agree that a direct sequel to this title wasn’t the best course of action to take.

So, fans were surprised to find out about the existence of Final Fantasy 13-2, serving as another direct sequel that was hard to justify. It was bound to be a controversial release that divided fan opinion just like the first game, reinforcing opinions on both sides because of how similar it was to its predecessor.

3

Final Fantasy 2

The Leveling System Is Downright Criminal

There’s a reason why many people declare Final Fantasy 2 to be the black sheep of the series. While the story-focused approach was appreciated, Final Fantasy 2‘s attempt to innovate on the leveling system was widely panned by fans.

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The leveling system was downright broken and made it frustrating to build characters that didn’t end up embodying similar stats as the game progressed. It’s one of the biggest hurdles that players must overcome if they want to enjoy what this title has to offer.

2

Final Fantasy All The Bravest

The Cash-Grab Mobile Game Raises Questions About Square Enix’s Integrity

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Final Fantasy: All The Bravest

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Released

January 17, 2013

Developer(s)

BitGroove

While Square Enix’s mobile gaming division has progressed by leaps and bounds in modern times, this wasn’t the case early on. In a bid to cash in on the popularity of the Final Fantasy series, they released a game that is designed solely to cash in on the series’ nostalgia and entice as many people as possible with microtransactions.

It’s a downright shameless title that both angered and worried many fans. The last thing they wanted was for this illustrious series to be tarnished by such low-quality efforts, especially given how the franchise had been struggling around the time of this game’s release.

1

Final Fantasy 13

This Controversy Marked A Turning Point For The Franchise

There’s no denying that Final Fantasy 13 is one of the most controversial video games ever made. To this day, fans continue to either deride or praise the game for its boldness. The story took a while to get going; the characters could feel too cliched, and the battle system felt oddly passive despite some fights being quite hard.

Final Fantasy 13 takes a while to grow on players, and most people simply didn’t have the patience to bear with this game’s slow moments. It was the worst-rated Final Fantasy game at the time, and it marked a turning point for the series in the eyes of many, who feel that the series is struggling to form an identity in gaming’s modern era to this day.

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The fantasy is never final when remakes are to be had.