Final Fantasy fans run the gamut in terms of what they are looking for. Some prefer to have their games filled with narratives that are both interesting and charming. Some love a good gameplay system to hook them into playing countless hours every night.
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Then there are some compelled to play these games because they just love the brand, no matter what it brings to the table. For all fans though, it can safely be said that an adventure that kicks into high gear sooner rather than later is preferable. These Final Fantasy entries are good for beginners because they don’t have a lot of baggage and because they get their gameplay loops off from the minute players get past the title screen.
6
Dissidia Final Fantasy
The Ultimate Fan Clash
- Released
-
August 25, 2009
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer
- Engine
-
Proprietary Engine
- ESRB
-
t
Dissidia Final Fantasy is not a typical entry in the series even as far as spinoffs go. This PSP exclusive saw the main heroes and villains from the mainline Final Fantasy games face off in a fighting tournament. It wasn’t a typical brawler like Street Fighter either as characters could level up and equip gear.
There was a campaign as well with a light story but fun for fans as it showcased characters talking for the first time. It was a dream scenario but one that wasn’t made just for fluff as the developers created a compelling, albeit a little confusing, combat system. Fighting games rarely take a lot of energy to get into and the same is true here and for Dissidia Final Fantasy’s two sequels.
5
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Grab A Bucket And Save The World
- Platform(s)
-
Nintendo GameCube
- Released
-
February 9, 2004
- Developer(s)
-
The Game Designers Studio
- Publisher(s)
-
Nintendo
- Multiplayer
-
Local Multiplayer
- ESRB
-
Teen // Fantasy Violence
- How Long To Beat
-
21 Hours
- Number of Players
-
1-4
- Local Co-Op Support
-
Yes
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is an amazing experience but there is a caveat: multiplayer. To get a full round of four-player co-op going would be expensive as one person had to own the game, a GameCube, a Game Boy Advance, and a link cable. The three friends had to own cables and GBAs as well but no other games were necessary.
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After that, all four players could go on an adventure to save the kingdom from a terrifying mist. There was little story or character progression as it was more arcade-like in its approach. While hardcore fans of the mainline games may have been upset about these features, others loved them for making Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles a great entry point in the series that took no more than a few minutes to get going. Fans today have an easier time with co-op thanks to the remaster.
4
Final Fantasy Explorers
Monster Hunter Lite
Final Fantasy Explorers
- Released
-
January 26, 2016
- Developer(s)
-
Square Enix Racjin
- Publisher(s)
-
Square Enix
- Multiplayer
-
Online Multiplayer
- Engine
-
Luminous Engine
- ESRB
-
e
- How Long To Beat
-
22 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Fair
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles was a groundbreaking entry for including multiplayer prohibitive as it was. Sequels made it easier to get into co-op as did other spinoffs like Final Fantasy Explorers. Unlike the original Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, Final Fantasy Explorers did have a progression system similar to the main games.
The focus took more of a Monster Hunter approach though as players could comb fields to fight monsters and gain their parts for better gear. This simple gameplay loop could get old but only if players were alone for the ride. With full co-op, it was much easier to get through the game and its many bosses. Final Fantasy Explorers was more doable alone than a solo adventure in Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles though, to be clear.
3
Final Fantasy 10-2
Girly Good Fun
Final Fantasy 10-2 is a weird spinoff that does not take time to get players up to speed much. The original game ended with a dark twist that saw the hero, Tidus, die. Predominantly this sequel focuses on Yuna trying to find out if he really died or not but that concept is buried deep in a mission-based girls party.
Yuna is joined by Rikku from the first game along with newcomer Paine. There’s not much of a world to explore but the mission-based structure and Job system via the Dresspheres makes Final Fantasy 10-2 highly digestible. It never feels bogged down by an overwrought plot. It just wants players to enjoy the story and the combat system.
2
Final Fantasy 15
A Big Open-World Is Waiting
Final Fantasy 15 has a bit of an opening cutscene to set up the world which quickly transitions to four men pushing a car in the desert. This would be protagonist Noctis and his crew who are fleeing their kingdom to find magical MacGuffins across the land to stop an evil empire from taking over. It’s a dramatic story with a lot of twists and turns but the game never pushes story content as much as other mainline games.
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This game is great for those who don’t want to wait around for things to get going because that car-pushing scene transitions into an open-world RPG quickly. Yes, there are menial tasks to get the car up and running along with Chocobos to mount for easier access on certain terrain, but it still doesn’t take that long to get going. The back half of the game is more linear so things do take a turn, but players should be immensely enthralled once Final Fantasy 15 opens its proverbial doors.
1
Final Fantasy Tactics
The Grid Is Calling
- Released
-
June 20, 1997
- Developer(s)
-
Square
- Publisher(s)
-
Square, Sony Computer Entertainment
- Engine
-
Luminous
- ESRB
-
t
Final Fantasy Tactics is good from second zero as that cinematic gets players ready for an epic journey through Ivalice that truly makes them feel like they are taking part in a war within a limited lifespan of the hero’s life. Ramza, said hero, will begin in the middle part of his chapter and then dial things back a bit before rejoining the present. He’ll gain and lose allies throughout his life and it can be hard to stomach sometimes as they are tragic.
The gameplay followed a typical grid-based tactical system meaning that players could move their characters around like pieces on a chess board. With nearly hundreds of combinations of squads thanks to the Job system, players could approach these battles from so many angles. This has helped keep the game in the cultural zeitgeist as a legendary entry in the series spinoff or otherwise thanks to the infinite replay value.
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