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Final Fantasy

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Article Genealogy
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Final Fantasy
TitleFinal Fantasy
DeveloperSquare; Square Enix
PublisherSquare; Square Enix
PlatformsNintendo Entertainment System, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Sega Saturn, Sega Dreamcast, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS, iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows
First releaseFinal Fantasy (1987)
Latest releaseFinal Fantasy XVI (2023)
GenreRole-playing

Final Fantasy is a long-running Japanese role-playing game franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi and developed by Square and later Square Enix. The series spans main numbered entries, spin-offs, adaptations, and cross-media projects involving studios and publishers such as Squaresoft, Enix, Eidos Interactive, and Sony Interactive Entertainment. It has influenced creators, franchises, and industries including Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, The Legend of Zelda, Kingdom Hearts, and Baldur's Gate.

Overview

The franchise began on the Nintendo Entertainment System with a title produced by Hironobu Sakaguchi and composed by Nobuo Uematsu, drawing on influences from Dungeons & Dragons, Star Wars, and The Lord of the Rings. Early entries on the Famicom and Super Famicom established recurring elements such as crystals, chocobo, and job systems similar to mechanics in Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy V. The series transitioned to 3D with Final Fantasy VII on the PlayStation, a release contemporaneous with other major PlayStation titles like Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil. Later titles such as Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy XII, and Final Fantasy XV explored cinematic presentation akin to works by Square Enix collaborators including Yoshinori Kitase and Tetsuya Nomura.

Gameplay and design

Combat systems evolved from turn-based encounters present in early installments to real-time and hybrid systems seen in Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy XV. The Active Time Battle system introduced in Final Fantasy IV and refined in Final Fantasy VI influenced contemporaries like Chrono Cross and Suikoden II. Customization through job systems recalls design patterns from Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy Tactics, the latter developed by Hitoshi Sakimoto and Yasumi Matsuno. Summons and mako-inspired materia systems created links with mechanics in Xenogears and Parasite Eve. Leveling, equipment, and materia interact with narrative elements similar to storytelling techniques used in Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy VII. Soundtracks by composers such as Nobuo Uematsu, Masashi Hamauzu, Hiroki Kikuta, and Yoko Shimomura contributed to design through leitmotifs as seen in orchestral concerts like Distant Worlds Concerts and collaborations with orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Main series games

The numbered entries include seminal releases: Final Fantasy I (NES) through Final Fantasy XVI (PlayStation 5). Notable milestones are Final Fantasy IV (SNES) introducing the Active Time Battle system; Final Fantasy VI (SNES) acclaimed for narrative depth; Final Fantasy VII (PlayStation) as a commercial watershed; Final Fantasy IX (PlayStation) returning to fantasy roots; Final Fantasy X (PlayStation 2) with voice acting and the Sphere Grid; Final Fantasy XII (PlayStation 2) with the Gambit system; Final Fantasy XIII (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360) with the Paradigm system; and Final Fantasy XV (PlayStation 4, Xbox One) evolving from the cancelled project Versus XIII. Remakes and remasters include Final Fantasy VII Remake, Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster, and ports to platforms such as Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch.

The franchise expanded into tactical spin-offs like Final Fantasy Tactics developed by Quest and Square, crossover titles including Kingdom Hearts produced with Disney Interactive Studios and Square Enix, and massively multiplayer entries such as Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV developed for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Windows—the latter overseen by director Naoki Yoshida after a failed launch, later influencing MMORPG recovery efforts comparable to World of Warcraft and Guild Wars 2. Other media adaptations include animated films like Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within by Square Pictures and Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children by Square Enix, novels, manga, radio dramas, stage productions, and merchandise collaborations with companies such as Bandai Namco and Play Arts Kai. Mobile and handheld entries include Final Fantasy Dimensions, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, and collaborations with publishers including DeNA and GREE.

Development and production

Creative leads and contributors have included producers and directors like Hironobu Sakaguchi, Yoshinori Kitase, Tetsuya Nomura, Naoki Yoshida, and composers such as Nobuo Uematsu and Masashi Hamauzu. Development teams within Square and Square Enix have collaborated with external studios including Cavia, Mistwalker, and PlatinumGames on titles and ports. The transition from Squaresoft to Square Enix followed the merger of Square and Enix in 2003, impacting corporate strategy, distribution agreements with Sony Interactive Entertainment and Microsoft Corporation, and localization practices involving firms like SCEA and Xseed Games. Technological shifts from cartridges to optical discs, motion capture, and engines such as proprietary 3D engines and middleware like Havok shaped production pipelines, while community feedback and patches—exemplified by the relaunch of Final Fantasy XIV—altered project management and live-service approaches.

Reception and legacy

The franchise achieved critical and commercial success, with entries appearing on sales charts alongside titles from Nintendo, Capcom, and Konami. Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X are frequently cited in discussions alongside The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Metal Gear Solid for their cultural impact. Awards and honors include accolades from industry bodies such as the BAFTA and coverage in publications like Famitsu, IGN, GameSpot, and Edge. The series influenced game design across genres, inspiring creators behind Mass Effect, The Witcher, Persona, and Dragon Age. Academic analyses compare its narratives to works by Hayao Miyazaki and themes in cyberpunk literature like Neuromancer. Its legacy persists in orchestral concerts, fan communities on platforms such as Reddit, YouTube, and Twitch, and institutional recognition in museums and exhibits that also feature franchises like Pokémon and Street Fighter.

Category:Video game franchises