For over 35 years, the Ultimate Fantasy sequence has captivated followers with its anthology storytelling, regularly introducing new characters and tales to maintain the magical fantasy world contemporary. Ultimate Fantasy video games are largely standalone. This implies you possibly can take part within the video games in any order, as every one has a contemporary story.
Normally, Ultimate Fantasy video games are typically set someplace between the previous and the longer term, they usually have a tendency to remain related by the identical overarching, common theme: a bunch of younger heroes coming collectively to battle a terrific evil that threatens the world, whereas exploring their inside struggles and relationships with one another.
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Which Ultimate Fantasy recreation must you play first?
Trying on the Ultimate Fantasy sequence as an entire may be overwhelming, as most of them have a whole lot of hours of content material to play. If you wish to simply be a part of a franchise, We advocate beginning with Ultimate Fantasy VII. The sport left an indelible mark on the gaming trade by having the simplest gameplay and fight system, particularly the Restrict Break system, and by providing among the most memorable characters reminiscent of Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, and Sephiroth. If you’d like the OG expertise, FFVII is obtainable on Steam and has been re-released for many consoles, together with the Nintendo Swap.
Sq. Enix is ββengaged on remastering Ultimate Fantasy VII in three elements. Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake launched on consoles in 2020, and Ultimate Fantasy VII: Rebirth simply launched on PC following its console launch in 2024. The third and last a part of the remastered trilogy is scheduled for launch in 2027.
The best way to play Ultimate Fantasy video games in chronological order
If you wish to dig deep into the Ultimate Fantasy franchise and play every little thing in chronological order, here is the whole listing. That stated, there isn’t any direct continuity between the Ultimate Fantasy video games, so we advocate making an attempt out the sport whose story pursuits you probably the most.
1. Strangers of Paradise: Ultimate Fantasy Origins
Strangers of Paradise: Ultimate Fantasy Origins is about within the Kingdom of Cornelia, a darkish fantasy setting of the unique Ultimate Fantasy video games. Jack Garland and his companions, in addition to fellow Warriors of Gentle, Ash, Jed, Neon, and Sophia, every carrying a darkish crystal representing earth, wind, hearth, and water, got down to discover and destroy Chaos and restore gentle to the world. Regardless of what the prophecy foretold concerning the heroes, every warrior turns into skeptical about their position.
You’ll be able to change your character’s job on the fly, however you possibly can solely swap between two positions if Jack is a participant character. No matter his position, Jack has a definitive particular transfer that crystallizes and crushes his enemies, restoring a portion of his magic meter when the enemy’s break gauge is depleted.
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2.Ultimate Fantasy
Centuries after the occasions of Strangers of Paradise, Ultimate Fantasy introduces 4 new younger warriors of sunshine, every carrying orbs representing the 4 components darkened by 4 elemental fiends. At first, they’re ordered by the King of Cornelia to rescue Princess Sara from the evil knight Garland, however their journey expands to defeating the demon, restoring the Orb to its former glory, and saving the world from everlasting darkness.
The identify Ultimate Fantasy comes from sequence creator Hironobu Sakaguchi’s risk to stop the sport trade and return to college if the sport would not promote, and Sq. Enix’s chapter disaster meant that the sport was coping with the concept it will be its final. In the end, the sport bought over 1.3 million copies worldwide, grossed over $21 million, and saved each the corporate and Sakaguchi’s profession.
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3. Ultimate Fantasy II
In Ultimate Fantasy II, Furion, Gai, Maria, and Leon develop into orphans after the Paramethian Empire destroys their homeworld and kills their dad and mom. They be a part of the Wildrose Rise up and journey to thwart Emperor Mateus’ plans to overcome the world with the Hellspawn, beneath the management of Princess Hilda, who initially thought-about them too younger to hitch the military.
Not like the primary Ultimate Fantasy, the sequel had no character creation or job system. This was as a result of Sq. wished the sport to be extra story-driven fairly than crammed with heavy gameplay mechanics. The sport is notable for introducing a number of staple components that can ceaselessly outline the sequence: chocobos and the recurring inventor character Cid.
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4. Ultimate Fantasy III
After an earthquake strikes the village of Ur, a bunch of 4 orphaned teenagers, Ark, Refia, Runes, and Ingus, are drawn to a crystal of sunshine in an altar cave. The crystal provides the younger folks their first job, which is a part of their energy, and instructs them to revive stability to the world.
Ultimate Fantasy III is the primary numbered recreation within the sequence to function a job change system, permitting gamers to vary how their characters battle monsters all through the sport. As a substitute of staying with one job or class, you possibly can discover different job choices and see which of them swimsuit every character. The 2006 Nintendo DS remake retained components of the unique recreation, however gave the characters much more persona.
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5. Ultimate Fantasy IV
Ultimate Fantasy IV options Cecil Harvey, the captain of the Purple Wings. He questions King Balon’s motives after King Balon and his knights steal the water crystal in a raid on Mysidia. After being stripped of his title by the king as punishment for his disloyalty, Cecil embarks on an journey with Kain Highwind and the chums he meets alongside the best way to cease the magician Golbez from stealing different crystals to be able to save the world.
This recreation introduces the Energetic Time Battle (ATB) system, which permits characters to take motion when the gauge is full. Whereas earlier video games restricted events to 4 folks, Ultimate Fantasy IV allowed events of 5 characters.
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6. Ultimate Fantasy V
Adventurer Bert Krauser encounters a falling meteorite, finds 4 strangers, together with King Tycoon’s daughter Lena, and units out on an journey to avoid wasting them from the collapse of the Crystal, a phenomenon attributable to Exdeath, a being who’s free of imprisonment and seeks to realize the ability of the Void. The group turns into Warriors of Gentle and focuses on defeating Exdeath and stopping the Void energies from plunging the world into darkness.
Ultimate Fantasy V expanded the job system, permitting gamers to select from over 21 jobs. To make the job system much more fascinating, you possibly can mix expertise realized from a specific job with totally different expertise from one other job to defeat tough dungeons and managers.
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7. Ultimate Fantasy VI
Set in a steampunk-esque world crammed with expertise resembling the Second Industrial Revolution, Ultimate Fantasy VI facilities on a insurgent faction often known as the Returners preventing in opposition to the Gestalia Empire, which has gained the ability to overcome the world by experimenting with magical creatures often known as Espers. The Returners, together with amnesiac former Imperial soldier Terra Branford, work to make use of the magic they search to liberate areas beneath Gestarian management and finish Imperial rule.
Ultimate Fantasy VI, launched in North America as Ultimate Fantasy III, was closely censored on account of Nintendo of America’s insurance policies on the time, however it featured 14 playable characters to select from all through the story, making it the biggest forged within the sequence’ historical past. It additionally offers with mature themes reminiscent of immoral army dictatorships, the usage of chemical weapons in warfare, the pursuit of a magical arms race, private salvation, hope and the renewal of life. That is additionally the primary Ultimate Fantasy work not directed by Sakaguchi, who handed over the reins to Yoshinori Kitase.
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8. Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy VII
Set in Midgar seven years earlier than the occasions of Ultimate Fantasy VII, Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy VII facilities on Zack Honest, a rookie soldier tasked with discovering a lacking Soldier and the defector Genesis Rhapsodos, who has gone on a rampage for unknown causes. Throughout his exploration, he discovers the origins of Genesis, Mission G (or the Jenova Mission), and the way it’s related to the 2 aforementioned high-ranking troopers, and finally ends up preventing him and the opposite merchandise of the Mission which are infused with Jenova’s DNA.
Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy VII was notable for exploring the delicate facet of Sephiroth, everybody’s favourite and most profitable soldier. Sephiroth is much like Cloud Strife’s life as a soldier till he quits the Shinra Electrical Energy Firm, till he loses his sanity upon discovering the unnatural circumstances of his creation and rapidly falls from grace. Initially a PSP-exclusive title, it was remastered as Disaster Core: Ultimate Fantasy VII Reunion for PS5, PS4, Xbox Collection X/S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Swap to have a good time Ultimate Fantasy VII’s twenty fifth anniversary.
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9. Ultimate Fantasy VII
In one of many sequence’ most iconic video games, former soldier-turned-mercenary Cloud Strife joins Avalanche (led by Barrett Wallace) to cease Shinra from enriching the corporate’s pockets by mining all of the Mako from the planet to make use of as an power supply. Though Cloud initially fights for private acquire and to maintain a promise he made to Tifa Lockhart as a toddler, he finally develops friendships with different members of Avalanche, together with Aerith Gainsborough, and works with them to avoid wasting Midgar from each Shinra and Sephiroth, who had been hell-bent on destroying the planet to be able to be reborn as demigods.
After its authentic launch in 1997, Ultimate Fantasy VII grew to become so in style that the majority of its characters appeared within the Kingdom Hearts sequence and spawned a CGI sequel movie, Ultimate Fantasy VII: Creation Kids. It additionally provides delivery to an genuine and critically remastered model of Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake, which shall be launched in three elements. The primary Ultimate Fantasy VII Remake was launched in 2020, and Ultimate Fantasy VII Rebirth was launched on Leap Day 2024. Little is thought about when the third and last recreation within the trilogy shall be launched.
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10. Ultimate Fantasy VIII
On this controversial sequel to Ultimate Fantasy VII, a bunch of younger SeeD mercenaries led by Squall Leonhart (Leon, identified from the Kingdom Hearts sequence) support a bunch often known as the Forest Owls. This try escalates right into a battle with the sorcerer Thought trying to grab management of a robust army state and destroy time itself. As he fights to cease Thought, Squall struggles along with his position and falls in love with Rinoa Heartilly, the chief of the Forest Owls.
Ultimate Fantasy VIII nonetheless options ATB as a part of the gameplay, however the character leveling system has been utterly revamped. Relating to spellcasting, the sport ditches the magic point-based system and as a substitute makes use of a junction system to energy itself up, with characters amassing, drawing, and creating magic from gadgets. It’s also the primary recreation to include a vocal theme to the soundtrack of “Eyes On Me” by Hong Kong pop star Faye Wong.
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11. Ultimate Fantasy IX
Within the first Ultimate Fantasy recreation of the millennium, a thief named Zidane Tribal is tasked with kidnapping the princess of Alexandria, Garnet Until Alexander XVII, as a part of a warfare with neighboring Lindblum. His band of thieves finally develop into guardians of the princess, and Zidane groups up with Garnet to defeat her mom, Queen Brahne, who began the warfare.
Ultimate Fantasy IX was launched in 2000, by which period most recreation sequence had transitioned from 2D to 3D graphics, however Sq. Enix designed the sport to appear to be a retro-style RPG. Nevertheless, we had been in a position to render characters and all different CGI graphics for the world of Gaia.
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12. Ultimate Fantasy X
Ultimate Fantasy X is among the most beloved video games within the sequence, second solely to Ultimate Fantasy VII. This is not simply because it is the primary Ultimate Fantasy recreation for PS2. The story revolves round Tidus, a star blitzball participant. Tidus is taken to Spira (a world impressed by the South Pacific, Thailand, and Japan) by Orlon after his hometown of Zanarkand is destroyed by an enormous monster named Sin. After studying that Shin’s true id is Tidus’s lacking father, Jecht, he groups up with the summoner Yuna and her guardians to defeat Shin and embark on a journey to convey tranquility.
The sport changed ATB with a conditional turn-based battle system that makes use of act lists the place character turns are decided by stats. It additionally launched a brand new leveling system referred to as Sphere Grid. This units your character on a particular path with stats and talents, permitting you to unlock all skills as soon as it opens.
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13. Ultimate Fantasy X-2
Within the Ultimate Fantasy X sequel, Yuna turns into a Sphere Hunter and a member of the Gullwing, consisting of Rikku and Ache. She begins looking for Tidus, or not less than a mysterious man who resembles Tidus, however Gullwing should resolve it earlier than it turns into embroiled in a political battle and a warfare over a secret weapon created to destroy Spira.
Along with being the primary correct recreation sequel within the sequence, Ultimate Fantasy X can be the primary with an all-female forged and the primary to permit for a number of endings. ATB is again, however enhanced to permit characters to interrupt enemies whereas making ready to assault. Additionally launched had been Dressphere and Garment Grid, which permit characters to vary character class mid-battle to vary the circulate of battle.
14. Ultimate Fantasy XI
Sq. Enix took a web page from World of Warcraft and made Ultimate Fantasy XI an MMORPG fairly than an everyday console recreation. Gamers can customise their character to develop into one of many many races that roam the land of Vana’diel, together with the Hume, Elvaan, Tartar, Mythra, and Galka. The plot revolves round defeating a demonic chief referred to as the Shadow King who rises from the ashes of the Crystal Conflict and sends out a military of beastmen, albeit in an unorganized method, to terrorize the land.
Assist for the PS2 and Xbox 360 variations of Ultimate Fantasy XI resulted in 2016, however followers can nonetheless play it on PC. Final yr, there have been rumors that the sport could be discontinued on account of it being over 20 years outdated, however director Yuji Fujito stated that was not the case. In different phrases, it is nonetheless alive and properly and liked by many retro Ultimate Fantasy followers.
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15. Ultimate Fantasy XII
Ultimate Fantasy XII is about within the Kingdom of Ivalice, the place the Empire of Arcadia and the Empire of Rosaria are at warfare with one another. When Dalmasca is annexed by the outdated nation, Princess Ash kinds a resistance motion and meets Van, who desires of turning into an air pirate, and finally ends up working with him in opposition to the tyranny of the Arcadian Empire.
Ultimate Fantasy XII took Sq. Enix three years to develop after the discharge of Ultimate Fantasy X-2, however it paid off. It gained a number of Recreation of the Yr awards and spawned a Nintendo DS sequel, Ultimate Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, in 2007. Greater than a decade later, a remastered model of the sport, Ultimate Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, was launched on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Swap, and Home windows.
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16. Ultimate Fantasy XIII
Lightning, the sequence’ first feminine protagonist apart from Yuna from Ultimate Fantasy Whereas Lightning searches for his sister, he’s joined by a bunch of allies rallying in opposition to Sanctum, who additionally licensed the purge of residents who had come into contact with Pulse, placing the destiny of the world in danger.
The sport obtained a nasty fame not as a result of the primary character was feminine, however due to its complicated command synergy battle/paradigm shift fight system and linear map. Nonetheless, the movie obtained optimistic opinions and spawned two extra direct sequels.
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17. Ultimate Fantasy XIII-2
Three years after the occasions of Ultimate Fantasy XIII, Sera takes the lead and groups up with Noel Kreis, a younger man from the distant future, as they journey by way of time and area to seek out Lightning. In the meantime, within the distant future, Lightning finds herself in Valhalla, a kingdom between demise and chaos, dominated by the goddess Etro, who protected her as a knight throughout her warfare with Caius.
Ultimate Fantasy XIII-2 retained the Command Synergy Battle and Paradigm Shift techniques, however had been refined to enhance the circulate of fight. Mogclock is added to the combo, permitting gamers to assault monsters on the sphere and acquire a bonus in battle earlier than time runs out.
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18. Lightning Returns: Ultimate Fantasy XIII
Within the last episode of the Ultimate Fantasy XIII trilogy, Lightning awakens from 500 years of hibernation and learns that the world will finish in 13 days. She is chosen by the god Bhuniveldze to avoid wasting everybody, however within the course of she learns the reality concerning the destiny of the world and Bhuniveldze’s true function.
Gamers criticized the sport as a result of it had a ticking clock that confirmed how lengthy the sport had till it ended, and strict deadlines had been positioned on missions and sidequests. Its saving grace was a closely modified model of the Command Synergy battle system, with real-time options reminiscent of free management over Lightning’s actions and assaults.
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19. Ultimate Fantasy XIV
Ultimate Fantasy XIV has a number of storylines, however the primary one entails the participant character touring 5 years into the longer term to flee the destruction of Eorzea by the hands of the primordial dragon Bahamut. They enter Eorzea throughout a time of peace and attempt to rebuild their land, however should cope with the specter of invasion by the Garlean Empire.
The circumstances surrounding the event of Ultimate Fantasy XIV had been extraordinarily complicated, particularly because it was the second MMORPG title within the sequence. The unique recreation, launched in 2010, was mired in controversy because it was launched in an unfinished state, regardless that the servers remained up till November 2012. The next yr, Sq. Enix launched Ultimate Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn to optimistic opinions.
In fact, Sq. Enix hasn’t forgotten about MMORPGs both. Ultimate Fantasy: XIV On-line’s fifth growth, Dawntrail, was launched in July of this yr, and we’re certain to see extra expansions and updates sooner or later.
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20. Ultimate Fantasy XV
The primary movie revolves round Prince Noctis of the Kingdom of Lucis, who is about to marry his childhood pal Lunafreya. On the eve of peace negotiations between the 2 empires, Noctis goes on a journey to rescue the Crystal from Niflheim, which had stolen it throughout an assault on Lucia’s capital Insomnia, killing his father within the course of. Throughout his journey, he learns his future to make use of the ability of the crystal to avoid wasting the dominion of Eos from everlasting darkness.
Ultimate fantasy The sport spawned a number of spin-off video games, an anime sequence referred to as Brotherhood: Ultimate Fantasy XV, and a function movie Kingsglaive: Ultimate Fantasy XV.
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21. Ultimate Fantasy 16
The most recent Ultimate Fantasy recreation within the sequence has arrived and basically redefined the sequence. With its third-person motion model and quick, reflexive fight, Ultimate Fantasy 16 has lots to supply.
In the event you’re questioning if this recreation will get you into the sequence immediately, the reply is a convincing “sure.” Whereas the gameplay could also be fairly totally different from earlier titles, the characters and story fulfill the core really feel of Ultimate Fantasy.
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upcoming last fantasy video games
This long-running saga is not ending anytime quickly, however we’ll seemingly have to attend just a few extra years for Ultimate Fantasy 17. Sq. Enix has acknowledged that FFXVI and FFVII Rebirth each underperformed when it comes to gross sales, however that does not appear to have affected the corporate’s dedication to finishing the remake.
The third a part of the remake is titled Ultimate Fantasy VII Revelation, and in contrast to its predecessors, it will likely be launched concurrently on all platforms in Spring 2027. We additionally realized that the sport will function a brand new voice actor for Sephiroth and extra mini-games.
It is very seemingly that we’ll see extra remakes sooner or later, particularly as Sq. Enix pursues a multi-platform technique.