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Final Fantasy

Read up on the latest Final Fantasy franchise News, Reviews and Features from the team at CBR.

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A split image showing Garnet in Final Fantasy IX, Yuna in Final Fantasy X, and Zack in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII 1
10 Best Final Fantasy Endings, Ranked

Final Fantasy's final moments are often the best in the entire game.

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A split image of Kain Highwind, Dion Lesage, and Aranea Highwind all from Final Fantasy 1
10 Best Final Fantasy Dragoons, Ranked

Final Fantasy IV's Kain Highwind is definitely the most popular Dragoon, but the franchise has several more impressive Dragoons in entries like FFXIV.

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An image of two Final Fantasy games that use the Active Time Battle system. 1
Final Fantasy Needs To Bring ATB Back

Final Fantasy has abandoned the Active Time Battle system, but bringing it back with modern tweaks could restore the series' classic appeal.

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A split image of FF 7's snowboarding mini-game, FF 15's Triple Triad mini-game, and FF 10's Blitzball minj-game 1
10 Best Final Fantasy Mini-Games, Ranked

FFXVI is turning away from minigames, but previous Final Fantasy titles made great use of these fun little distractions and side systems.

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Yuffie in Final Fantasy VII Remake 1
How Final Fantasy's Combat Has Evolved Since 1987

Over 36 years, Final Fantasy's combat systems evolved from turn-based to real-time battles, each game introducing unique strategic challenges.

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A split image of Sidurgu Orl from Final Fantasy XIV, Barnabas Tharmr from Final Fantasy XVI, and Odin from Final Fantasy XVI. 1
10 Best Final Fantasy Dark Knights, Ranked

Final Fantasy IV's Cecil Harvey may be the most popular Dark Knight, but the franchise has several more impressive Dark Knights in entries like FFXVI.

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A picture of Ace from Final Fantasy Type-0 and Clive Rosfield from Final Fantasy XVI 1
How Final Fantasy’s First M-Rated Game Laid the Foundation for XVI’s Dark Tone

Final Fantasy XVI demonstrates how the franchise has matured since the release of its first M-rated installment, Final Fantasy Type-0.

Split image of key art for Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island and Chrono Trigger. 1
10 Other SNES Games Nintendo Needs To Remake For Switch

Super Mario RPG's remake is a welcome surprise for long-time fans, but other great SNES games like Yoshi's Island and FFVI also deserve remakes.

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A split image showing Zack Fair from Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, Aerith from Final Fantasy VII, and Auron from Final Fantasy X 1
10 Most Emotional Final Fantasy Deaths, Ranked

Final Fantasy is known for its character-driven storytelling, including character deaths, but entries like VII and X have some of the saddest.

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Culex secret boss in Super Mario RPG 1
Super Mario RPG's Secret Boss Was a Final Fantasy Reference

The hidden boss Culex in Super Mario RPG is a complex tribute to Final Fantasy, including character nods, 2D design, crystal themes, and musical cues.

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A split image of player-created characters from Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, Terra from Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, and Garnet from Final Fantasy IX 1
10 Old Final Fantasy Games That Still Need Remakes

Final Fantasy XVI's recent release has shed more light on the franchise, and plenty of FF fans are itching for remakes of FF entries like VIII and VI.

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Final Fantasy XVI promotional image showing a figure carrying a sword surrounded by fiery creatures. 1
Final Fantasy XVI Is a Great Entry Point for New Players

Final Fantasy XVI is perfect for newcomers; its standalone status and familiar combat will ease players into everything great about the franchise.

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Final Fantasy XVI Clive Ifrit Shiva montage 1
Final Fantasy Is Better As An Action RPG

Final Fantasy XVI forgoes the series' traditional turn-based formula for real-time action combat that should become a staple for the franchise.

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Garuda as she appears in Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy XVI 1
Every Garuda Appearance In A Mainline Final Fantasy, In Chronological Order

Garuda wasn't always a summon. How has Garuda's role shifted between its debut and Final Fantasy XVI?

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A split image of a Dragon, world map, and party members from original Final Fantasy 1
10 Harsh Realities Of Playing Old Final Fantasy Games

The Final Fantasy series has a long and storied history, but it has evolved so far that revisiting old titles can be quite jarring to modern audiences

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A split image showing Tidus in Final Fantasy IX, Sephiroth in Final Fantasy VII, and Dagger and Zidane in Final Fantasy IX 1
10 Best Written Final Fantasy Stories, Ranked

Final Fantasy is renowned for its complex, layered storytelling, but some pull it off better than others, such as FFVII, FFIX, and FFX.

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final fantasy mystic quest cover art 1
How Square Failed to Make Final Fantasy Mystic Quest More Accessible

Square Enix has constantly tried to open Final Fantasy to new players, but the studio's first attempt to make the series accessible backfired.

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Baltheir, Basch, Penelo, Fran, Ashe, and Vaan in Final-Fantasy XII  1
Final Fantasy XII Is the Perfect Final Fantasy Game to Play After XVI

Final Fantasy XVI makes big changes to the series. It has a new approach to combat and a mature story, that makes XII the perfect game to play after.

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Shiva as she appears in Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy XVI 1
Every Shiva Appearance In A Mainline Final Fantasy, In Chronological Order

Shiva makes her return in Final Fantasy XVI. How does Final Fantasy XVI Shiva compare to previous Final Fantasy mainlines?

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Ifrit as it appears in Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy XVI 1
Every Ifrit Appearance In A Mainline Final Fantasy, In Chronological Order

Ifrit is one of the most popular summons in the Final Fantasy series. How has Ifrit evolved across each mainline entry?

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