One of the first and most renowned RPG series, as well as a pioneer of Japanese and console RPGs, is Final Fantasy Spin-Offs. We’ve ranked every one of the 16 numbered entries in the main series (excluding a few sequels to those games). But there are two more spin-offs for every numbered Final Fantasy. In addition to the mainstream video games, the Final Fantasy name is utilized for quite a few different video games, which include racing games, rhythm video games, movement-packed adventures, and more.
There is an amazing quantity of Final Fantasy spin-offs, however, we selected the greatest. Remember that they’re no longer standalone Final Fantasy games, however as an alternative spin-off from the series itself. That implies, with one noteworthy exception, you won’t see any direct sequels or prequels like Final Fantasy X-2 or Lightning Returns.
We had to break our own rules to include one particular game because the staff had named it with such unanimity. See if you can find it as evidence of the strength of this particular game. These are the top Final Fantasy spin-offs, listed in alphabetical order.
Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon
The term “rogue-likes” has become more widely used recently to refer to a category of run-based games. There are a few notable outliers, such as Pokemon Mystery Dungeon and, of course, Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon, but most of them are not really like Rogue, the 1980 RPG. Positioning is essential for success in these grid-based RPGs because you’ll be traversing a dungeon where adversaries only move when you do. For the Switch and PS4, Chocobo’s Mystery Dungeon: Every Buddy featured adorable visuals and a huge selection of Final Fantasy creatures.
Chocobo Racing/GP
The popularity of Mario Kart inspired a plethora of imitators, and for a while, any studio or series with a large enough cast of characters wanted to get in on the action. That was the mood when Chocobo Racing, a kart racing game with a Final Fantasy theme, debuted. The game also featured characters like Black Mage and Behemoth in addition to the cute feathery mascot. Chocobo GP for the Nintendo Switch, which received a significant update in June that eliminated all microtransactions and made them unlockables in the base game, gave it a recent resurrection.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7
Crisis Core started extending and exploring the famous (and lucrative!) universe of Final Fantasy 7, one of the first and best examples of Square Enix capitalizing on each of their most well-known standalone Final Fantasy games. We got to experience the events from a completely different angle by focusing on Zack Fair, the Soldier who has a mysterious link to Cloud in the main plot. With a console-like experience and full-fledged 3D action gameplay, the PSP game made fantastic use of the hardware. It also added unique features, such as the slot machine mechanic, to make opponent encounters more unpredictable and replayable. It was so cherished that it just got a remaster, and Zack also plays a significant role in the current Final Fantasy 7 Remake series.
Dissidia Final Fantasy
Dissidia, a spin-off series incorporating characters from the entire Final Fantasy Spin-Offs series and reimagined as a 3D fighting game, is one of the more unexpected selections. Consider it the series’ version of Smash Bros. or a Final Fantasy “All-Stars” game. Thus, the Kefka vs. Sephiroth match you’ve always wanted will finally happen. Although many of the other spin-offs have vanished, Dissidia is still rather recent, with its most recent update occurring in 2018. That suggests that the Final Fantasy battle subseries may still have some life in it.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
A co-op Final Fantasy game called Crystal Chronicles was initially designed to work with the GameCube and its link cables for the Game Boy Advance. The concept was to embark on a treasure-hunting journey with up to three pals, displaying the primary gameplay on your TV screen while each of you utilized your own GBA to access your own customized menu options. It performed reasonably well and, in 2020, a remastered version was released for the Nintendo Switch. It stands out for its distinctive visuals, which were more stylized and cartoony than many other games in the series while still featuring a depth of action-RPG gameplay deserving of the Final Fantasy moniker.
Legend of Final Fantasy
We’ll grant that this one is a little bit of a cheat. The original game in the SaGa series, which would later become known as SaGa Frontier, was not intended to be a Final Fantasy title at all. Instead, it was called Final Fantasy Legend. It was only nicknamed Final Fantasy as a marketing ploy when Squaresoft released it to the West. Some aspects are therefore more easily recognized as belonging to the Saga series. It is still an important part of the history of the series because, for many people in the West, it was one of their first “Final Fantasy” experiences, if not the first.
Mystic Quest from Final Fantasy
Mystic Quest was a reduced, stripped-down version of Final Fantasy designed to introduce new players to the genre. It was one of the first instances of Squaresoft attempting to broaden the market for RPGs. Random encounters were eliminated, the battle options were updated, and the equipment system was made simpler. Similar to this, the plot was condensed, concentrating more on a lone hero and monsters ingesting potent magic crystals. Although it didn’t succeed as a standalone subseries, it offers an intriguing glimpse into how the franchise initially tried to draw in new fans.
Game of Thrones tactics
One of the most cherished Final Fantasy spin-offs of all time was accidentally discovered when Final Fantasy attempted its own interpretation of the isometric tactic Tactics Ogre. The first Final Fantasy Tactics coupled a robust job system with an engrossing story of betrayals and intrigue in the realm of Ivalice, even though the translation was inconsistent. Two Game Boy Advance sequels were released, and while they lacked the dramatic tragedy of the PlayStation original, they did incorporate a special Judge system that gave players access to random factors to highlight replay value. Its high-fantasy European setting also served as a model for portions of the MMO Final Fantasy XIV and the regular series Final Fantasy XII.
Kingdom Hearts
This is sort of a Final Fantasy spin-off that has become so popular that it now has its own emblem. Kingdom Hearts was a unique collaboration from the beginning, permitting Square Enix to take manipulate Disney’s properly-cherished animation masterpieces, fusing them with Final Fantasy characters, along with a sparkling narrative proposing original characters that were not from both collections. In order to find King Mickey, who vanished while trying to find a way to counter a terrible energy that threatened to destroy all the worlds, the young boy Sora joined forces with Donald Duck and Goofy. Although sparse—mostly limited to the rare cameo or boss battle against Sephiroth—the Final Fantasy crossover aspects are undeniably present. More generally, it has a Final Fantasy vibe, which is no surprise given that Tetsuya Nomura, the primary character designer for Final Fantasy 7, oversaw the entire project.
Stranger of Paradise: The Origin of Final Fantasy
Although Stranger of Paradise is essentially a predecessor to the very first Final Fantasy game, it can’t be connected to just one game because it references the entire franchise. The action game by Team Ninja focuses on Jack Garland’s journey to annihilate Chaos with his allies, therefore it only contains a small number of RPG components and mechanisms, such as a complex Job system. The tale finally flips the idea on its head in some very creative and unexpected ways, despite the fact that his party first looks to be the four Warriors of Light in the classic Final Fantasy tradition.
Theatrhythm Last Fantasy
Theatrhythm is Square Enix’s ultimate homage to its rich past. Final Fantasy is famed for its recognizable music. The rhythm game series made its debut on the 3DS, where players could tap their fingers to the beat of vintage Final Fantasy songs. It was unclear how the gameplay would work with buttons when Theatrhythm: Final Bar Line made the switch to the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation. Final Bar Line is jam-packed with hundreds of music, including additional DLC for other vintage RPGs like Chrono Trigger, and it does it masterfully. This is a can’t-miss if you enjoy Final Fantasy music.
Final Fantasy World
World of Final Fantasy, one of the more peculiar celebrations of Final Fantasy’s past and lore, took characters and locations from the series and contextualized them using Pokemon-style gathering components. World of Final Fantasy battles utilized an innovative stacking technique in place of the standard Final Fantasy battle system, requiring you to position larger monsters on the bottom and lesser characters on top. A subsequent version titled “Maxima” featured New Game Plus capabilities and allowed the protagonists to change into charming reinterpretations of well-known Final Fantasy characters. It used a distinctive animation art style to tell an original story.