Summary
- Final Fantasy creates diverse towns, from fantasy to sci-fi, offering unique aesthetics and memorable experiences.
- Towns like Cornelia, Luca, Narshe, Wall Market, Lindblum, Fisherman's Horizon, and Cosmo Canyon stand out in the franchise.
- These towns propel character development, story progression, and provide captivating features like mini-games, hidden quests, and memorable music.
Towns have been a staple in the JRPG genre since its inception, appearing in the genre's forerunners like Dragon Quest. When it comes to Final Fantasy, Square has done its best to create imaginative locations for players to hang their swords up in for a while. Some of them are cozy and inviting, while others tend to be a place for the party to experience some major story shift, as towns in JRPGs have often been used as a way to propel the heroes' story forward.
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Due to Final Fantasy's commitment to creating new, innovative worlds for each mainline entry, they have created a wonderful variety of towns for the series. Some of them have been steeped in traditional fantasy, featuring inns and blacksmiths, while more recent entries have entered into the realm of science fiction. Whatever the aesthetic may be, Final Fantasy has etched out a huge list of truly memorable towns for players to visit for 35-plus years.
7 Cornelia
The First Town In Final Fantasy History Welcomes Players To Its Incredible World
Final Fantasy (1987)
- Released
- December 18, 1987
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square
- Engine
- Luminous engine
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, PC, PS1, PS4, PSP, WonderSwan, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Android, iOS
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Adventure
- How Long To Beat
- 18 hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Cornelia is visited not long into the campaign for Final Fantasy 1, serving as the very first town in the franchise. Its musical motif has become synonymous with the series, with its calming sense of impending adventure having been featured in numerous other Final Fantasy games.
The Warriors of Light, in their quest to defeat Garland, spend a decent amount of time here and Cornelia is where their journey truly begins. It is home to one of the most iconic locations in Final Fantasy history, as the bridge to reach the next location plays a crucial role in its story.
6 Luca
Warm And Inviting Town With Lots Of Side Activities
Final Fantasy 10
- Released
- December 17, 2001
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- PhyreEngine
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Platform(s)
- PS2
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- How Long To Beat
- 45 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Drawing from East-Asian culture and locations like Thailand, Final Fantasy 10 still has quite a unique look about it even twenty-plus years after release. In Luca, the location visited by Tidus and the party starting in chapter 4, that influence is on full display.
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Featuring a relaxing, welcoming environment and one of the franchise's greatest pieces of music, Luca is a delightful moment for the party to chill before some of the game's biggest story beats begin to go down in full force. It is also the home to the Blizball stadium, where this addictive mini-game can be played endlessly, becoming one of the game's most engaging side activities.
5 Narshe
Home Base Of The Returners
Final Fantasy 6
- Released
- October 11, 1994
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix, Square
- Engine
- Unity
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 35 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Narshe is the first location visited in Final Fantasy 6, the legendary SNES JRPG that many still consider to be the best entry in the entire franchise. When it's first visited by Terra, Biggs, and Wedge during the beginning moments of FF6, Narshe slowly appears over the horizon and is introduced in one of the most compelling openings that the series has ever seen.
Narshe becomes the base of operations for Terra and the gang, as it connects to four of the game's dungeons and is the home of the Returners until they gain the airship. It is one of the most visually appealing locations in the franchise, with a steampunk-inspired aesthetic and some excellent music.
4 Wall Market
Seedy Market Is One Of FF7's Most Iconic Locations
Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- January 31, 1997
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Cross-Platform Play
- ps, pc
- Cross Save
- Players who have already started their adventure on iOS or Android can take advantage of cross-save capabilities
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- yes
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 37 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- Supported VR Headsets
- Oculus Quest 2
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
First visited by Cloud and Aerith after the party is separated, Wall Market is a seedy, dark underbelly that features all sorts of wacky characters and adventures. It is where one of Final Fantasy 7's most legendary moments happens, as their quest to save Tifa from the slimy Don Corneo leads to Cloud's iconic dress-up scene. Many of these moments were lovingly recreated in Square's outstanding 2020 remake, as well.
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The entirety of Wall Market is fabulous, with a memorable tune playing in the background, and a sense of danger that Cloud and Aerith have wandered into somewhere they shouldn't be. It also plays a major part in pushing the story towards its next phase, as the entrance to reach the Shinra building is also tucked away in Wall Market's darkest corner.
3 Lindblum
Beautifully Designed City Is A Highlight Of Final Fantasy 9
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Violence, Mild Language
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Unity
- Multiplayer
- Local Multiplayer
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The party arrives at Lindblum after they escape from Alexandria, where they lie low from the grip of Queen Brahne. Featuring some staggeringly beautiful architecture and some of the PS1's most incredible pre-rendered backgrounds, Lindblum is a pure joy to just get lost in during one of the game's quieter sections.
A host of activities await the player, including numerous people to play the card game Tetra Master with, as well as the Festival of the Hunt and a side quest that remained hidden nearly a decade after launch, known as the Lost Nero family. It is a quintessential JRPG town, one that feels like a real place with NPCs that are truly alive.
2 Fisherman's Horizon
Charming Fishing Hamlet Features Entertaining Side Missions
Final Fantasy 8
- Released
- February 11, 1999
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- luminous engine
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Music and vibes tend to play a major role in the legacy of JRPG towns, and Fisherman's Horizon certainly passed both of those tests. First visited by the party during disc two, FH is a charming, peaceful little fishing hamlet that welcomes the player with a magnificent piece of music and an unmatched visual design.
Numerous opportunities to play Final Fantasy 8's addictive card game, Triple Triad, are present here and FH also features unique region rules. The Master Fisherman quest is also a treat, as the player can learn even more about FH and gain SeeD ranks.
1 Cosmo Canyon
Legendary Home Of Red XIII Is Final Fantasy's Best
Avalanche visits Cosmo Canyon after their desert buggy breaks down during the midpoint of Final Fantasy 7, forcing them to take stock of their situation at the home of Red XIII. The iconic Cosmo Canyon theme is one of the best pieces of music ever composed for the series, and this landmark location is where the party truly begins to come together as one.
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The party spends a lot of time reflecting here, showcased by the fireside chat about their futures, as well as the legendary planetarium scene. It also features one of the game's best dungeons, as the Cave of the Gi is home to deadly spirits and an epic boss fight against Gi Nattak. Cosmo Canyon is still absolutely wonderful, and was beautifully recreated in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, proving that this absolutely fantastic location is still one of the franchise's best.
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