Summary
- The Final Fantasy series has numerous spinoff titles, some developed by familiar names like Arika and Team Ninja.
- Theatrhythm Final Bar Line offers a unique rhythm-based gameplay experience with intricate mock battles.
- World of Final Fantasy, co-developed by Tose, introduces a cute art style, Pokemon-style monster collection, and turn-based combat.
Final Fantasy started as a dream when Squaresoft developed it for the NES in 1987. They never imagined it would blossom into a gaming empire with too many game and media spinoffs to count in a single breath. Many of these spinoff titles were developed by Squaresoft or Square Enix over the years after the merger.
8 Best Final Fantasy Games That Have A Ninja Class
These Final Fantasy games feature ninja classes, offering a more varied gaming experience.
There were a handful of titles that they got fresh blood for, too. These included everything from racing games to action titles. Are these some of the best games in the series or just mildly amusing side notes? Let’s review some history and discuss the ranking based on overall quality.
6 Chocobo GP (Arika)
A Prominent Multiplayer Developer
Chocobo GP
- Released
- March 10, 2022
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Switch
- Genre(s)
- Racing
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
Chocobo GP was the second racing game starring Chocobos, with the first being on the PS1 called Chocobo Racing. Players could choose their racer, including various monsters and heroes from the series, to compete in Mario Kart-like trials. This second iteration was developed by Arika, which was formed by previous Capcom developers.
Even though they left Capcom, these developers still worked with them on various Street Fighter ports. Also, they are probably most known today for their various Battle Royale games based on classic titles from the 80s and 90s. This includes Pac-Man 99, Tetris 99, and Super Mario Bros. 35.
5 Theatrhythm Final Bar Line (indieszero And sAs)
Hopefully Not THE Finale
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line
- Released
- February 16, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen due to Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- indieszero
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Rhythm
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is the third rhythm-based game based on Final Fantasy. Players can assemble a team of heroes and go through many of the mainline and spinoff titles in mock turn-based battles to the best of classic tracks. It’s more intricate than other rhythm games of this nature, like Parappa the Rapper.
6 Best Final Fantasy Games That Have A Samurai Class
Become the feared warriors of Feudal Japan in these Final Fantasy games.
Two developers are responsible for the game, indieszero and sAs, who co-developed the other Theatrhythm titles with Square Enix on 3DS. Outside of Square Enix, portable fans might recognize their work from the two Retro Game Challenge titles on the DS. They weren’t rhythm games, but they were mini-game homages to classic gaming eras.
4 Final Fantasy Explorers (Racjin, Co-Developed)
Summon Hunter
Final Fantasy Explorers
- Released
- January 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix Racjin
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 3DS
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Final Fantasy Explorers was co-developed with Racjin, a company that had worked with Square Enix on several titles, with Racjin taking the lead. Two of their biggest games, unfortunately, never left Japan. Final Fantasy Legend 2 and Final Fantasy Legend 3, which were secretly early entries in the SaGa series, were originally on the Game Boy, but they got enhanced DS remakes in Japan.
Developers aside, Final Fantasy Explorers was a Job-based Monster Hunter clone. Players could choose a Job, design their character, grab a weapon, and then start hunting monsters in the area. It was a familiar gameplay loop, but it worked well enough on 3DS, thanks to the inclusion of co-op.
3 Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin (Team Ninja)
A Soulslike Prequel
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
- Released
- March 18, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Strong Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Team Ninja
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a Soulslike game that was developed by Team Ninja. They know a thing or two about the genre outside of FromSoftware, as they developed the Nioh series under Koei Tecmo’s umbrella. They are known mostly for making the Dead or Alive and Ninja Gaiden games, though.
Previous to this spinoff, Team Ninja also developed Dissidia Final Fantasy NT, which was a fighting game. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is a great action entry for any fan who likes Job systems in this franchise and is looking to get into an easier Soulslike. It has co-op for up to three players, so find two buddies and have a blast.
2 World Of Final Fantasy (Tose)
Stacking With Pokemon
World Of Final Fantasy
- Released
- October 25, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
World of Final Fantasy is one of the cuddliest games in the franchise, thanks to the super-deformed art style making classic heroes and monsters more adorable. Two twins, Lann and Reynn, get sucked into a crossover universe with multiple Final Fantasy heroes including Cloud from Final Fantasy 7. As the twins, players can collect monsters Pokemon-style and fight them in turn-based combat.
8 Final Fantasy Characters Who Are Playable In More Games, Ranked
Final Fantasy began as a last-ditch effort for Squaresoft to pull out a hit and they certainly succeeded. With a cast that outlives their own games.
Tose was the lead developer on this who helped Square Enix a lot with ports to portable consoles. They did Final Fantasy Tactics’ port to PSP, Chrono Trigger’s port to PS1 and DS, and Final Fantasy 4’s port to GBA. That’s only the tip of the porting iceberg, but this is all to say that Square Enix threw them a bone to make a game all their own with World of Final Fantasy.
1 Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (Matrix Software)
If Only They Could Remake More
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light
- Released
- October 5, 2010
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Alcohol Reference, Mild Fantasy Violence, Mild Language
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS, Nintendo 3DS
Matrix Software’s story is a similar one to Tose’s. Their biggest contributions to Square Enix’s catalog were their DS remakes of Final Fantasy 3 and Final Fantasy 4, which were both received well. That possibly led Square Enix to give Matrix Software carte blanche to make Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light.
It had similar turn-based gameplay to the older titles but with a twist. Characters could gain Crowns to change into various classes. There was co-op on the DS as well, which was still an early concept for Final Fantasy at this time. For those looking for a challenge and a unique art style, Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is worth tracking down as it is still trapped on DS.
