Final Fantasy 9’s Hunting Festival is Fertile Ground for a…

Final Fantasy 9 remains one of Square Enix’s most beloved entries, thanks to its heartfelt tone, distinctive art style, and endearing characters. With this year marking its 25th anniversary, the game has returned to the spotlight. A commemorative website recently launched with updated character artwork from Toshiyuki Itahana, a collection of new merchandise, and a celebratory video, all reminding longtime players why the game has endured.

What fans didn’t get, however, was confirmation of the long-rumored Final Fantasy 9 remake. Despite online speculation and rumors about development troubles, the project has not been publicly canceled. Some insiders suggest the game is still in production, though Square Enix has remained silent. If the remake does move forward, the developers have a chance to reimagine underused set pieces. One of the best candidates: The Hunting Festival in Lindblum.

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By Ritwik Mitra

Final Fantasy 9’s Hunting Festival Needs More Options

The Lindblum Hunting Festival is a major early-game moment in Final Fantasy 9, giving players a break from the main narrative to focus on a local tradition. Participants race to defeat monsters across the city to rack up points and win a prize. Although Zidane is the main playable character during the event, both Freya and Vivi participate in the festival as well. However, players don’t get to directly control their actions or see their side of the event unless it intersects with Zidane’s.

The one exception occurs if the player chooses not to interfere when Freya goes after the Zaghnol. If Zidane steps back, she defeats it alone and wins the festival. It’s a neat twist, but it also underlines a missed opportunity. The remake could expand this event into a fully playable multi-character sequence. Players could choose which character to play as or even switch between Zidane, Freya, and Vivi.

Unlike other minigames in the Final Fantasy series, such as Blitzball or Triple Triad, the Hunting Festival is narrative-driven and quick to complete, which makes it easier to enhance without overstaying its welcome.

A future version could also give each character different objectives or monster types. Vivi, for example, might focus on controlling Black Mage-style magic from afar, avoiding larger beasts but gaining more points through clever use of spells. Freya, with her Dragoon abilities, could focus on verticality, hopping across buildings to chase down flying enemies.

Final Fantasy 9 Team Mechanics Could Deepen the Competition

Team-ups are extremely limited in the original event. Outside of the optional Freya-Zidane encounter against the Zaghnol, the event is a solo affair. A remake could rethink the rules and allow for spontaneous team-ups or rivalries. Characters could decide mid-event to work together temporarily, splitting points based on performance or even stealing the final blow from one another.

A modern version might feature dynamic in-game choices: Zidane could help Vivi out of a tough fight, or players could choose to sabotage Freya to ensure their victory. The stakes would be higher than just the prize from Regent Cid, a Final Fantasy staple character name. It could impact later story choices or interpersonal relationships. That kind of consequence would fit naturally with the game’s already strong character dynamics.

Even something as simple as contextual dialogue changes or affection-based systems could deepen the event. If Zidane teams up with Vivi and shows kindness, maybe Vivi speaks differently later. If Freya dominates the field and is given support, maybe her confidence is reflected more strongly in later cutscenes.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses used this type of branching relationship impact to enhance its academy festival scenes. A similar approach could benefit Final Fantasy 9 by enriching its world through character-driven decisions.

FF9's Hunting Festival Deserves a Modern Design Philosophy

While nostalgia makes the Hunting Festival memorable, its design is limited by the hardware and scope of its time. A Final Fantasy 9 remake (so long as it’s still in production) could keep the premise intact but bring it up to modern standards. With more complex AI, better tracking systems, and seamless map transitions, the city of Lindblum could become a reactive arena.

Players could find themselves hunting creatures across rooftops, into tunnels, or even protecting citizens while scoring bonus points. Timed challenges or evolving conditions (like a thunderstorm suddenly altering visibility or slowing movement) could change the strategy. This wouldn’t just improve the festival as a minigame but make it feel more like a real event in a living city.

Thematically, giving more agency to Freya and Vivi also aligns with the game’s emotional beats. Vivi struggles with his identity and mortality, while Freya deals with heartbreak and lost honor. Letting them stand out in a public event would add small but meaningful moments to their arcs. It’s not about giving them victories, but about giving them presence. Here’s hoping that fans not only hear good news about the remake soon, but that such memorable events are recreated with care.

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