Summary
- Some Final Fantasy games abandon traditional leveling for unique progression systems.
- Final Fantasy Explorers and Crystal Chronicles offer captivating gameplay without leveling.
- Final Fantasy 10's Sphere Grid system remains a popular method for character development, though it's not for everyone.
Leveling is a key component of most games in the Final Fantasy franchise and most role-playing games in general. Enhancing a specific character and putting together a strong party is often very rewarding, requiring a lot of grinding in most games, but generally making encounters and boss battles easier as the story progresses.
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Even many of the series’ spin-off games feature a leveling system in some capacity, whether it be one of the Chocobo games or even Pictlogica: Final Fantasy, such is its ubiquity. A few games go against the grain, containing unique progression systems to increase the stats of characters or relying on player skill above all else. Here are some of the best Final Fantasy games without a leveling system, ranked based on a combination of the game’s overall quality and popularity.
7 Final Fantasy Explorers
Similar Progression To Monster Hunter
Final Fantasy Explorers
- Released
- January 26, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- e
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix Racjin
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo 3DS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
A Nintendo 3DS exclusive, Final Fantasy Explorers has a fun and simple progression system, where attributes are increased similarly to that of the Monster Hunter series. Set on the island of Amostra, players set out to find crystals, which are an important resource in the game world, but are guarded by fearsome beasts.
Defeating monsters earns players loot and Gil to either craft or purchase better gear, making it easier to hunt more difficult monsters. Completing quests and defeating enemies will increase the player’s “Explorer Level,” but it serves no purpose in terms of increasing character statistics; rather, it merely shows other players in online mode how far a player has progressed, or how much they have been grinding.
6 A King's Tale: Final Fantasy 15
A Short Beat-Em-Up Tie-In
A King's Tale: Final Fantasy XV
- Released
- November 29, 2016
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Initially a pre-order bonus for Final Fantasy 15, but now available as a free download on PS4 and Xbox One, A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy 15 is a side-scrolling beat-em-up and a prequel to the main game. Playing as Regis Lucis Caelum, father of 15’s protagonist Noctis, there are several stages to complete and hordes of enemies to defeat.
Progress is entirely skill-based, emphasizing building combos to unlock bonuses like summons. There are also 25 special challenges, which can be unlocked by completing the story mode once. It’s a perfectly enjoyable experience, if a little repetitive, but it’s mainly let down by a lack of multiplayer options, which is a common and popular feature in the genre.
5 Monster Of The Deep: Final Fantasy 15
VR Fishing In Eos
Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy XV
- Released
- November 21, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- m
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action
- Platform(s)
- PS4 Pro
- OpenCritic Rating
- Weak
Set in the same world as the main game, Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy 15 is a VR spin-off title focusing on fishing. Exclusively released on PSVR, it features many familiar characters from FF15 with whom players can interact and even take quests from.
There are over 100 different kinds of fish that can be caught from the various areas around Eos, plus other locations like Gladiolus’ tent and a shack where rod upgrades can be purchased. The eponymous monster of the deep must be weakened with a crossbow before it can be reeled in, adding some variety and jeopardy. The fishing controls can be tricky to get the hang of, and some complain about repetitive gameplay, but the environments are very striking, and the game is generally relaxing.
4 Final Fantasy 2
Repeated Actions Improve Stats
Final Fantasy II
- Released
- December 17, 1988
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- t
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, Android, iOS, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, PC, PS1, PS4, PSP, WonderSwan
A controversial shift at the time and one that many modern players struggle with when replaying today, Final Fantasy 2 completely revamped the progression system of its predecessor, taking away leveling completely. Throughout the story of the orphans drawn into the rebellion against the invading Palamecian Empire, repeated actions will improve specific attributes of individual characters.
Using a specific weapon can increase skill when using it, as well as corresponding stats like strength or agility, and using spells gives the character more magic points. Taking damage can even provide a party member with more hit points. Subsequent games reverted to a more traditional level-up system, but FF2 did have its benefits, such as a slightly more forgiving difficulty level and less reliance on grinding to beat it.
3 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
Gear And Myrrh Increase Layle’s Stats
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
- Released
- December 26, 2009
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Alcohol Reference, Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Wii
Taking a darker tone than other Crystal Chronicles games, but still having its moments of brevity, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers is more of an action-adventure game than an RPG. Set 1,000 years after the events of the original game in the same world, players take control of Layle, a crystal bearer with telekinetic abilities that can be utilized in real-time combat and solving puzzles.
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Unlike many other games in the FFCC spinoff series, there is no level system; instead, players rely on better armor and weapons to face more challenging foes. Layle can also collect myrrh in various areas located around the Lilty Kingdom by clearing Miasma stream fights, which increases his overall HP. Collecting myrrh from chests also provides permanent health improvements.
2 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Clear Dungeons And Equip Artifacts
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
- Released
- February 9, 2004
- ESRB
- Teen // Fantasy Violence
- Developer(s)
- The Game Designers Studio
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo GameCube
The first game in the spin-off series, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, was originally a GameCube-exclusive title. The story follows the adventures of a group of Crystal Caravanners, who venture out into a vibrant world in search of myrrh to power the crystal that is protecting their world from the poisonous miasma cloud that plagues it.
No experience points are earned for defeating enemies. Rather, players gain bonuses by clearing dungeons, earning artifacts at the end of the many dungeons, which permanently increase either defense, magic, or strength. Further artifacts found within dungeons grant temporary bonuses until players have cleared that specific level. The relatively recent release of the Remastered Edition allows players to experience this gem on modern hardware with some quality-of-life improvements.
1 Final Fantasy 10
Fill Up The Sphere Grid
Final Fantasy 10
- Released
- December 17, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS2
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Over two decades since its initial release, Final Fantasy 10 is still regarded by many as one of the greatest video games ever made. Exploring the world of Spira as Tidus, Yuna, and several others, players must engage in the conditional turn-based battle system, which relies more on speed and completely alters the turn order of characters in combat.
Defeating enemies earns players ability points, which they can use to gradually fill in the Sphere Grid. This system allows players to select specific skills to improve and even mix the abilities of each party member, regardless of their class. The sequel X-2 reverted to a more standardized form of leveling, but many players found the Sphere Grid system incredibly rewarding.
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