How Many Final Fantasy Games Have There Been?

The Final Fantasy series has a really extensive and varied library of games. To understand and deal with this huge catalog, let's sort out the titles into six main groups: core mainline titles, closely related spin-offs, independent spin-offs, crossover titles, mobile exclusives, and games that are grouped under the Final Fantasy umbrella largely for the Western audience. For the purposes of this overview, we can exclude extremely rare Japan-only releases. Though we try to be as accurate as possible for the placement, some of it is inherently arguable. Any release date mentioned here will always refer to the original one.

Mainline Games

Every mainline Final Fantasy game provides a different world, set of characters, and story. In their journey through these rich lands, the players will find known assets like Chocobos, Moogles, or often-used spell names. The series itself consists of 16 core games.

From its very first release in 1987, simply as Final Fantasy, to the 2023 critically acclaimed Final Fantasy XVI, the series has kept audiences on the edge of their seats with its in-depth storytelling, beloved characters, and innovative gameplay.

 All of these besides the main Final Fantasy games have had many incarnations of side games and sequels. These games normally explore a created world further or add another storyline to Final Fantasy lore. A lot of these are direct sequels to the mainline games, just like the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, while some, such as Final Fantasy Tactics, share a setting but don't actually continue the basic plot. A long list of titles greatly expands the gameplay and introduces new stories into the familiar world, such as: successors and forerunners, Final Fantasy X-2 and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII; and tactical role-playing games, series of Final Fantasy Tactics.

Action RPGs: Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

Remakes and Reimaginings: Final Fantasy VII Remake

Other Spinoffs

Miscellaneous spin-offs that use this name for games in a wide range of genres, from action and adventure to racing and puzzle-solving.

Titles such as Final Fantasy Adventure even surpassed the status of mere spin-offs, becoming the starting point for entirely new franchises, like the Mana series. Others, such as the Chocobo and Crystal Chronicles subseries, have extended into multiple games; they are further examples of how the Final Fantasy name has been adapted and evolved.

Not only have these exploratory titles greatly expanded the franchise's audience, but they've also further enriched the overall universe of Final Fantasy with the adaptability and ingenuity they represent for the series.

Final Fantasy Crossovers

These games demonstrate one of the more remarkable phenomena in taking Final Fantasy characters and elements and combining them with other beloved franchises, or placing them in completely new settings. Such cross-over environments and completely new settings provide a refreshing look at the series for fans.

Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ring and Vagrant Story presented the first glimpse of Final Fantasy characters crossing into other gaming realms.

An example of deep crossover would perhaps be the interlace of Disney, Square Enix, and original characters in the well-known Kingdom Hearts series.

Other, more recent platforms for Final Fantasy characters would include rhythm-based games, like Theatrhythm Final Fantasy and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

The battle royale game even employed elements of the series into limited-time events in Fortnite.

Mobile Game

The Final Fantasy franchise has explored the mobile gaming market with a variety of titles. These games, primarily designed for smartphones and tablets, offer unique experiences within the beloved series. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the mobile gaming industry, many of these titles are no longer accessible to players.

Games Only Called Final Fantasy in America

Although the series is intricately intertwined with the role-playing conception, the actual scope of the franchise goes beyond the perimeters of just its main series of titles. This part, known as the Final Fantasy Legend trilogy in the West, is part of the SaGa series in Japan. This difference continues to define the complexities of the Final Fantasy brand and its cross-cultural standing.

This comes with the realization that when played from the mainline, spin-off, mobile, and crossover titles, Final Fantasy is a huge and diverse entertainment landscape. There is no doubt that nearly 100 holdings under this umbrella have made it a definite cultural icon in the league, captivating audiences with rich storytelling, innovative gameplay, and iconic characters.