Final Fantasy 16is the next mainline entry in the long-running series of JRPGs from Square Enix, and many fans may be eagerly waiting for more information. While it currently has no official release date, the game is in development for the PS5 at the very least.
Final Fantasy 16might or might not be that far away, but there are a few games that fans should definitely check out ahead of time if they want to whet their appetite for the next entry in the franchise.
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Final Fantasy 7 Remake
The easy first choice for fans awaitingFF16is to play the acclaimedFinal Fantasy 7 Remake,as this version of Cloud and Avalanche’s story is the most recent entry in the franchise. Although it remains to be seen how similar it is to Final Fantasy 16, there’s likely to be some similarities. For example,FF7puts a lot of emphasis on summons. Having the powerful creatures join in battle temporarily before delivering a flashy and powerful attack could lend itself well to theEikons inFF16.Trailers have already shown that the summons will be important to the story ofFF16, and this would be a fun way to incorporate them in battle (if it does).
Acclaimed by both fans and critics, the game also shows Square Enix’s ability to deftly adapt its traditional narratives for modern audiences, while also showing how some motifs that were prescient in 1997 still resonate today withmuch more FF7Remaketo come. For fans looking forward toFF16that haven’t already playedRemake, this is the best place to start.
Ghost of Tsushima
While not an RPG in the traditional sense,Ghost of Tsushimacan be considered a benchmark against which other open-world adventure games can safely be judged. The sheer scope of content, customization, player choice, and gameplay depth is something that should be a bar to judge other games. However, there are certainly RPG elements throughout the samurai quest like upgrading weapons and gear, improving and learning new abilities, and a modicum of player choice. Another reason why fans ofFFshould check outTsushimais that the Sucker Punch game is the big focus on storytelling, as the mainline story ofTsushimais executed beautifully.Tsushimawas chosen as many fans and critics GOTY, and the developers ofFF15should definitely take notice.
Final Fantasy 15
Final Fantasy 15is important as the immediate predecessor toFF16.The game garnered mixed reactions when it originally released in 2016 because of a sometimes inconsistent story and its famously long development time. While there are definitely some specific thingsFF16needs to avoid fromFF15, it’s definitely worth a revisit. The first game in the mainlineFFgames to incorporate real-time action,Final Fantasy15’s gameplay may have some influence on that of the upcoming title.
Final Fantasy 15’s main character Noctisteleports across the battlefield in between changing weapons and casting spells, and the new protagonist Clive is seen doing something similar in the reveal trailer forFF16. Overall, the game has a lot of fun and engaging mechanics (fishing can be especially satisfying), and plenty of hidden bosses and treasure to find in classic franchisefashion. Square Enix seems to have learned some important lessons since the release ofFinal Fantasy 15,and with its slew of updates to the story and gameplay, it’s a great time to revisit the game.
Persona 5
Persona 5is a taste of more traditional JRPG gameplay but with flair and style unlike any other experience in the genre; after all,P5became hugely popular for a franchise that has historically been more niche. Famed for its story, mechanics, andits incredible soundtrack,Persona 5is a must-play title for any JRPG fan. It is a great example of how embracing traditional gameplay structure but mixing in more modern quality-of-life improvements like fast-travel can be great for the genre.
One thingFF16should take note of fromP5is presentation; the game is absolutely dripping with style. While it’s apparent from thefirst trailer thatFF16has a very different tone thanP5,Square Enix should still take note that something seemingly small like stylized menus can go a long way.
Final Fantasy 9
Final Fantasy 9is in many ways aspiritual predecessor toFinal Fantasy 16.Both games feature classic fantasy settings after the last few games in the series featured more steampunk and sci-fi settings, and both games are releasing in the middle of renewed momentum for the franchise. As a result, it is a great time to go back and revisit a classicFinal Fantasyexperience before experiencing the future of the franchise. The story ofFF9transitions smoothly from a scale as small as a simple kidnapping of a princess to a dimension-spanning epic about war, tragedy, and loss.
