Title says it. I want to play all the final fantasy games in order of release. I'll be skipping 7 because I've done it thoroughly already, and 10 because I'm 100%'ing it right now.

Currently I'm playing Final Fantasy I for the NES.

My question is multi-pronged. I was wondering if anyone knew roughly how I could play all the games in order of release (i.e. I, II, III, etc.).

I know that some of them were not officially released in North American versions and were only Gameboy Advance/DS ports. I also get confused somewhat by the difference between the American releases being numbered differently because certain versions never got out of Japan until much later with extensive updates. Can anyone/a few people give their input and help me sort this out? I would really like to play all of the games that have either English releases or good fan-translations.

As an aside, I will be finding emulations of the games that are prohibitively expensive or near impossible to find, so that's not really a problem. I know it might sound underhanded, but if I look and find the game in a used form for upwards of hundreds of dollars, I simply don't have the funds to acquire it. (And none of the money from a used game's sale goes to the developer of the game, so it doesn't make me feel in the least like I am stealing from the creators.)

Any response is appreciated! Thanks!

P.S. I'll definitely make sure to keep updates on my progress in the games and how I'm liking them, especially compared to past versions.

Well, virtually all the main series titles have been given an international release in one form or another - it was only the original versions of FFII, III and V that never saw a release outside Japan. Remakes of these titles however were eventually released in the US and Europe though.

Another thing that you might not be aware is that two of the main series titles are actually MMORPGs that can only be played online, and effectively have no end - namely, FFXI and FFXIV. They also require a paid subscription to play as well. Naturally it is definitely possible to play these to the ends of their respective story-lines, but there is no real 'end' to them as far as gameplay is concerned. Such story missions usually require a high level/and or a party of other players to complete as well, making it very difficult.

Anyway, here is a rough guide to the platforms that each FF title is/was available on in the US as far as I'm aware:

FFI: NES/PSX/GBA/PSP/iPhone
FFII: PSX/GBA/PSP
FFIII: DS
FFIV: SNES/PSX/GBA/DS/PSP
FFV: PSX/GBA
FFVI: SNES/PSX/GBA
FFVII: PSX/PC/PSN Store
FFVIII: PSX/PC/PSN Store
FFIX: PSX/PSN Store
FFX: PS2
FFXI: PS2/PC/Xbox 360
FFXII: PS2
FFXIII: PS3/Xbox 360
FFXIV: PC

Thanks so much! This helps immensely.

I did some more research after I read your post and completely by chance found a list on wikipedia, but it's not quite as to the point as you are here. I'm thinking I might play the Final Fantasy legend games, but if I do I will feel compelled to play the SaGa series, and all those games feel like they were just piggybacking off the success of the "real" (quote/unquote) Final Fantasy games. In any case, I'll definitely be playing the Chronicles and Anthology collections, though is this the only way to get access to them, or are these collections just filled with remakes and extras?

Also, I was aware of the online games. I am honestly not sure if I will play them, as that would require a lot of time (in big chunks, as opposed to smaller chunks of single player games). And while I played FFXI a little bit, and even enjoyed it for what it was, it wasn't so much the experience of a Final Fantasy game. It was more fitting the experience of an MMORPG, which is very unique, and kind of putting it into a Final Fantasy world.

In any case, this list helps a lot. I'll post back here with any more questions if I think of them. Thanks again for your help!

If you have a PSP, PS2, PS3/Xbox360 and a PC, you will be able to play all of the games.

Here's a list of games (title name and system) and the ones I recommend (bolded):


Final Fantasy I
-Final Fantasy I Anniversary (PSP)
-Final Fantasy I & II Dawn of Souls (GBA)
-Final Fantasy Origins (PSX)
-Final Fantasy I (NES)
-Final Fantasy I (Mobile)
-Final Fantasy I (Ipod/Iphone)

Final Fantasy II
-Final Fantasy II Anniversary (PSP)
-Final Fantasy I & II Dawn of Souls (GBA)
-Final Fantasy Origins (PSX)
-Final Fantasy II (NES)
-Final Fantasy II (Mobile)
-Final Fantasy II (Ipod/Iphone)

Final Fantasy III
-Final Fantasy III (NDS)
-Final Fantasy III (NES)
-Final Fantasy III (Ipod/Iphone)

Final Fantasy IV
-Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection (PSP)
-Final Fantasy IV (Known as II in SNES)
-Final Fantasy IV Advance (GBA)
-Final Fantasy IV DS (NDS)
-Final Fantasy Chronicles (PSX)
-Final Fantasy IV (Mobile)

Final Fantasy V
-Final Fantasy V (SNES)
-Final Fantasy V Advance (GBA)
-Final Fantasy Anthology (PSX)

Final Fantasy VI
-Final Fantasy VI (Known as FFIII in SNES)
-Final Fantasy VI Advance (GBA)
-Final Fantasy Anthology (PSX)

Final Fantasy VII
-Final Fantasy VII (PSX)
-Final Fantasy VII (PC)

Final Fantasy VIII
-Final Fantasy VIII (PSX)
-Final Fantasy VIII (PC)

Final Fantasy IX
-Final Fantasy IX (PSX)

Final Fantasy X
-Final Fantasy X (PS2)
-Final Fantasy X (PS3) (if you can wait another year+)
-Final Fantasy X (PSVita) (if you can wait another year+)

Final Fantasy XI
-Final Fantasy XI (PC)
-Final Fantasy XI (PS2)
-Final Fantasy XI (Xbox360)

Final Fantasy XII
-Final Fantasy XII (PS2)

Final Fantasy XIII (Both versions are the same, I just like the PS3 version cause its condensed into 1 blu ray compared to xbox360's 3 disc set)
-Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)
-Final Fantasy XIII (Xbox360)

Final Fantasy XIV
-Final Fantasy XIV (PC)
-Final Fantasy XIV (PS3)

Sequels/Prequels
-Final Fantasy IV After Years (Wii Virtual Console, FFIV Complete Collection on PSP)
-Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core (PSP)
-Final Fantasy X-2 (PS2)
-Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3-Xbox360) (Coming out in Jan 2012)
-Final Fantasy VII Dirge of Cerberus (PS2)
-Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings (NDS)
-Final Fantasy VII Before Crisis (Mobile)

Spinoffs
-Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX)
-Final Fantasy Tactics War of the Lions (PSP)
-Final Fantasy Legend I (GBC)
-Final Fantasy Legend II (GBC)
-Final Fantasy Legend III (GBC)
-Final Fantasy Adventure (Originally Seiken Densetsu/Secret of Mana prequel in GBC)
-Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (GCN)
-Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (both in NDS and ports in Wii)
-Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (SNES)

I think I might be missing a few but those are the ones that come to mind and are relevant.

He was only after the titles that are or were available in the US though Basil - hence why I didn't include the Famicom (NES) versions of FFII and III nor the Super Famicom (SNES) version of FFV. Also the PS3 version of FFXIV hasn't been released yet - it won't be available til at least the end of 2012 hence why I didn't include that either.

Also spin-offs, sequels and tie-ins aren't really suitable either, as the OP only really asked for main series titles.

He was only after the titles that are or were available in the US though Basil - hence why I didn't include the Famicom (NES) versions of FFII and III nor the Super Famicom (SNES) version of FFV. Also the PS3 version of FFXIV hasn't been released yet - it won't be available til at least the end of 2012 hence why I didn't include that either.

Also spin-offs, sequels and tie-ins aren't really suitable either, as the OP only really asked for main series titles.

Ah I see, he mentioned emulation which was why I suggested the NES versions, I didnt realize FFXIV didnt come out yet on the PS3, could of sworn it was supposed to come out Feb 2011...

If you have a PSP, PS2, PS3/Xbox360 and a PC, you will be able to play all of the games.

Here's a list of games (title name and system) and the ones I recommend (bolded):


Final Fantasy I
-Final Fantasy I Anniversary (PSP)
-Final Fantasy I & II Dawn of Souls (GBA)
-Final Fantasy Origins (PSX)
-Final Fantasy I (NES)
-Final Fantasy I (Mobile)
-Final Fantasy I (Ipod/Iphone)

Final Fantasy II
-Final Fantasy II Anniversary (PSP)
-Final Fantasy I & II Dawn of Souls (GBA)
-Final Fantasy Origins (PSX)
-Final Fantasy II (NES)
-Final Fantasy II (Mobile)
-Final Fantasy II (Ipod/Iphone)

Final Fantasy III
-Final Fantasy III (NDS)
-Final Fantasy III (NES)
-Final Fantasy III (Ipod/Iphone)

Final Fantasy IV
-Final Fantasy IV Complete Collection (PSP)
-Final Fantasy IV (Known as II in SNES)
-Final Fantasy IV Advance (GBA)
-Final Fantasy IV DS (NDS)
-Final Fantasy Chronicles (PSX)
-Final Fantasy IV (Mobile)

Final Fantasy V
-Final Fantasy V (SNES)
-Final Fantasy V Advance (GBA)
-Final Fantasy Anthology (PSX)

Final Fantasy VI
-Final Fantasy VI (Known as FFIII in SNES)
-Final Fantasy VI Advance (GBA)
-Final Fantasy Anthology (PSX)

Final Fantasy VII
-Final Fantasy VII (PSX)
-Final Fantasy VII (PC)

Final Fantasy VIII
-Final Fantasy VIII (PSX)
-Final Fantasy VIII (PC)

Final Fantasy IX
-Final Fantasy IX (PSX)

Final Fantasy X
-Final Fantasy X (PS2)
-Final Fantasy X (PS3) (if you can wait another year+)
-Final Fantasy X (PSVita) (if you can wait another year+)

Final Fantasy XI
-Final Fantasy XI (PC)
-Final Fantasy XI (PS2)
-Final Fantasy XI (Xbox360)

Final Fantasy XII
-Final Fantasy XII (PS2)

Final Fantasy XIII (Both versions are the same, I just like the PS3 version cause its condensed into 1 blu ray compared to xbox360's 3 disc set)
-Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)
-Final Fantasy XIII (Xbox360)

Final Fantasy XIV
-Final Fantasy XIV (PC)
-Final Fantasy XIV (PS3)

Sequels/Prequels
-Final Fantasy IV After Years (Wii Virtual Console, FFIV Complete Collection on PSP)
-Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core (PSP)
-Final Fantasy X-2 (PS2)
-Final Fantasy XIII-2 (PS3-Xbox360) (Coming out in Jan 2012)
-Final Fantasy VII Dirge of Cerberus (PS2)
-Final Fantasy XII Revenant Wings (NDS)
-Final Fantasy VII Before Crisis (Mobile)

Spinoffs
-Final Fantasy Tactics (PSX)
-Final Fantasy Tactics War of the Lions (PSP)
-Final Fantasy Legend I (GBC)
-Final Fantasy Legend II (GBC)
-Final Fantasy Legend III (GBC)
-Final Fantasy Adventure (Originally Seiken Densetsu/Secret of Mana prequel in GBC)
-Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (GCN)
-Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (both in NDS and ports in Wii)
-Final Fantasy Mystic Quest (SNES)

I think I might be missing a few but those are the ones that come to mind and are relevant.

Correction; Final Fantasy VI wasn't on Anthology, those were Final Fantasy IV & V. VI was released as Final Fantasy VI.
Although I read somewhere that Final Fantasy VI was really III. Because III was never released in Europe and America so they released it under VI.
Correct me if I'm wrong cause I'm really confused by it as well [8

Also Final Fantasy Adventure was released as Mystic Quest for the GB in PAL-regions. (In case you're a PAL-gamer.)

Actually, Basil was correct, from a certain point of view, but then, so are you Phoe about FF Anthology. :) Allow me to elaborate.

The PAL and NTSC versions of FF Anthology differed in which FF games were included with the package. The US NTSC version featured FFV and VI together with a bonus music CD with selected tracks from the OST albums (I recall there was a bit of controversy surrounding this, in that Square ran an online survey asking fans what tracks they would like included on that CD, only to completely ignore the results and instead included a bunch of random less popular tracks like We're Pirates! and Dark World on the CD. Still, it's an interesting bonus none the less.).

The US FFIV ended up being included with Chrono Trigger and was released in the US under the title 'FF Chronicles' (no relation to the later Crystal Chronicles spin-off series). As for the PAL releases, you were correct in that in Europe FFIV and V were bundled together as FF Anthology: European Edition, with FFVI instead being released individually and bundled with a PS2 FFX playable demo disc.

As for the whole 'FFII/III US' debacle, the original US SNES releases of FFIV and VI were retitled 'FFII' and 'FFIII' respectively by Nintendo, seemingly because they were indeed only the second and third FF titles to be translated into English and released outside Japan.

Presumably if history had taken a different turn and Square had somehow managed to overcome their technical issues and ended up releasing FFVII for the N64, it's likely then that it would have been called 'FFIV' to match the SNES titles. In reality though, with FFVII's successful PSX release Sony ignored such nonsense, and titled FFVII properly, with all successive FF titles released to the present day also retaining their proper numbering; perhaps confusing some long-term US fans who couldn't understand why what they believed should have been the 'fourth' title in the series was in fact the seventh!

But I digress. :p

Actually, Basil was correct, from a certain point of view, but then, so are you Phoe about FF Anthology. :) Allow me to elaborate.

The PAL and NTSC versions of FF Anthology differed in which FF games were included with the package. The US NTSC version featured FFV and VI together with a bonus music CD with selected tracks from the OST albums (I recall there was a bit of controversy surrounding this, in that Square ran an online survey asking fans what tracks they would like included on that CD, only to completely ignore the results and instead included a bunch of random less popular tracks like We're Pirates! and Dark World on the CD. Still, it's an interesting bonus none the less.).

The US FFIV ended up being included with Chrono Trigger and was released in the US under the title 'FF Chronicles' (no relation to the later Crystal Chronicles spin-off series). As for the PAL releases, you were correct in that in Europe FFIV and V were bundled together as FF Anthology: European Edition, with FFVI instead being released individually and bundled with a PS2 FFX playable demo disc.

As for the whole 'FFII/III US' debacle, the original US SNES releases of FFIV and VI were retitled 'FFII' and 'FFIII' respectively by Nintendo, seemingly because they were indeed only the second and third FF titles to be translated into English and released outside Japan.

Presumably if history had taken a different turn and Square had somehow managed to overcome their technical issues and ended up releasing FFVII for the N64, it's likely then that it would have been called 'FFIV' to match the SNES titles. In reality though, with FFVII's successful PSX release Sony ignored such nonsense, and titled FFVII properly, with all successive FF titles released to the present day also retaining their proper numbering; perhaps confusing some long-term US fans who couldn't understand why what they believed should have been the 'fourth' title in the series was in fact the seventh!

But I digress. :p

That's a cool bonus nonetheless, we didn't get no bonus music cd along with it ):
But I cannot complain.. it seems Europe is getting way more bonusses nowadays with all the CE's q;

Buttt help me out on the last part. I still don't get it..
If 6 is 3.. what's the actual FF6.. and FF3? also FFIV!? WAIT.. WH.. Argh confusing XD

I know it's confusing, but a simple way to understand it is that the Japanese titles are correctly numbered. So, if you know the Japanese title then it's easy to discover which game fits into the series chronology.

Basically though, the US SNES FFII is really FFIV, and the US SNES FFIII is really FFVI (they're properly titled in the PSX, GBA and DS remakes though).

The real FFII and III are Famicom titles (the Japanese NES), which were never available outside Japan until they were remade for the PSX and DS respectively many years later.

Hopefully this has helped.

Owww, kay good! I was thinking my PSX FF6 wasn't really the 6th Final Fantasy.. XD
This actually helps ALOT! So the whole confusing part's just for the SNES games.
Thanks! ^^