Final Fantasy Resonance is Square Enix’s first HD-2D entry in its long-running RPG series. Now available on consoles and Windows PC, it celebrates the franchise with appearances and references spanning its past and present. These three games make a compact retrospective, moving from the 16-bit era to a modern action-focused experiment.
1. Final Fantasy 6
Where to play: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox Series X.
A full remake of Final Fantasy 6 remains unlikely. In 2024, FF6 director Yoshinori Kitase said that recreating the SNES RPG in the style of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake project would take around 20 years. An HD-2D version would be welcome, but Square Enix has not announced one.
For now, the Pixel Remaster is an excellent way to experience this 16-bit classic. Unlike entries centred on one hero such as Cloud or Noctis, FF6 builds its story around a large ensemble cast. A major mid-game twist, one of the series’ strongest villains and Nobuo Uematsu’s superb soundtrack explain its reputation as a standout of the 16-bit era.
If you are building a broader retro collection at home, the Arcade Machine Buying Guide can help you plan the right setup for classic games.
2. Final Fantasy 9
Where to play: Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Windows PC and Xbox One.
Final Fantasy 9 is itself a celebration of the series’ earlier identity. It steps away from the contemporary settings and darker leads of FF7 and FF8 in favour of bright high fantasy and a more playful mood.
The adventure follows Zidane, an upbeat thief whose story begins with the abduction of Princess Garnet. She is not particularly distressed by the situation, but events soon become much more serious as Zidane, Garnet and their companions are caught in a war sparked by Garnet’s erratic mother, Queen Brahne of Alexandria.
Hironobu Sakaguchi told IGN in 2000 that this was closest to his ideal vision of Final Fantasy. Its charm is matched by a thoughtful cast, especially Vivi, the young black mage confronting an existential crisis.
3. Final Fantasy 16
Where to play: PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X.
Final Fantasy 16 shows how readily the franchise reinvents itself. Where FF9 represents a concentrated expression of traditional Final Fantasy, FF16 moves into character-driven action, sharing more of its combat sensibilities with Devil May Cry and God of War than with a turn-based RPG.
Its central character, Clive Rosfield, is cast out from nobility before becoming a freedom fighter for an oppressed group of magic users. Familiar series elements remain, including Cid, chocobos and an airship, but the tone is considerably more adult. Strong language and sexual content make it the first game in the series to receive an M rating.
It is unlikely to define the franchise’s direction for the entire next decade, but that is not the point. FF16 is an interesting experiment in how the series can change while retaining recognisable ideas and imagery.
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