The 10 LONGEST Final Fantasy Games To Beat
#10: “Final Fantasy VI” (1994) - 35 Hours
The 10 HARDEST Final Fantasy Games To Complete
There are literally hundreds of lists for “Greatest Final Fantasy games of all time”, and 95% of the time, the top entry will either be Final Fantasy 7, or the brilliant and almost perfect Final Fantasy 6. Final Fantasy 6 is not only my personal favourite Final Fantasy game of all time, but my favourite RPG of all time. With an average play time of around 35 hours, Final Fantasy 6 takes players on an epic journey through the eyes of 14 playable characters, making it the Final Fantasy entry with the most playable characters, but that’s a list for another day. Seriously, I’m writing it down now.
#9: “Final Fantasy VII” (1997) - 36.5 Hours
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I’m very sorry, but this is NOT the last time Final Fantasy 7 will appear on this list. Often hailed as one of the most influential RPGs ever created, Final Fantasy 7 played a pivotal role in captivating players, not only for the Final Fantasy franchise but also for the RPG genre as a whole. Its profound impact on gaming was duly recognized with its induction into the World Video Game Hall of Fame in 2018. That’s a wild achievement. Its next big achievement is that it takes 36.5 hours to beat the campaign… Also, and I promised I wouldn’t add 100% achievement times to this list, but this game is the G.O.A.T, so it’s worth mentioning that completionists are looking at more like 80-100 hours. MOVING ON!
#8: “Final Fantasy IX” (2000) - 38.5 Hours
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Following explorations into steampunk, modern, and futuristic realms, Square opted for something a little different with Final Fantasy 9, returning to a medieval setting as seen in their earlier entries. This choice proved fruitful, resulting in one of the finest mainline Final Fantasy titles to date - I MEAN IT’S NOT FINAL FANTASY 6 GOOD! But it’s still pretty damn great… Please don’t hit me. It’s worth pointing out that Final Fantasy 9 is Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi's personal favorite among the mainline series, and that’s a trophy worth putting on your mantle.
#7: “Final Fantasy VIII” (1999) - 40 Hours
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Easily one of the most divisive Final Fantasy entries ever made, Final Fantasy 8 splits fans straight down the middle with its central characters and infamous junction system. Love it or hate it, 40 hours of epic Final Fantasy action is nothing to scoff at. In 2019, it was finally given renewed attention with the long-awaited release of its remaster, following in the footsteps of FFVII and FFIX which received theirs earlier. IT WAS LITERALLY JUMPED OVER. This presented Final Fantasy enthusiasts with the opportunity to delve into FFVIII for the first time or to give it a second chance, as every mainline Final Fantasy deserves. While this didn't entirely resolve FFVIII's divisive reception, it did give a whole new audience to add numbers to both sides of the split… I love it, but I also have no idea how to abuse the junction system, so whatever.
#6: “Final Fantasy VII Rebirth” (2020) - 40-45 Hours
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For number 6, we’ve got our most recent Final Fantasy installment, meaning it’s not only gonna give you some sink time, but it’s also READILY available for PlayStation players. For the first installment of the Final Fantasy 7 remake, adapting the first 5-10 hours of the original PS1 entry into its own standalone title required clever writing and grand ambition, but Square Enix absolutely nailed it by creating an epic game that stood at around 33 hours. Now, the second entry which brings us out into the beautiful open world of Final Fantasy 7 stands at an expected 40-45 epic hours.
#5: “Final Fantasy X” (2001) - 46 Hours
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Similar to FFVII, Final Fantasy X acted as an excellent gateway into the Final Fantasy universe, being the first mainline installment to debut on the immensely popular PlayStation 2 platform. I for one got SO many friends into Final Fantasy back in 2001 with this entry alone. Despite its linear nature, FFX offers ample opportunities for exploration and discovery within the world of Spira. Notably, players can invest countless hours assembling a formidable team and competing in championships within FFX's engaging Blitzball mode. All that aside, the main campaign will still take the player roughly 46 hours to complete, and every minute of that is filled with endless joy.
#4: “Final Fantasy XIII” (2009) - 48 Hours
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With every other entry on this list, I’ll happily say “here are gameplay hours to make your dollar spent worth it.” For Final Fantasy 13, I say “TAKING YOUR SWEET TIME, HUH? HUH, FINAL FANTASY 13? YOU TIME WASTER!” Discussions regarding the contentious Final Fantasy VIII tend to maintain a level of civility. The same cannot be said for debates surrounding Final Fantasy XIII, and I’m certainly not helping. With an average playtime of 48 hours, one of FFXIII's primary criticisms revolves around its pacing. The game takes nearly the entirety of its first half to thoroughly, and I mean THOROUGHLY, explain its mechanics. We get it! It’s not that hard.
#3: “Final Fantasy XII” (2006) - 61 Hours
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Imagine making a game that was so long that it was re-released with a fast forward feature. Final Fantasy XII was compared to MMORPGs due to its distinctive battle system, and the comparison is further pushed by the expansive nature of the main game, making it one of the most sprawling mainline entries in the Final Fantasy series. Players are greeted with the vast expanse of Ivalice, complete with a massive map, and plenty to do within it. The later release “Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age” was given a fast forward feature that brought the playtime closer to a 40 hour experience.
#2: “Final Fantasy XI” (2002) - 109 Hours
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Square's announcement of the franchise's 11th mainline entry caught many long-time fans off guard, as it marked a departure into the realm of MMORPGs. Even today, there are those within the Final Fantasy community who question the legitimacy of MMORPG entries as true representatives of the series. Nonetheless, Final Fantasy 11 proved to be remarkably successful, receiving five expansions, with the most recent being in 2015. Its booming success paved the way for the development of its MMORPG successor, Final Fantasy 14. While the main storyline of Final Fantasy 11 boasts an average completion time of 109 hours, this only scratches the surface of the experiences that the game has to offer.
#1: “Final Fantasy XIV” (2010) - 111 Hours
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Not only does Final Fantasy 14 come in as the longest Final Fantasy entry of all time, but it’s also the underdog comeback king, having the worst launch of a game we’ve ever seen, with a turnaround and return to form akin to No Man’s Sky. Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn garnered an overwhelmingly positive reception, swiftly becoming one of the most beloved MMORPGs of all time. Recognizing that the initial 111-hour entry point might be daunting for some players, Square Enix has diligently worked to streamline A Realm Reborn, allowing players to progress more swiftly and access the expansions with greater ease. Nice one, Square Enix… I love you, I mean we love you… I love you.
