Few video game series match the output of Final Fantasy. For over thirty years the RPG franchise has been steadily churning out titles, whether they be mainline numbered entries or spin-offs. Being epic adventures, each of the games bearing the Final Fantasy moniker tend to take dozens of hours to complete. While this is usually a plus, an over bloated experience negatively affects the overall quality.
The opposite is true as well, where an RPG can feel too short and not give players enough time to live in the world. The following list looks at both sides of this coin, detailing five Final Fantasy titles that were too long, and five that were too short.
10 Too Long: Final Fantasy XIII (49 Hours)
The thirteenth entry’s biggest shortcoming was its narrative and world. The gameplay was strong and cast of characters were all likable, but the conflict and lore were needlessly complex and ultimately uninteresting. The linear design of the first two thirds of the adventure did not win favor with fans either. Had this chunk of the game been shorter and the open sections of Pulse been more fleshed-out, perhaps the polarizing title would have been more fondly remembered.
9 Too Short: Final Fantasy XV (28 Hours)
Final Fantasy XV is the first time the series takes a more traditional open-world approach, with a structure taking cues from many western RPGs. In the first half of the game, this makes one think they are in for a game stretching well over one hundred hours. However, after a key climactic moment, the rest of the story zooms towards its conclusion. The first eight chapters make up about ninety percent of the game, while the last six go by in the blink of an eye.
8 Too Long: Final Fantasy II (25 1/2 Hours)
The second journey in this franchise is generally considered the weakest, but it is notable for being the first one to strive for a more ambitious story. Unfortunately, the stat progression system – which increases stats based on how often they are used in battle, like in The Elder Scrolls franchise – significantly hinders the whole package. A more traditional leveling structure would streamline the experience and shave needless hours of grinding out of the equation, turning a twenty-five hour game into a tighter, more enjoyable RPG.
7 Too Short: Final Fantasy (17 1/2 Hours)
The original Final Fantasy still holds up today as long as one plays a more updated version which fixes many of the bugs present in the original release and updates the sprites to a more timeless aesthetic.
Whatever complaints one has about the series’ debut, it is impossible to say it overstays its welcome. It is less than twenty hours long, an impressively short stint for a Japanese RPG even of that era.
6 Too Long: Final Fantasy VIII (41 1/2 Hours)
Coming after the universally beloved and historically significant Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy VIII continued the trend into a more science fiction-world, though ultimately focuses more on the characters’ relationships than the world-ending conflict. The narrative is compelling, but its achilles heel is the Draw system, which makes players grind the Draw technique for hours on end in order to increase stats. Fortunately, the re-release allows players to speed up the game.
5 Too Short: Final Fantasy IV (23 1/2 Hours)
Final Fantasy II contained unique characters with distinct personalities, but they were largely forgettable. Only in Final Fantasy IV did the developers write party members gaming would remember for generations to come. The increase focus on narrative when compared to prior entries also meant a shorter game overall, however. Fans spent more time within the world years later with Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, but it was not exactly what people wanted from a sequel.
4 Too Long: Final Fantasy XII (60 1/2 Hours)
The second single-player mainline entry to come out on the PS2, Final Fantasy XII contained the biggest world yet for the franchise and had significantly more open-ended environments than Final Fantasy X. While some enjoyed the vast scope, other abhorred having to journey for hours across the world to reach a destination. Fortunately, the re-release lets players speed up time when out in these areas, streamlining the gameplay while still maintaining its grandiosity.
3 Too Short: Final Fantasy XIII-2 (28 Hours)
While some would belittle this game by saying any amount of hours is too long, those who wanted more from the world received a shorter game overall than the first Final Fantasy XIII. On top of this, the time travel angle was not exactly something people were expecting from a sequel.
Additionally, it ends with a twist and cliffhanger ending, feeling unsatisfying after about twenty-four hours of gameplay. Perhaps the Final Fantasy XIII subseries would have been better served if this game and Lightning Returns were both abridged and turned into one title.
2 Too Long: Final Fantasy VII Remake (34 Hours)
This dream come true gives fans an in depth look at the original Final Fantasy VII’s introductory hours in Midgar while also teasing some incredible and exciting new concepts for the series. While it may seem heresy to complain about such a remake being too long, certain sections definitely overstay their welcome. This is exacerbated for those who played the original and are familiar with the story beats. Knowing what comes next slightly deflates the tension and has fans looking at their watch, waiting for the next area to open up.
1 Too Short: Final Fantasy Tactics (39 1/2 Hours)
For newcomers to the game and the genre, Final Fantasy Tactics is a sprawling epic. However, those who have mastered the mechanics can breeze through this game in somewhere around twenty-four hours. Several side quests exist to unlock hidden characters, but few of these involve combat. More challenges and optional content involving the in-depth battle system would have been appreciated by experienced players to further extend this game’s life. Even so, Final Fantasy Tactics remains one of the most celebrated games in the franchise.
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