Final Fantasy IX was like the last bastion of classic Final Fantasy. It was a return to the more fantastical medieval setting. In a way, it was a love letter to the very beginning of the franchise which some fans adored, and others didn’t.
Despite opinions, it’s safe to say that the game is absolutely brimming with secrets. There is actually a quest that was not discovered in the Western version until thirteen years later. This was because it was in a Japanese only guide and is also a bit convoluted to find naturally. What other secrets are there? Let’s go through the coolest hidden areas and find out.
10 Chocobo’s Forest
The Chocobo’s Forest is tied to the biggest side quest in the game. Players can find it in the plains once they leave Lindblum for the first time. This is actually where a lot of hidden, optional, areas are located. It is here where Zidane will meet Choco the Chocobo. Players can use him in a treasure hunting game called Chocobo Hot and Cold, which then leads players to more treasure in the real world.
9 Chocobo’s Lagoon
Continuing on from there, players will piece together Chocographs, which give hints at where the aforementioned treasures are buried. Eventually, Chocobo’s Forest will dry up for these pieces of the map and will eventually lead to Choco finding a chest that allows him to change colors. Once light blue, he can now go into shallow waters. Chocobo’s Lagoon is the next piece of the puzzle, located on the tail end of the bottom, leftmost continent, or more like an archipelago of islands.
8 Chocobo’s Paradise
After acquiring all of the Chocographs, this will lead Choco to a chest containing the powers of the Golden Chocobo. Now Choco can go anywhere on the map and even fly in a certain instance. Chocobo’s Paradise requires this gold version and is located on an island in the very NW corner of the map. Use a Dead Pepper on the blocker mountain entrance and the super-secret will be unveiled.
7 Chocobo’s Air Garden
The last Chocobo themed area is Chocobo’s Air Garden. There will be a dark spot that appears on the world map after the last entry is uncovered.
If found, simply use another Dead Pepper and Choco will fly into the garden. It is here that players can encounter the absolute toughest boss in the game, Ozma.
6 Popos Heights
Going back to the plains below Lindblum, the main goal of this area is to get to Gizamaluke’s Grotto. In the very back of the dungeon players can encounter a couple of Mogs and an optional exit leading up. This leads to Popos Heights where players can encounter Grand Dragons very early on in the game. If careful, this is a great way to earn EXP and AP. Getting its card will also be beneficial.
5 Qu’s Marsh
Quina is not an optional character. They are needed in Disc 2 to get to the new continent. However, one does not have to enter Qu’s Marsh until this time, making it optional in Disc 1. That said, it’s best to find the location now, which is also in the plains outside of Lindblum. It’s a bit of a cheat for this list, but is sort of optional in a way.
4 Quan’s Dwelling
Quan’s Dwelling is a cave outside of Treno. It’s not exactly hidden but it is not required for any story beat so it is optional. Finding it will net a good amount of treasures though. Also, if players return here after they get the Hilda Garde III and have Quina and Vivi in the party, it will trigger a secret event diving into their origins.
3 Mognet Central
There is actually one last hidden area that requires the gold version of Choco. Mognet Central is the home of the Mog postal service.
It’s located on a big Island east of where Chocobo’s Paradise is located, sort of in the middle top section. This is tied to the mail quest, if one couldn’t guess.
2 Daguerreo
Daguerreo is located on the left side of the map, in the middle of the last big island continent. Players will need an airship to get here, or Choco, although they will get a working airship first. Anyway, this city cove is where some of the best shops are located. Gilgamesh is also roaming around here and can be fought in a series of high stakes card games.
1 Memoria: Hades
Memoria is the final dungeon in the game. And like most final areas in the Final Fantasy series, there is plenty hidden. Toward the middle of the journey players will encounter a room that looks like it is under water. Go behind the cliff on the right side of the screen and hit the action button. This will eventually lead into an optional boss fight with Hades.
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