A major consideration has to be made regarding whether the Kingdom Hearts franchise should be considered a Final Fantasy spin-off. Though there are plenty of points to be made on either side of the argument, Kingdom Hearts is probably best defined as a Disney and Square Enix crossover game than a true spin-off title. Regardless, there are plenty of other spin-offs worth discussing.
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S-Tier
Final Fantasy Tactics: There’s no better example of a Final Fantasy spin-off than Final Fantasy Tactics. It stayed close to the tried-and-true Square Enix formula while also taking on its fair share of risks. With its high degree of customization and a bold new take on the Final Fantasy series, Tactics was destined to be a massive success solely from a gameplay standpoint, but the layered and engaging story that writer Yasumi Mastuno created for the game is what truly cements it in the S-Tier. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7: If proof was needed about Crisis Core’s importance, the fact that it’s getting remade alongside the main game should be convincing enough. Not only that, but Square Enix has announced that the story will remain unchanged in Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion. That’s about as obvious a stamp of approval that a company can give a spin-off title. Crisis Core is an essential experience for anyone that enjoyed Final Fantasy 7.
A-Tier
World of Final Fantasy: A welcome reprieve from the darker-toned spin-offs above, World of Final Fantasy is a quirky and totally bizarre Final Fantasy experience. While it’s a relatively new release, it plays like an homage to the PS1 and PS2-era of Final Fantasy titles but with a pinch of the Pokemon games thrown in. The only thing holding World of Final Fantasy back from S-tier is its intrusive cutscenes, which slow the pace of the game down to a crawl. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance: Tactics Advance is still an amazing experience, and in many ways is more streamlined than Tactics, but its simplicity is also its downfall. Its story lacks the political nuance and emotional punch of the original game, and its constrictive party system takes away much of the freedom that players had in choosing the best character jobs for their party. Having said that, Tactics Advance is worth a playthrough for any fan of the original game, as it is a cleaner, perhaps more visually appealing experience with a strong story in its own right. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2: There’s very little separating Tactics Advance 2 from its direct predecessor. The gameplay in both is extremely polished, with Tactics Advance 2 probably being the better of the two. Ultimately, both titles are worth checking out because of their thought-provoking storylines and captivating characters, which are only overshadowed by the original Tactics game. Dissidia Final Fantasy 012: Arguably one of the most underrated PSP games ever made, Dissidia Final Fantasy 012 improved on the original in every way imaginable. It’s both an excellent competitive fighting game and an engrossing single-player experience. Dissidia Final Fantasy: While it’s definitely overshadowed by 012, the original Dissidia game deserves its props for taking the Final Fantasy franchise successfully into the fighting game genre—even though Ehrgeiz was the first to do it. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call: The sequel to an already well-received game, Curtain Call improved on the original and is the perfect way to explore the Final Fantasy soundtracks.
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B-Tier
Final Fantasy Type-0: A polarizing title if ever there was one. Type-0 got a lot correct, but also suffered from relatively clunky, repetitive gameplay. Still, Square Enix clearly decided to push the limits of just how dark it could make a narrative here, and for most, it pays off. Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7: Even with Vincent Valentine at the helm, Dirge of Cerberus was just a bit too big for its britches. It deserves credit for trying to expand Final Fantasy into the shooter genre, but it was plagued by awkward mechanics and a generally disappointing story. Dissidia Final Fantasy NT: Despite being the latest Dissidia Final Fantasy game, NT fell short of its predecessors. If players can overcome a steep learning curve and delve deep into the team battles, NT is unmatched, but its imbalances shine in heads-up combat. Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Theatrhythm’s placement deserves a small caveat. As a rhythm game, it’s completely forgettable, but it’s based around the Final Fantasy soundtracks, which means that its music is about as good as it gets. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The spin-off game that spawned a series of spin-offs. It was a bold new step that was hampered by a multiplayer dependent on hooking up Game Boy Advance consoles as controllers. As with Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, which tried the same gimmick, it was difficult to even try the game as intended.
C-Tier
Chocobo Racing: If charm alone could carry a game, Chocobo Racing would be S-tier. Unfortunately, it’s a mediocre kart racing game released in the era of absolute giants like Mario Kart 64 and Crash Team Racing. To make matters worse, its resurrection in the form of Chocobo GP was plagued by microtransactions and other tedious inclusions. Chocobo GP: These two titles belong side-by-side. Their story is almost identical, and they’re both middling-level racing games that tug on the heartstrings of Final Fantasy fans but fail to sustain even the most diehard fans’ interest. Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo’s Dungeon: At this point, it seems like any Final Fantasy spin-off with Chocobo in the title is destined for the C-tier. Chocobo’s Dungeon is an easily digestible, cutesy RPG that is forgettable due to its lack of depth. It’s not bad per se, but it doesn’t offer fans much that hasn’t been seen before.
D-Tier
Final Fantasy Explorers: Basically Final Fantasy’s attempt at a Monster Hunter title, Explorers struggles to stay entertaining beyond a couple of hours. It’s repetitive and requires a lot of engagement for very little reward. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest: It’s admirable that Square tried to make a game that was accessible for North American gamers, but Mystic Quest proved that there was very little difference between your average North American and Japanese fan. By simplifying the game, Square effectively stripped away everything that makes Final Fantasy memorable. Except for the soundtrack, which boasts a few impressive tunes, Mystic Quest is best forgotten.
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