Not many people out there who haven’t heard the name Final Fantasy, I’d wager. This popular JRPG saga has been with us for 30 years and has left us with an infinity of memorable moments. Though its games started out being exclusive to Nintendo consoles, the seventh release – probably the most famous one – changed everything by moving to PlayStation, the first Sony console. Final Fantasy VII was a lot of people’s first RPG experience, including my own, and it’s already been over a year since the game turned 20. In celebration – now that Final Fantasy games have appeared for all sorts of systems, including mobile OSes – we’ve made you a list of the best free games from the saga to appear in the Android ecosystem.
Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius
This JRPG follows the classic schematic of 2D turn-based battles and has a broad cast of characters to have fun with in your battles. It presents a story typical of the first chapters of the saga and focuses on the fun combats, where you can control Final Fantasy legends like Terra, Vivi, and Sabin. And no, I’m not crying out of nostalgia and happiness after reading those names. (Okay maybe just a little). As an oddity I should mention that they’ve just added a new character based on the singer Ariana Grande. [Download]
MOBIUS FINAL FANTASY
Two and a half years is how long it took to develop this behemoth game that’s probably the most awesome Final Fantasy that can be played for free on Android. A tremendous experience that has brilliant controls and a story written by Kazushige Nojima, a big name who also wrote the script for Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy XV. We’ve already talked at length about this game, so there’s only one thing left to say: play it! [Download]
Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia
The Dissidia subsaga, originally seen in a PSP title back in 2008, gave us an impossible battle between the most charismatic characters from the saga through a real-time gameplay. This sequel, a complement to the PS4 game Dissidia NT, brings back this idea but maintains the “canon” turn-based gameplay. It offers beautiful graphics and many nods for fans, making it one of the best Android games on this list. In fact, we already gave it some attention in our blog. [Download]
Final Fantasy Awakening
Another title that originated on PSP, this time set in the Nebula Chrisallys universe where Final Fantasy XIII and its sequels are also set. The Type-0 installments are known for offering a a totally different gameplay focused on the action and with more emphasis on the MMO aspect. The story mode provides you with small missions where you have to defeat the enemies you come across, but you’ll also have daily events and even PvP arenas. Things we’re already familiar with around here. [Download]
Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire
A complete change of pace. A New Empire is a mobile management strategy game set in the universe from the latest installment, although its relation to the title is merely visual. Most of the adventure is based on constructing buildings with a time of completion and sending your soldiers to war against other players scattered around the game’s map. [Download]
Final Fantasy: All the Bravest
People who want to get more out of the Final Fantasy battles than the story line: this game’s for you. All the Bravest focuses exclusively on fighting and guarantees giant battles with a huge number of characters you can roll out on your fronts. Lovers of the Active Battle System popularized in the first titles in the saga have got a real treat here. Well, just so long as you like the classic sprites from the saga. But, seriously, who doesn’t? [Download]
Crystal Defenders Lite
Although we’ve seen lots of genre changes in the titles in this saga, never before have we seen a tower defense based on the universe created by Square. Well, until Crystal Defenders appeared, that is. This fun game is set in the compelling universe of Ivalice that we first saw in Final Fantasy Tactics. The main problem with this splendid defense game is that it only shows a bit of its full potential because to experience it to the max you have to buy the whole game. Still, this Lite version has some great moments in store for you. [Download]
Final Fantasy Record Keeper
Sometimes nostalgia can trick you into getting mediocre material about something you used to love. But then other times you find gems like Record Keeper, a game that lets you relive the most legendary scenes from all the Final Fantasy games – but in a fresh and fun way, bringing a new experience to this undying saga. Maybe one of my fave Final Fantasy games for smartphones. [Download]
Final Fantasy Portal App
This official app from Square Enix makes our list on its own merits. Not because it keeps you in the know on all things Final Fantasy-related, which is great in itself, but because within this app you’ll find three games that offer a good dose of fun: the legendary Triple Triad card game and the classics Final Fantasy I and II. People who want to enjoy a good hand of cards or enjoy the origins of the saga should get downloading post-haste. [Download]
Final Fantasy Grandmasters
This fun spinoff of Final Fantasy XI is an online multiplayer title that looks particularly great thanks to graphics reminiscent of the titles for Nintendo DS. It should supply tons of hours of screen time. Except it has one big idiomatic problem, which is that the full game is entirely in Japanese. That said, it has its own subreddit that can help you advance and enjoy it. [Download]
Justice Monsters Five (Closed)
If we were looking at a tower defense before, there’s no reason for the appearance of another odd genre to be a big deal. This pinball game set in the Final Fantasy saga cleverly adds in several RPG elements, making for quite the original experience. Unfortunately in March 2017 its servers will shut down so you haven’t got much time left to enjoy it. That said, it should stick around in mini-game form in Final Fantasy XV. [Download]
Anything else?
Okay so those were the best free games for Android from the Final Fantasy universe, but we’d still like to talk to you about a few other titles related to the saga that are worth a look.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: Libra Eorzea is a useful app that serves as a database for Final Fantasy XV. A sort of detailed guide that will be of enormous help if you have the game. [Download]
KINGDOM HEARTS Unchained X isn’t part of the Final Fantasy universe, but it’s got a good number of characters from it that you’ll find along the way: Cloud, Vivi, and Yuna, to name a few. A highly playable title that we’ve discussed here before. [Download]
Triple Triad is a good version of the mini card game that was almost more fun than the game it first came out in (sorry, Final Fantasy VIII). Guaranteed addictive. [Download]
