Summary
While the mainlineFinal Fantasygames are already renowned for being some of the most challenging RPGs that money can buy, the series also has its fair share of difficult spin-offs too. Considering these games still fall under theFinal Fantasyumbrella, they do contain a lot of the series' most important motifs, such as the deep characters and unique settings, but they also have a chance to experiment with the core gameplay a little bit without running the risk of potentially irritating longtime fans of the series.
Sometimes, this results in a much more carefree experience which is a little more accessible, but there are also some others that ramp up the difficulty in various different ways. With that being said, it’s time to break down some of the hardestFinal Fantasyspin off games to see why exactly they’re considered so brutal.
The games below are ranked in ascending order, according to their Difficulty rating (out of 5) on GameFAQs.
WhileWorld of Final Fantasyis technically a brand-new story, the realm of Grymoire (just one of the many intriguing and varied overworlds in the series) is actually a mashup of several different locales found in some of the earlier titles, primarily the first two games. In terms of the gameplay,World of Final Fantasyfeatures the series' classic turn-based combat, but there are a few extra mechanics which add an extra level of strategy to battles. At the same time, they can also make encounters just a little more challenging than fans may be familiar with.
Players are able to stack Mirages on top of one another to gain various buffs in the middle of a fight, but this comes with the downside of decreasing the amount of turns that can be taken. The resultant risk and reward system keeps fights engaging and fun. Still, this system can end up going horribly wrong if used incorrectly, especially against some of the game’s incredibly dangerous bosses, such as the dreadedSand Worm and Valefor.
Final Fantasy Explorersstill retains the charm and lovable characters that have become signature parts of the main series, but one major change it makes is ditching the narrative-driven story in favor of amore traditional open-world formula. Once players wake up on a mysterious island, they’ll be free to explore their environment to their heart’s content. Considering that there’s always a terrifying monster around nearly every corner, though, it makes the experience more akin toMonster HunterthanAnimal Crossing.
While the player will start off as a Freelancer, they’ll quickly realize that switching jobs is almost a necessity, since there are so many featured in the game that are far more reliable for making it out of encounters in one piece. Players will need to be smart about which skills and mutations they use. While they each have their uses, not all of them will be viable when dealing with the more durable monsters, especially the fearsome Eidolons.
The colorful and fluffy chocobos that appear in theFinal Fantasygames became so popular that they’ve actually spawned a plethora of their own spin-off games. Usually, these titles are laid-back and accessible experiences that don’t take themselves too seriously.A Game of Dicedoesn’t quite follow this tradition, though, with this digital board game being quite difficult in its gameplay and mechanics.
As players travel across the many boards that are featured in the story, they will be granted a certain amount of Crystals. These can be used to purchase specific animals which can help increase the value of a specific space, forcing other players to cough up CP when they land on it. As the AI loves to make use of this mechanic, though, it means that if they’re ever ahead, there’s a pretty high chance that the player will need to pay them up-front at some point or another. It’s easy to imagine how daunting this can get later on, when three opponents join the board at once.
Despite a lot of fans being skeptical that Square Enix could successfully pull off aflashy fighting gamethat featured every singleFinal Fantasyprotagonist and villain as the cast, the game actually turned out to be a smash hit commercially. The fast-paced nature of the battles can often be a little hard to keep up with, however, and that isn’t the only difficulty. While there are a few RPG elements thrown into the mix, such as the EX Burst, the gauge fills up so slowly that a lot of battles can feel like more of a fight for survival before the big attacks can be unleashed.
What also makes the game so challenging is the fact that many enemies have access to abilities that the player won’t yet have because of their level, which can result in some extremely unbalanced fights early on. The AI also isn’t afraid to stun-lock the player by throwing out multiple attacks at once, and it’s possible that Square Enix probably needed to spend just a little more time polishing the AI before the game was released to make it a bit more manageable.
4 Heroes of Lightthrows it back to the classicFinal Fantasygames in both its setting and gameplay, and just like those beloved games, this title is as challenging as ever. It makes sure the player is aware of that right from the get-go byproviding no tutorial to speak of. Instead, they are left to experiment with their characters, weapons, and jobs to see which serve them the best during encounters. While a lot of longtime fans will no doubt welcome this challenge, it can definitely seem a little jarring compared to some of the more modern mainline titles.
The adventure is also packed with bosses seemingly designed to be far too strong for the player to handle, which inevitably leads toa lot of grinding. Since even the most basic enemies can pose a serious threat too, there’s rarely any time to relax. Once players start to level up their equipment and become accustomed to the battle mechanics, it does become slightly easier, but a lot of the early game can be downright brutal at times.
There’s so much to love aboutFinal Fantasy Tactics. From its complex characters to its charming hand-drawn art-style, the game has been a fan-favorite ever since it was released back in 1998. However, it’s definitely not a title for the faint of heart. Alongside its incredible story and world-building, it has also become well-known for its tough core gameplay, which will severely punish the player if they don’t make careful and considered decisions in combat.
Rather than following the traditional turn-based formula,Final Fantasy Tacticsinstead allows players to move their character around a small map before attacking, similarly to Nintendo’sfantasticFire Emblemseries. This already adds an extra layer of strategy to the gameplay, which is very difficult to get the hang of in the first few hours because the enemies are so fast and aggressive. As players advance through the game, they’ll be encouraged to take down random enemies to acquire Job Points to level up their characters. While even these battles can be very hard to overcome, they’re also extremely rewarding.
Stranger of Paradisemight not be quite as difficult asNioh, but it’s clear thatthe accomplished Team Ninjainserted several elements from that game into thisFinal Fantasyspin-off to make it much more brutal than fans of the series might be used to. The game does away withthe turn-based combatand instead incorporates a hack and slash combat system that is fun and stylish but also very difficult to fully master. There are a plethora of jobs that players can experiment with, but because some of the early ones are much less effective than others (the Mage being a prime example), it can make Jack feel rather underpowered for much of the game.
In truth, the game’s Advanced Jobs are by far the strongest ones on offer. To acquire these, players will need to level up at least two others before they can even gain access, meaning they don’t become unlocked until a lot later. Pair this with lackluster allies who are more or less useless in combat, as well as a limit to the amount of potions that can be carried, and the result is a rewarding but incredibly tough game overall.
