There are some fastFinal Fantasygames that you can beat in case you’re short on time, but still want to be in touch with Square Enix’s legendary RPG series.The decades-long franchise is known for its long and well-written games, many of which are considered some of the best ever made. With this, there are also some prettyhardFinal Fantasygames to complete, especially if you want to 100% them.
A lot of this is because of side quests and prolonged campaigns thatcould have you involved for dozens, if not hundreds, of hours. The critically acclaimed MMORPGFFXIV, for example, can have you playing for 500 hours between the main story content ofA Realm RebornandEndwalker.Single-playerFinal Fantasygamesare generally shorter, but can still demand a lot of investment. Even so, there are some that you can beat quickly.
5Final Fantasy 4 Is One Of The Best In The Series
With Pixel Remaster’s Features, You Can Expedite The Game’s Completion
Arguably one of the best entries in the series and, to many, one of the best games of all time,Final Fantasy 4is a bit longer than its predecessors, but it is not only short but also fantastic. According toHowLongToBeat, you should take an average of 23 hours to beat the game, mixing the campaign with some side quests.
If your goal is to 100% the game, it could take you up to 27 hours. However, if you consider the sheer scope of JRPGs, this isn’t too much time, makingFF4a fairly short game. If you play thePixel Remasterversion of the game, you could complete it in a much shorter time frame.
Aside from offering updated graphics, thePixel RemasterforFinal Fantasy 4also provides a few gameplay options, like the ability to disable random encounters. As such, you won’t be stopped by an endless onslaught of opponents while exploring the maps. Another cool feature in the game is that you can increase your XP gains.
Effectively,this means you won’t have to grind to level up your characters as much as you would normally have to. With these features combined, you can expedite how quickly you beatFinal Fantasy 4while also experiencing what is one of the best titles in the franchise.
4Final Fantasy 9 Has Some Great Features To Speed Up Your Playthrough
You Can Use God Mode To Trample Through Combat
Final Fantasy 9has a longer estimated playtime than a lot of the core games in the series, with an average of 47 hours, according toHowLongToBeat. The big thing is that, for modern platforms like Steam,the game has been revamped with some features that can make going through the campaign a breeze.
With the remaster, you’ll be delighted to know that you can put the game into a high-speed mode that accelerates certain sections up to three times. This makes moving through the open-world map a lot faster. Furthermore,you can activate some cheats, like 9999 DMG, which will ensure you’re always at your peak in battle.
Additionally, you’re able to also activate Battle Assistance, which allows you to always have a full ATB gauge, as well as full HP and MP. Battle Assistance also makes Trance available at all times.There are even functions that enable you to reach the maximum level immediately. LikeFF4,Final Fantasy 9also has a feature that allows you to disable random encounters.
If you’re looking for a fast and great game in the series to beat, I highly recommendFinal Fantasy 9.The cheats, commonly called God Mode, do take away from the combat experience, but it does not, in any way, affect the story, which is one of the best. Hopefully, I’ll get to revisit it soon under a new style with therumoredFF9 Remake.
3Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion Can Be A Short Game
The FF7 Prequel Focuses On Zack Fair
Outside of the main series, there are plenty of shorter games, andCrisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunionis one of the best you can play nowadays. It doesn’t have the exploits that were featured in the aforementioned games, but thisFinal Fantasy 7spin-off takes less time to complete than the base game itself.
HowLongToBeatcalculates thatan average playthrough takes around 22 hours, though if you’re focusing solely on the main story, you could beat it in a little more than 13 hours. On the other hand, seeing it to 100% completion could take around 46 hours. For reference,Reunionis the remastered version of the originalCrisis Core, a prequel toFinal Fantasy 7.
As such, there haven’t been many modifications to the story, like we’ve seen in theFF7 Remakeseries.If you’re a fan of Cloud Strife’s story, this prequel game is perfect for you, as it will grant you access to more information about Zack Fair, as well as Sephiroth and Cloud himself.
Theending ofCrisis Core Reunionwon’t be too aligned withFF7 Remake, butyou’ll have a chance to immerse yourself in the same universe and see some familiar faces along the way. Furthermore, you’ll be able to experience a different type of gameplay with its real-time combat. It’s a great and fastFinal Fantasyto play if you haven’t yet.
2Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin Can Be Beaten Quickly
You Can Rush Through The Campaign In Less Than 20 Hours
Another great spin-off that you can beat within a reasonable time frame isStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. The game developed by Team Ninja has connections to the originalFinal Fantasygame, even if there is still some unresolved debate about it being a prequel or set in an alternate universe.
It takes you around 27 hours to beat the game, as registered byHowLongToBeat.If you’re focusing solely on the main story, you could beatStranger of Paradisein less than 20 hours, with an average of 17 and a half hours highlighted by the website. However, if you’re a completionist, you could spend up to 51 hours within the base game, excluding its three DLC packs.
This game will feel different from other entries in the series because it’s essentially a soulslike game. With a variety of weapons to choose from, you’ll also be given access to severaljobs inStranger of Paradise. Testing these out or, perhaps, maxing them out, could lead to a lot more playtime. Nevertheless, if you’re concentrated and experienced with soulslike mechanics, you’re able to rush through it.
This is a pretty solid game in the series, even if not developed by Square Enix. There are some issues with the title’s narrative, which may often feel bland until the latter portion of the campaign, butthe gameplay is pleasant, and the ability to switch jobs and test out different possibilities is remarkable.
1Final Fantasy 1 Is The Shortest Of The Core Series
You Can Use Pixel Remaster’s Features
Final Fantasy 1is easily the shortest game of the core series. According toHowLongToBeat,the first installment in the franchise takes an average of 17 hours to complete.Beating thePixel Remasterversionof the game could take you a little bit less, and depending on your playstyle on modern platforms, you could completeFF1in less than 10 hours.
Even though the game is fast, this game is considered one of the toughest ones to play, especially nowadays. Despite the existence of thePixel Remasterversion,FF1can feel a bit rough around the edges for modern RPG standards. The title released in 1987 is a lot slower to progress through
However,you can address this by using the features provided by thePixel Remasterversion, like the ones available forFinal Fantasy 4. This includes the aforementioned ability to disable random encounters, as well as improved experience modifiers that could have you level up without grinding too much.
This is also a great game to play before or afterStranger of Paradise, as you’ll be able to see a lot of connections between both titles. Even some of the shortest games in the series can still take dozens of hours to beat. There are some shorter titles, though those don’t necessarily offer great quality asFinal Fantasygames, and you’re better off spending a bit more time playing.