For over 35 years, the Final Fantasy series has delighted millions of gamers around the world with its richly detailed worlds, iconic characters, and constant reinvention of gameplay and storytelling.

What began in 1987 as an inspired dream project by developer Hironobu Sakaguchi at the struggling game company Square rode the massive success of his earlier titles to eventually become Square Enix’s most popular and best-selling product, with over 155 million units sold worldwide.

Take a deep dive into the storied history of the groundbreaking Final Fantasy series – from its uncertain 8-bit beginnings to mainstream recognition and a relentless pursuit of innovation across more than 16 mainline titles and countless spin-offs, feature films, and other media.

1987-1994: The Sakaguchi Era – Primitive 3D Origins to 16-bit Excellence

Japanese game developer Square had struggled to produce a hit since its founding in 1983. Their fortunes looked bleak until 1987, when Sakaguchi, hoping to turn the tide, dreamed up an epic fantasy adventure in the style of Western RPGs like Ultima and Wizardry.

Calling Final Fantasy Square’s last effort before a possible closure, Sakaguchi assembled a small team to work on a painstaking year-long development run for the Nintendo Famicom. They combined D&D elements with sci-fi influences in a medieval world fortified by four elemental crystals.

“The name ‘Final Fantasy’ was symbolic of Square’s situation at the time, and it meant that this could be their last project. “I thought Square would be finished if this game didn’t sell.” – Sakaguchi Hironobu

Final Fantasy | 1987 (JP) – 1990 (NA) – Officially titled “Final Fantasy: The Four Heroes of Light”. FF1 introduced core concepts like crystals as a source of life energy, customizable party member classes/jobs, and iconic enemies like Garland and the Four Demons. The primitive look belies its powerful vision. Sales of 500,000 units saved Square.

Final Fantasy II | 1988 (Japan) – A bold tale of rebellious youth fighting an evil empire. Generic characters were replaced with a strong cast and story-focused ones, with the Palamecian Emperor as the main antagonist. The new gameplay system is polarizing.

Final Fantasy III | 1990 (JP) – Introduced the famous Job system for changing character classes, summons, and moogles. This Famicom exclusive was the most commercially successful FF until FFVII.

Final Fantasy IV | 1991 (Japan) – As Final Fantasy made its way to the 16-bit Super Famicom, FF4 refocused on dramatic storytelling and characters over gameplay innovation. Cecil’s redemption arc against Golbez and Zemus established the thematic tone of the series.

Final Fantasy V | 1992 (Japan) – Considered the highlight of 16-bit FF, FFV leaned heavily on FF3’s job system as its main attraction while displaying a lighter tone featuring fan favorite Gilgamesh.

Final Fantasy VI | 1994 (JP) – Arguably the pinnacle of Final Fantasy’s 16-bit era, FF6 thrilled with its expansive world, dark themes, and an ensemble cast led by the series’ original villains Terra Branford and Kefka. A groundbreaking work that cemented FF’s greatness before it eventually made its global breakthrough.

“I don’t think we’ll ever make a masterpiece like FF6 again. The entire team was packed with talent, which allowed us to create something unmatched by the capabilities of the hardware – Director Yoshinori Kitase.”

1995 – 2002: Going International – Notable Growth into 3D Powerhouse

Though Final Fantasy was hugely popular in Japan, it never achieved widespread international appeal until the PlayStation brought the series mainstream success and global recognition in the late ’90s. The seventh and eighth installments, bolstered by cutting-edge 3D graphics and the explosive growth of the RPG genre, took the series to new heights.

Final Fantasy VII | January 1997 – A billion-dollar franchise was born. FF7 singlehandedly popularized RPGs worldwide during the PlayStation generation with an epic, twist-filled story that contrasted dark industrial environments with light fantasy settings and characters. Pioneering antagonist Sephiroth became a video game star as he ripped through gamers’ hearts on his path to godhood against spiky-haired Cloud and his allies. FF7 has sold over 13 million copies to date.

“3D was great in showing how you could create more realistic characters, with facial expressions and all that. If FFVII had stuck with 2D characters, I don’t think Sephiroth would have been as charismatic.” – Tetsuya Nomura, Character Designer

Final Fantasy VIII | February 1999 – With a double production budget and Hollywood-style presentation, FFVIII tells a timeless, operatic romance between brooding protagonist Squall Leonhart and co-star Rinoa Heartilly, while battling scheming magicians with over 8,000 character model polygons and meticulous detail. Detailed pre-rendered backdrops for the battle between Idea and Ultimecia Bos5000.

FF8 was both loved and reviled for its challenging but complex combat system and controversial plot points, but it sold 10 million copies thanks to its graphical brilliance and strong characterization with a focus on the underdog that enhanced FF’s contemporary appeal.

Final Fantasy IX | July 2000 – A conscious return to the franchise’s fantasy roots after the cyberpunk futures of FFVII and VIII, Sakaguchi’s final contribution as producer helped bring to life the PlayStation’s end with unforgettable characters like the childlike sorceress Vivi and the existential angel to mark death and villain Kuja. Though underrated at the time of release, FFIX’s vibrant worlds and personality have cemented its place among the best FF classics.

Final Fantasy X | July 2001 – FFX debuted alongside Sony’s vaunted PlayStation 2, thrilling as Square’s visual showpiece, full of dreamlike environmental art that formed the basis for the infamous “Laugh Scene.” FF10, which moved to full voice acting to give more character depth, captivated (for better or worse) with its tender romance amid an exciting crusade on the tropical world of Spira, shrouded in the shadows of the mighty Sin.

Final Fantasy XI | 2002 – FFXI fearlessly exceeded expectations for the brand’s first MMORPG, orchestrating a massive, unified online adventure across five different regions with seamless interaction with player-created avatars. FFXI overcame Square Enix’s early online obstacles and boasted six expansions packed with content updates over 11 years, establishing itself as a successful pioneer of modern MMORPGs.

2006 – 2013: Controversial Heights – Production Troubles Plague PS3/Xbox 360 Ambitions

The PlayStation 3/Xbox 360 generation of consoles presented several creative and technical hurdles for developer Square Enix, as Final Fantasy sought to develop more realistic and expensive graphics despite pressure from a publicly traded company to generate profits for the mass market. These tensions led to the fascinating yet contradictory 13th and 14th installments, which were polarizing yet groundbreaking.

Final Fantasy XII | 2006 – Set in the war-torn medieval fantasy empire Ivalice, made famous by the strategy spin-off series FF Tactics, FFXII pioneered a unique innovation led by Akihiko Yoshida. The seamless open-world design allowed for free exploration, with a real-time Gambit combat system dictated by complex “if-then” AI logic. FFXII was polarizing due to its extreme and indirect combat, but sold over six million copies.

Final Fantasy XIII | 2009 – High graphical requirements led to compromises in story and gameplay, but FFXIII still delivered stunning spectacle and pioneered the real-time command synergy battle system. XIII cast the first female protagonist Lightning against the corrupt cult Sanctum and the demigod Fal’Cie, and remains controversial for its excessive linearity in exchange for visual splendor. Two direct sequels struggled to resolve its flaws, but XIII ultimately sold over seven million copies.

Final Fantasy XIV 1.0 | September 2010 – An ambitious rebuild of the MMO foundations for the PS3/360 generation, 1.0 launched in a disastrously half-baked state and was cancelled after just two years. Nevertheless, the complex crafting/collecting framework showed a promising vision, despite major setbacks.

FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn | August 2013 – Given a rare second chance with an online reboot, director Yoshida Naoki began redeveloping FF14 from the ground up for PC and PS4. The resulting, critically acclaimed Reborn reboot built on 1.0’s early signs of greatness, improving combat, worldbuilding and systems depth, and establishing it as the most popular subscription-based MMO behind World of Warcraft, with 19 million players at its peak.

2016 – Future: Past Glory Reclaimed – Heightened Focus on Action and Past Icons

After a difficult transition and reinvention of core RPG traditions, Final Fantasy enters a revitalized modern gaming landscape, standing on the shoulders of past icons like Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy VII, while patterns emerge in current and upcoming titles.

• Return to action-based combat led by Kingdom Hearts designer Tetsuya Nomura and Devil May Cry 5 combat designer Ryota Suzuki.
• General moves away from turn-based combat to real-time combat after decades of development.
• Revel in the freedom of a massive open world explored via vehicle traversal, expanded for the first time in FFXV.
• Refocused on leveraging the Final Fantasy VII cast/universe beyond Cloud itself.
• Emphasis on dark and grimy fantasy scenarios.

What do these developments in the mainline and spin-off series indicate about Final Fantasy’s future standing among the major RPG lines of games?

Final Fantasy XV | 2016 – FFXV underwent major changes in direction over its grueling decade-long development cycle, but ultimately delivered a compelling road trip for Noctis and friends, bonded by brotherhood and tragedy, as they attempt to reclaim their fallen kingdom from the Niflheim Empire. Its vast landscapes, real-time combat, and captivating atmosphere gave Square Enix a winning creative reboot, but it wasn’t without its rough edges as its development was fraught with difficulties.

Final Fantasy VII Remake | 2020 – A 15-year long fan request to reimagine FF7’s acclaimed characters and iconic locations through cutting-edge game design has finally been fulfilled. This multi-part remake saga began with a beautiful combination of real-time brawls and the use of tactical skills into deeper, more multi-layered combat. The FF7 Remake was controversial due to its expanded worldbuilding and significant changes to the story, but it became PlayStation’s best-selling PS4 exclusive, selling over 5 million copies and receiving widespread acclaim.

Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins | 2022 – Developed by Koei Tecmo and Team Ninja, this hardcore Souls-style action-RPG oddly draws from FF1 lore, adding stylistic flair to the challenging combat of enigmatic protagonist Jack Garland. Despite being heavily driven by gameplay, SOPFFO struggles to balance inconsistent tone with narrative ambition, resulting in a flawed but interesting side-entry.

FINAL FANTASY XVI | June 22, 2023 – FFXIV: Led by key ARR staff, FFXVI represents a conscious creative shift towards action-based combat and dark medieval political fantasy, built on next-gen graphics capable of delivering a dramatic FF experience for adults. After years confined to the realm of MMOs, Naoki Yoshida is now free to experiment with his vision in a bold new single-player adventure that could define the future of FF.

By The Numbers: Final Fantasy Franchise Sales Performance

While the financial heights of the Final Fantasy series pale in comparison to contemporaries such as Pokémon, which has a massive net worth of over $120 billion, its longevity and continued success across generations has made FF one of the world’s most successful media franchises, with a total net worth of nearly $10 billion.

Let’s break down the estimated sales of the main series over an astonishing 35 years.

Game	Global Unit Sales
Final Fantasy​ (NES/Famicom)	3M
Final Fantasy II (Famicom)	1.5M
Final Fantasy III (Famicom)	3M
Final Fantasy IV (SNES/SFC)	3M
Final Fantasy V (SFC)	2.5M
Final Fantasy VI (SNES/SFC)	3.5M
Final Fantasy VII (PS1)	13M
Final Fantasy VIII (PS1)	10M
Final Fantasy IX (PS1)	6M
Final Fantasy X (PS2)	9M
Final Fantasy XII (PS2)	6M
Final Fantasy XIII (PS3/360)	7M
Final Fantasy XV (PS4/XB1)	10M
Final Fantasy VII Remake	5M+

Other highlights:

• 155M+ Final Fantasy games sold globally
• $9.8 Billion franchise revenue over 35 years
• 400M+ units sold if including spinoffs
• FF14 boasts peak playerbase of 19M+ subscribers
• FF7 Compilation sells 12M+ units combined

Spinoffs Galore: Chocobos, Tactics and Rhythms

It’s impossible to tell the story of Final Fantasy without touching on the crazy chocobo adventures, the myth of the magic crystal, and Nobuo Uematsu’s explosive soundtrack. Besides the main numbered chapters, Square Enix continually produces complementary side stories and spin-off series that enrich the world and expand its commercial potential.

Chocobo series | 1997 – Present – Featuring Final Fantasy’s iconic giant chicken, these hilarious adventures cover genres such as mystery dungeon exploration games, racing/sports games, farming simulators, arcade puzzle games, and most recently, kart racing games with Chocobo GP. Chocobo’s popularity has led to over 20 spin-offs.

Final Fantasy Tactics | 1997 – Developed by Yasumi Matsuno and set in the war-torn kingdom of Ivalice, this acclaimed medieval strategy RPG pioneered the genre with its highly detailed isometric world-building, spawning numerous sequels and spiritual successors.

Dissidia Final Fantasy | 2008 – To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Final Fantasy, well-armed heroes and villains from each FF chapter collide in explosive 3D arena battles that bend reality itself, culminating in the final boss of each FF chapter. Though loaded with fan service, the mechanically sophisticated setting remains compelling.

Theatrhythm Final Fantasy | 2012 – The 2012 rhythm spinoff capitalized on the soaring popularity of music games, with Nintendo handheld players tapping along to Final Fantasy’s impressive catalogue of music. Theatrhythm demonstrated the incredible staying power of a long-lasting soundtrack that may be underestimated by newcomers to Final Fantasy’s retro chapters who never experienced it firsthand.

And beyond the games, Final Fantasy has also had enough feature-length film and anime spinoffs to delve into each one in detail.

The Sakaguchi Legacy: How Final Fantasy Stays Relevant

Final Fantasy is now led by Naoki Yoshida, after Hironobu Sakaguchi left the company he helped found in the early 2000s. The future of Final Fantasy hinges on preserving the principles that have driven its vision for a staggering 35 years, while creating new directions that fit the evolving game palette.

Yoshida himself will be heading flagship MMO Final Fantasy XVI next year, entrusted with the future of single-player.

Square Enix seems determined to combine a tribute to nostalgic heritage with a necessary modernization by returning to past icons like Final Fantasy VII, integrating feedback on recent failures, and working towards technical excellence, especially in the area of ​​combat design. Old mechanics to carry the franchise forward for the next 35 years and beyond.

Finally, Final Fantasy games have been successful from the start, because they have never stood still for long and, despite appearances, have never strictly adhered to traditions or precedents. As fantasy braves its way forward, in all its volatile times and forms, only one maxim remains true: expect the unexpected.