Final Fantasy 16 is the next mainline entry in the long-running series of JRPGs from Square Enix, and many fans may be eagerly waiting for more information. While it currently has no official release date, the game is in development for the PS5 at the very least.
Final Fantasy 16 might or might not be that far away, but there are a few games that fans should definitely check out ahead of time if they want to whet their appetite for the next entry in the franchise.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
The easy first choice for fans awaiting FF16 is to play the acclaimed Final Fantasy 7 Remake, as this version of Cloud and Avalanche's story is the most recent entry in the franchise. Although it remains to be seen how similar it is to Final Fantasy 16, there's likely to be some similarities. For example, FF7 puts a lot of emphasis on summons. Having the powerful creatures join in battle temporarily before delivering a flashy and powerful attack could lend itself well to the Eikons in FF16. Trailers have already shown that the summons will be important to the story of FF16, and this would be a fun way to incorporate them in battle (if it does).
Acclaimed by both fans and critics, the game also shows Square Enix's ability to deftly adapt its traditional narratives for modern audiences, while also showing how some motifs that were prescient in 1997 still resonate today with much more FF7 Remake to come. For fans looking forward to FF16 that haven't already played Remake, this is the best place to start.
Ghost of Tsushima
While not an RPG in the traditional sense, Ghost of Tsushima can be considered a benchmark against which other open-world adventure games can safely be judged. The sheer scope of content, customization, player choice, and gameplay depth is something that should be a bar to judge other games. However, there are certainly RPG elements throughout the samurai quest like upgrading weapons and gear, improving and learning new abilities, and a modicum of player choice. Another reason why fans of FF should check out Tsushima is that the Sucker Punch game is the big focus on storytelling, as the mainline story of Tsushima is executed beautifully. Tsushima was chosen as many fans and critics GOTY, and the developers of FF15 should definitely take notice.
Final Fantasy 15
Final Fantasy 15 is important as the immediate predecessor to FF16. The game garnered mixed reactions when it originally released in 2016 because of a sometimes inconsistent story and its famously long development time. While there are definitely some specific things FF16 needs to avoid from FF15, it's definitely worth a revisit. The first game in the mainline FF games to incorporate real-time action, Final Fantasy 15's gameplay may have some influence on that of the upcoming title.
Final Fantasy 15's main character Noctis teleports across the battlefield in between changing weapons and casting spells, and the new protagonist Clive is seen doing something similar in the reveal trailer for FF16. Overall, the game has a lot of fun and engaging mechanics (fishing can be especially satisfying), and plenty of hidden bosses and treasure to find in classic franchise fashion. Square Enix seems to have learned some important lessons since the release of Final Fantasy 15, and with its slew of updates to the story and gameplay, it's a great time to revisit the game.
Persona 5
Persona 5 is a taste of more traditional JRPG gameplay but with flair and style unlike any other experience in the genre; after all, P5 became hugely popular for a franchise that has historically been more niche. Famed for its story, mechanics, and its incredible soundtrack, Persona 5 is a must-play title for any JRPG fan. It is a great example of how embracing traditional gameplay structure but mixing in more modern quality-of-life improvements like fast-travel can be great for the genre.
One thing FF16 should take note of from P5 is presentation; the game is absolutely dripping with style. While it's apparent from the first trailer that FF16 has a very different tone than P5, Square Enix should still take note that something seemingly small like stylized menus can go a long way.
Final Fantasy 9
Final Fantasy 9 is in many ways a spiritual predecessor to Final Fantasy 16. Both games feature classic fantasy settings after the last few games in the series featured more steampunk and sci-fi settings, and both games are releasing in the middle of renewed momentum for the franchise. As a result, it is a great time to go back and revisit a classic Final Fantasy experience before experiencing the future of the franchise. The story of FF9 transitions smoothly from a scale as small as a simple kidnapping of a princess to a dimension-spanning epic about war, tragedy, and loss.
Final Fantasy 16 is currently in development for PS5.