When one thinks of Final Fantasy summons, it's a safe bet that Ifrit comes to mind fairly quickly. Other summons like Bahamut, Carbuncle, Shiva, or Titan are all very popular as well, but Ifrit has a certain iconic nature to him that the others simply don't. This is likely because he has appeared in every single main entry Final Fantasy game since summons were first introduced in Final Fantasy 3 (with the exception of Final Fantasy 12 where instead there is an airship named after him), and he often plays an important role within each game as well. This trend is continuing with Final Fantasy 16, where Ifrit seems to be one of the main antagonists of the game.
For those that may have missed it or that were unsure, Ifrit appears at the end of the Final Fantasy 16 trailer, and he is also featured prominently in the game's logo doing battle with the summon Phoenix. Given that the main character seems to have some kind of connection with Phoenix, this is likely a symbolic representation of their battle. Much is still unknown about Ifrit's role within the story of Final Fantasy 16, but his importance is undeniable and can be traced back through the last few Final Fantasy games as well. Ifrit plays many roles, throughout the Final Fantasy franchise, but they are always of great importance.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake Ifrit
Final Fantasy 7 Remake represents one of Ifrit's more common roles, as he is the first summon that Cloud and the player are able to make use of. The Ifrit summon materia is gifted to the player by Jesse and he acts as a sort of introduction to the summoning mechanics. Ifrit is often seen early on in games to establish summons as an entity and make it clear what their role is. Sometimes this is as an ally like in the case of Final Fantasy 7 Remake's Ifrit, but other times he can appear as one of the first summons players have to fight.
Either way, players will find themselves using Ifrit throughout the entirety of the game, as he is one of the more useful summons in Final Fantasy 7 Remake, even after they unlock others that the game has to offer. He's simply a solid choice to use, especially against enemies that are weak against fire, and some may find they have a bit of sentimental value attached thanks to him being the first one and a gift from Jesse. This is just the most recent example of Ifrit's importance, but the trend continues well beyond Final Fantasy 7 Remake.
Final Fantasy 15 Ifrit
The Ifrit of Final Fantasy 15 is one of the more unique versions of Ifrit and more closely mirrors his role in Final Fantasy 16, as he is both one of the first and last bosses the player will face in that game. The first encounter with Ifrit doesn't last long, as the game cuts back several years before its climax to tell the story from the beginning. Once the player reaches Ifrit again, though, he is the final summon that players must face, even standing his ground against Bahamut. He will probably end up being very powerful in Final Fantasy 16 as well.
Fan reception of Ifrit's appearance in Final Fantasy 15 is a bit of a mixed bag, as it is very different from anything that came before it. On the one hand, it was a breath of fresh air to see Ifrit redesigned beyond his usual appearance, but some felt that it didn't do him justice. It seems as though Final Fantasy 16 is returning Ifrit to his roots, restoring his beastly appearance to him.
Final Fantasy 14 Ifrit
Ifrit's role in Final Fantasy 14 is similar to his role in Final Fantasy 7 Remake with one key difference: He's the enemy. In this game, Ifrit teaches players about the Primals and introduces them to the world of the Archons. This is especially important since Final Fantasy 16's Producer, Naoki Yoshida, was the director of this title, and it seems likely that Final Fantasy 14 will influence Final Fantasy 16. Given this connection, it makes sense that Ifrit would play a vital role in the story of the upcoming game.
Ifrit is also the first summon that Final Fantasy 14's Summoner Job can use as a pet, focusing heavily on close ranged damage. The others available are Titan and Garuda, though neither of these are as iconic. Again in Final Fantasy 14, Ifrit acts as one of the first companions available to the Summoner class after replacing the carbuncle, further cementing his position as an introductory summon for players. While he is easily the weakest of the Primals faced throughout the game, Ifrit does have hard and extreme mode dungeons that bring his power up to the same level as the other Primals.
Final Fantasy 16 Ifrit
Compared to those last three entries, this seems as though it will be Ifrit's biggest appearance yet both literally and figuratively. He takes a monstrous appearance akin to Final Fantasy 7 Remake and 14's depictions of him but is much more massive than he appears in either of those games. It also seems as though he'll have power similar to or greater than Final Fantasy 15's Ifrit, as he'll likely be an end game boss of some sort. Ifrit is just one of all the confirmed summons for Final Fantasy 16, though, so players should stay on the look out for more information about the others.
At the moment, it's unclear whether Ifrit is connected to Joshua or someone else. The start of the trailer makes it seem as though Joshua is the Phoenix, but at the end the trailer would have fans believe that he transforms into Ifrit. It could be that this was a byproduct of movie magic trying to throw fans off the scent of the game's story, or it could be that Joshua really is Ifrit. Regardless, the main character of Final Fantasy 16 is represented by the Phoenix, and the way the two are clashing in the game's logo makes it seem as though Ifrit will carry more importance here than ever before.
Final Fantasy 16 releases in 2021 for PS5.