At this point, the quips involving Final Fantasy's very un-final nature have been done to death. Yet, there certainly seems to be an element of truth to this tongue-in-cheek notion. For decades, Final Fantasy has been a gaming phenom – going from a last-ditch project by Square Enix to one of the most renowned, grandiose RPG series ever.
Given the tremendous success of the franchise, it's no surprise that the Japanese studio would continue to capitalize on the branding, churning out countless mainline and spin-off games over the years. As one might expect, this has produced mixed results and various distinct styles. This is especially true when it comes to the spin-offs; many of which tend to air on the quirky, more risque side.
With that said, let's explore 10 of the strangest spin-off games to bear the Final Fantasy name.
10 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Fans were excited to learn of Square Enix's return to Nintendo consoles after a several-year hiatus. What they got after this long wait was a rather unexpected – albeit interesting – Final Fantasy spin-off for the GameCube. The recent Switch remaster has reminded fans just how unique this new take on the franchise was.
Unlike the mainline series, which has gone in a darker, more cinematic direction, this effort takes a kid-friendly approach more akin to Dragon Quest. But the most interesting aspect of this ARPG has to be the main mechanic requiring one player to carry a vessel around. This action creates a protective field amidst a sea of poisonous fog. While some have regarded this as cumbersome, Crystal Chronicles remains a fun dungeon-crawler and underrated entry in the Final Fantasy series.
9 Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes Of Light
In fairness, it's not like the Nintendo DS was known for its ample horsepower or stunning visuals. Regardless, this RPG tends to exude a particular crudeness for a 2010 release. The choppy animation and muddled aesthetic give this the appearance of an early PS1 title, with visuals that would seem to be ripped from a kid's storybook.
Still, getting beyond the rough presentation, The 4 Heroes of Light has earned some decent scores, with critics and fans praising it for its majestic tone and back-to-basics approach.
8 Legend Of Mana
While it's a bit of a stretch to refer to the game itself as directly related to Final Fantasy, this obscure RPG for PlayStation does have its origins as a Final Fantasy spin-off dating back to the Game Boy. While Final Fantasy Adventure and its SNES follow-up, Secret of Mana, emphasized action and more straightforward gameplay, this sequel offers some interesting twists.
Beyond the vibrant hand-drawn visuals, Legend of Mana also takes a more creative, non-linear approach with its progression and navigation. Its "Land Make" system has the player generate the structure of the game world by plopping Artifacts on the map – which alters the dynamic of each area.
7 Crystal Defenders (2011)
Given Final Fantasy's fantastical elements and emphasis on combat, it would seem only natural that the series would get its own version of a tower defense game. The most notable entry in this subseries is a 2011 release for PS3, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii, and mobile devices.
Fans of the renowned Final Fantasy Tactics will recognize some similar elements to that classic – just with quite a bit more action-laced insanity rather than in-depth strategy. The game bombards players with tons of recognizable critters and foes, who mindlessly march down a predetermined path.
While it's fairly simple, it's a fun little diversion for tower defense fans who fancy them some Final Fantasy flair.
6 Final Fantasy Record Keeper
Considering this one sounds more like a literary archive of Final Fantasy than a video game, one should expect a unique experience with Final Fantasy Record Keeper. This basic romp, made by Japanese mobile giant DeNA, is really a celebration of old-school Final Fantasy more than anything else.
The game pummels players with an array of turn-based battles of classic bosses from the franchise's past. Beyond the intuitive point-and-click interface, this Final Fantasy medley excels in its variety of distinct boss behaviors and traits, many of which are drawn from previous titles.
5 Theatrhythm Final Fantasy
Much like Nintendo dabbled in rhythm romps with its fusion of The Legend of Zelda and Crypt of the NecroDancer, Square Enix took its series in a dance-inducing musical direction with this one.
Fans of Final Fantasy lore and its epic soundtrack should get a kick out of this overtly cute spin-off, with classics like "One-Winged Angel" comprising the rhythmic-based gameplay. The onslaught of button and joystick cues gives Theatrhythm a vibe that feels one-part Final Fantasy and one-part Guitar Hero, DDR, or Gitaroo Man.
4 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A Darklord
Once again, the title alone should be a hint as to the relative weirdness of this one. Being a fairly obscure tower defense game for WiiWare, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life As A Darklord didn't exactly draw much attention. This game very much does its own thing compared to many Final Fantasy titles, though this isn't necessarily bad.
Even within the tower defense genre, this Square Enix spin-off offers a distinct twist with its side-viewed perspective and battles that occur inside a tower. The game meshes rock-paper-scissors combat with tactical building and placements, rounding out a surprisingly fun showdown.
3 Final Fantasy: Airborne Brigade
Airborne Brigade stands as a fairly average – albeit interesting – social game for mobile devices, and perhaps one of the most obscure in the franchise.
The game presents some of the classic Final Fantasy elements like Chocobos, turn-based combat, and fantasy lore centered around crystals, though that's largely where the similarities end. It may not exactly captivate in terms of presentation or depth. Yet, the appeal lies in its simplicity, and the ability to play with friends to knock out missions, secure items, and grow stronger.
2 Final Fantasy All The Bravest
This 2013 mobile title can be filed under the category of "misfire" in addition to being outright strange.
Fans have commented on All the Bravest's absurd simplicity and passive nature, to the point where it can only barely be called a "game," let alone a Final Fantasy experience. The game presents players with a battlefield chock-full of random fantasy caricatures, each of whom performs basic hacks on foes when touched. It's tough to find a redeeming quality about this romp other than some charming pixel art and intuitive touch-based controls.
1 Final Fantasy World Wide Words
If a rhythmic-based take on the RPG epic sounded bizarre, try this Japanese-only typing game whose "combat" involves swiftly pecking keys on a mobile device.
Rather than emphasizing depth or narrative, World Wide Words stresses fast reaction times and quick thinking. In this sense, the experience feels more like an exercise in cognition or school module more than a Final Fantasy title. It's perhaps not surprising this one never saw a worldwide release, given its rather niche gameplay.