Final Fantasy is known for lengthy RPGs, but which of the numbered entries are the shortest and longest? Square Enix’s iconic series has been around for over three decades and has seen few peers in the genre. Few RPG series have reached a level of notoriety like Final Fantasy. Since its humble beginnings as the fantasy themed sequel to the original Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy has evolved with the JRPG genre and added countless spin-offs. It is widely regarded as one of the best PC games.
Given the nature of the genre, each mainline game is beefy, but some mainline entries are longer than others. While this is mostly true for the later games, a few surprising exceptions show up in this list. The two MMORPGs are not included in this list due to their endless structure.
HowLongToBeat will be used as a reference to calculate the average length of each game’s main story. It relies on players sharing their playthroughs and experiences, so the numbers are not exact. However, they should give you a good idea of how long you can expect to spend with each numbered game. It’s important to note that these estimates don’t take side quests or post-game content into account.
The Shortest Final Fantasy games
The original Final Fantasy is the shortest in the series. The story is fairly simple, and making progress through the game isn’t much of a challenge. However, there’s still something irresistibly charming about 1987’s Final Fantasy that fans can't resist.
Final Fantasy 3 is the true first entry in the series and introduces the iconic “job system” that would become a recurring feature in the JRPG series. Players can swap between different classes at any time, and the game’s difficulty can be adjusted based on which jobs you assign to your characters.
The first foray into 3D for Final Fantasy was revolutionary for its design and for popularizing JRPGs in the West. The last Final Fantasy to appear on the original PlayStation returned the series to a classic aesthetic after the more science fiction-themed worlds of Final Fantasy 7 and 8. Though it didn’t revolutionize the genre like the first 3D game did, it’s still a must-play for any serious Final Fantasy fan.
The Longest Final Fantasy games
Final Fantasy 6 is one of the longest mainline entries in the series. Many consider it to be one of the best RPGs ever made. It is also the first game in the series to move beyond a simple four-character party, introducing the supporting cast who would become staples of the series.
The Final Fantasy 13 trilogy is much longer than the second game, but still not nearly as lengthy as the first one. While their stories are separate, the gameplay is consistent between all three entries. Most fans consider Final Fantasy 6 to be one of the best RPGs ever made. If you haven’t played it, now is the time.
Despite being the first foray into 3D for Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy 8 is quite lengthy. The combat system heavily revolves around the series’ recurring Materia system, allowing players to customize each character’s skills and spells. This creates an opportunity for each character to become specialized in stat-boosting Materia, which is key to unlocking new skills.
