Since the release of the firstFinal Fantasyin the late 1980s, the franchise has had a profound impact on the JRPG genre. Spanning over three decades and still going strong,Square Enix’s magnum opus continues to showcase its enduring legacy, inspiring a whole generation of video games.
Final Fantasygames have been released on over a dozen video game consoles over the years. In modern times, mobile phones and the mobile gaming industry have begun to grow, and in the JRPG genre, the influence ofFinal Fantasyremains as strong as ever. While classicFinal Fantasygames have long been accessible on mobile devices, the franchise’s profound impact on the genre has inspired a plethora of mobile games that capture a similar experience. This list highlights the best mobile games that offer aFinal Fantasy-like adventure.
Fire Emblemgames are considered to be strategically challengingas they involve tactical thinking to pass through difficult situations. However,Fire Emblem Heroesis a simplistic take on the series that focuses on entertaining the players with something light to play.
The mobile spinoff is agood game in the gacha genrewith interesting mechanics and entertaining gameplay that balances between fun and challenging.
brings characters from differentFire Emblemtitles in a single game, which is a treat for the players who are long-time fans of the franchise.
Gacha mechanics are prevalent in the game, so players should be mindful of their presence.Fire Emblem Heroesis best suited for those who are either comfortable spending money on obtaining their favorite characters — or those who can resist or look past these practices.
Genre
JRPG, Turn-Based, Adventure
Final Fantasynot only inspired a multitude of gaming companies, but the games also appealed to individuals who wanted to create something of their own after experiencingFinal Fantasy.Epic Battle Fantasy 5is a creation of a single mind to create anover-the-top turn-based adventure RPG.
With plenty of video gaming references, charming characters, and tons of treasures to find,Epic Battle Fantasy 5is a fun 30 hour+ adventure as players spend their time exploring dungeons, fighting enemies, and testing something new. People who have played the olderFinal Fantasygames will find themselves back at home for an old school JRPG adventure that will keep them entertained for its entirety.
It is easier to find something similar when looking for it near the original thing, so theeasiest way to find out something likeFinal Fantasyis to look for games developed or published by Square Enix.The Last Remnantis one such game that utilizes modern graphics to deliver a good turn-based RPG experience to the players.
The Last Remnant features a distinct battle system that uses a command-style battle with ever-changing scenarios that change constantly, depending on the positions and state of friendly and enemy forces. The file size of the game is on the higher end, but it justifies it with plenty of time to spend on the game for completion — along with the visuals of the game.
Moving from the 2D sprites,The Last Remnantport for the mobile is a 3D TRPG with beautiful graphics that surpass the looks of atraditional JRPG from the 90s, and despite being a game released over five years ago on mobile, it still looks good enough to appeal to players.
The downside of the game is that, despite having a good combat system that factors in multiple things to make the combat more layered and complex, it does a pretty good job at explaining it to the players. Pairing it with the game’s mediocre story and a rather bland overworld,The Last Remnantfeels flat in many ways. However, if one is willing to spend time and energy on the game,The Last Remnantcould be worth checking out when pursuing titles likeFinal Fantasyon a smartphone.
Become A Sword To Rescue Your Friends
Platform(s)
PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X and Series S, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Android
Role-playing Video Game, Adventure game, Simulation Video Game, Adventure, Strategy
The developers ofSword of Elpisia, Kemco, specialize inJRPGs with immersive narrativesand quality gameplay, and they rightfully did so with the game. It is a spin-off of Exe Create’sAlphadiaseries, but players do not need to play the other titles as they don’t have a direct connection with Elpisia.
As a fantasy RPG,Sword of Elpisiaunfolds in Terra, a realm where civilization has flourished through the use of magical tools. While it carries the familiar essence of a standard JRPG,Sword of Elpisiadistinguishes itself with a compelling story and well-developed characters. The narrative goes beyond the typical “defeat the monsters and save the world” trope, offering a richer, more engaging experience.
The turn-based combat evokes memories of classic titles likeFinal Fantasy,but it breaks away from the usual four-character party structure seen in many JRPGs, featuring a three-person team instead. The inclusion of innovative mechanics,such as recruiting and summoning ‘pets’ to support the partyin battle, keeps the gameplay dynamic and entertaining, making it a worthwhile experience for players.
Gacha games have taken off and occupied a big chunk of the mobile video game market, and not all of them possess the same level of quality — but once in a while, there comes a video game that delivers something different. Falling under this category,Sword of Convallariais a turn-based, tile-based strategy game that is inspired byFinal Fantasy Tactics.
The game shines with its stellar art style, which is presented in the form of pixel animation in the gameplay and stationary images when presenting the story.Sword of Convallariafeatures a vast storyline that continues to expand as time passes by. The scenic beauty and the serene soundtrack by Hitoshi Sakamoto are a treat for the player’s audiovisual senses, as the game does a great job at capturing the essence of the 90s strategic RPGs.
However,the game is bound by its greedy gacha system. Despite featuring a vast roster of characters, players need to use an immense amount of luck or brute force the paywall to obtain the characters they desire. Players will have to spend a lot of time grinding, gathering the right resources from the many available to strengthen their characters for the future battles.
For a person craving a single-player game likeFinal Fantasy Tactics,Sword of Convallariamight not be the title they are looking for. However, if one is willing to learn and compromise with the predatory gacha system in one way or another,Sword of Convallaria : For This World of Peacepairs the retro aesthetic with the modern-day gameplay mechanics to deliver a nostalgic yet fresh experience.
Shining differently from the other gacha in modern times,Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Spaceredefines how mobile games should be made. Rather than implementing greedy pay to win systems and gatekeeping the best things behind a paywall,Another Edentakes a different approach as it focuses on keeping the purity of JRPGs intact in modern times.
Another Edentakes the player back in time to experience how RPGs used to work a few decades ago. With no skips, auto battles, or fast forwarding, players have to grind the game for their character’s worth. To keep players engaged,the game has an interesting storyline, and it extends to the game’s side stories as well.Another Edenis a nostalgic surprise for players looking for aFinal Fantasytype of game on a mobile phone, and with plenty of content to cover, players will not find themselves uninstalling the game anytime soon.
MMORPGs open a new world for the RPG fans, andFinal Fantasy 11did the same for its player base and for itself as it tried to do something entirely different after 10 installments in the franchise, paving the way for the next generation of MMOs. MMOs became a big scene on PCs and consoles, and eventually,they began to make their debut for pocket devices.Black Desert Onlineis considered to be one of the biggest MMOs of the current generation, and its mobile counterpart makes its presence known on smartphones.
Starting with an in-depth character customization screen, players can immerse themselves for hours inBlack Desert Mobile, navigating a vast sea of MMORPG content. Whether engaging in PvE or PvP, there’s no shortage of activities. The game boasts impressive visuals and demands a powerful smartphone with sufficient storage for smooth performance. Additionally, it features autoplay skills to streamline repetitive content.Black Desert Mobilefunctions as a classic MMORPG, perfect for those seeking a visually striking MMO experience on mobile.
Serving as a prequel to the originalOctopath Traveler,Champions of the Continenttells a different story on the continent of Orsterra. The game is associated with gacha mechanics and in-app purchases. However, the game stays connected with its roots.
Featuring a slow-paced JRPG with gacha baked in,CoTCemphasizes story telling and plenty of turn-based grinding akin to other JRPGs. Despite being a gacha, most of the content in the game is permanent, and players can enjoy the game at their own pace.
The game is of the highest quality, and players wanting to experienceOctopath Traveleron a mobile phone can do so by playing this game. With beautiful visuals and audio, fleshed out storylines,a vast roster of characters, and fluid controls, the game performs wonderfully on a mobile phone.Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continentis a great game with fair and transparent monetization schemes, making it a great recommendation for players looking for something like aFinal Fantasygame on the go.
SayingDragon Questis like aFinal Fantasygame would be a bit hereticalsince the former is what inspiredFinal Fantasyto be what it is today, but when looking for games ‘like’Final Fantasyon mobile phones, there could not be a better answer than theDragon Quest series.
With the technology improving to the point that video games can be played on mobile phones, theDragon Questseries makes a spectacular entry in the mobile gaming market, and players can play fromDragon Quest I to VIIIat any time at their own convenience. The games do have one issue, as the mobile ports lock the game in portrait mode, but if one can get comfortable with the new view, theDragon Questgames are worth the time.
Another classic on the list,Chrono Trigger, is a 1995 role-playing gamedeveloped and published by Square Enix. When looking for a video game likeFinal Fantasy, it is easier to look for a game created by the same company in the same genre.Chrono Triggeris a culmination of the best minds of the video gaming industry. Created by the ‘Dream Team’ creators ofDragon Quest,Final Fantasy,andDragon Ball,the timeless JRPG is loaded with greatness for an epic adventure through the passage of time.
Talking about the mobile port of this game, the game translates very well to a mobile device. On the initial release, the port had some serious issues, but over the years, with steady updates, most of them have been resolved. With improved UI, the addition of the animated cutscenes from the DS version, and good graphics,Chrono Triggerbecomes available for players who want to experience a timeless JRPG classic wherever they happen to be.
