Summary
Spin-offs are almost always a good way to bring fans of classic franchises back to those worlds in a unique way, and it can also help break up the monotony of any series that has gone on for a long time, like Square Enix’sFinal Fantasy, for instance. Since its 1987 inception, theFinal Fantasyseries has featured numerous spin-offs, includingFinal Fantasy Tactics,Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles,Chocobo Mystery Dungeon, and more. However, there is one spin-off series from another of Square Enix’s franchises that the developer could use as a blueprint for yet anotherFinal Fantasygame.
Square Enix’s prized possession may be itsFinal Fantasyfranchise, but itsDragon Questline of games is right behind it. Interestingly enough,Dragon Questis actually older thanFinal Fantasy, though only by a year, so the fact that it is still alive and well today is a testament to its popularity. Since it began in 1986, theDragon Questseries has also had plenty of spin-offs, likeDragon Quest Builders. In fact,Dragon Quest Buildersmay have the perfect foundation for a newFinal Fantasyspin-off, should Square Enix ever want to try something new with its most beloved franchise.
Final Fantasy Needs a Spin-Off Like Dragon Quest Builders
In a bit of a departure from theformulaic JRPG mechanicstheDragon Questfranchise had established over three decades,Dragon Quest Builderscombines said mechanics with a sandbox world similar toMinecraft. However, unlikeMinecraft,Dragon Quest Buildersoffers players more direction with its narrative, which sees the Builder, a unique hero with the power to create and rebuild, embarking on a journey to restore a broken world to its former state. With the resource gathering and management, exploration, and simple action of crafting games likeMinecraftand the story-driven format of previousDragon Questgames,Dragon Quest Buildersis a one-of-a-kind, heartwarming experience.
Final Fantasy Could Make Use of Dragon Quest Builders' Formula
Now that theDragon Quest Buildersseries has established a well-oiled formula for Square Enix,Final Fantasyshould take the leap and try something similar. After all, theFinal Fantasyseries has a much longer reach thanDragon Quest, so it would already have an audience waiting for it anyway. There are plenty of unique waysFinal Fantasycould utilize theDragon Quest Buildersformula too, if it didn’t simply copy and paste its premise and put aFinal Fantasyskin on it. It might be more of anexperimentalFinal Fantasygameat first, likeFinal Fantasy TacticsandWorld of Final Fantasy, but it could work.
A possible “Final Fantasy Builders” game could see players traveling toiconicFinal Fantasylocations, likeFinal Fantasy 7’s Gaia orFinal Fantasy 10’s Spira, where they have been sent to rebuild those cities after a massive, dimension-spanning apocalyptic event occurs. This would likely appeal to the nostalgia of longtimeFinal Fantasyfans while simultaneously incorporatingDragon Quest Builders' unique formula. Going in that same direction, the game could feature some ofFinal Fantasy’s most famous characters — like Cloud Strife, Terra Branford, or Clive Rosfield — who perhaps partner with players in rebuilding their cities and expunging any evil that threatens them.
It would also make sense for a “Final Fantasy Builders” game to feature a narrative that is even more structured than those in theDragon Quest Buildersseries, as is tradition forFinal Fantasy.
A potential “Final Fantasy Builders” game would also feature a notably different art style, as theFinal Fantasyseries has generally had more “mature” and realistic visuals thanDragon Quest. Its environments could still be vibrant and colorful, as those in theDragon Quest Buildersseries are, but it would likely still need to blend that motif with the more detailedart styleFinal Fantasyis known for. These elements, along with theFinal Fantasyseries' recurring features, would likely be enough to set a “Final Fantasy Builders” game apart fromDragon Quest Buildersto offer fans both a familiar and unique experience.
