With Final Fantasy 16 being the sixteenth main installment in the series, there are plenty of other titles in the franchise that players who had FF16 as their first can play. The popular action RPG developed by Square Enix, like most Final Fantasy games, is not a sequel or prequel to any other in the series, and tells a story of its own, with its own gameplay mechanics. The newly released game for PlayStation 5 consoles follows the tale of Clive Rosfield, the heir to the Grand Duchy of Rosaria, who sees his life turned upside down when a coup is launched in his homeland.
Reduced to a lowly soldier, Clive now seeks vengeance and needs to learn how to master his powers to execute his will. This is the main plot for FF16, and for those unfamiliar with the franchise, it is very much a Final Fantasy plot. Players who have already reached the ending in Final Fantasy 16 and are looking to expand their repertoire with the franchise luckily have plenty of games to do that with, as there are plenty of great Final Fantasy titles that have much in common with the game for PS5.
5 Final Fantasy 6
If players are looking for a gritty and somber story focused on Eikons, here known as Espers, Final Fantasy 6 is a great game to play after Final Fantasy 16. Moving from the recent PS5 release to a classic-era title can be quite a turning point, especially due to the game’s graphics and turn-based combat system, but it is certainly worth exploring. Not only will the game offer a better understanding of how different Final Fantasy games can be from each other, but how the series has always been fantastic for storytelling.
Another significant change that players will experience if they play Final Fantasy 6 after FF16 is the shift to focus on a party rather than an individual hero. Most Final Fantasy games revolve around how players build their team and level their party rather than doubling down on the protagonist, like in FF16. This should be a welcome difference in the players’ involvement with secondary characters. Final Fantasy 6 also has a deep focus on magic and what part it plays in people’s lives, so that should resonate clearly with anyone who played Final Fantasy 16 to its completion.
4 Final Fantasy 12
If players are looking for games with a similar story structure and tone – with a bit less of an M-Rating – Final Fantasy 12 is the game to play after completing FF16. The game’s medieval world of Ivalice is similar to Final Fantasy 16’s Valisthea, from its design to its nations (and how conflicting they are). Even the campaign itself is quite somber, with many elements that are akin to those of FF16, like political intrigue and eschatology.
The game follows a great roster of characters that have a lot more personality than those of Final Fantasy 6. They still lack the great voice acting and emotional depth present in FF16, but Final Fantasy 12’s characters are fantastic. In fact, most of the game’s side characters are much better than Vaan, the protagonist himself. This simply comes to show how fleshed-out these characters are.
3 Final Fantasy 7 Remake
On the other hand, if players are in search of a game with heavier real-time action combat, then Final Fantasy 7 Remake is the game to play after Final Fantasy 16. The remake of the classic and fan-favorite title has an intriguing mix of action and turn-based elements that may be the best way of easing players into the classic combat system. The game even features a stagger bar and the practical use of Summons during fights, so FF16 players should feel at home while controlling Cloud and his crew.
Final Fantasy 7 Remake also has up-to-date graphics and full voice acting to help with immersion. The story and its setting are quite different from those of FF16, but it comes to show how diverse Final Fantasy titles can be. The original game on which the remake was based was tailor-made for Western audiences, and it was the game that made the franchise popular outside of Japan. If players put their hands on FF16, it is due to Final Fantasy 7. Its remake is worth playing as it is the closest to Final Fantasy 16’s current graphic and gameplay standards.
2 Final Fantasy 9
Even though Final Fantasy 7 is held as the most popular in the series, Final Fantasy 9 is, disputably, the best single-player Final Fantasy game in the franchise, and a must-play title for those who complete FF16 and are looking for new experiences. The game is very different from Final Fantasy 16 in nearly aspect, but that is its strongest selling point. This is one of the best games in the series, and the fact that it is so different from FF16 shows how much range the series has. The main similarity between Final Fantasy 9 and FF16 is how the Eidolons function, though within a turn-based system.
Final Fantasy 9 is a heartfelt story with many different layers. The game covers a well-humored group that goes through some existential crises and ultimately shows how the concepts of good and bad are much deeper than what they show on the outside. This type of depth and how the world is slowly built and fleshed out is one of FF16’s strengths, and also one of Final Fantasy 9’s main elements.
1 Final Fantasy 14
The best possible Final Fantasy game to play after FF16, however, is the critically acclaimed MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV. The title has many similarities with Final Fantasy 16. In the MMO’s world of Eorzea, Eikons are plagues that devastate the land, and there are warring nations because of their mere existence. In addition to that, the game has slow-paced and heavily-loaded storytelling, much like FF16’s. The game’s world and intricacies are gradually unveiled as players understand the secrets behind it. This is no coincidence, however, as a great portion of the MMO’s development team actually worked on Final Fantasy 16.
FFXIV’s game director, Naoki Yoshida (also known as Yoshi-P), was Final Fantasy 16’s producer, so the tone, setting, and story all carry the team’s signature style. The gameplay is that of an MMORPG, but it is real-time action, so players who liked FF16 may fit in well with Final Fantasy 14. FF16’s strongest pillar, the emotional depth through well-built characters, is shared with FFXIV.
Those who appreciated the gut-wrenching moments with heartfelt moments and unavoidable crying will certainly love Final Fantasy 14, especially once they reach Shadowbringers and Endwalker. While Final Fantasy 14 is the best game in the series to play after FF16, there is no shortage of titles to delve into in case players do not appreciate MMORPGs. Final Fantasy is a solid franchise and even bad FF games are still great RPGs overall.
