Best Mobile Games Like Final Fantasy

Since the release of the first Final Fantasy in 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.

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By  Sophie Adekola

Final Fantasy games 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 of Final Fantasy remains as strong as ever. While classic Final Fantasy games 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 a Final Fantasy-like adventure.

10 Fire Emblem Heroes

Uniting Heroes To Combat Evil

Fire Emblem games are considered to be strategically challenging as they involve tactical thinking to pass through difficult situations. However, Fire Emblem Heroes is a simplistic take on the series that focuses on entertaining the players with something light to play.

The mobile spinoff is a good game in the gacha genre with interesting mechanics and entertaining gameplay that balances between fun and challenging.

Brings characters from different Fire Emblem titles 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 Heroes is 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.

9 Epic Battle Fantasy 5

Like The Name Suggests — An Epic Battle Fantasy

Final Fantasy not only inspired a multitude of gaming companies, but the games also appealed to individuals who wanted to create something of their own after experiencing Final Fantasy. Epic Battle Fantasy 5 is a creation of a single mind to create an over-the-top turn-based adventure RPG.

With plenty of video gaming references, charming characters, and tons of treasures to find, Epic Battle Fantasy 5 is a fun 30 hour+ adventure as players spend their time exploring dungeons, fighting enemies, and testing something new. People who have played the older Final Fantasy games will find themselves back at home for an old school JRPG adventure that will keep them entertained for its entirety.

8 The Last Remnant Remastered

An Acquired Taste

It is easier to find something similar when looking for it near the original thing, so the easiest way to find out something like Final Fantasy is to look for games developed or published by Square Enix. The Last Remnant is 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 Remnant port for the mobile is a 3D TRPG with beautiful graphics that surpass the looks of a traditional 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 Remnant feels flat in many ways. However, if one is willing to spend time and energy on the game, The Last Remnant could be worth checking out when pursuing titles like Final Fantasy on a smartphone.

7 Sword Of Elpisia

Become A Sword To Rescue Your Friends

The developers of Sword of Elpisia, Kemco, specialize in JRPGs with immersive narratives and quality gameplay, and they rightfully did so with the game. It is a spin-off of Exe Create’s Alphadia series, 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 Elpisia unfolds 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 Elpisia distinguishes 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 like Final 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 party in battle, keeps the gameplay dynamic and entertaining, making it a worthwhile experience for players.

6 Sword Of Convallaria

For This World Of Peace

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 Convallaria is a turn-based, tile-based strategy game that is inspired by Final 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 Convallaria features 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 like Final Fantasy Tactics, Sword of Convallaria might 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 Peace pairs the retro aesthetic with the modern-day gameplay mechanics to deliver a nostalgic yet fresh experience.

5 Another Eden

A Time Traveling Adventure

Shining differently from the other gacha in modern times, Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space redefines how mobile games should be made. Rather than implementing greedy pay to win systems and gatekeeping the best things behind a paywall, Another Eden takes a different approach as it focuses on keeping the purity of JRPGs intact in modern times.

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Another Eden takes 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 Eden is a nostalgic surprise for players looking for a Final Fantasy type of game on a mobile phone, and with plenty of content to cover, players will not find themselves uninstalling the game anytime soon.

4 Black Desert Mobile

Experience A Real MMORPG On A Mobile

MMORPGs open a new world for the RPG fans, and Final Fantasy 11 did 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 Online is 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 in Black 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 Mobile functions as a classic MMORPG, perfect for those seeking a visually striking MMO experience on mobile.

3 Octopath Traveler: Champions Of The Continent

A New Story Unfolds In The World Of Orsterra

Serving as a prequel to the original Octopath Traveler, Champions of the Continent tells 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, CoTC emphasizes 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 experience Octopath Traveler on 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 Continent is a great game with fair and transparent monetization schemes, making it a great recommendation for players looking for something like a Final Fantasy game on the go.

2 Dragon Quest Series

A Grand Adventure, Unfolding Over Generations

Saying Dragon Quest is like a Final Fantasy game would be a bit heretical since the former is what inspired Final Fantasy to be what it is today, but when looking for games ‘like’ Final Fantasy on mobile phones, there could not be a better answer than the Dragon Quest series.

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By  Carley Garcia

With the technology improving to the point that video games can be played on mobile phones, the Dragon Quest series makes a spectacular entry in the mobile gaming market, and players can play from Dragon Quest I to VIII at 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, the Dragon Quest games are worth the time.

1 Chrono Trigger

A Timeless RPG

Another classic on the list, Chrono Trigger, is a 1995 role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix. When looking for a video game like Final Fantasy, it is easier to look for a game created by the same company in the same genre. Chrono Trigger is a culmination of the best minds of the video gaming industry. Created by the ‘Dream Team’ creators of Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and Dragon 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 Trigger becomes available for players who want to experience a timeless JRPG classic wherever they happen to be.

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