The following contains spoilers for Final Fantasy 5, Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13, Final Fantasy Type-0, and Final Fantasy Adventure.
There aren't many RPGs that lean on callbacks as much as the Final Fantasy series does. Every game has its fair share of shared motifs, like Cids, Chocobos, Moogles, and more. Likewise, the Final Fantasy games are no strangers to re-inventing themselves between installments, which means these callbacks evolve with every new entry as well.
Chocobos have shared the spotlight with Moogles as Final Fantasy's mascots for years, with the flying yellow bird going on to become an iconic video game steed, and they also predate the Moogle's first appearance. Ever since Final Fantasy 2 made them an incredibly fast mode of transport, anything falling under the Final Fantasy IP banner would be remiss to leave them out. Out of all the times players saw the Chocobo in their Final Fantasy adventures, some were more useful and memorable than others, meaning it's worth taking the time to rank all the different appearances of Chocobos.
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S-Tier: The Best Chocobo Buddies
- The Chocobo spin-off series
- Final Fantasy 14
- Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
- Final Fantasy 7
- Final Fantasy 9
- Final Fantasy 5
- Final Fantasy Tactics: Grimoire of the Rift
Some of its titles may be more fondly remembered than others, but the Chocobo series is the originator of the iconic 2D design that many players recognize in plushies and other merch. This design is even purposefully represented in Final Fantasy 14 through Alpha, a Chocobo encountered in Stormblood raids. The cuter and smaller version is one of the most common designs that's adorable and memorable, helping the side games earn their place at the top with ease.
Final Fantasy 14 may feature tons of different mounts across its main story, expansions, and side content, but players get to keep a Chocobo for themselves that can join them in battle. Having a personally named Chocobo to train that's all their own is a dream for die-hard fans of these iconic birds. This is alongside Gold Saucer Chocobo racing, breeding, and the wide variety of Chocobo minions and mounts players can get. Fans can even dress their character up in a Chocobo suit if they so desire.
The Chocobo has been a mode of transport for players since its inception into the franchise, but Final Fantasy 7 and FF7 Rebirth both broke expectations for what players could expect out of the creatures.
FF7 introduced different colors of Chocobo, differing abilities, racing in general, and breeding. Every following mainline game made sure to include plenty of things to make the steeds much more than a mode of transport. Players would typically not have a use for Chocobos after airships were unlocked in Final Fantasy 2 through 6, but Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth sits as a pinnacle game for Chocobo fans, as the split open-world-like approach makes the birds a fast, reliable mode of transport throughout the game. This isn't even mentioning the abundance of cute Chocobo chicks.
After Final Fantasy 7 changed expectations for the rideable birds, Final Fantasy 9 introduced what's arguably the most iconic party member Chocobo: Choco. Choco changed color, could traverse any terrain, didn't leave after being ridden, and was tied to so many side missions, where spending time with him was incredibly worth it. Boko from Final Fantasy 5 is just as iconic for being the first ever party member Chocobo. He may leave the party after a certain point, but reuniting with him is incredibly memorable as players find that he's found love and is starting a family.
The Chocobo Knight found in Final Fantasy Tactics: Grimoire of the Rift is a unique job for Moogles only that allows them to ride weakened wild Chocobos into battle. While riding a Chocobo isn't entirely new, what makes Grimoire's representation interesting is the sheer variety of Chocobos that it offers. Players can encounter yellow, green, brown, red, white, and black Chocobos, each with a different ability. Planning to use these special abilities to their advantage is a great way to enhance Tactics' gameplay with some Chocobo flair that fans are sure to love.
A-Tier: Chocobo to Share Fond Memories With
- Final Fantasy 11
- Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13
- Final Fantasy 15
- Final Fantasy 8
- Final Fantasy 10, 10-2
- Final Fantasy Type-0
- Final Fantasy 6
Final Fantasy 14 borrows tons of systems from Final Fantasy 11, and the general idea of mountable Chocobos in a Final Fantasy MMO is one of them. While it may not allow players to fight with their Chocobo, they can still own one that can breed, unlike FF14's Grand Company Chocobos. The breeding system in Final Fantasy 11 is very intricate, influencing the mounts' speed. Players have made it their goal to raise Chocobo chicks to be just as fast as the ones they can rent, saving in-game money when they succeed.
Lightning saves a special Chocobo called the Angel of Valhalla in Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13 that fights alongside her after. However, there's more to this white-and-green bird than meets the eye. Later in the game, Lightning learns that the Angel of Valhalla is Final Fantasy's Odin in a different form, marking the first time one of the iconic summons from Final Fantasy has ever been a Chocobo.
Just as the Chocobo theme is iconic to many players, so is Prompto's rendition of it. Final Fantasy 15 gives Noctis and the party rental Chocobos to ride on, customize, race, and more. With Chocobo Carnival, Final Fantasy 15 is almost a perfect title for fans of the birds, except they only offer off-road exploration to the Regalia's speed. As a result, players might spend more time in the car than with their feathered friends.
Final Fantasy 8 doesn't feature a breeding system or racing, but players can solve puzzles to find Chocobo to ride in designated forests. The original PC version of Final Fantasy 8 even included Chocobo World, a PocketStation mini-game that was previously Japan-exclusive.
On a similar level, Final Fantasy 10 and 10-2 might not raise the bar too much with players' favorite birds, but there are plenty of side quests and minigames for players to enjoy (or loathe) that involve riding a Chocobo.
Type-0 offers a wide variety of breeds, from the tank War Chocobos to the incredibly fast Supersonic Chocobos. Unfortunately for fans of the steeds, they can die in battle, and one even dies with its master as part of Final Fantasy Type-0's story.
Players can properly ride a Chocobo across the map, rather than be represented by the bird's sprite, in Final Fantasy 6. These steeds aren't commonly used once players get the airship, though.
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B-Tier: Noteworthy Bird Steeds
- Final Fantasy 12
- Final Fantasy 16
- Final Fantasy Explorers
- Final Fantasy 13, 13-2
- Final Fantasy 2, 3, 4
- Final Fantasy Adventure
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
- Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
The adventure in Final Fantasy's Ivalice features one of the more unsettling Chocobo designs than the rest. Final Fantasy 12 may offer an interesting sprint mechanic, but the design and time limit when riding make their inclusion a bit less impressive than the rest.
Alongside Torgal, Clive reunites with his childhood Chocobo, Ambrosia, in one of Final Fantasy 16's side quests. She has a noble heart, spending time without her master protecting wild Chocobos from poachers. She and the other mounts can be customized, but outside the side quest where she's found again, Ambrosia and her flock only serve as a means of transport otherwise.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles went two games without featuring Chocobo at all. Then, when The Crystal Bearers was released, players could finally ride a Chocobo of their own. While this was exciting for loyal fans of the spin-off, the title doesn't do anything too different or memorable. Still, it might be better to have some Chocobos to ride than none at all.
Final Fantasy Explorers for the 3DS allows players to recruit monsters to their party, including a Chocobo. This allows players to team up with a yellow bird in their de facto party to take down any monsters in their way.
Following the standards, Final Fantasy 13 and 13-2 have Chocobos, but for the most part, they're simplistic mounts that flee when enemies get too close. 13-2 adds racing, but the dynamics fall short compared to other titles' offerings. FF13 games like Lightning Returns almost exclusively highlight the Cocoon Chocobos, who have side feather tendrils on the sides of their faces. While it isn't as strange as FF12's design, the lack of reappearances for the Cocoon Chocobo (or any other major variants since) in other titles says volumes about how they were received.
Final Fantasy Adventure features another mount Chocobo, but when it gets injured during the story, it returns as "Chocobot" with a metal leg and other memorable features.
The standards for Chocobo riding were set by the bird's first appearance in Final Fantasy 2. Final Fantasy 3 and 4 used Chocobos just as the previous titles did, making them best placed together as they may have defined what came after, but certainly don't do as much as newer titles do with the yellow steeds now.
It may be one of the most fondly remembered spin-offs, but the Final Fantasy Tactics series doesn't do too much with Chocobo until Grimoire of the Rift. Players can recruit Chocobo in the first game if they find them on the map while getting help with Boco in their party, and Tactics Advance has the judges and Chocobo Rush, but nothing substantial other than that.
C-Tier: Helpful but Unrideable Chocobo Companions
There may be an unspoken rule that a Final Fantasy game has to have Chocobos in it somehow, but not every title allows players to ride the birds themselves. There are some titles where players can still own a Chocobo, but as a summon. Others, like the recently shut down War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, included the critter as cameos and a central part of the EXP system. Players can find a list of these games below.
- Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings
- Crystal Defenders
- Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 (Reunion)
- Final Fantasy Dimensions 2
- Dissidia Final Fantasy: Opera Omnia
- Theatrhythm Final Fantasy & Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call
- War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
- Final Fantasy 1 (Rereleases have added Chocobo statues and summons.)
- Final Fantasy 4: Interlude & After Years
D-Tier: No Friendly Birds
Sometimes the Chocobo representation doesn't leave players with much to appreciate. This tier is dedicated to games that either turn the iconic bird into just an item or, in Dirge of Cerberus' case, just a passing mention. These titles are perfectly enjoyable, but fans shouldn't expect to ride or befriend any Chocobos during their adventure.
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
- Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
- Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
- Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions
Honorable Mentions: Friends Lost Along the Way
All Chocobos, cameos, items, or companions on the journey are important to Final Fantasy. That's why only inaccessible games are at the bottom of the list as a reminder that they were still enjoyable when they were around. These titles are mobile games that have had their service discontinued, but still made a point to include the lovable birds all the same.
- Pictlogica Final Fantasy
- Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade
- Final Fantasy Artniks and Artniks Dive
- Final Fantasy All The Bravest
- Final Fantasy World Wide Words
- Mobius Final Fantasy
Final Fantasy 16
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 91%
- Released
- June 22, 2023
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Engine
- Proprietary Engine
- Franchise
- Final Fantasy
