Summary
- Final Fantasy's collaboration with Magic: The Gathering highlights FF6 and FF10 in Commander decks.
- FF6's emotional resonance and FF10's unique gameplay make them worthy of modern overhauls.
- The MTG crossover could end up influencing Square to officially consider remakes of both titles.
Final Fantasy has brought fans to a host of incredible and memorable worlds throughout its history. With a staggering sixteen main entries and numerous spin-off titles, Final Fantasy's footprint on gaming and pop culture at large is undeniable. The franchise continues to go strong, and its upcoming crossover with Magic: The Gathering for the CCG's latest Universes Beyond set adds another notch in FF's belt as it expands into new territory.
As with Magic: The Gathering's previous collaborations with gaming IPs like Fallout, this expansion contains dedicated Commander decks based on Final Fantasy, covering iconic entries that the designers chose to represent the series' diversity and popularity. And of some of those picked, two stand out as being ones that remain fan-favorites and have often been mentioned in discussions about potential remakes. Now, with their inclusion in MTG, this provides further impetus for developer Square Enix to consider giving them both the remake treatment.
MTG's Final Fantasy set releases on June 13, 2025.
Why Now is the Perfect Time to Play Four Specific Final Fantasy Games
Magic: The Gathering’s upcoming Universes Beyond crossover with Final Fantasy gives four entries some extra attention, and fans should follow suit.
Final Fantasy's Magic: The Gathering Collab Makes a Good Case for Remakes of FF6, FF10
Of the four games that creators singled out for Commander decks in the expansion:
- Final Fantasy 6
- Final Fantasy 7
- Final Fantasy 10
- Final Fantasy 14
Final Fantasy 7 is already into its second game of a planned remake trilogy that began in 2020, and the third is predicted to possibly be released by 2027. Meanwhile, Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn continues to receive updates nearly 15 years and counting since the franchise's MMO experience reinvented itself and went on to become highly successful. However, the other two have consistently cropped up as contenders deserving of remakes, and being chosen for MTG adds even more weight to this train of thought.
A Final Fantasy 6 Remake Has Long Been on the Wishlist
Final Fantasy 6 consistently tops lists of most influential games within and beyond the series. It marked both the end and beginning of a new era for Square, transitioning away from the pixel style of the SNES period ahead of FF7's revolutionary impact. While it's been acknowledged that a potential FF6 remake would be a lofty endeavor as it is also one of the most complex entries, its emotional resonance and longevity in the gaming zeitgeist over 30 years has given it a timeless appeal. With Terra starring as the commander in FF6's deck, it would be most welcome to see the game given a modern overhaul, even if it's more limited relative to the FF7 remakes.
Final Fantasy 10 is Another Strong Candidate for a Remake
Final Fantasy 10 had some notable new elements, featuring completely voiced dialogue (a first for the series) as well as switching more fully to 3-D graphics. It also evolved FF's combat design from the previous Active Time Battle structure to "Conditional Turn-Based," which offered greater flexibility and party management, along with its take on Limit Breaks in the Overdrive system. And though it did receive an HD remastered version in 2013 that included FF10-2 and all previous additional content, leaks suggest an FF10 remake isn't on the table at present.
But similar to FF6, Final Fantasy 10's tale of Yuna, Tidus, and their friends' efforts in Spira against the existential threat of Sin encompasses meaningful themes of personal sacrifice and growth, remaining a high point in the series. Tidas serves as commander for MTG's take, but Yuna's role is equally important. And while a hypothetical remake may not need to alter too much from the original comparatively, revisiting FF10's characters and story with the latest polish and production values would also be fantastic.
Rumors of an FF9 remake have persisted even though Square has not commented on one.
Given that Final Fantasy's latest foray into another medium puts a focus on the sixth and tenth titles, it provides stronger reasons for Square to at least consider giving them both the remake treatment sometime down the line. And depending on the reception the crossover gets, it may just very well give the studio the push to officially go forward with this.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 92 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- February 29, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
WHERE TO PLAY
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Genre(s)
- RPG
