Summary
- Aerith's Ghost appears in the church post-death, haunting players who notice this eerie secret.
- Nyx and Regis' corpses in FF15 throne room create a chilling pre-final boss scene for emotional impact.
- Anima's backstory in FF10 reveals a dark origin linked to Seymour, adding depth to the iconic Aeon.
Final Fantasy is one of the greatest video game franchises of all time, with the legacy of this series drawing many new and old fans to it time and time again. The modern run of this series has been somewhat rocky, but Final Fantasy has always found a way to stay relevant and wow players with the love that is poured into their mainline releases.
As one would expect, a series full of lengthy RPGs has some secrets that players can uncover. Some of these can be pretty scary and will easily shock players who have no idea what to expect.
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8 Aerith's Ghost (FF7)
Eerie Glimpses Of A Fallen Comrade
Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- January 31, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Aerith's death is one of the most traumatic moments in gaming history, with one of Cloud's closest friends biting the dust after Sephiroth impales her. Her presence is sorely missed in the game from then on, and compels the player to take out Sephiroth before he inflicts this pain and sadness on the whole world.
If players return to Midgar after Aerith's death, they can enter the church to see her tending to the flowers for a split second before she disappears. It's a fleeting, optional secret that many fans miss, and can send shivers down their spines as they see their favorite party member in her element in what feels like a surreal moment.
7 Nyx And Regis' Corpses (FF15)
Looking Up In The Throne Room Makes For A Horrifying Experience
Final Fantasy 15
- Released
- November 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Language, Mild Blood, Partial Nudity, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
The final battle of Final Fantasy 15 makes for one of the most emotional moments in the series. After bidding farewell to his friends one final time, Noctis enters the throne room alone to fight Ardyn. Before triggering the cutscene for the final boss, players can look up to see two haunting corpses staring back at them. One of them is Nyx Ulric from the Kingsglaive movie, and the other is Noctis' father himself, King Regis.
6 Emerald Weapon's Cameo (Crisis Core: FF7 Reunion)
The Massive Shoulders Of This Weapon Are Terrifying To Look At
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion
- Released
- December 13, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen due to Blood, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
The Emerald Weapon is one of the most iconic superbosses in Final Fantasy history. Many fans still remember the first time they used the submarine and explored the deep seas, only to see this sinister foe moving around in the distance.
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An Easter egg depicting a creature that strongly resembles the Emerald Weapon can be seen in Banora Underground, the final dungeon in Crisis Core. The Weapon is coated in crystal and immobile, making it a sinister figure for players who recognize what this gigantic creature actually is.
5 Anima's Backstory (FF10)
Recontextualizes The Story Of This Iconic Aeon
Final Fantasy 10
- Released
- December 17, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Anima single-handedly turns Final Fantasy 10's roster of Aeons into something special. Having to fight her along with Seymour makes for a pulse-pounding boss fight, but what will truly send chills down a player's spine is when they uncover Anima's origins.
It turns out that Anima is the manifestation of Seymour's mother, who was slated to become the sacrifice for Seymour's journey to take on Sin. However, Seymour couldn't bear the thought of sacrificing her mother and locked her fayth in a temple, which is why Anima herself looks chained up and trapped, as if she's unable to escape her bindings.
4 Vincent And Lucrecia's Tragic Love Story (FF7)
Hojo Is Cemented As A Monster For Good
Hojo is one of the most despicable characters in Final Fantasy 7, and additional content for this game hammers home just how evil he is. If players manage to recruit Vincent as an optional character, they can embark on a journey to get his Ultimate Weapon.
During this quest, players will uncover the story of Vincent before his transformation into an infernal being, detailing a relationship with Lucrecia. However, Hojo convinced Lucrecia to partake in his twisted experiments, leading to her death and Sephiroth's birth in a flashback that makes for a painful watch.
3 Running Into Deathgaze (FF6)
Can Be An Unpleasant Surprise, Especially At Lower Levels
Final Fantasy 6
- Released
- October 11, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T For Teen Due To Fantasy Violence, Partial Nudity
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Early on in the World of Ruin, every encounter can feel like a test of the player's skills as they're forced to deal with powerful enemies using just a few underleveled characters. This feeling is multiplied tenfold if players have just unlocked the Blackjack, only to randomly get into an encounter while flying the airship.
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Deathgaze is a powerful boss that comes out of nowhere and can be extremely challenging at lower levels. Unless players are checking out the console versions of Final Fantasy 6 Pixel Remaster, his position will never be known to players, and will constantly shock them as they just try to bring the gang back together.
2 Stumbling Onto Hades (FF9)
A Superboss Encounter That Can Obliterate Players
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Violence, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Memoria is the final dungeon of Final Fantasy 9, and houses some secrets fans would love to uncover. However, one particular area behind the birth room features an encounter that players can trigger if they stick around and irritate a powerful foe.
The encounter with Hades is no joke, with this superboss wiping the floor with unprepared players. If players don't know what to expect, then seeing Hades' heinous design as he obliterates the party will give them enough of a warning to never disturb him again until they're up for the challenge.
1 Accidentally Causing Cid's Death (FF6)
Leads To One Of The Most Harrowing Moments In The Game
While this may not be a secret per se, a lot of fans still miss out on Cid's death since, they know that feeding him the healthier fish will ensure his survival. In the eyes of many players, the story becomes more powerful after his demise, since it breaks Celes' hopes and compels her to jump off a cliff in a harrowing moment.
Thankfully, she washes up on shore and finds Locke's headband, giving her the motivation she needs to bring the band back together and bring joy back to this world. As scary as Cid's death and Celes' subsequent actions may be, this is precisely why fans root for her and feel a pressing need to reunite the heroes once they get to leave this deserted island.
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