Summary
Castles are a staple in Western fantasy fiction, and since theFinal Fantasyseries has traditionally drawn cues from sword-and-sorcery imagery and storytelling, including tales of evil wizards and warring kingdoms, it should come as no surprise that the series has its fair share of epic castles. There is simply a trove of beautiful, fortified, and iconic builds to dive through inFinal Fantasy’s history, whether built out of pixels or prerenders.
Sadly, castles have somewhat fallen out of favor in recent entries (for example, the Lucis Caelum bloodline makes their home in a skyscraper with a castle-like interior). This trend started withFinal Fantasy 7, which saw the series move away from being traditional fantasy RPGs and more towardscience fantasy RPGs. However, they have returned in the latest game,Final Fantasy 16, albeit in a more realistic and grounded fashion. Like castles themselves, some of the best were built way in the past.
Even fans who never got very far in this early RPG from 1987 will likely recognizeFinal Fantasy’s Castle Cornelia. This castle may not be the most visually impressive, striking, or useful for those within, but Cornelia is certainly one of the most iconic inFinal Fantasyand in gaming as well. The artistry involved, considering thelimited graphical capabilities of the time, is nothing to shirk at, from its winding corridors to the black-gold throne room.
In many incarnations besides the originalFinal Fantasy, the castle’s highest towers reach high into the sky from afar, its bulk reflected in serene waters surrounded by dew-glazed green fields.Stranger of Paradise, which takes place inthe world ofFinal Fantasy, depicts Cornelia as though the marble of its walls and floors were light condensed into solid form, its throne room a hardened fountain of woven glass and steel.
Besides being ruled over by Edgar, one of the finest male players of theFinal Fantasyseries, the castle stands out for combining the best of two worlds. From the desert on which Figaro Castle is situated, it looks as though there is nothing more to this sturdy structure than its ornate design. However, upon close inspection, visitors may notice that its turrets are topped with industrial fans, and instead of a dungeon, its lowest portion is filled with machinery.
All the cogs and fans aren’t just for show. Thissteampunk work of wonderhouses some of the most advanced technology inFinal Fantasy 6’s world. Best of all, and quite useful to a structure created primarily to protect its inhabitants, Figaro Castle has the ability to dig down underground and travel under an entire mountain range to the Kohlingen region at a moment’s notice, making it effective even against explosives or total enemy encirclement.
This castle is situated on the coast, and in someFinal Fantasy 4concept art, it stands on an island apart from the mainland, connected by a majestic bridge. Besides being an example of exquisite classical beauty, Baron Castle boasts stunning views from its inner chambers. The window from Cecil’s room provides a vantage from which theiconic kingdom of Baroncan be seen, lit by lamplight at night and watched over by the twin celestial bodies of the sky above.
Like all good fantasy castles, Baron Castle matches its outer grandeur with a suite of utilities for its ruler and those from the surrounding kingdom. It houses a library and research space for black and white mages, a dingy dungeon, secret passageways, sky-snagging towers, and the ghost of its former occupants.
As a love letter to the earlierFinal Fantasygames,Final Fantasy 9doubles down on classic fantasy tropes and, as such, hosts some of the most extraordinary fortified feats of masonry marvels (partly thanks to its use of its sublime prerendered maps). From the mind-bending architecture of Ipsin’s Castle to the cozy finery of Regent Cid Fabool the 9th’s grand home, Lindblum, the bar for design quality is high. However, Alexandria Castle stands above them for its fairytale aesthetics, high spires, and detailed architecture.
A titanic crystalline sword rises from its center, shining skyward as if toward prosperity. The structure is built upon eras of secrets, including an expansive deep dungeon, a labyrinthian catacomb, and a forgotten station of an ancient network of tunnels, Gargan Roo, built from the World Tree that connects the continents. Most impressively of all, Alexandria is protected by one of thelargest summons inFinal Fantasy, Alexander, a being so powerful inFinal Fantasy 9that he was not made available to the players (as being able to elicit the help of a city-dwarfing entity might have a little overpowered).
Mystery practically drips from its gothic walls and furnishings, and the power of its mistress seeps into every room, courtyard, and passageway. This castle, which only appears during the final act ofFinal Fantasy 8, is chained to the planet by gargantuan chains. Its staircases, rails, and walls appear eerily twisted in each of itsbeautifully prerendered areas. Ultimecia Castle stands in contrast to the bright, futuristic setting of the rest of the game, making it a fitting final stage for the time-displaced SeeD members in their confrontation against sorceress Ultimecia.
The soft yellow light of its million candles mingles with the palpable must of its forgotten past, creating an unforgettable atmosphere rich with old magic. Cobwebs and machine pullies sit silently in Ultimecia Castle’s dark depths. A clock tower rises into the night sky alongside a grand cathedral dedicated to an unknown god. The ghosts of the past and future share their domain with experimental abominations drawn from every evil corner of the world. This mix of old and new is no accident. Every anachronistic corner whispers of time compression, a looming hint of the reality-bending sorcery that governs the place.
