Summary
Over its course, Square Enix’s belovedFinal Fantasyfranchise has seen players journey across an impressive range of worlds, each distinct in its own ways, but always containing many ofFF’s recognizable hallmarks. Though its earliest entries were steeped in well-worn medieval flavor, asFinal Fantasyevolved, it incorporated other elements outside these, as seen inFF7’s dystopian steampunk design orFinal Fantasy 8’s heavily sci-fi and post-apocalyptic elements.
Among its relatively more recent diversions from classic genre norms, in 2016,Final Fantasy 15featured a modern bentto its world and narrative, fused with some of the familiar sword and sorcery inclusions. Following that, last year’sFinal Fantasy 16then returned to a traditional-feeling world via its medieval Europe-influenced land of Valisthea. Given this turn between titles, and with little doubt thatFinal Fantasy 17will eventually be forthcoming, Square Enix would seem to find itself at a crossroads when it comes to deciding the next mainline entry’s setting. The developer thus will have an important choice to make forFF17’s vision in this area.
Fans have been awaitingFinal Fantasy 16on PC, with the version currently set to arrive on Jul 19, 2025.
Final Fantasy 17 Has a Tough Choice in Deciding its Style and Setting Following FF15 and FF16
Final Fantasy 15 and FF16 Marked Two Opposite but Equally Engaging Settings
The latest two main installments make for an interesting juxtaposition when comparing their settings.Final Fantasy 15’s Eosresembles present-day Earth in many ways with the more familiar and semi-futuristic technologies contained in it. One of its notable components in this regard is the fact that protagonist andprince Noctis Caelum, along with his comrades, travel across Eos' nations in style, using the sleek Regalia convertible, which brings to mind real-life luxury cars. This andFF15’s other contemporary touches merged to create one of its most memorable settings, and one that set itself apart from many others via a creative mix of modernity and magic.
Conversely,Final Fantasy 16returned to a standard high fantasy setting, and added a layer of gritty maturity, invoking elements from similar works likeGame of Thronesthroughout portions of its narrative and presentation. This switch between styles was effective, offering interesting and well-realized worlds from both sides of the design table, serving to distinguish the characters and stories. Given that they represent two of the bigger possible visions Square Enix could take inFF17, it poses the question of which, if either, might be chosen again, or if fans may see something else entirely.
Wherever Final Fantasy 17’s Setting Goes, it Needs to Stand Out
The series' most recent release,Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, returned players to an updated version of Gaia, which contained a large dose of steampunk trappings along with more mystical aspects. Between it,FF15, andFF16, the three games have thus covered most of the majorground thatFinal Fantasy17could featurein terms of likely or potential settings based on previous patterns. This naturally raises the issue of how the studio will be approaching the next numbered title’s setting, if it seeks to shake up the formula from the preceding games.
There are some avenuesFinal Fantasy 17could look to, however, that haven’t been explored in a while. Though it is sometimes thought an outlier,Final Fantasy 8experimentedby embracing a harder science-fiction setting. Perhaps it will look to recapture a similar world after the above settings. Alternatively, the next title could harken further back to something likeFF6’s rendition of a world fueled by equal parts magic and technology, resulting in a title that pulls from the past while distinguishing itself in other ways from its predecessors. Either way, Square Enix has to consider the balancing act of envisioning a setting forFF17that feels different enough, or is able to split the difference between prior ones in an interesting manner.
Final Fantasy 16
WHERE TO PLAY
An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
