The year 2020 saw the release ofFinal Fantasy 7 Remake, with a follow-up PS5 exclusive DLC released in 2021.Final Fantasy 16exploded onto the scene in 2023, full of cinematic flair and jaw-dropping spectacle.
Still, being the latest entry in the largely unconnected series invites comparisons to every Final Fantasy game - especially its immediate predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake. They couldn’t be more different, yet the question of which game is better will hang over your head until it is answered - or at least discussed in detail.
Updated July 13, 2025 by Quinton O’Connor:Final Fantasy 16’s barely in the rearview mirror, and it’s got DLC now, with more on the way. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is just ahead, and it’s looking grand. Seemed like now’s as good a time as any to revisit this list with some extra insight!
Combat - Final Fantasy 7 Remake (Party Members Rule)
Really, this comes down to preference. Both games offer action-oriented battle systems but package them in different ways. FF7 Remake gives you control of your party members, creating a fast-paced environment where you switch characters constantly to inflict the most damage possible. You don’t have to play it like that; if you choose to, you can set the characters to auto-attack while you manage abilities in a more classic, turn-based style.
Final Fantasy 16, meanwhile, is all speed and style, with only one major drawback: the combat doesn’t truly begin to shine until a few hours in. Before you get your second Eikon power, you’re just button-mashing. But, after that? It’s off to the races. Every landed hit, every successful dodge, can make you feel untouchable and powerful.
We still prefer FF7 Remake here, however, as it’s more rooted in that ‘Final Fantasy feeling’ - and the inclusion of fully fledged party members beyond just Cloud seriously helps keep things fresh.
Story - Final Fantasy 7 Remake (It’s Close)
Even if it weren’t treading on familiar ground, Final Fantasy 7 Remake would still be number one in the story department, albeit by a hair. And sure, they’ve had decades to update the original game’s plot, and yeah, you are playing with preconceived notions of what ‘should’ happen, but FF7 Remake ultimately has more to say than Final Fantasy 16.
Final Fantasy 16’s story wrestles with heavy topics, and there’s no denying it has some incredible storytelling moments. Still, it doesn’t feel as thoughtful. It has some earth-shaking highs but often feels stuck in a rut, whether due to weaker characterization, rushed plot points, or a less fleshed-out world.
Credit where credit is due, and especially because we know some readers will be left shaking their heads if we don’t mention it - the ‘ghosts’ stuff in Remake can be pretty underwhelming, to say the least. We’ll see how that all pans out going forward…
Exploration - Final Fantasy 16 (Neither’s Great At It)
The thing is, FF7 Remake doesn’t actually let you explore – not the way FF16 does, anyway. FF7 Remake is divided into chapters, which shuffle you from place to place in Midgar’s greenish, glowing streets. These areas often offer some places to visit that are off the beaten path but are generally linear. They’re great to look at, and the game isn’t really designed for exploration - fair. But still.
FF16 starts linear, but gradually opens up as you progress through the game. Each area offers fast-travel points, and while the spaces themselves are relatively streamlined and straightforward, you may still explore. Sure, Clive can’t go in the water for whatever reason, but he can run into a spooky swamp or big, open field in search of beasties to fight. It’s a gorgeously rendered world, so you might as well see it.
That said, Final Fantasy 16’s scenic regions offer startlingly little todo- in this sense, the non-competing Final Fantasy 15, the most recent main gamebeforethese two, has them both beat.
We’re giving the nod to FF16 pretty much by proxy here, but don’t play either game for its exploration.
Characters - Final Fantasy 7 Remake (Both Casts Are Spiffy)
This is a little unfair, considering how long we’ve known Cloud and company - we’ve had decades since the release of the original FF7, and those characters only got more iconic and fleshed out over the years. Clive, Jill and Cid haven’t had the chance to embed themselves into our hearts in the same way. Yet, it still must be said: even if we removed the FF7 cast’s long history, they’d still be better, more fleshed-out characters.
Not to say that the cast of FF16 is bad in any way, mind. Clive himself is a fantastic protagonist, and his banter with Cid is entertaining, but they just don’t hold a candle to FF7 Remake. Almost every interaction Cloud has is dripping with charm and warmth – no matter who he’s paired with for the moment, it is always fun. You get a real sense of not only Cloud and the party but of side characters like Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge – characters who are given the time and room to evolve with you.
Side Content - Final Fantasy 7 Remake (…Pretty Easily)
The side content of FF16 is a little hit or miss. When it’s good - like for the hunts or for late-game quests that feel meaningful - it’s really, really good. But, often, it’s a bit of a letdown. When the side content doesn’t ultimately become an excuse to throw you into a new battle, it’s a basic fetch quest that feels more like busywork than anything else.
Compare this to FF7 Remake, which gives you many options for side content. There are still fetch quests, yeah, but everything feels a little better on average. Your engagement with the side content can alter the game in engaging, thoughtful, or fun ways. What you choose to do impacts your relationships; it creates moments that aren’t universally shared in the player base. Plus, let’s face it - doing pull-ups as Tifa in a gym is fun as hell.
Boss Battles - Final Fantasy 16 (With Ease)
If there’s one thing Final Fantasy can do well, it’s deliver some truly epic boss battles. Sometimes, you scrape by the skin of your teeth, pulling a win from the aether despite running low on potions and barely holding the party together. Both FF16 and FF7 Remake offer amazing fights to test your might in - but, ultimately, FF16 has more ‘oomph’ to it. And, frankly, more ‘oomph’ than almost every video game ever made.
Maybe it’s because of the revamped, character-action-esque combat system. Maybe it has to do with the quicker pace or the better graphics. Whatever it is, FF16 brings it. The setpiece boss battles, especially against other Eikons, will likely have you hollering with joy at your screen - it is so over the top, and it is so, so satisfying.
Overall - Final Fantasy 7 Remake (But Play Both!)
Don’t get it twisted -Final Fantasy 16 is a great game, and it’s easier to dive into, especially as a newcomer, than Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Still, while its combat system is a joy to use, and its story is compelling enough to follow, it ultimately doesn’t feel as strong as its immediate predecessor in the Final Fantasy series.
Where FF16 falters, FF7 Remake flies. It challenges you; it reminds you of the very real problems that we face in the world today –yeah, Mako energy isn’t real, but the planet dying in the name of corporate greed is something we see every day. Remake is the rare game where you see every big swing the developers make – and every swing either hits the ball or knocks it out of the park. But hey, there’s a reason the Final Fantasy series isso long-running and beloved, so why not play both?
