There aren’t manyFinal Fantasygames that are quite as unique asFinal Fantasy 16. While it keeps several familiar aspects of the series that fans can latch onto, the game also eschews many of the tried and true traditions that you may expect, venturing further into action-packed combat and gritty, grounded storytelling than ever before.
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With FF 16 being such a unique Final Fantasy experience, many of its gameplay and narrative inspirations can be traced back to other games that have paved the way. There are a whole host of games that will remind you of your journey with Clive and company, and we’ve compiled a list of our favorites.
8The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Square Enix has made no secret of the many inspirations that helped shape Final Fantasy 16 into what it is. The world that the game’s created will draw memories of a variety of properties, but few titles will match the game’s energy as well asThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntdoes.
The world of The Witcher is brimming with fantastic beasts, devastating wars, and nefarious motives, just like Final Fantasy 16. If you want a game with a similar vibe that can provide you with dozens of hours worth of entertainment, The Witcher 3 is the way to go.
7Telltale’s Game Of Thrones
The most obvious inspiration for Final Fantasy 16 has always beenGame of Thrones. The title does not shy away from the influence that George R.R. Martin’s incredible series has had on it, from its world-building to its writing, which makesTelltale’s excellent adaptationof Game of Thrones an easy recommendation for FF 16 fans.
While Telltale’s take on the fantasy epic isn’t canon to the actual events of the series or the books that it’s based on, they’ve done an astounding job fitting the original characters that they’ve created into the beloved world. If you loved the story of Clive, Joshua, and the dramatic fate of their home kingdom, it’s well worth your time to pay a visit to House Forrester afterward.
6Devil May Cry 5
Much has been said about Final Fantasy 16’s combat, which yet again eschews the series' traditional turn-based combat system for something that’s much more hands-on. The intense and rewarding combat in the game is due in part to the vision of the game’s combat director, Ryota Suzuki.
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Of course, this isn’t Ryota Suzuki’s first title with a critically acclaimed combat system. He also served as a director forDevil May Cry 5, a title that’s beloved by long-time series fans and newcomers alike. If you’re finished with FF and need more action-packed combat, Devil May Cry 5’s incredible battles should fill the void.
5Final Fantasy VII Remake
While it’s fairly unique among other Final Fantasy games, the series' sixteenth installment isn’t exactly its first foray into a more action-focused gameplay system. The last numbered FF title,Final Fantasy XV, also abandoned turn-based combat for a hack-and-slash style, and while it could be considered a pioneer of the approach, it wasFinal Fantasy VII Remakethat perfected it.
Final Fantasy VII’sincredible remake takes everything about the classic PlayStation RPG and brings it into the modern age, adapting the original game’s first few hours into its own amazing adventure. For fans of FF’s new approach to gameplay who also want to experience the series' knack for telling impactful stories, it’s hard to do better than with the first part of this remake.
4Kingdom Hearts 2
For the Final Fantasy series' first 14 main entries, its combat was strictly turn-based. Different games in the acclaimed RPG franchise may have altered the format, but none of them had the bombastic action and reflex-based attacks that you’ll find in Final Fantasy 16. Thankfully, that’s where theKingdom Heartsseries comes in.
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Kingdom Hearts is Square Enix’s one-of-a-kind RPG series, combining elements and characters from Final Fantasy games with worlds and heroes from various classic Disney films. The unexpected combination is tied together by a gameplay system that’s surprisingly deep, with Kingdom Hearts 2 in particular featuring high-octane fights, character transformations, and spectacular cutscenes mid-battle as you pull off the game’s most incredible abilities.
3Asura’s Wrath
The scale of Final Fantasy 16’s battles would be difficult for any game to match, with the Eikon fights standing a clear head and shoulders above most games. There are a few that manage to come close to this sense of grandeur, and one of those titles is Asura’s Wrath.
Asura’s Wrath places you in the shoes of the demigod Asura, a vengeful demigod on a path of destruction. The game’s unique gameplay style blends third-person combat with interactive cutscenes, withquick-time eventsgranting you the ability to affect the battle at hand. At times, Clive’s journey is so cinematic that it feels like taking part in an anime, and Asura takes that concept even further.
2Shadow Of The Colossus
Not every Eikon battle is a grand showdown between two titanic beings. There are occasions where you’ll feel as though your back is against the wall when attempting to take down these awe-inspiring monsters, and no game matches that energy quite likeShadow of the Colossus.
You’ll take control of Wander, an adventurer who has journeyed into a cursed land to defeat a host of enormous deities and revive a woman dear to him. There are, funny enough, sixteen of these colossi to take down, and each fight invokes the same intense feeling that you’ll get when challenging the towering Eikons of Final Fantasy 16.
1Dragon Age: Inquisition
There are more than enormous summons or clashing swords in this epic tale. The game also weaves an intriguing tale of magic, mystery, and deception, and there are few titles that fit the same bill as well asDragon Age: Inquisition.
The thirdDragon Agetitle tells a tale centered around mysterious forces invading your world through a dimensional rift in the sky known as The Breach. As the titular Inquisitor, you’ll recruit a party of powerful and fascinating characters, make impactful world decisions, and battle against the forces of evil in order to protect the realm. If political intrigue in the midst of war is something you’re looking for, Dragon Age Inquisition is a great game to pick up after you’ve finished Final Fantasy 16.
