Final Fantasy has been entertaining gamers for more than three decades, rarely taking a suspension between mainline entries and spin-offs. Numbered games alone go up to xv. What'south fifty-fifty more phenomenal to consider is the length of each game.

RPGs are generally never brusque affairs, so fans definitely go enough of bang for their cadet when jumping into ane of these many worlds. The following list will detail just how long it takes to beat each of the games in the principal series, every bit measured past howlongtobeat.com. A couple of them fall on the relatively short side for RPGs, but they are still slap-up experiences to behold.

Updated Oct nine, 2021, past Jason Wojnar: Final Fantasy just never takes a intermission. Even though spin-offs have slowed down a bit, Final Fantasy XIV is trudging along, total speed ahead. The expect for the next mainline entry, Final Fantasy Xvi, will probable exist a long one, then fans have plenty of time to revisit old favorites or dive into ones they never had a chance to play before.

With the new pixel remasters, it is easier to play some of the older 2D games in an optimal way. To help brand the search for what game to play a little easier, this list will tell fans how long it takes to beat out each mainline Final Fantasy championship. One of the new games added is non a numbered title, merely it is more than highly regarded than other Last Fantasy games, and thus felt worthy of inclusion here.

20 Final Fantasy – 17.5 Hours

The tale that started it all holds upward surprisingly well due to its straightforward nature and charm. Of course, gamers are better off playing i of the many ports instead of the NES original. The first release is plagued with weird bugs, causing certain vital gameplay mechanics to function abnormally.

The optimal version is the 20th anniversary edition released for the PSP. Its sprite art is gorgeous, and doesn't expect jarringly cartoonish similar the updates done to some of the after 2D Final Fantasy games.

19 Final Fantasy Four – 23.5 Hours

Final Fantasy IV

Ofttimes one of the ii nearly celebrated 2D entries, Terminal Fantasy Iv comes in equally the 2nd shortest entry. While not the get-go one to have a more than complicated narrative, it is often seen as the first one that did it right. Because of its strong story, the gameplay is relatively straightforward, and information technology is e'er easy to know where the adjacent objective lies. Unless one is stuck at a gainsay encounter, the game should be a breeze to whisk through in less than a day'due south worth of a gameplay

Final Fantasy IV is likewise followed up by a sequel, though it is less celebrated than the other sequels from the series. Final Fantasy 4: Interlude only comes in at about 2.five hours. However, the full sequel clocks in at nearly 36.v hours, a adequately sizable RPG experience.

18 Terminal Fantasy Ii - 25 1/two Hours

The second game in the series is oftentimes remembered every bit ane of the worst. It pushed things frontward with a more than nuanced story, but the gameplay veered far from what fans are now accustomed to. The thought of characters leveling upwards as abilities were used led to the stats hands being cleaved by players attacking their ain political party members.

Still, it'south non horrid or unplayable by any stretch of the word. People looking to play through all of the games won't find this 1 a slog. Plus, it's yet on the relatively short side of things.

17 Last Fantasy 13-two – 27.5 Hours

Final Fantasy XIII 2 Moogle

Final Fantasy XIII-two is the shortest of the Final Fantasy Xiii trilogy, at least when it comes to the main story. This bodes well equally it'southward probably the worst of the iii games in terms of both gameplay mechanics and story. Fans of the original game will all the same have some fun with information technology, only everyone else might be meliorate off watching the cutscenes on YouTube and skipping ahead to Lightning Returns instead.

A unmarried playthrough typically takes just over 27 hours, while completing all of the game'south tasks volition require a fiddling over 72 hours of playtime. Thanks in large to the omission of Lightning and the need to play as Serah though, this tin can feel like a lot of work for very little payoff. The Chocobo racing is a lot of fun, only everything else just feels similar busywork.

16 Final Fantasy Fifteen – 28 Hours

The near recent numbered entry was somewhat polarizing for fans. It looked undeniably gorgeous, but information technology was also easy and the boxing organization was not engaging enough, despite the fights themselves being marvelous spectacles.

Its length also wildly varies because of its structure. The first several chapters are brimming with side quests. One can spend dozens of hours doing favors for town folk, greatly inflating the playtime. After a certain indicate, the story puts the players on rails and beelines towards a terminate. 28 is about the average one tin can look, if they don't dilly dally too long in the open-world segments.

15 Final Fantasy 3 – xxx Hours

Final Fantasy III 3D version

The tertiary entry sees silent protagonists come up back for a more than straightforward adventure than its predecessor.

Despite the simplicity of its narrative, it'll take longer than the prior two. Similar the first game, nevertheless, its amuse and whimsy keep players glued to the screen the whole time, making the hours fly by like an airship.

14 Concluding Fantasy 10-ii – 31 Hours

Final Fantasy X 2 Shuyin talking

Concluding Fantasy X-ii was a fairly groundbreaking game, in as much that information technology was the first fourth dimension that Square Enix adult a sequel to a mainline Final Fantasy game. It continues the story of Tidus and Yuna while further expanding upon the lore of Spira. It's non quite as good as its predecessor, but it's certainly not without its charms.

While the PS2 release's main story took almost xl hours to complete, quality of life updates implemented in mod ports has brought this fourth dimension downward considerably making it a much more palatable experience. The 'Truthful' ending yet requires a second playthrough though, and players volition need to tackle the incredibly frustrating tower alignment mini-game if they're attempting a completionist run.

13 Final Fantasy V – 32 ane/two Hours

Last Fantasy 5 often gets left out of the conversation. It'due south not quite an all-time great, merely it's not as flawed or outdated every bit Concluding Fantasy II, and then it kind of just sits there on its own. Still, ane will find simply every bit engrossing a world as the others if they take the plunge.

Actually, it's hard to go wrong with any of the ii-dimensional outings. Not many games this old tin can say they will occupy gamers' time for more than xxx hours.

12 Lightning Returns: Last Fantasy XIII – 34 Hours

final fantasy lightning returns lightning

Not too many people stuck with Lightning through to the end of her trilogy, only those who did likely spent at least 110 hours beyond all iii games. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII accounts for effectually 34 hours of that, although this time can increase dramatically if players opt to practise more than just the chief story.

Completing everything that the game has to offering volition take players effectually 65 and a half hours, which really makes it the shortest of the three games from a completionist's perspective. It provides a fitting conclusion to Lightning'south journeying and so is definitely worth doing for those who are fans of the character, although getting through XIII-two outset can exist a scrap of a slog.

eleven Last Fantasy 7 Remake – 34 Hours

The FF7 remake has an excellent fighting system

Despite only covering the Midgar section of the original game, a standard playthrough of Concluding Fantasy VII Remake clocks in at a whopping 34 hours. That the original release doesn't take too much longer, should give a fairly good idea of merely how much Tetsuya Nomura and his team changed and added to the release.

Those hoping to complete all of the game'southward side quests tin can expect to spend an additional 7 and one-half hours on top of their main playthrough, while a total completionist run volition accept a staggering 84 hours. This is largely down to players needing to complete the game once again on hard manner, where there are also some additional challenges for players to take on.

The PlayStation 5 Release, Terminal Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, comes with a slew of upgrades to the visuals and performance along with a new story expansion starring Yuffie Kisaragi. This DLC episode takes well-nigh five hours to complete. However, completionists tin can expect to spend about 17 hours in the new content, since information technology has to be beaten at least twice along with the side quests.

x Final Fantasy Vi – 35.5 Hours

The 2nd half of this game brought a new element to the series, giving players a and then-unprecedented level of pick on how to arroyo tackling objectives.

Later on the halfway point, 1 can even dart towards the finish without seeing everything on the newly transformed world map, cutting down game time significantly. However, one is a fool if they don't take a await at everything one of the most celebrated 2d JRPGs of all time has to offer.

9 Final Fantasy VII – 38 1/2 Hours

Cloud and his friends' journeying non only elevated the series to new heights, but the medium as a whole. Its massive detailed globe, catholic story, and hard-striking emotional beats were unlike anything else gamers saw at the time.

30-eight hours is about how long it takes to go through it, but doing everything there is to do tin at least double the playtime. The PS1 was a revolutionary console, and Square was in that location as one of the leaders of the accuse with their JRPG classic.

8 Final Fantasy IX – xl Hours

Via: GameFAQs

The ninth entry was a counter-point to the ii scientific discipline-fiction themed titles before it. The return to form stands as the PlayStation'southward swan song, and what a bully send off it was.

twoscore hours of gaming was enough enough fourth dimension to stave off PS2 cravings. Who wanted the adjacent-gen console when the PS1 was still pumping out RPGs of this quality?

7 Concluding Fantasy Tactics – 40 Hours

Final Fantasy Tactics

Even though it is not a mainline entry, Terminal Fantasy Tactics deserves its place on the list, equally information technology is often considered ane of the all-time RPGs of all time. The gameplay builds upon the foundation set by Tactics Ogre: Allow us Cling Together.

The task organization and party formal is malleable, letting players build whatever kind of squad they wish. The 40 hour time is mostly due to the game's difficulty. Experts can easily cut this downward to betwixt 24 or 30.

half dozen Final Fantasy VIII – 42 Hours

The follow-up to Final Fantasy VII doesn't get as much praise as its predecessor, but it still basks in plenty glory on its own.

Additionally, it differentiates itself from the pack with its unique Draw mechanic, addictive card game Triple Triad, and the enemies scaling to the thespian'south level which makes grinding unnecessary. With the contempo remaster, one can experience this magnificent take a chance more comfortably than ever earlier.

five Final Fantasy X – 48 Hours

Yuna'south pilgrimage through Spira and developing human relationship with Tidus forever stick in players' minds. The series had tackled love stories before, but never had they felt so existent, thanks to the fully voice-acted cutscenes and enhanced graphics. The protagonist's relationship with his begetter was also new to the medium.

The Sphere Grid progression system added a new layer to progression, offering players increased control on how their party advanced. Getting every character's celestial weapon and upgrading them to the max likewise ensures completionists won't quickly put this 1 down.

4 Concluding Fantasy Xiii – 49 Hours

Final Fantasy 13 got flack for its linearity, but no one could deny how beautiful it was. Unfortunately, looks aren't enough for everybody.

Its story may exist hard to follow, only the bandage of characters ensures there is never a irksome moment. The direct sequels garnered diminishing returns, merely Thirteen is solid on its own.

3 Last Fantasy XII – 60 Hours

The longest one past a long shot, Concluding Fantasy XII was almost too big for its own good. It eschewed a formal earth map, but players sometimes trekked through open lands for hours earlier reaching their destination.

It gave a g sense of scope, only re-releases offered the ability to speed upwardly these segments. Fifty-fifty with the fast-forward button, players are in for a long journeying inside Ivalice.

2 Final Fantasy Eleven – 106.v Hours

final fantasy 11 shantotto

MMORPGs take a reputation for existence incredibly long and Final Fantasy XI definitely does its level best to uphold this. First released in 2002, the game is still going potent despite new expansions having stale up some fourth dimension ago. The last one came in 2015 and was the game'due south 12th piece of major DLC.

Together, Final Fantasy Xi'due south DLC provides hundreds of hours of extra playtime, although the main story can typically be completed in around 100 hours. Of course, games like this can't ever be fully completed so how long a actor gets out of the game is entirely upwardly to them. In that location's always something else to do though, so it's not uncommon for players to spend thousands of hours with Final Fantasy 11.

one Final Fantasy Xiv – 122 Hours

final fantasy 14 classes

Another MMORPG, some other ridiculous average playtime. Final Fantasy XIV is Foursquare Enix's latest attempt at taking the series online and undoubtedly its virtually aggressive. The game has received iii major expansions since releasing in 2010 with a fourth, Endwalker, expected to drib on November 23, 2021.

Between them, the new story content in Heavensward, Stormblood and Shadowbringers takes effectually 185 hours to complete, although when raids and other side content are accounted for that effigy is far closer to the 300 hour mark. For those looking for a game that they tin can sink some serious time into; this is information technology.

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