Best Final Fantasy Endings

Throughout its long and prestigious history, the Final Fantasy series has always pushed the needle on what players could expect from video games in terms of storytelling, and its endings have been no different. Whether their players are treated to a happy ending where the world is saved and the villain vanquished, something more ambiguous and bittersweet, or a tearful wrap-up (where the only way to stop crying is to go outside to listen to the birds sing, watch the children play, and a few hours of therapy), each game makes those closing moments feel special.

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From pixelated chibis to life-like character models and full voice acting, fans have been cheering, sobbing, laughing, and pulling themselves together after some grand last-minute twists since the very first game in 1987. While a story shouldn’t be judged by its ending alone, these last moments linger the longest. Every ending is beautiful in its own way, but which Final Fantasy did it best? Watch out for massive, game-ending spoilers ahead.

6 Final Fantasy 15

One Final Campout Before Dawn

• Although there are many sacrifices by the end, the last players see in Final Fantasy 15 is hope in the new dawn and a fond farewell between friends
• The image of Noctis and Lunafraya together on the throne supposes a happy ending where the two are reunited in the afterlife

After watching Noctis and his friends travel the road for hours, bonding, fighting together, and facing their destinies, Final Fantasy 15 could hardly have ended any other way: one final campfire hangout before the breaking of the new dawn. While Eos has been freed from an eternal night plagued by daemons, this happy ending was bought at great cost by a series of poignant sacrifices, culminating in the one made by Noctis as he summoned all the kings of Lucis for a one-way trip to the afterlife.

After finally destroying Ardyn and the Starscourge for good, Noctis himself vanishes, his life’s purpose complete, and his journey finished. Players see Noctis and his comrades’ final night by the fire, where he struggles but eventually manages to tell them what their friendship means to him, and a glimpse into the afterlife as Lunafraya, garbed in her wedding dress, sits with Noctis on the throne, crystals glimmering in the air.

5 Final Fantasy 7

An Open-Ended Finale Open To Interpretation (And Sequels)

• The fate of Cloud and the party is left ambiguous by the end of the game, but it is implied that the planet survived (and thrives) long after
• The open-ended conclusion opened the way for a movie sequel, spin-offs, prequels, and remakes

Despite defeating Sephiroth in his physical and Lifestream-infecting spirit-realm forms, Cloud and the party are too late. However, thanks to Aerith’s influence, the Lifestream rises up to throw Sephiroth’s meteor far enough for Holy to destroy it. The party saves the planet, but Midgar and other places are destroyed in the process. Sephiroth’s continuing influence on the Lifestream, while implied to have been purged, is somewhat unclear.

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However, fans are treated to a snapshot of Midgar’s ruins 500 years in the future, in which nature seems to have reclaimed the dystopic city from human activity. This ambiguous ending of Final Fantasy 7 partly led to the fans’ clamoring for further tales in the FF7 universe, which Square Enix answered with the movie Advent Children and the PS3 game Dirge of Cerberus. The answer to whether that’s a sign of an effective ending or the game’s overall popularity is equally unclear.

4 Final Fantasy 8

A Seamless Stitch In Time And Love

• Final Fantasy 8‘s ending demonstrates its themes (isolation, openness, identity, and memory) in an emotionally impactful way
• Its somewhat complex story (which involves time travel) is also resolved in a logically satisfying way

Following Ultimicia’s defeat, Squall is lost in time compression. He suddenly finds himself in the past, in the orphanage where he grew up. Ultimecia reappears, and with her last action, she passes on her powers to Edea, beginning a causal time loop that traps her forever, allowing time to reassert itself. This isn’t the only seamless thread weaved in Final Fantasy 8‘s closing moments. As he is transported away from the past, Squall wanders alone in a lifeless and timeless desert. His memories and identity dissolve, and his worst fears are realized.

But rather than accepting this fate and pushing life away, he calls out to his loved ones, having learned to open his heart. Rinoa appears, dramatically bringing him back from the dead. Meanwhile, players see Squall’s father, Laguna, honoring the grave of Squall’s mother and his late wife, Raine. Final Fantasy 8 wraps up all at once the comedic tragedy of a failed-love-story-turned romance (Laguna and Julia, then Laguna and Raine), the full, heartbreaking tragedy of a war-torn family (Ellone and Squall), and finally, the satisfying conclusion to an optimistic love story about growth and acceptance.

3 Final Fantasy 6

The Shattering Of Hope In A World Of Ruin

• The ending to Final Fantasy 6 was shocking for the series and in gaming in general, given the bleakness of the finale
• This ending is unique because, despite being defeated eventually, Kefka won in the end

Few endings in video games have been as impactful as the one seen in Final Fantasy 6. While the series had experimented with darker tones in its narratives before, the ending of FF6 broke the floodgates completely. Although the party ultimately defeats Kefka, the mad god of magic, the world below remains completely destroyed and is implied to be unsalvagable. This ending, presented with Final Fantasy 6‘s upbeat and colorful art style, shocked gamers worldwide, especially as the heroes had come so close to making the world right before Kefka snatched victory from them.

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Kefka’s final battle is striking and bombastic, thanks to the heavenly boss battle music, but even with Kefka erased from the world from his throne atop the floating continent, the world remains destroyed. Compounding the tragedy, magic, the only power that could perhaps restore it, also disappears. The espers also disappear, with Terra, herself a half-esper, just about holding herself to the world, offering a small glimmer of optimism amid the deeply grave circumstance of the world before the credits roll.

2 Final Fantasy 9

A Heartwarming And Classic Farewell

• Final Fantasy 9 aimed to celebrate past games and took a more traditional approach to the ending as well
• The ending perfectly balanced enchantment, sadness, joy, and its world’s internal logic

Just as Final Fantasy 9‘s look and setting were a throwback to the earlier titles in the series, its ending also reflects a return to innocence. In the final act, the party roots out Necron, summoned by Kuja’s nihilistic despair, and they manage to bring Kuja back from his existential rage. Although the ending has some sad spots, such as Vivi’s passing due to his short lifespan, the player is treated to a parade of sweetness. King Cid adopts Eiko, Steiner and Beatrix become a couple, and Zidane surprises Queen Garnet during another stageplay production of “I Want To Be Your Canary,” bringing the story full circle.

The ending, while blissfully upbeat, maintains its own worldly logic. The fate of Zidane and the party is still left open-ended. For example, Zidane is not exactly made king, and while his lowly class and status as a thief may create conflict in the long run, he ultimately steals the heart of the one he loves. Freya, too, is reunited with her lost lover, although his memories still remain lost. While it may not be the most shocking ending, it plays off the cast with panache and grace.

1 Final Fantasy 10

The End Of A Long Dream

• Not only was Final Fantasy 10‘s presentation improved with greater technology, but care was put into realizing the world and themes
• The twist was well-planted throughout the story and made for the perfect (if sad) sendoff

With full voice acting, stunning visual effects, and a streamlined story that wasn’t afraid to touch on philosophy, problems of blind faith, or animate their characters with well-realized romance, passion, and dark tragedy, Final Fantasy 10 had it all. While many Final Fantasy games can feel very thematically different by the final act, FF10 remains consistent all the way through, as it took time to craft the world and internal logic of its setting, and both of these elements ran until the very end credits.

As Sin is defeated, Dream Zanarkand also disappears, and with it, Tidus. The ending vindicates the tinges of tragedy sprinkled throughout the plot, music, and worldbuilding, which is all delivered in a mournful yet brave-faced kind of way. However, Yuna’s last words are hopeful and forward-looking, if only for the people of Spira. For the fans depressed about the bittersweet end, they need only continue the story with the series’ first direct sequel.

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