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Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second game in Square Enix’s three-part reimagining of the 1997 Final Fantasy VII. It follows Cloud and his companions after they leave Midgar and travel across the world in pursuit of Sephiroth. You can start with Rebirth, but playing Final Fantasy VII Remake first gives you the story in sequence.
Where Rebirth fits in the Final Fantasy VII trilogy
Square Enix is retelling and reimagining the 1997 Final Fantasy VII as a three-game project, rather than remaking the original as one game. Final Fantasy VII Remake is the first installment, focused on Cloud and his allies escaping Midgar. Rebirth is the second, and Square Enix has identified a third game as the trilogy’s final entry. Square Enix’s official series page describes the project as a reimagining with new elements.
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Creative director Tetsuya Nomura described Rebirth as covering the journey from the start of the adventure outside Midgar to the midpoint of the original game. Square Enix’s Japanese story page specifies that its account runs through the Forgotten Capital. That makes Rebirth a substantial middle chapter, not a simple remaster, an expansion for Remake, or a complete retelling of the 1997 story.
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After escaping Midgar, Cloud and his friends set out across the planet and pursue Sephiroth, a figure connected to Cloud’s past who seeks control of the planet. The story also follows Zack Fair in parallel with the group’s journey. That is the spoiler-light premise; more detail would give away developments best experienced in the game.
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The world expands beyond the city setting of Remake: Square Enix highlights exploration, reimagined locations from the original, side stories and mini-games. Director Naoki Hamaguchi estimated in the publisher’s 2023 launch announcement that the adventure would offer nearly 100 hours. That is a launch-era estimate, not a measured average or a guaranteed playtime; how long a player spends will depend on how much optional content they take on. Square Enix’s September 2023 announcement also describes party synergy abilities, which let companions work together in combat.
Who are the main characters?
The story centers on Cloud and the companions traveling with him. The following characters are identified as controllable on Square Enix’s official Japanese page:
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- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: o "Graphics Mode" prioritises 4K high-resolution graphics o "Performance Mode" prioritises smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customisable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
- Cloud Strife: the protagonist and a former member of SOLDIER.
- Tifa Lockhart: one of Cloud’s close allies.
- Barret Wallace: a member of the group pursuing Sephiroth.
- Aerith Gainsborough: a member of Cloud’s party.
- Red XIII: a beast companion.
- Yuffie Kisaragi: a Wutai ninja operative.
- Cait Sith: a feline-shaped robot.
Sephiroth is the party’s target, while Zack Fair’s circumstances unfold alongside the main journey. Square Enix’s official character and story page provides the fuller roster and descriptions.
Do you need to play Remake first?
No. Producer Yoshinori Kitase said Rebirth can be enjoyed as a standalone adventure and that it includes a recap of the previous game for players who want context. Square Enix therefore designed it to be accessible to newcomers, even though it continues the trilogy’s story.
Rank #3
“FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH can be enjoyed on its own as a standalone adventure, with the party leaving Midgar to explore the wide world beyond. But for those wishing to deepen their understanding of the story, a recap of the previous game will also be provided.”
If you want the characters’ history and the events leading up to their departure from Midgar, play Remake first. If you mainly want to explore the wider world and are comfortable using the recap for background, you can begin with Rebirth.
Rank #4
- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: "Graphics Mode" prioritizes 4K high-resolution graphics; "Performance Mode" prioritizes smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customizable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
- Play the brand-new episode featuring Yuffie and experience new combat and gameplay additions
What platforms is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth on?
In an announcement dated June 5, 2026, Square Enix listed Rebirth for Nintendo Switch 2, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, PlayStation 5 and PC. The same announcement said that the Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox versions have a free demo covering Chapters 1 and 2, with progress carrying over to the full game. Check Square Enix’s platform announcement for the latest availability and demo details, since platform offerings can change.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- The Amazon Exclusive Edition includes a FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH PS5 controller skin (inside the case) featuring Cloud and Sephiroth. This PS5 controller skin provides full coverage without buttons or sensor interference.
- An Expansive World: As the party searches for Sephiroth, explore the beautiful, expansive regions of the world and open up new areas to discover through unique forms of transportation
- Deepen their relationships to unleash powerful team based combos
- An Evolved Battle System: Combine strategic thinking with thrilling action combat alongside your comrades, including newly added characters
- Beyond the Walls of Fate: In this standalone adventure for fans and newcomers, Cloud and his comrades venture across the planet, their fates unwritten, making each step outside the dystopian city of Midgar fresh and mysterious
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