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Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Most numbered Final Fantasy games tell separate stories in separate settings; the series is not one continuous timeline. The clearest documented connections are the Final Fantasy VII project and the Fabula Nova Crystallis mythos. Those links are not all the same kind: a prequel, a remake project, a shared mythos and a crossover each mean something different.
How to tell what “connected” means
A shared franchise name, familiar creature or recurring theme does not by itself establish that two games share a plot or timeline. It helps to identify the kind of relationship Square Enix describes:
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- Sequel or prequel: a story that continues or precedes a particular game’s events.
- Shared world: separate stories set in the same named setting; they need not be direct plot continuations.
- Shared mythos: stories with different characters and plots that draw on a common conceptual framework.
- Remake or reimagining project: related versions of an existing game’s story, which may expand or reshape the material rather than replace it scene for scene.
- Crossover: characters from different games meet in one title. That alone does not prove their original stories share a timeline.
The clearest documented connections
| Branch or example | Connection Square Enix describes | What that establishes |
|---|---|---|
| Final Fantasy VII project | Several titles grouped as one project; Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion is identified as a prequel focused on Zack Fair. | These are related Final Fantasy VII material, but the project grouping does not make every title the same kind of continuation. |
| Fabula Nova Crystallis | A common mythos across stories with different characters, worlds and plots. | A conceptual connection, not proof that every title directly continues Final Fantasy XIII. |
| Dissidia | Listed in Square Enix’s series history as a crossover. | A crossover brings characters together; the consulted history does not establish the crossover’s canon relationship to their home games. |
Which Final Fantasy VII games belong together?
Square Enix’s current official Final Fantasy VII portal groups Remake, Rebirth and Revelation under “The Remake Project.” It also labels Remake Intergrade as part of that project. The portal groups these releases as related project material; that label should not be mistaken for a detailed explanation of every story connection. Its catalog can change.
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Remake is an expanded project installment, not a scene-for-scene replacement
Square Enix describes Final Fantasy VII Remake as a “standalone game” within the project. Its official game page says it covers events through the party’s escape from Midgar and explores Midgar more deeply than the original game. “Standalone” here describes the installment; it does not mean the overall project has no further entries.
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- Cinematic pixel art - What if FINAL FANTASY had continued to push the limits of pixel art? The first FINAL FANTASY to join the HD‑2D lineup, FINAL FANTASY RESONANCE delivers a visually striking experience that feels both nostalgic and new, enhanced by dynamic camera angles and pixelized 3D models that make every moment more dramatic and immersive.
- A return to the familiar - A classic RPG adventure unfolds in a world filled with beloved FINAL FANTASY elements—airships, crystals, espers and moogles woven into the fabric of the story, and so much more.
- Strategic turn-based battles - Exploit enemy weaknesses to stagger them—breaking their defenses to seize extra turns and gain the upper hand with powerful Resonance attacks in cinematic battles shaped by smart choices.
- FINAL FANTASY legends - Bolster your team with Visions, echoes of beloved FINAL FANTASY characters, who fight alongside you with unique skills and abilities for deep party customization.
- Hours of side content to discover - The world is full of secrets, including the wandering swordmaster Gilgamesh, a Colosseum with deadly monsters and rewards to match, the Chamber of Arms with formidable foes sealed within legendary weapons, and a showdown with Ultima Weapon.
Crisis Core Reunion is a prequel
The official portal calls Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion a prequel focused on Zack Fair. That is a more specific relationship than simply being part of the same universe: it places the game before events in the associated story. The portal also lists Final Fantasy VII Ever Crisis under “More from the Universe,” but that category alone does not define its exact narrative relationship to the other titles.
What connects the Fabula Nova Crystallis titles?
In a May 8, 2006 announcement, Square Enix described Fabula Nova Crystallis as a group of titles based on variations of the Final Fantasy XIII universe. The announcement said the works would have different characters, worlds and stories while sharing and expanding a common mythos. Its initial slate named Final Fantasy XIII, Final Fantasy Versus XIII and Final Fantasy Agito XIII.
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- The games that inspired a generation come to life once more, in the ultimate 2D pixel remaster!
- These games are newly developed remaster editions based on the original titles. Some of the changes and additional elements found in other remakes of these games are not included.
- The Anniversary Edition includes a pixel character sticker sheet.
- Universally updated 2D pixel graphics, including the iconic FINAL FANTASY character designs created by Kazuko Shibuya, the original artist and current collaborator.
- Beautifully rearranged soundtrack in a faithful FINAL FANTASY style, overseen by original composer Nobuo Uematsu.
Square Enix summed up the idea as “One myth, countless stories.” That phrase describes a shared conceptual foundation, not one continuous plot. The announcement is a historical description of the original slate; it should not be read as a current status report on every title or its eventual release identity.
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No single play order applies to the entire franchise: the numbered entries usually have separate stories and settings. Order matters only when you choose a branch whose games are explicitly related. For the Final Fantasy VII titles, use the official project grouping to identify related entries, and treat Crisis Core Reunion as a prequel. The available project descriptions do not provide a complete recommended play order for every related release.
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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: "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
For Fabula Nova Crystallis, a shared mythos does not in itself require playing the titles as a plot sequence. For a crossover such as Dissidia, knowing the characters’ home games may help with context, but the official history consulted here does not establish a canon timeline linking those home stories.
What about Ivalice and other proposed links?
Square Enix’s catalog includes Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, but the official pages consulted for this article do not establish that they share the Ivalice world. That connection should not be presented as confirmed on the basis of those listings alone. The same caution applies to detailed claims about the canon status of Dissidia, the exact boundaries of the Final Fantasy VII compilation, and the relationships among every sequel and prequel pair: a title appearing in the same catalog is not, by itself, proof of a particular continuity.
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