Summary
Leveling is a key component of most games in theFinal Fantasyfranchise and most role-playing games in general. Enhancing a specific character andputting together a strong partyis often very rewarding, requiring a lot of grinding in most games, but generally making encounters and boss battles easier as the story progresses.
Even many of the series’ spin-off games feature a leveling system in some capacity, whether it be one of theChocobogames or evenPictlogica: Final Fantasy, such is its ubiquity. A few games go against the grain, containing unique progression systems to increase the stats of characters or relying on player skill above all else. Here are some of the bestFinal Fantasygames without a leveling system, ranked based on a combination of the game’s overall quality and popularity.
A Nintendo 3DS exclusive,Final Fantasy Explorershas a fun and simple progression system, where attributes are increased similarly to that of theMonster Hunterseries. Set on the island of Amostra, players set out to find crystals, which are an important resource in the game world, but are guarded by fearsome beasts.
Defeating monsters earns players loot and Gil to either craft or purchase better gear, making it easier to hunt more difficult monsters. Completing quests and defeating enemies will increase the player’s “Explorer Level,” but it serves no purpose in terms of increasing character statistics; rather, it merely shows other players in online mode how far a player has progressed, or how much they have been grinding.
Initially a pre-order bonus forFinal Fantasy 15, but nowavailable as a free download on PS4and Xbox One,A King’s Tale: Final Fantasy 15is a side-scrolling beat-em-up and a prequel to the main game. Playing as Regis Lucis Caelum, father of15’s protagonist Noctis, there are several stages to complete and hordes of enemies to defeat.
Progress is entirely skill-based, emphasizing building combos to unlock bonuses like summons. There are also 25 special challenges, which can be unlocked by completing the story mode once. It’s a perfectly enjoyable experience, if a little repetitive, but it’s mainly let down by a lack of multiplayer options, which is a common and popular feature in the genre.
Set in the same world as the main game,Monster of the Deep: Final Fantasy 15is a VR spin-off title focusing on fishing. Exclusively released on PSVR, it featuresmany familiar charactersfromFF15with whom players can interact and even take quests from.
There are over 100 different kinds of fish that can be caught from the various areas around Eos, plus other locations like Gladiolus’ tent and a shack where rod upgrades can be purchased. The eponymous monster of the deep must be weakened with a crossbow before it can be reeled in, adding some variety and jeopardy. The fishing controls can be tricky to get the hang of, and some complain about repetitive gameplay, but the environments are very striking, and the game is generally relaxing.
A controversial shift at the time and one thatmany modern players strugglewith when replaying today,Final Fantasy 2completely revamped the progression system of its predecessor, taking away leveling completely. Throughout the story of the orphans drawn into the rebellion against the invading Palamecian Empire, repeated actions will improve specific attributes of individual characters.
Using a specific weapon can increase skill when using it, as well as corresponding stats like strength or agility, and using spells gives the character more magic points. Taking damage can even provide a party member with more hit points. Subsequent games reverted to a more traditional level-up system, butFF2did have its benefits, such as a slightly more forgiving difficulty level and less reliance on grinding to beat it.
Taking a darker tone than otherCrystal Chroniclesgames, but stillhaving its moments of brevity,Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearersis more of an action-adventure game than an RPG. Set 1,000 years after the events of the original game in the same world, players take control of Layle, a crystal bearer with telekinetic abilities that can be utilized in real-time combat and solving puzzles.
Unlike many other games in theFFCCspinoff series, there is no level system; instead, players rely on better armor and weapons to face more challenging foes. Layle can also collect myrrh in various areas located around the Lilty Kingdom by clearing Miasma stream fights, which increases his overall HP. Collecting myrrh from chests also provides permanent health improvements.
The first game in the spin-off series,Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, was originally a GameCube-exclusive title. The story follows the adventures of a group of Crystal Caravanners, whoventure out into a vibrant worldin search of myrrh to power the crystal that is protecting their world from the poisonous miasma cloud that plagues it.
No experience points are earned for defeating enemies. Rather, players gain bonuses by clearing dungeons, earning artifacts at the end of the many dungeons, which permanently increase either defense, magic, or strength. Further artifacts found within dungeons grant temporary bonuses until players have cleared that specific level. The relatively recent release of theRemastered Editionallows players to experience this gem on modern hardware with some quality-of-life improvements.
Over two decades since its initial release,Final Fantasy 10is still regarded by many as one of the greatest video games ever made.Exploring the world of Spiraas Tidus, Yuna, and several others, players must engage in the conditional turn-based battle system, which relies more on speed and completely alters the turn order of characters in combat.
Defeating enemies earns players ability points, which they can use to gradually fill in the Sphere Grid. This system allows players to select specific skills to improve and even mix the abilities of each party member, regardless of their class. The sequelX-2reverted to a more standardized form of leveling, but many players found the Sphere Grid system incredibly rewarding.
