Summary
Any JRPG would feel woefully lacking without its fair share of dungeons that players can traverse. The heroes must wade through enemy territory and beat a fearsome boss numerous times to make substantial progress in their adventures.
It’s easy for most games to phone in this part of the game, but there’s a reason whyFinal Fantasyhas attracted such a massive fanbase. Some of the dungeons in these games are in a class of their own and show off some amazing art design time and time again.
WhileFinal Fantasy 5prioritizes gameplay over story, that should take nothing away from its excellent dungeon design. Bartz and his friends must conquer major threats time and time again in their quest to save the Crystals and stop Exdeath from destroying the world.
Getting stranded in the Ship Graveyard andexploring the void that connects all dimensionsat the end of the game are two of the game’s best dungeons. These locations show just how much thought and effort were put into makingFinal Fantasy 5’s adventure feel as grand as possible.
There are times when dungeons inFinal Fantasy 15can lack a bit of identity. Walking on tiled floors and seeing evil-looking environments is fun the first time around, but this gets old after a point.
Thankfully, theRoyal Editionof this game expanded some sections of the game to make it feel more complete, and the dungeons are no exception. The city of Insomnia is rife with secrets, and players who complete the game cantackle the Pitioss Ruinsfor a unique challenge.
There’s no denying that the majority ofFinal Fantasy 6’s dungeons involve exploring caves, which can look rather tiresome after a point. However, some memorable dungeons like the Floating Continent and Kefka’s Tower make up for it.
It helps that someFinal Fantasy 6dungeons require players to split up their party to make progress, which makes for a fresh change of pace. The game could’ve done with more dungeons with the same approach, but the few that exist are so well-designed that they single-handedly helpFinal Fantasy 6’s dungeons stand out even more.
Final Fantasy 8is one of the most divisive entries in the series, with the weird plot and the broken Junction System being the two biggest pain points for fans. However, that shouldn’t take away from the game’s immense strength.
The strong dungeon design helps this game stand out from the very moment players enter a fiery cave to fight Ifrit. Of course, nothing comes close to the surreal nature of Ultimecia’s Castle, which is easily the best final dungeon in the series.
Final Fantasy 4takes some wild turns with its storytelling, and this reflects in the dungeon design too. The fact that the final stretch of the game takes place on the moon is a testament to how wild this title can get when it really wants to wow players.
The best dungeons in the game are the ones with Babil in their name. The Tower of Babil is an epic climb that ends with a shocking moment, whilethe Giant of Babilis a mechanical kaiju that Cecil and the heroes must dismantle from the inside to make for a fantastic and memorable dungeon.
A huge part of what helpedFinal Fantasy 9age timelessly is its art style, helping the game’s many dungeons feel fantastic to explore. Walking on the roots of the Iifa Tree to defeat Soulcage is just one of the many ways that the dungeon design stands out.
Along with this,Memoria is an excellent final dungeonthat lets players face off against some of the most iconic bosses inFinal Fantasyhistory. It’s a great final dungeon that helpsFinal Fantasy 9end on a strong note.
Final Fantasy 12boasts some of the most creative dungeon designs in the entire series. Instead of just moving from point A to point B, players are encouraged to find secrets and solve puzzles to make the most of each dungeon.
The Ancient City of Giruvegan is a mystical location that’s a joy to explore, and theNecrohol of Nabudis is a challenging optional areathat looks as eerie as they come. The fact that the longestFinal Fantasy 12dungeons end up being beloved by fans is a testament to the strong dungeon design in this title.
The shift to a futuristic setting was done well inFinal Fantasy 6, but the sequel’s massive budget allowed its environments to stand out even more. From climbing a makeshift platform in the slums to ascending the floors of Shinra Headquarters,the hostile areas inFinal Fantasy 7are designed brilliantly from the get-go.
Even optional areas like the Sunken Gelnika feel great to explore because of how eerie it feels. Finally, props should be given to the Northern Crater for letting players explore a challenging yet enjoyable final dungeon that ends with a fateful confrontation against Sephiroth.
