June 29th 2025.
It's always tough when you start to lose interest in something you once loved. Whether it's a movie franchise or a hobby, sometimes you grow out of it or it changes in a way that no longer resonates with you. For me, that's where I am with the Final Fantasy series. I used to be a huge fan, but I have to admit, I haven't truly enjoyed a mainline game since Final Fantasy 12. The only exception being the surprisingly good Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy, which managed to revive some of my love for the series.
But the final nail in the coffin for me was Final Fantasy 16. It was the first one that I actively hated and couldn't even bring myself to finish. I don't want my Final Fantasy games to be some strange attempt to mimic Game of Thrones. These are Japanese games and I want them to stay true to that. If I wanted to play The Witcher 3, I would just go ahead and do so, not settle for a poor imitation.
It's not even a question of whether Final Fantasy 16 is a good game or not. It's just not a Final Fantasy game in my opinion. And what's worse is that they've stripped away so many of the unique elements that made the series stand out. I fear that with the next game, they'll take it even further and it will be unrecognizable as a Final Fantasy game.
That's why I have a suggestion. I think Sandfall Interactive, the developers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, should make the next Final Fantasy game. I know they're not Japanese, but I believe we would get a more authentic experience if we let them take on Final Fantasy 17 instead of having Square Enix do it.
Sandfall Interactive has a strong Western influence and I'm sure they would bring a lot of new and original ideas to the table. But what's great about them is that they also appreciate the older Final Fantasy games. One of the things I love about Expedition 33 is that it has an old school overworld map and turn-based battles. Square Enix would never do that, but I bet Expedition 33 will end up outselling Final Fantasy 16 in the end.
It's incredible to think about, and it's a clear sign that Square Enix needs to consider working with Sandfall. After all, if they don't, they could end up becoming close competitors.
I know it's probably unlikely to happen, as Sandfall probably wants to focus on their own original games now. They probably want a career similar to Larian Studios, who had a big hit with Baldur's Gate 3, a licensed game. So maybe Sandfall would be open to making a Final Fantasy game at least once, just to bring in some money.
Of course, Square Enix could also just make the game themselves. They could take Expedition 33 as proof that an older school approach can still be successful and develop it internally. But I'm not sure if they have the courage to do that. Final Fantasy 16 was their big experiment, and even though I'm enjoying the Final Fantasy 7 remakes, they're not really turn-based like the older games.
But I believe that for many of these big franchises that are becoming too expensive to make, the answer is to go back to their roots with modernized graphics and features. Not only would it please the fans, but it would also be more cost-effective and profitable. And after the disappointment of Final Fantasy 16, what do they have to lose?
By reader Lusk
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 - A Final Fantasy-esque game
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