The 3 Final Fantasy remakes fans are begging Square Enix to release

Fans of role-playing games revere the Final Fantasy series from Square Enix. The ongoing series has many legendary entries that have shaped the landscape of the RPG genre through the decades. Whether it was turn-based combat or incredible visuals, Final Fantasy games have been at the forefront of the genre since the beginning. But certain parts of the series were so popular that they went on to become iconic video games that influenced other role-playing games over time. Many fans loved these experiences, and have been begging Square Enix to find a way to remake them for modern consoles.

Luckily, Square Enix is no stranger to remaking different Final Fantasy games in various ways. While Final Fantasy VII Remake re-imagined one of the most popular titles in the series, the company has also remade some of the older 2D games with new 3D visuals and other changes. But which Final Fantasy games do fans want to see the most, and why? Here are three Final Fantasy remakes that fans have been begging Square Enix to release on consoles.

3 Final Fantasy II

Fixing what wasn't good

If there's one entry in the entire series that is universally panned by most fans, it's most likely Final Fantasy II. This was the first follow-up to the original game on the Famciom and NES that was exclusive to Japan. It wasn't until years later that Final Fantasy II got a proper release in North America. Many aspects of the turn-based combat and the leveling of characters were changed from the first game, which most players heavily disliked. A lot of chatter about the game online often praises the story, with characters like Firion and the Wild Rose rebellion. Although the original release of Final Fantasy II had good visuals, a new story, and an interesting mechanic for character dialogue interactions, the game never found a big audience like the rest of the series.

Out of all the problems that Final Fantasy II suffers from, the leveling and stat growth are the biggest ones that most people point to. The game's approach to increasing stats like HP and Magic was heavily criticized, mainly because it required players to take certain actions to grow them. This is why many Final Fantasy fans have wanted to see Square Enix remake the game and change up a lot of the gameplay systems for the better. Had Final Fantasy II played more similar to the original, or even some of the sequels like Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy IV, the reception of the game would've been very different.

2 Final Fantasy VI

Magitek reborn

Arguably the most popular of the 2D Final Fantasy games is Final Fantasy VI, also known as Final Fantasy III in North America for the Super Nintendo in 1994. To many fans, this game has one of the best stories and cast of characters within the franchise, along with some great combat mechanics and exploration. The world of Final Fantasy VI involves a blending of magic and technology, with the struggle against a dictatorship being a central point of the plot. There are a total of 14 playable characters that players meet over the course of the game, with a variety of side stories to follow related to all of them. But one of the biggest things that Final Fantasy VI is known for is its villain, Keffka, who infamously causes mass devastation to the world in a way that very few other entries in the series have ever shown. Along with a fantastic soundtrack, Final Fantasy VI has been long requested by fans to see a full remake.

Talk about a remake of Final Fantasy VI has been around for a long time. Even Masaaki Hayasaka, the producer of Dragon Quest 3 HD, has expressed the desire to work on a remake of the game, similarly to what was done with Dragon Quest. Other 2D entries have gotten a remake with 3D models that reimagine the 2D character sprites of the game, much like what Final Fantasy IV had on the Nintendo DS. However, Square Enix has only ever ported the game and released an HD remastering of it to multiple platforms, rather than working on a full remake. The interest in it is definitely there from the audience, so the only thing left is for Square Enix themselves to make a move on it.

1 Final Fantasy VIII

Revisiting the SeeD Gardens

Following the release of Final Fantasy VIII Remake and its sequel Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, many fans have constantly brought up a remake of Final Fantasy VIII. The original game was released on the PlayStation in 1999, and was the second entry in the series to have 3D models and environments. Being the next game to come out after the mega-hit that was Final Fantasy VII was not easy task, which definitely impacted the game's reception. While it was criticized for the new Junction System for magic and its approach to leveling and difficulty scaling, Final Fantasy VIII still received a lot of praise for many other things. The game still managed to grab audiences with its visuals, great soundtrack, unique story and world, as well as the characters and their drama. Squall Leonhart and his gunblade became a signature part of the series, making appearances in other games in varying capacities.

Among a large group of role-playing game fans, Final Fantasy VIII is a heavily underrated game that suffered when it was released following its predecessor. Despite its few issues that have been criticized over the years, many feel that the game should get a similar remake treatment as Final Fantasy VII was given, with a completely overhauled presentation and changes to the gameplay. Although there have been many iconic scenes from Final Fantasy games that have stood out to fans, some of the biggest ones also come from Final Fantasy VIII, specifically the ballroom dance scene with Squall and Rinoa. Having moments like this and many others completely remade in the modern generation is something many fans have wanted to see, especially those who feel this game hasn't been given its flowers just yet.

Remaking a Final Fantasy

With Final Fantasy VII Remake being as popular as it has become, many fans of the series would like to see something similar done for the other games within the franchise. Although not every Final Fantasy game needs to be remade in the same way, these specific games would benefit the most from it. Gamers who have played through most of the Final Fantasy games enjoy the worlds and characters that make up great plots within each release, which have often been seen as some of the best stories in the genre. Many people want to see these great games be remade for a newer generation, with better technology and a modern lens to behind it for the best experience. The only thing left is for Square Enix to have the will to make something like this happen.