Final Fantasy is a storied franchise that has survived in part because of its ability to adapt. Being an anthology series with no strict continuity from one game to another, Final Fantasy can range from steampunk, quasi-sci-fi stories such as a Final Fantasy VIIto grimdark high fantasy, exemplified by people like Final Fantasy 16. This fundamental versatility is reflected in the series' ever-changing gameplay, which allows it to change with mainstream trends.
The first several main lines Final Fantasy titles are turn-based games that task players with creating a group of powerful warriors and using tactics, thinking and planning on the fly to achieve success. As the franchise evolved, it entered the realm of action RPGs with entries such as Final Fantasy 7 Crisis Coreand more recently, the Final Fantasy VII remake saga, capitalizing on frenetic, fast-paced combat rather than a methodical turn-based formula. Final Fantasy 14 offers yet another twist on the series' ever-changing gameplay, building on the design pillars of traditional MMOs such as World of Warcraft. Following the success of Baldur's Gate 3perhaps even another radical design change should be considered.

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A genre might be oddly perfect for a Final Fantasy spin-off
The Final Fantasy franchise has yet to fully explore a genre that would be perfect for a spin-off, given the series' affinity for dark themes.
Final Fantasy could be a good fit for Baldur's Gate 3's CRPG design style
Baldur's Gate 3 proves that the CRPG formula can achieve mainstream success
In the next few years, it is incredibly likely that the gaming industry will see the emergence of “BG3The “-like” game. Of course, Baldur's Gate 3 it's not the first game to use turn-based CRPG mechanics, but it's certainly the most popular and commercially successful, making a strong case for the genre's return to the mainstream. There's nothing wrong with strong real-time combat Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthbut BG3 proves that its formula doesn't need to be relegated to the realm of niche or legacy RPGs.
Baldur's Gate 3 awards go into detail, with each of its explorable areas acting as meticulously mapped dioramas, full of interactive elements, loot and NPCs to interact with. It's rather different from the AAA RPG formula of games like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirthor any number of big-budget open-world titles that tend to focus on spectacle rather than interactivity. This makes exploring in Baldur's Gate 3 a joy, but the same philosophy is present in its combat encounters, which are deliberate, tactical and multi-faceted, showing that a turn-based game can have as much, if not more, freedom than a real-time one.
Baldur's Gate 3Its production value sets it apart from other CRPGs, which don't often feature the same abundance of detailed in-engine cutscenes and character animations. This is something that Square Enix, with its considerable budget, could emulate.
How Final Fantasy could spin its Baldur's Gate 3 formula
Baldur's Gate 3 is a massive achievement for a number of reasons, a major one being the successful recreation of the classic Dungeons and Dragons experience — however realistically it can be recreated in the video game environment. For this purpose, it is established in the framework D&D universe, with characters, locations and mythological elements drawn directly from the mainstream RPG franchise. This works well for BG3but the games it inspires will certainly have more original settings and premises.
It should go without saying Final Fantasy would do a great job when it comes to this originality. Each new main line FF the game has the freedom to offer a radically distinct setting, tone, and narrative, so it would be easy to imagine a CRPG-influenced entry in the series focusing on that strength. Rather than medieval fantasy, a Final Fantasy The CRPG could feature a science fiction setting, or a semi-modern one in that sense Final Fantasy 15. This combination of franchise freedom and Square Enix's abundance of talent and resources could do Final Fantasy and the CRPG genre a surprisingly good match.