Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →There is no single officially published chronological play order for every Final Fantasy VII game. Square Enix’s official pages place a few titles in relation to one another, but they do not rank the whole franchise in story order. The most useful answer is a set of play routes, each built on a clearly stated logic, with the official facts kept separate from editorial advice.
What official sources establish, and what they do not
Four points are well supported by Square Enix’s own material:
- Crisis Core Reunion is a prequel. Square Enix’s official Crisis Core Reunion page says its story begins seven years before the events of Final Fantasy VII and follows Zack Fair, a young and ambitious Shinra SOLDIER operative. The page states the interval as a relative gap, not as a dated calendar year.
- The Remake project is a three-part sequence. Square Enix’s franchise page identifies Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade as part one, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth as part two, and the announced Final Fantasy VII Revelation as part three. Rebirth is presented as a new story within that project, and its journey reaches the Forgotten Capital.
- Ever Crisis reimagines the FFVII timeline. Square Enix’s franchise page describes Ever Crisis this way. That phrasing does not establish where the mobile title sits in an all-games order.
- No complete official chronology was found. The official pages reviewed do not provide an exhaustive order for every older, mobile, or region-specific release, so any single “correct” list would be an invention.
Three different questions readers are asking
Most confusion comes from treating three separate questions as one. Keeping them apart makes the choice easier.
| Question | What it asks | What the evidence supports |
|---|---|---|
| Story chronology | Where each event falls in the fictional timeline | Crisis Core Reunion begins seven years before Final Fantasy VII (Square Enix, Crisis Core Reunion page). The Remake project’s internal order is one to three. |
| Release order | When each game came out | Not a chronology question. It is a separate fact that depends on each title’s original platform and remaster history. |
| Best first-play order | Which sequence gives the most satisfying first experience | An editorial judgment. A prequel can be set earlier yet work better after the original for some players. |
Play routes compared
Each route below is editorial advice built on the official placements above. None is an official master order.
#1 Best Overall
- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: "Graphics Mode" prioritizes 4K high-resolution graphics; "Performance Mode" prioritizes smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customizable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
- Play the brand-new episode featuring Yuffie and experience new combat and gameplay additions
| Route | Sequence | Logic | Spoiler risk | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Original-first | Final Fantasy VII, then Crisis Core Reunion, then Remake Intergrade, Rebirth, and Revelation when available | Keeps the original’s reveals intact and adds Zack’s story as context afterward | Low for the original; moderate for Crisis Core players who later meet Remake characters | First-time players and anyone who wants the most surprise |
| Story-first | Crisis Core Reunion, then Final Fantasy VII, then Remake Intergrade, Rebirth, and Revelation when available | Follows the in-universe timeline, with Zack’s story preceding the original | Higher for the original, because Crisis Core shows events the 1997 game later reveals | Players who prefer chronological storytelling and do not mind losing some surprise |
| Core-only | Final Fantasy VII, then Remake Intergrade, Rebirth, and Revelation when available | Skips Crisis Core and Ever Crisis to focus on the main narrative | Low | Players with limited time or those who want the main line only |
Recommended routes by reader type
If you have never played any Final Fantasy VII game
Start with the original Final Fantasy VII. Its reveals are built to land without context, and Crisis Core Reunion is designed to reward players who already know the original’s cast and events. Move to Crisis Core Reunion after the original, then continue with the Remake project.
If you already know the original well
Crisis Core Reunion is the natural next step because it fills in Zack’s story, which begins seven years before the original. Playing it now adds context without spoiling a first encounter, and it lets you approach the Remake project with Zack’s background in mind.
Rank #2
- The award-winning FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE* retells the original story up to the escape from Midgar, with breathtaking visuals, fast-paced gameplay, and additional story elements. This RPG delivers unforgettable characters, a powerful narrative, and a hybrid battle system that blends real-time action with strategic, command-based combat. It also includes FF7R EPISODE INTERmission, a side story starring Yuffie Kisaragi that offers a fresh perspective running in parallel to Cloud’s journey.
- STUNNING VISUALS - Explore Midgar like never before with stunning visuals and richly detailed environments that bring the city’s layered, industrial districts to life, all while staying true to the spirit of the original game.
- DYNAMIC COMBAT WITH STRATEGIC DEPTH -The innovative battle system combines strategic command-based gameplay with fast-paced action. Seamlessly switch between characters, harness the power of materia, summon iconic creatures, and unleash devastating limit breaks.
- ICONIC CHARACTERS, UNFORGETTABLE STORY - Follow Cloud Strife, an ex-SOLDIER turned mercenary, as he joins Avalanche to take on the Shinra Electric Power Company. Cloud and his allies Barret, Tifa, and Aerith are pulled into a battle that will decide the fate of the planet.
- EXPANDED CONTENT - FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE offers quests, mini-games, and missions set in expanded areas of Midgar. Encounter new characters and experience exciting content that adds even more depth to the story.
If you want strict in-universe order
Play Crisis Core Reunion first, then the original, then the Remake project. Accept that the original’s twists will be partly anticipated. This route suits readers who value continuity over surprise.
If you are completing the franchise
Play the core route, then check Square Enix’s current official pages for Ever Crisis and any other titles before deciding how to place them. Because Ever Crisis’s placement is not established, treat any fixed slot for it as a guess.
Rank #3
- The Amazon Exclusive Edition includes a FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH PS5 controller skin (inside the case) featuring Cloud and Sephiroth. This PS5 controller skin provides full coverage without buttons or sensor interference.
- An Expansive World: As the party searches for Sephiroth, explore the beautiful, expansive regions of the world and open up new areas to discover through unique forms of transportation
- Deepen their relationships to unleash powerful team based combos
- An Evolved Battle System: Combine strategic thinking with thrilling action combat alongside your comrades, including newly added characters
- Beyond the Walls of Fate: In this standalone adventure for fans and newcomers, Cloud and his comrades venture across the planet, their fates unwritten, making each step outside the dystopian city of Midgar fresh and mysterious
Where the evidence stops
- Revelation’s release status. The franchise page lists it as part three. Check Square Enix’s current franchise page for its release status before planning around it.
- Ever Crisis’s exact position. The official description confirms that it reimagines the FFVII timeline, but it does not state where it fits in a play order.
- Older, mobile, and region-specific releases. No complete official inventory was found for these titles, so this guide does not claim to cover every Final Fantasy VII release.
Within those limits, the practical answer is simple: play the original first if you want surprise, or Crisis Core Reunion first if you want the timeline as it unfolds in the story.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
