Play FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE—or REMAKE INTERGRADE—before FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH. Rebirth is built to welcome newcomers and includes an in-game recap of Remake, so nothing else is strictly required. However, Remake is Part 1 of the remake trilogy and Rebirth is Part 2; playing the predecessor gives you the clearest character relationships, story stakes and context for the sequel. Episode INTERmission is optional. CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION and the original FINAL FANTASY VII are optional background routes, not prerequisites.
The short answer
For a first playthrough, use this order:
- FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE or FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE.
- Optionally play Episode INTERmission, the Yuffie side story included with Intergrade.
- Start FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH.
You do not need to play another Final Fantasy game first. Square Enix’s official Rebirth FAQ says each Final Fantasy has its own story and that Rebirth can be started without having played another entry. The same FAQ points to a story-recap video in Rebirth’s in-game menu for players who want the plot so far.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
That recap is a safety net rather than the ideal first experience. It condenses a full game into background information, while Remake lets you spend time with the cast and understand why the events of Rebirth matter.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesWhy Remake is the best preparation
It is the direct narrative handoff
Square Enix presents Intergrade as Part 1 and Rebirth as Part 2 of the remake trilogy. Rebirth therefore assumes that the events of Remake are the immediate foundation of the new story. Starting with Remake preserves the intended progression instead of asking a recap to carry every relationship, reveal and emotional turn.
#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
It establishes the characters before the next chapter
The strongest reason to play Remake first is character and plot setup. Rebirth introduces a much wider journey, but its impact depends on what the first game establishes. You will recognize the central cast, understand their motivations and know which developments are continuations rather than introductions. That context also makes optional scenes and conversations easier to read without pausing to reconstruct who everyone is.
The recap cannot replace the full experience
Use Rebirth’s recap if you need a refresher, especially after a long gap between games. It is useful for orientation, but it is not a substitute for Remake’s playable scenes. A newcomer who wants the most coherent first run should play the predecessor; a player who has already finished Remake can use the video to refresh details without replaying the whole game.
Choose a route based on how much context you want
| Route | Story continuity | Spoiler exposure | Time commitment | Purchase and platform considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple first-time route: Remake or Intergrade → Rebirth | Direct continuation from Part 1 to Part 2 | Lowest exposure beyond the remake games | One complete predecessor before Rebirth | Choose the edition available for your system and region; verify the current listing |
| Context-heavy route: original FFVII → Remake or Intergrade → Rebirth | Adds the source narrative before the reinterpretation | High; the original can reveal ideas and story directions the remake project reworks | Two preceding games | Availability and editions vary; check the current version for your platform |
| Character-background route: Remake or Intergrade → Crisis Core Reunion → Rebirth | Adds Zack Fair and SOLDIER background between the remake chapters | Meaningful spoiler risk for players unfamiliar with the original story | One predecessor plus an optional prequel | Confirm the current edition, region and platform before buying |
The simple route is the recommendation for most first-time players. The other routes are preferences, not obligations: one emphasizes the source material, while the other emphasizes Zack’s history.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Step-by-step order for a first playthrough
1. Start with Remake or Remake Intergrade
Either version supplies the essential Part 1 experience. Intergrade is the expanded edition and includes Episode INTERmission; if you choose the standard Remake release, you can still move directly to Rebirth without missing required story information.
2. Add Episode INTERmission only if you want the side story
INTERmission follows Yuffie and is separate from the main Remake campaign. Play it after finishing Remake and before Rebirth if you want the additional character perspective. Skipping it does not block Rebirth, and you do not need to stop your main playthrough to complete it.
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.
3. Begin Rebirth
Rebirth is the next main chapter. If you have played Remake recently, you can go straight in. If the details are hazy, open the in-game menu and watch the official recap before or during your first session.
4. Do not add another Final Fantasy merely to meet a requirement
There is no series-wide prerequisite. Earlier Final Fantasy titles have separate stories, so playing them is a personal choice rather than preparation for Rebirth.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Is Episode INTERmission required?
No. Episode INTERmission is optional side content, not a gate to Rebirth. It is included with Remake Intergrade and gives Yuffie a focused story that supplements the main campaign. The practical order is Remake first, INTERmission second if desired, then Rebirth.
Choose INTERmission when you want extra character material or prefer to complete the available Remake content before moving on. Skip it when your priority is reaching Rebirth quickly; the main continuation remains understandable without it.
Should you play Crisis Core Reunion first?
What it adds
CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION is a Zack Fair-focused prequel. Square Enix describes it as the story of SOLDIER operative Zack Fair and the events leading up to FINAL FANTASY VII. It can provide useful background on Zack, SOLDIER and the older history behind the remake project.
Rank #3
- 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" Prioritises 4K high-resolution graphics & - "performance mode" Prioritises smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customisable "Photo mode"
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the dual sense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
Why it is not a prerequisite
Rebirth does not require Crisis Core Reunion. Adding it before Remake can also change the way you encounter information that the remake games intend to reveal on their own. Treat it as enrichment after you understand the core remake setup, not as homework that must be completed first.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The spoiler warning matters
Crisis Core is closely tied to the original story. If you have not experienced the original FINAL FANTASY VII or the remake project, playing it early can expose information intended to be discovered later. For a spoiler-sensitive first run, complete Remake, decide whether you want the additional context, and only then consider Reunion. Players who already know the original story can place it earlier without that same concern.
Is the original Final Fantasy VII required?
No. The original FINAL FANTASY VII is optional, but it is valuable for readers who want to understand what the remake project is changing, preserving or reinterpreting. It supplies the source narrative and gives you a reference point for the newer trilogy.
A 2026 GamesRadar interview report quotes director Naoki Hamaguchi saying that “the storyline of the original Final Fantasy 7 is very much enshrined within the story [and] the narrative of the Remake series as a thing in the world.” That does not turn the original into a required entry; it explains why returning players may notice deliberate connections and differences.
When the original is a good choice
- Choose it before the remake games if you actively want the source story and are comfortable with spoilers for later reinterpretations.
- Choose it after Rebirth if you would rather experience the remake’s discoveries without prior knowledge.
- Skip it entirely if your goal is simply to follow the modern trilogy; Remake and Rebirth are designed to provide the needed path.
The original is therefore a context decision, not a technical requirement. Your preferred discovery order matters more than checking it off a list.
Rank #4
- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: o "Graphics Mode" prioritises 4K high-resolution graphics o "Performance Mode" prioritises smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customisable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
Do you need other Compilation material?
No. Advent Children, Before Crisis, novels and mobile spin-offs are not needed for a first Rebirth run. The official FAQ does not require them, and adding them before the main games can make the route harder to follow rather than clearer. Save them for later curiosity about the wider setting.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.If you have already started Rebirth
You do not need to restart solely because you skipped Remake. Open Rebirth’s in-game menu and watch its Remake recap, then continue. The recap exists specifically for players who need the story so far.
If the recap leaves you wanting more character context, you can pause and play Remake before returning. If you are enjoying Rebirth and do not want to interrupt it, finish your current run and use Remake as a later prequel experience. Neither choice invalidates your save or requires Crisis Core, the original game or INTERmission.
Edition and availability checks before you buy
Availability changes by platform, region and edition. Before purchasing, confirm that the listing is for the game you intend to play, that it runs on your system and that the edition includes the content you want. In particular, Intergrade includes Episode INTERmission, while a standard Remake release may not include that side episode.
Recommended Free Tools
Also verify current stock and regional listings rather than relying on an old recommendation. The order itself does not change when editions or platforms change: the important distinction is that Remake supplies Part 1, Intergrade adds the optional Yuffie episode, and Rebirth follows as Part 2.
Best Value
- 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.
- ICONIC SOUNDTRACK - The epic soundtrack has been fully remastered, with re-arranged and orchestrated tracks that dynamically respond to the action, offering an immersive, emotionally charged musical experience.
Decision guide
Choose the simple route if you want the cleanest first experience
Play Remake or Intergrade, optionally complete INTERmission, then play Rebirth. This minimizes spoiler exposure and gives you the direct story continuity the trilogy is built around.
Add the original if you enjoy comparing adaptations
Play the original when seeing the source narrative and the remake project’s reinterpretation is part of the appeal. Accept that it may reveal story information before the newer games do.
Add Crisis Core when Zack’s history is your priority
Play Reunion for its Zack and SOLDIER background, preferably after you have the core Remake context and understand the spoiler trade-off. It enriches the journey but does not fill a missing prerequisite.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchFinal recommendation
For most newcomers, the complete answer is Remake or Remake Intergrade first, Episode INTERmission only if wanted, and Rebirth afterward. Rebirth’s built-in recap makes a direct start possible, but the preceding Remake remains the strongest preparation. Crisis Core Reunion, the original Final Fantasy VII and the rest of the Compilation are optional routes for specific kinds of context, not required checkpoints.
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.
