The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Plan for about 15 hours to finish the main story of Final Fantasy (the original game, also called Final Fantasy I). For a first playthrough, roughly 10–20 hours is a sensible planning range; exploring, grinding, getting turned around, or hunting rare encounters can push a run longer. These are player-based estimates, not an official Square Enix completion-time promise.
How long does it take to beat Final Fantasy I?
Lerna’s page, which reports HowLongToBeat data and was accessed in 2026, lists 15 hours for the main story, 17 hours for the main story plus side content, and 18 hours for completionist play. The page does not say when its underlying estimate snapshot was collected, so treat these as current secondary-site figures rather than official or precisely dated statistics. See Lerna’s reported playtime figures.
A separate GameFAQs report by user mninp describes one Pixel Remaster playthrough: 17 hours 57 minutes for the main story and 20 hours 37 minutes for 100% completion. The player said finding Warmech alone took two and a half hours. That is one person’s experience, not a typical-player average or a guarantee of how long a similar run will take. Read the GameFAQs playtime report.
What counts as finishing the game?
Main story
The main-story estimate covers completing the core game. The 15-hour figure is a useful planning point, but it is not a controlled benchmark: familiarity, navigation, combat pace, and how much time you spend on optional activities can all change an individual run.
#1 Best Overall
- The games that inspired a generation come to life once more, in the ultimate 2D pixel remaster!
- These games are newly developed remaster editions based on the original titles. Some of the changes and additional elements found in other remakes of these games are not included.
- The Anniversary Edition includes a pixel character sticker sheet.
- Universally updated 2D pixel graphics, including the iconic FINAL FANTASY character designs created by Kazuko Shibuya, the original artist and current collaborator.
- Beautifully rearranged soundtrack in a faithful FINAL FANTASY style, overseen by original composer Nobuo Uematsu.
Completionist play
“Completionist” and “100%” depend on the player’s definition of complete. The reported figures are higher than the main-story time, but the sources do not establish a universal checklist or a reliable average gap. In mninp’s single run, 100% took 2 hours 40 minutes longer than the story; that difference should not be generalized to every playthrough.
Does the edition or platform change the playtime?
There is no apples-to-apples timing benchmark across editions in the sources available. Square Enix says the Pixel Remasters are based on the original Nintendo and Super Nintendo versions, leave the stories unchanged, and adjust game balance. The publisher also says its app version is based on the PlayStation version, with some features differing among editions. These differences mean two players’ runs may not be directly comparable, but they do not establish a specific number of hours saved or added. Square Enix Pixel Remaster FAQ and Square Enix app FAQ.
Rank #2
- Universally updated 2D pixel graphics, including the iconic FINAL FANTASY character pixel designs created by Kazuko Shibuya, the original artist and current collaborator
- Additional boost features to expand gameplay options, including switching off random encounters and adjusting experience gained multipliers between 0 and 4
- Beautifully rearranged soundtrack in a faithful FINAL FANTASY style, overseen by original composer Nobuo Uematsu
- Including modernized UI, auto-battle options, and more
- Dive into the world of the game with supplemental extras like the bestiary, illustration gallery, and music player
Can encounter and EXP settings make it faster?
The Steam and mobile Pixel Remaster versions received encounter on/off controls and EXP multipliers from 0 to 4 in an update dated 31 January 2024. Turning encounters off or increasing EXP can affect pacing, but Square Enix does not quantify a time saving, so there is no supported revised completion estimate for using those options. Square Enix update announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Are these official Square Enix playtime estimates?
No official playtime estimate appears in the Square Enix FAQ and announcement reviewed here. The 15-hour, 17-hour, and 18-hour figures come from secondary reporting of HowLongToBeat data; the precise story and 100% totals come from one player’s post. Accordingly, use the figures to plan broadly rather than as a promised duration. The practical 10–20-hour first-run range is an editorial estimate based on those reports, not a statistic published by Square Enix or a controlled test.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Selling over five million copies since its release in 2000, FINAL FANTASY IX proudly returns on Nintendo Switch!
- Experience the adventure once again with characters and pre-rendered movies featured in high definition, as well as a new booster system with a selection of various modes such as "high speed" or "no encounters"!
- Abilities - Learn new abilities by equipping items. When fully mastered, these abilities can be used even without equipping items, allowing for nearly endless customization options.
- Trance - Fill your Trance gauge as you sustain hits in battle. When fully charged, your characters will enter Trance mode, granting them powerful new skills!
- Synthesis - Never let items go to waste. Combine two items or pieces of equipment together and make better, stronger items!
Rank #4
- The games that inspired a generation come to life once more, in the ultimate 2D pixel remaster!
- Enjoy universally updated 2D pixel graphics and the beautifully rearranged soundtrack.
- Gameplay is improved with modernised UI, and extras such as a bestiary, illustration gallery and music player allow further immersion into the world of the game.
Rank #3
- 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.
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