Summary
Square Enix’sFinal Fantasyfranchise continues to chug along. After last year’s widely acclaimedFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, the second chapter of the planned trilogy in the modern remake of the beloved original, fans are now eagerly awaiting the third and final installment. Beyond that, there is assuredly moreFinal Fantasycoming down the line, with the next mainline entry, presumablyFinal Fantasy 17, to follow.
One of the highlights ofFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirththat many longtime fans were looking forward to seeing in the remake version was the Gold Saucer casino/amusement park. A famously vibrant and dazzling location, the Saucer serves as a bit of a breather, bringing some much-needed downtime and levity to the party’s journey while also having its own share of secrets and emotionally charged character moments. Prior to that, the latest numbered entry, 2023’sFinal Fantasy 16, was a turn down a darker road, and lacked mini-games entirely. ButFinal Fantasy 17has good potential to feature a version of the Gold Saucer to provide another range of diverse mini-games along with whatever new elements it will bring to the table.
Final Fantasy 17 Should Have its Own Version of FF7’s Gold Saucer
Final Fantasy 7’s Gold Saucer’s Plethora of Mini-Games
Many RPGs have included mini-games sprinkled in their epic adventures; for example,The Witcher 3’s popular Gwent CCG.Final Fantasy 7, however, went all-out in this regard. Within The Gold Saucer’s Wonder Square and adjacent themed areas, along with the Dustbowl below the Saucer proper, there is an array of engrossing and in cases quite challenging mini-games on offer:
With the exception of Queen’s Blood, all were in the original 1997 title. Conversely, the snowboarding game is absent fromFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth, though it may return in an updated form in the third chapter.
While some fans felt there was an overindulgence in the number of these inRebirth, still, they do provide a good deal of distracting entertainment along with tangible benefits. Though most of the above activities are optional, many of therewards granted from the Gold Saucer’s gamescan be substantial and helpful, providing weapons and upgrades sometimes unavailable elsewhere. WithFF16forgoing mini-games completely, Square has good reasons to consider including a hub like the Saucer in the next entry.
How Final Fantasy 17 Could Have a Mini-Game Hub Like the Gold Saucer
Few otherFinal Fantasytitles have had a location likeFF7’s Gold Saucer. Not only does it fit incredibly well within the setting, the games themselves are diverse and largely enjoyable. The Saucer also happens to be where some important character and story beats occur, likeCloud’s choice of whom to take on a dateduring the group’s stay there.Final Fantasy 17could play off these and other aspects by having something like it that doubles as an iconic location and a treasure trove of mini-games.
Rumors have been suggesting that Square is developing aFinal Fantasy 9remake, though it has not confirmed this as of now.FF9’s Tetra Master, though, could provide another good basis forFinal Fantasy 17to draw inspiration from for its possible mini-games.
Though hardly anything is known about what directionFinal Fantasy 17may be going in at this point, Square is known for experimenting with, iterating on, and reinventing the series with each release. Developers have already hinted that fans might seeQueen’s Blood come back, which could set it up to appear inFinal Fantasy 17. But the studio going the extra mile with a place like the Gold Saucer that houses multiple new mini-games and features prominently in the tale could show off more of its creativity.FF17invoking the Saucer’s unique vibes while putting its own spin on them could make for the best of both worlds in the next entry.
