It is somewhat difficult to believe that Final Fantasy 7 Remake has been out for six years. This is not because the game feels ahead of its time, but rather the opposite. It is a relatively recent title that, upon revisiting it, feels like a time capsule of game design trends that have become less common since its release. Fortunately, even though certain aspects feel dated, it remains a highly enjoyable experience that is easy to recommend.

Part of this aged feeling comes from the existence of the sequel, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Rebirth expands on Remake’s ideas with great confidence and, in some ways, rejects a few of its mechanics. Rebirth represents evolution and revolution, which naturally makes Remake feel slightly outdated by comparison.

However, Remake also manages to feel old on its own merits. It was released at a strange time, right at the beginning of pandemic lockdowns, but also at a turning point in game design trends. Looking back, one can see that game design was shifting right when this title launched. Remake ended up being one of the last games to follow the trends and traditions established early in the PlayStation 4 era. The mission design and the way areas are laid out all feel a little older than they actually are.

Then there is the visual presentation. Even with the next-generation updates, there is a strange contrast where the main heroes look like PlayStation 5 characters, while many non-player characters look and move like they came from a PlayStation 3 game. Remake is full of these dichotomies. These things were noticeable at launch, and time has only made them more apparent, likely due to the game’s long development cycle.

Despite this, the game is still brilliant. There is an energy to Remake that is hard to resist. It represents Final Fantasy getting back in the saddle and finding a comfort zone where the developers know they can thrive. Remake is, by definition, a re-run of something we have seen before, but it is also experimental and thoughtful in how it interprets that past. It remains a game that is easy to love.

This new version for Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 is largely predictable. It is a reliable port of the PlayStation 5 “Intergrade” version, which includes visual upgrades and a standalone mini-campaign that bridges the gap to the sequel. It is a worthy version of the game.

We can streamline the analysis of the port here. The Xbox Series X version is visually indistinguishable from the PlayStation 5 version, though it lacks the haptic controller feedback and has slightly longer load times. However, Xbox has features to offset this, such as Quick Resume, which eliminates the long initial load-in. Additionally, this version supports Play Anywhere, allowing you to switch between Xbox and PC easily.

The Switch 2 version is obviously not visually identical to the big console versions. DLSS does a lot of heavy lifting here, meaning the game is rendered at a lower resolution and then AI-upscaled. This is common on the platform, and the results are generally good. It can look a bit dithered, with some textures appearing fuzzy or “dotty” in the background. The other main issue is the hair, which can look strange, but the result is excellent by the standards of the hardware, especially in handheld mode where some imperfections are hidden.

What you have are two serviceable versions of a fascinating and great game. The game itself has that time capsule vibe, but the way it played was never the most interesting thing about FF7 Remake.

This is a gripping game because of what it grapples with: the concept of remaking one of the greatest games of all time not in a straight do-over, but in a total rethinking. It ends up not just reinterpreting the original, but having a conversation with it. It is appropriate that some pre-orders of these new versions included a free copy of the original. To get the optimum experience, you will want to play both.

There is another reason to play, of course: Rebirth. Rebirth is newer and was nominated for Game of the Year in 2024. It is absolutely brilliant and a fantastic sequel to Remake. Remake is worth playing on its own, but the promise of Rebirth arriving on these platforms soon is more than enough reason to play Remake now and get excited for the third game, which could seal this trilogy’s reputation as one of the finest in gaming history.

These games deserve to be experienced by more people. That chance is now here for more people than ever.