Are Final Fantasy VII Remake & Rebirth Worth Playing if You Never Played FF7?

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is already shaping up to be a serious Game of the Year contender. But with all the buzz, newcomers might be asking: Do I need to play the original Final Fantasy VII before diving into FF7 Rebirth?

Do you need to play Final Fantasy 7 before FF7 Rebirth?

The short answer? No, you don’t. But the long answer? I highly recommend it. Not just because Final Fantasy VII is a classic but also because the Remake & Rebirth series are far from straight remakes. Instead, they’re weaving new tales while paying homage to the original. You can dive into the Remake & Rebirth as a newbie and still have a blast. However, you’ll miss out on some subtext and plot points. These games aren’t just remakes; they’re fresh narratives that build on knowledge of Final Fantasy VII.

Sure, you could jump in blind and let the new experience be your only one. But I think the meta storytelling, where the game almost winks at the audience and says, “Yep, that’s different this time,” is only possible if you know how the original played out. So, some of the “twists” in the modern remakes are built around the player having knowledge the game isn’t giving you otherwise.

Final Fantasy VII before Remake & Rebirth gives you context for the changes

I can’t spill all the beans without spoilers, but many of the changes from the original storyline are meant to throw off veteran players. For instance, a huge twist from the end of the original game is just casually dropped in the first hours of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth with no fanfare. New players won’t even realize this information wasn’t common knowledge for most of the original game’s playthrough.

If this were some obscure RPG without a digital release, I’d understand the urge to jump straight into Remake & Rebirth. But let’s be real: there’s no major obstacle to beating Final Fantasy VII in 2024. You can snag the game on pretty much any modern hardware for less than $10. Plus, these versions come with quality-of-life features like the ability to turn off random encounters.

I’m not here to tell you how to enjoy your games. If you’re not keen on playing the original, Final Fantasy VII Remake & Rebirth still offers a ton of fun. But if you want to get the most out of the experience, I strongly suggest giving Final Fantasy VII a go before diving into the Remake & Rebirth. If you’re really not into playing it, at least check out a plot summary on YouTube.

You can play Final Fantasy VII on PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. Final Fantasy VII Remake is on PS4, PS5, and PC. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is available only on PS5.