Don’t dismiss the entirety of Final Fantasy‘s mobile game output – there are actually one or two bright spots among that fairly dull bunch. Final Fantasy – and Square Enix as a whole – has a spotty history with mobile games. From the recent reveal that Square’s mobile games are greatly underperforming compared to money-makers like Final Fantasy XIVto the sudden shutdown of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, they’ve had an especially bad run lately. Except for the Pixel Remasters and the occasional mobile port of something like Final Fantasy Tactics, FF on mobile leaves a lot to be desired.

That said, there’s actually a pretty good Final Fantasy game available on most smartphones now – and it’s a mobile original, not a port of a classic. There’s a good reason for it, too – Final Fantasy Dimensions does many things differently from most of Square’s other mobile games, and most mobile games in general. It hasn’t exactly garnered a large audience, at least not in the West, but maybe it should. It’s got everything you want out of a Final Fantasy game, and doesn’t fall into any of the classic mobile game dark patterns.

Final Fantasy Dimensions Isn’t Your Average Mobile Game

What FF Dimensions Does Right

The first great strength of Final Fantasy Dimensions is that it’s a completely standalone game – it does have a sequel, but you don’t have to have played any other Final Fantasy game in your life to understand what it is or how to play it. This immediately gives it an advantage over things like Brave Exvius and the various FF7 mobile spinoffs, as it appeals both to series newcomers and to fans looking for a new original Final Fantasy game to play.

What really sets it apart from other mobile games, though, is the fact that Final Fantasy Dimensions has no microtransactions – well, sort of. On iOS, you do have to buy individual chapters to continue the story, but they’re not expensive, running $2 to $5 each, or $13.99 as a bundle. Think of it like buying DLC, since once you’ve bought them, they’re yours to keep. On Android, the game is a one-time purchase for $11.99, and comes with all chapters unlocked. Either way, it’s pretty cheap for a 40–50-hour game.

It also avoids the dark patterns that many mobile games force you into, instead focusing on providing a quality Final Fantasy experience on mobile phones. There are no gacha elements like in Brave Exvius or The First Soldier – the only things you can buy are further chapters of the story. The rest of the characters, abilities, and items can only be gained by playing through the game. There are no timers or limits on gameplay that force you to wait or spend expensive premium currency to progress, either.

Dimensions‘ sequel did try to introduce some gacha elements and microtransactions during its original Japan release, but these were removed for the US version.

I think this is largely because FF Dimensions is a product of its time. It was initially released in 2010, before smartphones were as ubiquitous as they are today. Mobile games hadn’t really figured out how profitable microtransactions and gacha elements could be. Instead, many mobile game devs in Japan released console-quality games episodically, charging a small fee for each part – hence FF Dimensions‘ division into multiple standalone chapters.

Although I’d still prefer to just buy the game as a whole in one lump sum, it’s a lot more honest and less predatory than gacha games that prey on the player’s fear of missing out to get them to spend money. Unfortunately, that’s the kind of thing many players have come to expect from mobile games as a whole; in general, few mobile games are complete experiences in and of themselves. FF Dimensions is a shining example of one that doesn’t fall into these traps.

Why Final Fantasy Dimensions Is A Great Spin-Off

How It Captures The Heart Of Final Fantasy

But far from being a better-than-average mobile game, FF Dimensions is actually pretty good in its own right. It has a solid story, following dual parties of Warriors of Light and Warriors of Darkness, who initially exist in two separate worlds that eventually merge into one. It’s one of the more interesting iterations of the whole WoL trope Final Fantasy games often play on, and it’s a decent enough framework to hang a story on.

The story is just a backdrop, though, for an incredibly faithful recreation of classic Final Fantasy gameplay. I’d say the closest comparison is Final Fantasy 5; FF Dimensions uses a turn-based combat system, with turn order determined by ATB. The Job System also makes a comeback, with exclusive jobs for the Warriors of Light and Darkness, as well as new jobs unlocked by completing chapters. You can also create unique Fusion Abilities by combining certain job skills within the same character’s arsenal.

It does have its flaws, mainly with presentation: Dimensions uses the same 16-bit-inspired art style as the pre-Pixel Remaster ports. It’s not my favorite way devs have tried to emulate classic Final Fantasy visuals; characters often wind up looking oddly chunky, their unique features lost in the muck. But it really does evoke 2D FF in its Mode 7 world map and its side-scrolling battles. That and the music almost make up for it, even if the latter doesn’t reach the heights of Nobuo Uematsu’s classic Final Fantasy OSTs.

It’s not a mobile game with a Final Fantasy coat of paint; it’s a Final Fantasy game you can play on your phone.

In short, Final Fantasy Dimensions is a good mobile game because it delivers just about everything a fan would expect from Final Fantasy. The series’ classic gameplay, characteristic story elements, iconic visuals, and evocative music are all there. It doesn’t demand anything more from you than the one-time price of admission and however much time you want to sink into it. It’s not a mobile game with a Final Fantasy coat of paint; it’s a Final Fantasy game you can play on your phone.

Final Fantasy Dimensions Deserves A Console Port

Or At Least A Touch-Up

FF Dimensions never really caught on; it has its small-yet-devoted fan base, but it’s always been a lesser-known Final Fantasy game. I think it’s time to change that. There’s no reason a Final Fantasy Dimensions console and PC port couldn’t work; even a new mobile release, with some touched-up graphics, would be huge. This underrated game deserves a bigger audience, one it’s not going to get collecting dust on the app store.

But bring it to consoles (and more importantly, to handhelds – 2D Final Fantasy always plays best on a handheld) with a few legit trailers and a little more fanfare, and I think it’d see a renewal in popularity. Dimensions isn’t the newest or most original Final Fantasy game, but it’s by far the best one you can buy on the app store, and it deserves a little praise.