Final Fantasy VII Explained: Where to Start With the 1997 Classic and the Modern Remake Trilogy

Final Fantasy VII is the 1997 PlayStation RPG that turned a Japanese series into a global one. If you are hearing the name now, it is probably because Square Enix is rebuilding the whole thing as a three-part modern series, and two of those parts are already out.

So what is it? You play as Cloud Strife, a moody ex-soldier with a giant sword, who falls in with an eco-terrorist group called Avalanche. They are fighting Shinra, a megacorporation draining the planet's life energy to power its cities. Along the way you meet Aerith, Tifa, Barret, and a one-winged villain named Sephiroth who is one of the most famous bad guys in gaming. The story goes to some wild places. There is a reason people still argue about it almost thirty years later.

Here is the part that confuses newcomers, so let me make it simple. There are two ways into Final Fantasy VII. The first is the original 1997 game, a classic turn-based RPG with blocky polygon characters and pre-rendered backgrounds. It has aged, but the writing and music hold up, and it is cheap. The second way is the modern remake, which is not one game but a planned trilogy that retells the same story with full 3D, voice acting, and real-time combat. The two are different experiences telling roughly the same tale.

If you want the modern version, you start with Final Fantasy VII Remake. It came out April 10, 2020, and only covers the first chunk of the original story, the part set in the city of Midgar. It scored 87 on Metacritic. Then comes Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second part, which landed February 29, 2024, opened up a huge world map, and scored 92. Play Remake first, then Rebirth. Skipping straight to Rebirth will spoil you and leave you lost.

Where can you actually play these? Remake (in its upgraded "Intergrade" form) and Rebirth are both on PlayStation 5 and PC through Steam, where they go on sale often. Remake first hit PS4 back in 2020. Square Enix has also confirmed both games are coming to Nintendo Switch 2 and Xbox Series X|S, with Rebirth dated for June 3, 2026, so the audience is about to get a lot bigger. The original 1997 game is available cheaply on Steam, mobile, and Switch if you want the classic.

Is it worth playing? Yes, with one honest caveat. The modern Remake and Rebirth are gorgeous, the combat is fast and satisfying, and Rebirth in particular is one of the best-reviewed games Square Enix has ever shipped. The catch is the cost of entry. You are buying two full-price games to get two-thirds of one story, and the ending is not here yet. If that bothers you, the complete 1997 original gives you the whole tale for a few dollars right now.

About that ending. The third and final part of the remake trilogy has been teased by director Tetsuya Nomura, who said in 2025 the reveal timing is already decided, but Square Enix has not officially confirmed a name or a release date. Treat any specific title or date you see online as a rumor until Square Enix says so directly. The smart move is to play Remake and Rebirth now and let the finale come when it comes.

One last thing for the curious. This series spun off way beyond games, with a movie (Advent Children), prequels (Crisis Core), and decades of fan art and theory videos. The community around Final Fantasy VII is huge and very online, which is part of why the name keeps trending even between releases. If you have never touched it, this is a fine moment to start.