Final Fantasy V

About

This remake reimagines one of the earliest mainline Final Fantasy entries with crisp 2D pixel art and overhauled audio. You play as Bartz, a wanderer who stumbles into a crisis when a meteorite strikes and a kingdom’s ruler vanishes. Team up with a princess and a hulking amnesiac to track down shattered elemental crystals while navigating a world where magic and technology collide. The turn-based combat lets you mix spells, jobs, and equipment across four party slots, with deep character customization that rewards experimentation. Exploration leans on classic JRPG structure, towns, dungeons, and midgame ship travel, all tied together by a mythic tale of power and sacrifice. The charm here lies in its balance of retro design and modern polish. Originally released in 1993, the story still holds up with its layered characters and worldbuilding, now paired with slicker battle animations and remastered soundtracks. It runs on Switch, PC, and consoles, letting players jump in with minimal fuss. Though it lacks multiplayer, the 60-hour single-player campaign has earned a 92% on Metacritic, with fans praising its job system as one of the series’ best. If you’ve ever wanted to try a Final Fantasy before the stories got convoluted, this is a solid entry point.

Storyline

Final Fantasy V begins on a day when the world's wind currents begin to slow and stale. Deeply troubled by this occurrence, the king of Tycoon makes ready to travel to the Wind Shrine on the back of his drake, quelling the worries of his daughter, Princess Lenna. Upon arriving at the Shrine, the king bears witness to the Wind Crystal shattering before his eyes. Meanwhile, a young traveler named Bartz, resting in the woods near Tycoon, witnesses a meteorite plunge to the planet's surface just outside the castle. Bartz promptly investigates, discovering Lenna lying unconscious from attack. After rescuing her, they discover an old man in the debris with partial amnesia named Galuf. Lenna explains that she had been on her way to the Wind Shrine after her father. Galuf suddenly recalls that it was his original destination as well, opting to accompany her. Though the trio part ways, Bartz soon encounters Lenna and Galuf again assaulted by monsters in a quaking valley. The three travel together, finding all land routes blockaded by the upheavals caused by the meteorite's fall. Exploring a cavern, they encounter a den of pirates and their leader, Faris. With the help of the pirate captain, the group makes its way to the Wind Shrine to discover the shattered Crystal, but no sign of the missing king. The shards react to their presence, however, and an image of Tycoon appears, explaining to them that they must protect those Crystals that yet remain.