Are Final Fantasy Games Connected? This is Dumb!

[@TJOEL20]

When people ask if the Final Fantasy games are connected, they’re obviously talking about the narrative, not the gameplay or graphics you goober.

[@TheReturnersHideout]

1:30, 2:36 - It’s mentioned twice! Thanks for commenting!

[@TJOEL20]

@@TheReturnersHideout Yes but the entire rest of the video is rendered pointless because it misses the point entirely

[@dank_tomatoes1165]

Well I'll answer it for you. The final fantasy series is an anthology. It has core fundamental mechanics that are shared by one another, but beyond that they all live within their own separate continuities , stories and universes, with the exception of subtle references from it's respective predecessors.

[@kingd751]

Yes and no. Some are connected over certain timelines and others are standalone. FFX and FFVII are a good example that when looking deep into both the lore and story lines a lot of it lines up and makes sense. So I get where you’re coming from but it goes both ways

[@the-birbo]

@@kingd751 they're also connected to 13 and 15

[@Black_omen]

Also If you think about it, a lot of these Final Fantasy games have the same head chefs who makes these sandwiches.

[@Valentien23]

The actual gods of the FF universe which features Galaxies of FFs

[@achidente]

…but are they connected? Like, do they exist in the same universe? Do characters know each other? That’s what I’m curious about.

[@geigercourtier]

I think we’re in the wrong place

[@achidente]

Totally.

[@aqilmarzukie1130]

I have been searching for answers for years now

[@the-birbo]

The answer is some of them are connected. Final Fantasy 7, 10, 13, and 15 are all in the same universe. And 9, 12, 14, and Tactics (maybe 11 too?) are in the same universe. I'm not sure of any others that share a universe.

[@bryants1863]

@@the-birbo 9 does have the Buster Sword hanging in one of the weapon shops, though it could just be a simple nod. That game also introduces the other planet so that one is iffy for me.

[@RyzenX12]

Imagine how hard a sudden lore drop would be in like ff20 or sum that just suddenly explains that every ff is in the same universe. Like you get to the 20th game and the whole freakin universe is suddenly opened up to you

[@TheReturnersHideout]

I would probably cry like a toddler if that ever happened lol. I’m here for it! Square, get on it!

[@Danahell]

I think that's sorta what Dissidia does, but outside FFX and VII that do take place in the same universe, just in different planets and a 1000 year time lapse of difference, they're all in different universes only connected through the interdimensional void, with Gilgamesh being the only character in common, after being thrown into the void by Ex-death, he roamed throughout dimensions and supposedly the Gilgamesh we see in different FF games is the same and one Gilgamesh from FFV. What Dissidia does is not saying that it's the same universe, but rather a multiverse with each FF being in it's own universe, Cosmos and Chaos pull their own champions from each universe in different time periods.

[@RyzenX12]

@@Danahell Yeah I see ppl arguing that ff10 and ff7 aren't in the same universe but they clearly are. It's cool because they are both my favorite final fantasys

[@Danahell]

@@RyzenX12 Yeah I don't get why the denial, it's not like they're direct sequel/prequel of each other, it's just a vague connection that doesn't really affect either story

[@mindlessmeat4055]

Final Fantasy is like a cloud. They can be massive or thin. They can be fluffy or hard. But they all have something in common, they inspire imagination (yes even rain clouds do this)

[@et7313]

I haven't seen a hard cloud, but I get it

[@musicaleuphoria8699]

​@@et7313 😏

[@ypto82]

​@@musicaleuphoria8699hell no

[@SH19922x]

You dorks are insufferable.

[@thatdonparkerVODS]

It’s strange how appropriate this is.

[@iansmith8783]

at the end of one it says that after chaos was destroyed, that history returned to the way it was, maybe with the same people and events but a bit different and with no memory of the chaos-tainted timeline. so i always like to imagine that the final fantasy world is constantly being remade by cosmic events, with many familiar elements returning but constantly being rearranged. the same story being told over and over again in different ways.

[@luiiibilll00]

Probably how our universe works if you think about it

[@iansmith8783]

@@luiiibilll00 yeah. Especially if you start getting into quantum theory it's mind-boggling!

[@luiiibilll00]

@iansmith8783 not just quantum mechanics but also if you break everything down it all tells you the same conclusion

[@noname-nd2uc]

This is how I thought about it. That each game is tens of thousands of years apart after calamities that ends their world

[@dumdumchord]

When I woke up this morning for some reason I was wondering if somehow Baron castle in FFIV and the Ancient castle in FFVI could be the same castle since they both contained Odin, even with the secret room considered where you find Raiden off to the right much like how you find Odin in FFIV. It would make sense that as time went by the castle was buried, and there's sand near Baron castle in FFIV.

[@hanimelord_2961]

You wasted 2 minutes and 23 seconds of my life just to tell me their not connected should have just said that from the start

[@TheReturnersHideout]

The thumbnail literally says ‘no’ however I am grateful for your 2 a half minutes! Hopefully there was something that you enjoyed 🙂

[@friend4470]

3:57 All you had to say this, oh my god you said nothing for 4 entire minutes and only answered the question in the last 30 seconds.

[@TheReturnersHideout]

lol I answered it in the thumbnail really

[@wombatpandaa9774]

As someone who has dabbled in FF, played a lot of FFXIV, and is now entering the series with XVI, it seems like they're connected in a very meta sense, and all other connections kind of stem from those meta connections. It seems like a lot of characters share names or even cross over into other games, sometimes in canon events and sometimes as just Easter eggs of dubious canonicity, but the game worlds are always separate and are arguably in entirely separate universes. The exceptions to this rule seem to be special crossover games like Kingdom Hearts, Dissidia, the gacha games, etc. where the rules are broken in specific and hand-wavily explained ways. But I could be wrong and I'm excited to see how right or wrong I am as I play through the series.

[@snesmonkec8508]

im just curious about one thing: do the same rules of magic (like, the energy, lifestream, materia, idk i just know FFVII) apply on every single one of this stories?

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Nope, every FF has different rules. Some, you’ll learn magic through buying it, others you’ll learn it by leveling up.

[@finurlig7964]

The Returner's Hideout videos are just getting better and better. Entertaining and interesting at the same time, and with such crisp editing. Love the videos and the style!

[@igiveyoudispear9975]

4:30 minutes and this dude talks about sandwiches the entire time.

[@Kinger_of_the_circus]

So I don’t have to play ff1 to understand what’s going on in ff16?

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Not at all, just mainly themes and some familiar names sprinkled throughout the entire series!

[@SNAKEx197]

@@TheReturnersHideoutah okay. So like materia and mp? Then I won’t feel guilty too much by playing XVI. I played VII, crisis core psp, X. I don’t know if I was missing out on a lot. Thanks for the video, I actually understood what you were talking about!

[@LionOfGondor]

Spells are like tomatoes and change like is one sliced, diced, or mashed into ketchup

[@Brahmsonite]

Final Fantasy Legends must be how a hot dog isn't really a sandwich, but people will try and tell you it is.

[@thehater6189]

I enjoyed the vid! However, it seems that the real point was not addressed in the many similarities and references that go beyond the logistics. They are undoubtedly connected, much like the first sandwich is connected to the second one. Moreso, the sandwich metaphor works wonders in the second sandwich being a sequel to the first sandwich. The question remains as to whether the sandwiches have influenced each other in the narrative sense. Undoubtedly, ff4 influenced ff5, which influenced ff6 and so on but are the NARRATIVES connected!

[@Koto0928]

Best sandwich analogy I've ever heard. How do you feel about the theroy "stranger of paradise" tires them all together?

[@TheReturnersHideout]

I'd like to explore it more before really coming up with anything in an official way. I've got SOME opinions on it, but I'll wait until everything is out and I get a chance to REALLY dig into it! Thanks so much!

[@Blackfire_2022]

It is something to consider but I like to think of Strangers of Paradise as an alternate history where the time loop went haywire. Or that Garland broke opposed to the heros and that made all of them connect.

[@shinra358]

Strangers in Paradise says otherwise.

[@brophwyd]

Unfortunately, you are wrong, as per Kitase himself. There is a timeline. An example he gave in *official publications, as an official stance of Square Enix, as a writer for the franchise* was X-2 and VII. VII is a sequel to X-2 which is a sequel to X. They exist in the same universe, and there is a chronology to the games. This is not arguable, Square has confirmed this. The arguable part is whether the chronology matters like at all. Which it pretty obviously does not, except for the direct sequels. It's like the LoZ. Other than the direct sequels, knowing that there is a timeline is pointless.

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Having X-2 and 7 within the same universe (he says in an interview that FF7 takes place in Japan after an accident) doesn’t inherently establish an entire timeline. If I buy ice cream from a store it doesn’t make it an ice cream store - there’s a lot more going on, more nuances - and your point is right on; the chronology (I think) doesn’t matter. Not yet anyway. It’s the same theory of Lavos and Jenova being from the same dimension; it’s fun, (and we all know I love to stretch things sometimes) but that’s it. I once looked at the world maps from FF3 and compared it against every other map trying to find rough similarities and got close, but nothing I could make a video about. I do want to thank you for this comment though! One day I’ll get back to making videos again and when I do, I can’t wait for all the debates!! Thanks again!

[@MobiusTrigger7]

I mean X literally has a character named Shinra And in the FF7 remake that character makes an appearance as an ancestor to president Shinra He even talks about taking the LIFEFORCE from the PLANET I mean its smacking you in the damn face All but confirming it's connected. This food aligory is not only annoying but stupidly wrong 😑

[@170skeith]

I mean kinda it's a multiverse and some stuff like there's only 1 Gilgamesh/Yojimbo who travels across the multiverse looking for strong fighters and powerful weapons and some games have direct sequels but other than that the different universes stay separated from each other save for niche cases

[@Enuhbilatty]

Geez, haven't found a video within the minute it comes out.

[@thanamesswish6077]

Okay, serious comment now, this is a great video.. I love how you use sandwiches as the rating system, it really works well.. I do love FFX, but it's mostly from it being my first experience into the series.. Afterwards, I've become a huge fan of 7, 8, and the first part of 13? (Whatever one had Lightning as the MC) but the later parts were anti climactic.. 3 was an absolute masterpiece for it's time.. I like Vincent in "Advent Children" even though he's there for all of 2 minutes..

[@ryu9933]

Lol I love the sandwich analogy, never thought of FF games the same as sandwiches. Love the video, now I'm hungry for a sandwich... Maybe in the mood to play an FF game... Hmmm maybe both 😄👍

[@hardhead6871]

What about the two FF games that take place on Ivalice... Are those connected?

[@TheReturnersHideout]

If you can find the same locations in those games, then yes. I don't know lol - I think they are connected as in they take place in the same world. Same races, visuals, etc. But I don't know enough yet to really dig down deep.

[@Beigemage0621]

You said it yourself, the stories have evolved with each numbered title. It stands to reason that as the plot gets more complex a MCU-like multiverse is the next and popular trend to follow. The Void in FF5 that allows Gilgamesh, Omega and Shinryu to cameo in canon in other games is proof that it could be written in. The variant concept in Loki could be applied to summons. A center watcher figure like in Dissidia could be added or centered upon. But until Marvel figures out how to work the multiverse into a franchise I think FF is better with the cameos. I'm just going to put Strangers of Paradise by itself as it breaks and diminishes the canon of the worlds you visit (Showing up in the FF6 dimension and breaking the Warring Triad statues to open a platform for example), lets call thoss visions. Personally I prefer the story telling of tbe first 9 but times and storytelling changes the more money you put into something.

[@joshuapaul592]

My last comment was so rude for no reason so it’s down….my bad. I do feel there is a lot of evidence to support connection in later entries though.

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Heya Josh, there wasn't a need to take it down! Criticism is a GOOD thing, and I fully agree with you; rude or not! I can completely understand we're all super passionate about this series and BELIEVE me, it shows through the comment section of nearly every video I've ever put out. I hope this exchange didn't sour the experience of the Hideout and that you'll swing back around and watch a few videos and see if my style is for you or not! Either way, I thank you for commenting and voicing your opinion.

[@joshuapaul592]

Absolutely not holmes! I just felt bad keep it up!

[@joshuapaul592]

Love the attitude, and bein the “bigger person” my dude. You got my sub for what it’s worth! Lol

[@TheReturnersHideout]

It’s worth a lot! I’m always trying to get better at this KZbin thing, it kinda gained way more subs than I was prepared for honestly lol. Thanks again for watching and commenting! I hope I see your name in more comment sections!

[@Oddy_for]

that thumbnail... you are a great man. bless you.

[@sh4d0wfl4re]

So… I actually disagree with this video pretty entirely. The FF games share a multiverse, and unlike say Pokemon, this multiverse has relevant historical events that echo across Worlds and timelines. Sure sometimes it’s only easter eggs, but then games like FF8 outright state that a boss from FF3 jumped across Worlds after stealing divine power… and now the Sorceresses inherited Hyne’s divine power originally taken from Yggdrasil. Even if the stories of each game are meant to be self contained with no specific recommended play order, the shared multiverse is relevant to world threatening final boss schemes. And whether or not you tree FF9’s Garland as a continuation of FF1/SoP/Dissidia’s Garlands, or just a puppet filled with memories of such gathered from Memoria… Garland and Memoria directly connect FF9’s Terra to FF1’s unnamed planet. While understanding these multiversal events and connections is never required for enjoying an FF game, clearly some version of other games history are frequently canon to (almost?) any numbered title you look deeply into

[@liamcastro9896]

I'm weird so Imade up my own head canon to explain the FF games Before the events of all the FF games their was on big universe with everything from every FF from Chocobos to Summons to Magitek. View it as one big crystal, a star. But something happened that broke the world (something like the opening cutscene of FF14) into smaller worlds (the FF games). Because they were all one whole world at one time they all share things but some have things that others don't. View each different FF world as a shard of the original crystal. I know its dumb but its was my way of explaining it in a cool fantasy way.

[@lemythologia4315]

So... Kingdom Hearts 😁🎉

[@_Promised_]

You can see Shinra’s photo clearly in the remake of ff7 so it is connected.

[@alexisinboxes]

wtf...the whole sandwich thing made it seemingly more complicated than it actually is...

[@justincase43]

i didnt skip a skippable ad for you. congrats on the channel’s growth and getting monetized vids! :-)

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Yay! Thank you!

[@neoachilleos6891]

i'm not sure i got the message but i definitely got hungry

[@swolepokeguy8657]

Ff12, tactics, and 14 have to be. In 14 Ramza and crew came out of the auracite to help defeat the high seraph because they failed in tactics according to that story.

[@eliaz3948]

This is the dumbest yet the most brilliant metaphor I've ever heard XD Thanks for a great video!

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Haha, thank you so much!

[@_._johnkarma_._]

Bro must really like his sandwiches, heard more about food than about games lol

[@julespetrikov]

Quality channel, quality content.

[@kriz2432]

Don't be sorry... I'm hungry too... I wanna eat some... Final Fantasy. 😏😎

[@Blackfire_2022]

Is mayonnaise a final fantasy 🤔 great video BTW great video man (someone will get this reference lol)

[@Black_omen]

No mayonnaise is not a final fantasy…horseradish isn’t either

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Spongebob reference??

[@Blackfire_2022]

@@TheReturnersHideout yeah it is. One of the best lol

[@Thewolfartist24]

0:48, You're starting to remind me of my high school principle.

[@CorvoThan]

so appereantly one can get from the world of one fantasy game to another through the void. but that is kind of a louse connection...

[@Order-Sol]

You just explained it in your thumbnail.

[@Cetra29]

Final Fantasy X, X-2 and VII have the same universe. XIII-LR have the same universe. XII and Tactics have the same universe. ALL Final Fantasys however share the same "interdimensional" connection. That is confirmed by Gilgamesh''s profile in XII. It is the same guy.

[@josephdolph8474]

I think it's a good explanation and a great metaphor I been trying to figure out this explanation for years and now you've shamed me cuz I'm a cook and should've thought of this perfect analogy (metaphor whatever IDK I'm just a cook lol)

[@TheReturnersHideout]

No shame here, brother! Thanks so much for watching and being apart of this whole thing!

[@happi4957]

Im thinking of playing final fantasy but should I wait until final fantasy 16 releases? because Im sure a lot of people will switch over to 16 right?

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Well if you’re talking about the PS5 version, it came out in June! You can for sure start with 16, a LOT of people are probably doing the same thing!

[@thanamesswish6077]

Less than a minute it, and flock youth.. ;) I'm American; born and raised, and I love to use butter for sandwiches.. Mayo is absolute shite.. I thought about being bi, imagined a load in my jaw, and immediately decided, "No, not my thing," at 12 years old.. I'm now 28, still firm in my beliefs; even after 2 biological and 5 steps (11 total if you count positive relationships with kids from the past relationships), and I'd rather eat THAT on a sandwich, than mayo..

[@andrewvirtue5048]

VII Dirge of Cerberus & XII are the best two.

[@fengshoulong9402]

The games that take place in Ivalice are all connected.

[@BenjaminHartleyReturns]

(But some are within a shared continuum)

[@VarmsNet]

There is always Gilgamesh being the actual same person in every game.

[@morteaux3662]

Nope. Only in few, like V, VIII and XII. In IX and XIV, XV is completely different being, although in XIV is same character but not same Gilgamesh (as stated by Yoshi-P)

[@Rowandgs]

Is butter not a normal sandwich ingredient in America?

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Not where I’m at! I’ve seen some KZbin videos of European folks being completely astounded by that fact!

[@mountainmgtow5421]

Now I'm hungry.

[@ry2950]

Fantastic video. Even Quina would be proud of that sandwich analogy.

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Haha I bet so!

[@buddyboi8456]

Fantastic explanation in such short time ❤

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Glad you liked it!

[@polysemy_]

me looking for the "head chef" in ffxv to understand 8 people liking for the persons top comment. im gonna assume its a model and/or voice, ive only played 5 of the games, 3 old 2 new.

[@polysemy_]

and I played 15 after 16 bcs for the longest time I didn't realize that's what "royal edition" was, bcs I also had 14 cuz yknow it's free or whatever, online goofy on console.

[@meltingskeleton2082]

You sir, have earned my sub. Looking forward to more!

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Welcome aboard!

[@Cettywise]

I started playing ff type-0 and they started talking about some things I heard in ff 13. And the war and student soldiers seems a lot like ff 8... And don't even get me started about the eidolons and crystals... I just feel like there's something more connecting these worlds but maybe it's just head cannon run wild 😜

[@musestarlight1]

3:15

[@wlshie7]

u lot dont put butter on toast????

[@steveg9088]

Using Food/sandwich is stupid.

[@TheReturnersHideout]

You’re right! That’s why the title says “this is dumb”. Thanks for that

[@short0811]

Let's go, Lenard! Love your work big guy!

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Appreciate it!

[@dcsniper4637]

Making me hungry with this one

[@Knopey]

Splendid sound design! I dig the all the fine details like the sandwich bite, the dun-dun-dun and all. Cool one 👌

[@TheReturnersHideout]

Glad you like it! I put a bit more effort into this one!

[@robbruss8506]

Terrible name for a game that there is more than one of, as "final" fantasy implies it's the last one. If it's the final fantasy, it's like the highlander. There can be only one...

[@mountainmgtow5421]

The first Final Fantasy was going to be Squaresoft's last game if it wasn't successful, hence FINAL Fantasy.

[@robbruss8506]

@@mountainmgtow5421 cool story. Next game, call something different..."first fantasy, the prequel" or literally anything besides the next number. No really this is the last one, but oh we are gonna remaster and rerelease some also...lolz

[@hakosa4033]

5min video to say "no"

[@chrisjulien7698]

Christ bless you, you lost me at turkey sandwich

[@Proofcomes]

Bro does a whole lot if yapping

[@eijim]

Try searching for Gilgamesh . . .

[@TheReturnersHideout]

I've got a whole video about Gilgamesh and how the FF Multiverse involves all of us in real life, based off of 1 sentence that Gilgamesh says! kzbin.info/www/bejne/iILWf2BtjdCYfa8

[@EAchank]

They are all connected through the Dissidia storyline now!

[@922apocalypse]

ff7 and ff10 are indeed happen in the same world!

[@axe-tq2wn]

Shinra

[@lazydgsf7429]

Damn dude do some research.

[@TheReturnersHideout]

.. literally says “this is dumb” in the title.. I don’t know what you expected but thanks for the comment anyway! What part needed research?

[@MobiusTrigger7]

Sorry but like more than a quarter of the final fantasy franchise is connected in someway. Either be direct sequels or loose sequels. They arnt all connected but a decent amount are The 2 Connected FF4 titles The 4 ff7 games/Movie FFX and X-2 The FF13 trilogy The 2 FF15 games and spin off movies/show.

[@Kinger_of_the_circus]

So I don’t have to play ff1 to understand what’s going on in ff16?