16 Games like FINAL FANTASY IX on Xbox that you should try

Matches like this one are rare: it meets FINAL FANTASY IX on genre, combat and game mode. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and fantasy world. What it adds of its own: an anime aesthetic and pixel art.

If FINAL FANTASY IX worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and tactical combat, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and fantasy world. Where the two diverge is progression: crafting mechanics.

If FINAL FANTASY IX worked for you because of strong narrative focus, open world exploration and tactical combat, the same is here. The common ground extends to exploration and discovery, and fantasy world. Where the two diverge is tone and setting: cozy, relaxing feel and an anime aesthetic.

It shares the essentials of what FINAL FANTASY IX does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and tactical combat. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. Its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and melee combat.

It shares the essentials of what FINAL FANTASY IX does: strong narrative focus, tactical combat and fantasy world. The common ground extends to single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting: an anime aesthetic.

What brings it close to FINAL FANTASY IX is strong narrative focus, tactical combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. The common ground extends to single-player focus. Where the two diverge is setting: an anime aesthetic.

Shelved next to FINAL FANTASY IX for good reason: strong narrative focus, tactical combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. The distance is in progression and combat — its own ground is magic-based combat and an anime aesthetic.

The resemblance to FINAL FANTASY IX is about as close as this list gets: they line up on genre, combat and tone. The common ground extends to fantasy world and single-player focus. Where the two diverge is game mode: co-op play.

The genre is the same as FINAL FANTASY IX’s, and with it strong narrative focus, tactical combat and fantasy world. Both also lean on single-player focus. The distance is in setting and tone — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere and an anime aesthetic.

On paper it is what FINAL FANTASY IX is — strong narrative focus, tactical combat and fantasy world — though the resemblance is mostly at that level. To that it adds single-player focus. They part company on progression and setting: this one brings an anime aesthetic and skill tree progression.

If FINAL FANTASY IX worked for you because of strong narrative focus, tactical combat and fantasy world, the same is here. To that it adds exploration and discovery. They part company on setting: this one brings horror setting.

Same family as FINAL FANTASY IX: strong narrative focus, tactical combat and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on tone and progression: this one brings punishing difficulty and melee combat.

Its point of contact with FINAL FANTASY IX is strong narrative focus, tactical combat and single-player focus. The distance is in tone — its own ground is dark, oppressive atmosphere.

It shares the essentials of what FINAL FANTASY IX does: strong narrative focus, open world exploration and fantasy world. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on combat and progression: this one brings melee combat and a sci-fi setting.

What brings it close to FINAL FANTASY IX is strong narrative focus, tactical combat and fantasy world, and the two track each other on genre, combat and game mode. To that it adds exploration and discovery, and single-player focus. They part company on progression: this one brings loot and gear systems.