The port of this fan favourite shines with its tenderness and unforgettable cast. The equipment-based ability learning and the optional ATEs still charm. A few combat slowdowns and a rushed finale linger, but its heart is entirely present.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player12+
Description
The thief Zidane and his companions are swept into a plot that threatens the world of Gaia. Published by Square Enix, released worldwide in 2019. A return to medieval fantasy, four-character turn-based battles, abilities tied to equipment and a warm, theatrical atmosphere.
Final Fantasy IX review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
For this return to medieval fantasy, Nobuo Uematsu wrote one of his most tender scores: courtly waltzes, village fanfares and the wistful "Melodies of Life" that closes the journey with a heavy heart. Each town breathes through its own theme, and the whole cultivates an artisanal warmth that still resonates deeply today.
A big-hearted thief, a fleeing princess and a troupe of actors: beneath its medieval-fairy-tale finery beats a story of rare tenderness about the fear of death and the meaning of being alive. Every companion earns a real arc, carried by writing full of humanity.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Pleasant"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Easy"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Four discs for an avowed return to high fantasy, with a large cast each given their own arc. The hunt for abilities to learn from enemies, the late-game side quests and an optional final dungeon among the series' hardest greatly flesh out the journey. That generosity tinged with melancholy, long underrated, now earns it an enthusiastic reappraisal.
Technical info
💾3,5 GB📅13/02/2019
Published by Square Enix
Final Fantasy IX (Nintendo Switch) price, value & rarity
A heartfelt return to series roots, its turn-based battles shine through a cast of towering foes and theatrical staging. The ATB system, Trance states and spectacular transformations add texture to every encounter, while a sweeping orchestral score elevates these clashes into moments brimming with poetry and grandeur.
Is Final Fantasy IX still worth playing in 2026?
Often cited as the tenderest Final Fantasy, the ninth entry returns to an embraced medieval fairy tale after two futuristic chapters. Its endearing cast, theatrical atmosphere and warm art direction have aged beautifully, better than many contemporaries. The equipment-tied ability system stays elegant, and the measured pace invites savouring. This version does suffer some slowdown and dated models over 2D backdrops, though. For anyone wanting to discover a JRPG full of heart or return to Gaia, it is a 2000 classic that still moves.
