While Final Fantasy VII Rebirth has seen widespread success, the sheer volume of mini-games remains a point of contention among players.
As Square Enix forges ahead with the third and final installment of the Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy, game director Naoki Hamaguchi continues to provide insight into the specific design philosophies that shaped Rebirth.
In a recent conversation with GamerBraves, the director addressed the decision to integrate an extensive array of mini-activities throughout the world. Journalist Shaun Lim pointed out that a segment of the community felt these diversions frequently disrupted the game’s narrative momentum. Hamaguchi responded by explaining that the team’s primary goal was to offer variety across a massive journey while staying true to the spirit of the original 1997 title, where mini-games were a core part of the experience.
Hamaguchi noted that Rebirth’s structure isn’t an outlier in the industry; many large-scale games utilize side content to regulate rhythm and prevent a long linear path from becoming monotonous. The development team intentionally curated a wide selection of mini-games to shift the tempo and offer players different types of engagement. Square Enix moved forward with the knowledge that reactions would be split—recognizing that while many would embrace the variety, others would prefer a more streamlined story progression. According to the director, the density and frequency of these events were calculated design choices.
He further elaborated that since the original Final Fantasy VII was renowned for its eclectic mix of side activities, the remake team felt it was essential to replicate that “diverse structure” to provide modern players with an equally broad spectrum of gameplay experiences.
Whether this design philosophy will carry over into the final chapter remains to be seen. However, Hamaguchi has previously hinted that the trilogy’s conclusion might be more compact, which could potentially signal a more curated approach to secondary content and mini-games in the future.
Source: iXBT.games