Ivalice was a world-first conceived when Final Fantasy Tactics released in 1998 on the PS1 in North America. It was also the first time the series spun into the strategy RPG genre. From there many more games were introduced into the Ivalice canon and not all of them exclusive to Final Fantasy as a brand. 

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For example, when Vagrant Story launched in 2000 on the PS1, it was its own original IP. After Final Fantasy XII came out on the PS2, Square Enix retconned Vagrant Story into the canon for whatever reason. Besides those three games, there are others to learn about. One final caveat involves Final Fantasy XIV which doesn’t take place in Ivalice but features stuff from its games. 

6 Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings

Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings was a DS sequel to Final Fantasy XII and released just a year later. It stars Vaan and Penelo as they take on the roles of sky pirates like Balthier and Fran, who also make appearances in this game. 

Mechanically, Revenant Wings is very different from its predecessor as it is an RTS rather than a more MMO-like RPG. Unless one counts the Fort Condor mini-game in Final Fantasy VII, this is the only RTS in the series. That’s a shame because it actually works well in terms of the gameplay. However, the DS’s small screen limits the view, hindering the battles quite a bit.  

5 Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance had a mixed debut on the GBA. As the sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics, it had a lot to live up to and some weren’t feeling the more childlike vibe of the world as opposed to the grim nature of the original. There were also complaints about the Judge system that limited movements between battles. 

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Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was not what fans expected but beyond those complaints, the game delivers the core gameplay from the PS1 classic. Consequently, it is still fun to play. There are Jobs and even races that help flesh out the world. 

4 Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire Of The Rift

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift is the sequel to Final Fantasy Tactics Advance but for the DS. It is also currently the last game in this tactical RPG series, much to the chagrin of fans. While also more kid-friendly in nature than the original title, the sequel improves one of the core complaints about the GBA game. 

The Judge system is completely relaxed. This allows players to focus on combat instead of looking over their shoulder in fear of using the wrong move and literally going to jail. Overall, it's just a more complete game. 

3 Vagrant Story

Vagrant Story was initially not part of the Ivalice world. It did its own thing and was not connected to Final Fantasy in any way. After the release of Final Fantasy XII in 2006, Vagrant Story was retconned into canon to help build Ivalice’s brand. It may not make sense but that is Square Enix’s stance as of now. 

Rather than Final Fantasy, Vagrant Story resembles another Square RPG on the PS1, Parasite Eve. Both games use spherical grids to show the character’s attack range. These are the only two games to use this system. 

2 Final Fantasy XII

Final Fantasy XII, like Final Fantasy Tactics Advance, was, and still is, a controversial release for some fans. After the success of Final Fantasy X, fans were ready for more from the series in this gameplay style on the PS2. The game after that was Final Fantasy XI, an MMO and thus seen as a weird step.

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Fans expected Final Fantasy XII to go back to basics but the game instead used a very similar battle system to the MMO. If one thought about it, this makes sense since Ivalice all began with Final Fantasy Tactics, a strategy RPG. Using this MMO style of combat system alongside the Gambit System made for a more tactical and engaging real-time experience. When the remaster came out, the tune seemed to change in this game’s favor and even the naysayers seemed to appreciate what Final Fantasy XII did for the series back then and now.  

1 Final Fantasy Tactics

Final Fantasy Tactics had to be number one. Even though it can be hard to play on modern consoles due to it not getting any attention from Square Enix, the game remains a treasure on PS1. The mature story, difficulty, expansive world that evolved over time, and the Job system made it an instant classic. 

As far as its legacy goes, Final Fantasy Tactics got a PSP port with some enhancements but some downgrades as well. It’s also on mobile devices. Ramza did make it to Dissidia Final Fantasy NT as a playable character, which is a nice nod to this game. However, it's not the same as getting a remaster or a sequel though. Ivalice needs a new champion.

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