Final Fantasy IX

Final Fantasy IX launched on mobile devices in 2016 and returns to a tone the series had briefly abandoned after the two sci-fi-flavored entries VII and VIII - a fairy-tale medieval fantasy with castles, traveling theater troupes, and talking animals. The story of the young thief Zidane, tasked with kidnapping Princess Garnet from the royal castle in Alexandria, gradually unfolds into the traditional tale of a band of heroes facing a threat to the entire world, but with a notably warmer, more nostalgic, and at times more humorous tone than the series' neighboring entries.

The port preserves the original 2000 graphics and the turn-based combat system tied to equipped gear, while adding the ability to speed up the game or ease random encounters on the touchscreen - a welcome feature for players returning to a lengthy RPG after years away who don't want to spend hours grinding levels. Menu and inventory controls work well on touch, while character movement over pre-rendered backgrounds is, like other ports from this era, somewhat less smooth and precise, which shows especially when navigating narrow alleys and interiors.

The visual style, with its distinctive, cartoonish characters and thoughtful music, still makes it one of the series' most beloved entries among fans who prefer atmosphere, humor, and well-developed characters over the epic scale and spectacle of the series' grander installments, and many rank it among the very best JRPGs on PlayStation.

Why play it: For players who want a more fairy-tale-like and less seriously toned Final Fantasy, with the ability to speed up gameplay and battles directly in the mobile version.