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Play FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE or REMAKE INTERGRADE before FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH if you want the clearest first-time experience. Rebirth is the second game in Square Enix’s remake trilogy and includes a built-in recap, so it is possible to start there without playing another Final Fantasy. The recap covers the basic setup, but Remake supplies the character relationships, conflicts and story context that make Rebirth’s opening land properly.
The recommended path is Remake or Remake Intergrade → optional Episode INTERmission → Rebirth. Add CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION only if you specifically want Zack Fair and SOLDIER background, and treat the original FINAL FANTASY VII as valuable optional context rather than a prerequisite.
What to play before Rebirth: the recommended order
- FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE or REMAKE INTERGRADE — the direct predecessor and the best preparation for Rebirth.
- Episode INTERmission (optional) — a Yuffie-focused side story included with Intergrade.
- FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH — the second main installment of the remake trilogy.
You do not need to play another Final Fantasy first. Square Enix’s official Rebirth FAQ says that each Final Fantasy has its own story and that you can start Rebirth without having played another game in the series. That statement means “no franchise-wide prerequisite,” not “Remake adds nothing.” Remake remains the most coherent way to understand why Rebirth’s characters, relationships and unresolved conflicts matter.
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Why Remake is the best preparation
It is the direct story setup
Square Enix describes Intergrade as Part 1 and Rebirth as Part 2 of the remake trilogy. Remake establishes the version of Midgar, the central cast and the major tensions that Rebirth continues. Starting with it gives you the intended progression instead of asking a recap video to compress a complete game into a short refresher.
#1 Best Overall
- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: "Graphics Mode" prioritizes 4K high-resolution graphics; "Performance Mode" prioritizes smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customizable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
- Play the brand-new episode featuring Yuffie and experience new combat and gameplay additions
Remake is especially useful for learning the group’s personal dynamics. Rebirth assumes that you have had time to see how the protagonists meet, argue, cooperate and change their views of one another. Those developments are not merely background facts; they shape how later scenes are interpreted. A recap can identify events, but it cannot recreate the pacing or emotional accumulation of the first game.
Intergrade is an edition of Remake, not a separate starting point
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE is the enhanced edition of the first installment. If a retailer or platform lists both Remake and Intergrade, either can serve as your first game in the remake project. Intergrade also includes Episode INTERmission, the optional Yuffie side story discussed below.
What happens if you skip it
You can follow Rebirth’s broad premise by watching its in-game recap, but you will encounter references, character decisions and returning conflicts with less context. Skipping Remake is most reasonable when you have limited time, already know the original story well, or are comfortable accepting a lighter introduction. It is not the route to choose if your priority is maximum narrative continuity.
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How Rebirth’s in-game recap helps—and where it stops
Rebirth includes a story recap in its in-game menu. Square Enix describes it as “a story recap video of FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE for those interested in learning more about the story so far.” It is designed to make the second game approachable for newcomers and returning players who need a reminder.
The recap is a practical substitute for basic orientation, not a full replacement for playing Remake. It can explain the sequence of major events and introduce the premise, while the complete first game provides the scene-by-scene buildup behind those events. If you start with Rebirth, watch the recap before judging whether the story feels confusing; if the characters still seem emotionally distant, that is the part the recap cannot fully supply.
Rank #2
- The award-winning FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE* retells the original story up to the escape from Midgar, with breathtaking visuals, fast-paced gameplay, and additional story elements. This RPG delivers unforgettable characters, a powerful narrative, and a hybrid battle system that blends real-time action with strategic, command-based combat. It also includes FF7R EPISODE INTERmission, a side story starring Yuffie Kisaragi that offers a fresh perspective running in parallel to Cloud’s journey.
- STUNNING VISUALS - Explore Midgar like never before with stunning visuals and richly detailed environments that bring the city’s layered, industrial districts to life, all while staying true to the spirit of the original game.
- DYNAMIC COMBAT WITH STRATEGIC DEPTH -The innovative battle system combines strategic command-based gameplay with fast-paced action. Seamlessly switch between characters, harness the power of materia, summon iconic creatures, and unleash devastating limit breaks.
- ICONIC CHARACTERS, UNFORGETTABLE STORY - Follow Cloud Strife, an ex-SOLDIER turned mercenary, as he joins Avalanche to take on the Shinra Electric Power Company. Cloud and his allies Barret, Tifa, and Aerith are pulled into a battle that will decide the fate of the planet.
- EXPANDED CONTENT - FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE offers quests, mini-games, and missions set in expanded areas of Midgar. Encounter new characters and experience exciting content that adds even more depth to the story.
Episode INTERmission: useful side content, never a requirement
What it is
Episode INTERmission is a side story centered on Yuffie. It is included with Intergrade and sits between the main Remake and Rebirth experiences in the recommended order.
Who should play it
Play it if you enjoy optional character-focused chapters, want additional context around Yuffie, or own Intergrade and would rather complete its included content before moving on. It can add texture to the remake project without delaying Rebirth for players who are eager to continue the main story.
Who can skip it
Skip it without concern if you are trying to reach Rebirth quickly or are playing a version that does not include the episode. It is not required to understand the core path from Remake to Rebirth, and Rebirth is not presented as requiring every side chapter from the first installment.
Should you play Crisis Core Reunion first?
What Crisis Core adds
CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION is a prequel focused on Zack Fair, a SOLDIER operative. Square Enix describes it as an experience of “the events that lead up to FINAL FANTASY VII.” It is the right optional choice when your main question is “Who is Zack, and why does he matter?” rather than “What is the shortest route into Rebirth?”
Why it is not a prerequisite
Crisis Core is enrichment, not required preparation. The recommended first-time sequence remains Remake, optional Episode INTERmission, then Rebirth. Adding Crisis Core before Remake can pull your attention toward prequel material before you have experienced the remake’s own introduction to its cast and setting.
Rank #3
- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can Switch between two game modes:- "graphics mode" Prioritises 4K high-resolution graphics & - "performance mode" Prioritises smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customisable "Photo mode"
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the dual sense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
Spoiler warning for new players
Crisis Core carries spoiler risk for people who have not experienced the original FINAL FANTASY VII story. Its prequel framing and character focus can reveal information that the remake project may otherwise present differently or more gradually. If you want to preserve the remake’s intended discoveries, wait until after Rebirth or play it only after accepting that some original-story information may be exposed.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsIs the original Final Fantasy VII required?
No. The original FINAL FANTASY VII is optional for a first Rebirth run. Rebirth is designed to be approachable on its own, and the in-game Remake recap provides a way into the story even for players who have not played any earlier title.
Why the original is still worth considering
The original game is valuable if you want to understand the source narrative and see how the remake project reinterprets it. It gives you the clearest reference point for recognizing what has been retained, rearranged or newly framed across the modern trilogy. In a 2026 interview report, director Naoki Hamaguchi said that “the storyline of the original Final Fantasy 7 is very much enshrined within the story [and] the narrative of the Remake series as a thing in the world.” That makes the original useful context for comparison, but not a gate you must pass before starting Rebirth.
Choose the original before Rebirth when
- You enjoy studying adaptations and want the source version beside the remake.
- You are comfortable with older game design and a longer, separate playthrough.
- You want additional context for the remake project’s changes and mysteries.
Choose Remake first when you want the modern story to unfold with fewer preconceptions. The original and Crisis Core both carry more spoiler exposure than the straightforward Remake-to-Rebirth route.
Other Compilation material: what you can ignore
Advent Children, Before Crisis, novels and mobile spin-offs are not needed for a first Rebirth playthrough. They can be explored later if you become interested in the wider Compilation of FINAL FANTASY VII, but they are not part of the essential preparation path established by Square Enix’s Rebirth guidance.
Rank #4
- Immerse yourself in the city of Midgar like never before, with improved textures, lighting, and background environments
- Players can switch between two game modes: o "Graphics Mode" prioritises 4K high-resolution graphics o "Performance Mode" prioritises smooth action at 60 frames per second
- Capture and share your memorable moments from the game with a fully customisable “Photo Mode”
- Players can enjoy immersive battles by using the DualSense PlayStation 5 controller with its haptic feedback integration
Routes compared by continuity, spoilers and effort
| Route | Story continuity | Spoiler exposure | Time commitment | Purchase and platform considerations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simple route: Remake or Intergrade → Rebirth | Strongest direct continuity; follows the remake trilogy in order. | Lowest risk of importing information from outside the remake sequence. | Two main games; no optional prequel required. | Choose the edition available for your system; Intergrade includes Episode INTERmission. |
| Expanded route: Remake or Intergrade → original FFVII → Rebirth | Combines the modern setup with the source narrative. | Higher exposure to original-story developments and expectations. | Two main remake games plus a separate classic game. | Availability and editions of the original vary by platform and region; verify the current listing before buying. |
| Character-background route: Remake or Intergrade → Crisis Core Reunion → Rebirth | Adds Zack and SOLDIER context between the two main remake installments. | Meaningful spoiler risk for players unfamiliar with the original story. | Two main games plus an optional prequel. | Check that the Reunion edition is offered for your platform and region. |
| Newcomer shortcut: Rebirth recap → Rebirth | Basic orientation only; skips the full first-game buildup. | Does not add prequel spoilers, but leaves less context for returning conflicts. | Fastest route to Rebirth. | Use the recap in Rebirth’s in-game menu; confirm the edition and platform you own. |
The table’s “time commitment” is deliberately comparative rather than an hour estimate: the available evidence establishes the number of games and optional chapters, not a single completion time that applies to every player.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Pick the route that matches your situation
You have never played a Final Fantasy game
Start with Remake or Intergrade. You do not need knowledge of the wider series because each Final Fantasy has its own story. After Remake, decide whether Yuffie’s optional episode appeals to you, then continue to Rebirth.
You own Intergrade but have not started it
Play the main Remake campaign first. Episode INTERmission is available as an optional follow-up before Rebirth; skipping it does not block the main sequence.
You already played Remake
Move to Rebirth. Add Episode INTERmission if you own Intergrade and want the extra Yuffie chapter, but do not delay the main game solely because you have not played it.
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You played only the original FFVII
You can begin Rebirth, but Remake is still the best direct setup for the modern trilogy. The original gives useful source context; it does not replace the first remake installment’s character and plot development.
Best Value
- STUNNING VISUALS - Explore Midgar like never before with stunning visuals and richly detailed environments that bring the city’s layered, industrial districts to life, all while staying true to the spirit of the original game.
- DYNAMIC COMBAT WITH STRATEGIC DEPTH - The innovative battle system combines strategic command-based gameplay with fast-paced action. Seamlessly switch between characters, harness the power of materia, summon iconic creatures, and unleash devastating limit breaks.
- ICONIC CHARACTERS, UNFORGETTABLE STORY - Follow Cloud Strife, an ex-SOLDIER turned mercenary, as he joins Avalanche to take on the Shinra Electric Power Company. Cloud and his allies Barret, Tifa, and Aerith are pulled into a battle that will decide the fate of the planet.
- EXPANDED CONTENT - FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE offers quests, mini-games, and missions set in expanded areas of Midgar. Encounter new characters and experience exciting content that adds even more depth to the story.
- ICONIC SOUNDTRACK - The epic soundtrack has been fully remastered, with re-arranged and orchestrated tracks that dynamically respond to the action, offering an immersive, emotionally charged musical experience.
You are most interested in Zack Fair
Play Crisis Core Reunion as optional background, preferably with the spoiler warning in mind. It is a Zack-focused prequel, not a mandatory checkpoint before Rebirth.
You want to avoid spoilers at all costs
Use the simple route: Remake or Intergrade, then Rebirth. Avoid making Crisis Core or the original your first stop unless you are comfortable with their potential revelations.
Platform and edition checks before you buy
Availability changes by platform, region and edition. Before purchasing, verify the exact listing for your system rather than assuming that a title, upgrade or included episode transfers across every version. In particular:
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- Check whether Episode INTERmission is included with the edition shown for your platform.
- Verify that Rebirth is available for your system in your region.
- For Crisis Core Reunion and the original FFVII, check the current edition, storefront and regional listing.
These checks matter because the recommended order is stable while product availability is not. The story advice does not change if a particular edition is temporarily unavailable; you simply need to identify the compatible version before committing to a purchase.
Quick Recap
A spoiler-conscious checklist before starting Rebirth
- Decide whether you want the full buildup. If yes, play Remake or Intergrade first. If no, use Rebirth’s recap.
- Choose whether optional Yuffie content fits your plan. Episode INTERmission is worthwhile side content, never a requirement.
- Do not add Crisis Core automatically. Choose it for Zack and SOLDIER background, and accept its spoiler risk.
- Treat the original FFVII as context, not homework. It is useful for understanding the remake’s reinterpretation but is not required.
- Check your exact edition and platform. Availability and included content can differ.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
