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There is no universally correct first game in a long-running franchise. Start by identifying the series’ story structure: a standalone anthology, a connected subseries, or a direct-sequel chain. Then choose an entry that fits your preferred combat style, tone, age and accessibility needs, and available platform. For connected stories, begin at the start of the relevant arc. For mostly standalone series, the best starting point is usually the game whose design you are most likely to enjoy—not automatically the oldest release or the earliest event in the fictional timeline.
Release order is useful when you want to experience mechanics and presentation as players originally did. Story chronology can work when a developer has deliberately rebuilt a series around it, but a prequel may reveal information that the earlier release expected you to discover later. Remakes are edition choices, not automatic answers: check what they change and what later games assume.
Why a franchise name is not enough to determine your first game
A franchise label can cover very different kinds of continuity. Some series use the name for completely separate worlds and casts. Others divide into arcs that share characters, locations or plot threads. A few games are explicit continuations whose opening assumes you know the previous ending. Treating all of those structures as if they had one correct order is the fastest way to start with a confusing or spoiler-heavy entry.
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There is also no reliable cross-franchise statistic proving that release order, chronology or a particular episode is objectively the best starting point. A sound recommendation has to be conditional: first establish how the games relate, then match the choice to the player and the edition they can actually access.
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Find the story boundary before choosing a title
Use the publisher’s series guide and the individual game descriptions to classify the entry you are considering. The classification determines whether prior knowledge is optional or necessary.
Standalone or anthology entries
In a standalone structure, each game supplies its own setting, characters and central conflict. You can select the entry with the most appealing combat, tone or modern presentation without completing earlier releases. Square Enix describes the SaGa format this way: “Much like other Square Enix RPG series, like FINAL FANTASY or DRAGON QUEST, each SaGa game is a complete, standalone adventure.” Read the full introduction at Square Enix’s SaGa overview.
Standalone does not mean every game is identical. The SaGa overview notes different structures, including selectable protagonists and an event-based narrative in which players choose the order of historical events. A self-contained story can still have unusual systems, optional routes or a steep learning curve, so inspect the individual game’s design before buying.
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A connected subseries or arc
Some franchises contain several mostly independent branches. In that case, begin with the first installment of the branch that interests you rather than forcing yourself through every numbered release. A publisher may call a game “Part II,” “Episode 2” or otherwise signal that it continues a particular arc. A connected arc normally rewards following its internal order even when the wider franchise is optional.
A direct sequel
A direct sequel continues a specific game’s plot, relationships or unresolved ending. Examples in PlayStation’s Final Fantasy guide include Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Final Fantasy X-2, both of which depend more directly on earlier entries than the series’ usual standalone format. Start with the preceding game unless the publisher explicitly presents the sequel as a self-contained entry.
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A shared setting with optional links
Some games share mythology, terminology or a world while telling separate stories. Shared references may enrich a returning player’s experience but are not necessarily prerequisites. Look for an official statement about required context; do not infer one merely from a recurring logo, number or fictional location.
Release order and story chronology solve different problems
Release order follows the sequence in which players received the games. It shows how combat systems, interfaces, visual presentation and storytelling conventions developed. Returning characters or mechanics can feel more meaningful when encountered in the order the audience originally saw them. It also avoids assuming that a later prequel was designed to introduce newcomers.
Story chronology follows the fictional timeline. It can make a historical saga easier to follow when a developer has rebuilt the installments as one chronological retelling. It can also move a reveal earlier than intended: a prequel released after the original may explain an identity, event or relationship that the first release expected you to question.
An academic analysis of game relationships distinguishes narrative relationships such as sequel and prequel from publication sequence; the terminology is discussed in “Relationships among video games: Existing standards and new definitions”. Use the developer’s stated order when one exists, and explain what that order protects—usually continuity, intended reveals or the structure of a remake project.
| Choose this order | When it is most useful | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Release order | You want to watch the series’ mechanics and presentation evolve, or no official alternative order is given. | Older controls, pacing and interfaces may make the first step less accessible. |
| Story chronology | A developer has explicitly rebuilt connected entries as one chronological story. | A prequel can expose information that the original release intended as a later reveal. |
| Arc order | You are entering a defined subseries or direct-sequel chain. | You may skip context from other branches, but that context is often optional. |
What a remake, remaster or port changes about the decision
“Remake,” “remaster” and “port” are not applied consistently across the industry. The academic terminology paper notes that “remake” and “port” are sometimes used interchangeably, so rely on the publisher’s exact edition name and a description of what changed rather than the label alone.
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Check five practical differences before treating a newer edition as your starting point:
- Story scope: Does the new release cover the complete original story or only an opening chapter?
- Plot and characterization: Are scenes, timelines, endings or playable characters altered?
- Controls and combat: Has turn-based play become action-oriented, or have accessibility options been added?
- Pacing and structure: Are areas expanded, reordered, shortened or divided across multiple releases?
- Follow-up assumptions: Do later installments continue the original continuity, the remake continuity or both?
PlayStation presents Final Fantasy VII Remake as an accessible gateway while explaining that it expands and reworks the early chapters. That is a useful model for evaluating any remake: approachable does not necessarily mean complete, and a familiar title may represent a different continuity. Compare the edition’s official feature list and story coverage before choosing it over the original.
Match the entry to the experience you actually want
Once continuity is clear, select by player fit. Official franchise guides often distinguish entries by genre and social expectations, not just plot position.
| If you want… | Look for… | Questions to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Turn-based planning | Command-driven battles, party building and deliberate pacing. | Can you tolerate older interfaces or random encounters? |
| Real-time action | Direct control, dodging, timing and continuous encounters. | Does the story stand alone, and is the difficulty adjustable? |
| Horror and tension | A focused campaign, resource management and a defined atmosphere. | Would an older camera or control scheme undermine the experience? |
| Social or persistent play | Online worlds, group activities and ongoing updates. | Are subscriptions, online access and a time commitment required? |
| Historical design | Original releases or faithful collections that preserve period mechanics. | Are save systems, display options and modern accessibility adequate? |
For example, PlayStation describes Final Fantasy XVI as action-oriented, Final Fantasy XIV as a social MMORPG and Final Fantasy VII Remake as an accessible gateway. These are different entry recommendations for different preferences, not a ranking of the franchise. Its 2025 guide counts 16 mainline, numbered Final Fantasy games; that figure applies to the guide’s definition of the mainline series, not to every related release or to every franchise.
A repeatable method for choosing your first game
- List the candidate games. Include the original, current edition and any direct sequel you are considering. Record the exact subtitle and release version so you do not confuse a remake with a remaster or a similarly named installment.
- Draw the continuity boundary. Mark each candidate as standalone, first in an arc, direct sequel or remake of an earlier entry. Read the publisher’s synopsis for phrases such as “continues the story,” “part two” or “complete standalone adventure.”
- Choose an order system. Use arc or direct-sequel order when continuity requires it. Use release order for historical evolution. Use chronology only when the developer explicitly recommends it or when preserving fictional sequence is more important to you than the original reveal order.
- Set your spoiler tolerance. If you want the original mysteries and reveals, avoid starting with a later prequel. If you prefer a clean timeline and the developer designed a remake trilogy around chronology, follow that stated plan.
- Match gameplay and tone. Decide whether you want turn-based or action combat, horror or fantasy, solo or social play, and modern or historical controls. Eliminate otherwise logical entries that you are unlikely to enjoy.
- Audit the edition. Compare story coverage, combat, pacing, presentation, accessibility options and what later installments assume. A remake may be the easiest control-wise while still ending before the original’s complete narrative.
- Verify access. Check the official store listing for your country and platform, current availability, language options, online requirements and whether a bundle contains the prerequisite game. Do not assume a title is playable on a particular device because another edition is.
What well-known franchises demonstrate
SaGa: choose by structure and mechanics, not a universal order
Square Enix’s SaGa introduction states that each game is a complete, standalone adventure. That makes the series a good example of preference-led selection: choose the protagonist system, event structure or combat design that appeals to you. Because some entries let players select protagonists and arrange historical events, “chronological order” may not even describe one fixed path inside a single game.
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Final Fantasy: mostly standalone, with explicit exceptions
PlayStation’s Final Fantasy guide describes the mainline entries as largely standalone while identifying direct-connected examples such as Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Final Fantasy X-2. A newcomer can therefore choose among games by combat style, tone or platform—unless the chosen title is a sequel that assumes an earlier story. The guide’s profiles illustrate why “best first game” must be tied to the reader’s desired experience.
Resident Evil: an official newcomer recommendation
Capcom’s guide, dated October 18, 2024, was created to help players choose a first or next game. Capcom USA staff are quoted collectively: “If you’re a new player, start out with Resident Evil 2 (2019). It’s a great jumping-on point for the series.” The statement is a tailored entry recommendation, not proof that every player should begin there; someone seeking the original’s historical controls, a different subseries or a specific platform may reasonably choose another edition.
Read the staff guidance in Capcom’s Resident Evil: where to play guide, then check the current edition and platform listing for your region.
Dragon Quest’s HD-2D Erdrick Trilogy: follow the developer’s stated III, I, II order
The HD-2D remakes show why numbering and release order are not interchangeable. In a PlayStation Blog interview, developer Masaaki Hayasaka says: “So it was decided at the very beginning of the project that we wanted the games to be played in the order III, I, II.”
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This recommendation applies to that remake project. It does not create a rule that every numbered franchise should be played chronologically. The complete interview is at PlayStation Blog’s Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake article.
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An entry can be narratively ideal and still be a poor first experience if its controls, camera, text size or online requirements conflict with your needs. Older releases may have fixed cameras, limited saves, slower menus or less flexible difficulty. New editions may add remapping, subtitles, display options, faster loading or difficulty settings, but those additions vary by title.
- Controls: Confirm controller support, remapping, camera options and whether keyboard or mouse input is available where relevant.
- Presentation: Check subtitle languages, text size, color options, seizure warnings and audio controls.
- Difficulty: Look for selectable modes, assist features and whether difficulty can be changed after starting.
- Online dependence: A social or persistent game may require an internet connection, an account or recurring access even when its story is solo-friendly.
- Platform and region: Verify the exact console, PC operating-system version, storefront country and edition. Availability can differ by region and can change over time.
- Time commitment: A short, self-contained campaign is a safer trial than a large connected arc if you are unsure whether the franchise suits you.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Starting with the oldest game automatically
The oldest release may provide historical context, but it may also have the least approachable controls. Start there only when you specifically want the series’ evolution or when the story requires it. Otherwise, a modern standalone or remake can be a better test of whether you enjoy the franchise.
Assuming the number is a play-order instruction
Numbers can identify a new world, a sequel, a remake project or a release label. Read the relationship description instead of inferring continuity from “II,” “III” or a subtitle.
Treating a prequel as spoiler-free
A prequel’s earlier fictional date does not guarantee that it is designed as an introduction. Later-produced prequels often assume knowledge of the original and can explain its surprises. Decide whether preserving reveals matters to you before selecting chronology.
Using “remake” as a guarantee of completeness
Some remakes expand one portion of a story, split it into several releases or alter its continuity. Check the covered chapters and the relationship to future installments.
Ignoring access until after choosing
A recommendation is not useful if the edition is unavailable in your region, requires a platform you do not own or omits the preceding game from a bundle. Verify the official listing before planning a sequence.
A quick decision matrix
| Your situation | Best starting strategy | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want one complete story and are unsure about the franchise. | Choose a well-supported standalone entry with modern controls. | You can evaluate the series without a large commitment. |
| You want a specific connected storyline. | Begin with the first game in that arc, then follow its direct sequels. | Characters, reveals and mechanics build on one another. |
| You care about historical evolution. | Play the relevant releases in publication order. | You experience design changes as the original audience did. |
| You prefer a clean fictional timeline and an official chronological plan exists. | Follow the developer’s stated chronological order. | The project may preserve reveals and connections in that sequence. |
| You need modern accessibility or controls. | Compare the newest edition of a standalone or arc-opening game. | Newer presentation can remove barriers, but you must confirm story scope. |
| You want online community play. | Choose the entry identified as the current social or MMORPG experience. | Its value depends on active services, online access and your willingness to commit time. |
How to state your recommendation without overstating it
A useful recommendation names the condition behind it: “Start here if you want action combat and a self-contained story,” or “Play these three in this order because the developer rebuilt them as one chronological arc.” Mention the relevant sequel prerequisite, remake scope and platform qualification in the same recommendation. Avoid declaring a universal winner when the franchise contains materially different games and the evidence supports only a tailored choice.
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