It's amazing how far a single hail mary can take you. After betting it all on Final Fantasy in the late 1980s, Square Enix, then known only as Square, the franchise has now sold more than 180 million copies following the best-selling release of Final Fantasy 16.
This lofty achievement, announced by the company over the weekend (thanks, NoisyPixel), sets the series firmly within the upper echelons of video game sales.
Among the other storied franchises that Final Fantasy has outsold include Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario Kart, Resident Evil, and The Legend of Zelda.
As any fan of video gaming's rich history will testify, few franchises cast as long a shadow as Final Fantasy. Now, Square, the development powerhouse behind this storied RPG saga, is celebrating a significant milestone that proves the longevity of the franchise and its enduring appeal, even though its most recent entry has proved to be divisive, at best. Although Final Fantasy 16 has been review bombed and told off by supposed fans for reinventing the franchise for the worse, we need to remember that each installment has always introduced something new. As each entry remains a standalone experience, all of them only borrows from the series' tradition while building upon an incredibly rich and deep tapestry of imaginative worlds, memorable characters, and gameplay innovation. In doing so, Final Fantasy has set benchmarks in terms of spectacular visuals, compelling stories, and technical prowess.