Gwent
- Better: Queen's Blood card game appeal The reviewer says Queen's Blood is close to Gwent but not quite preferred over it.
- Similar: Queen's Blood card game design The reviewer describes Queen's Blood as clearly inspired by Gwent.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Review
Bottom Line
Choose Final Fantasy VII Rebirth if you want a huge, emotional action RPG with excellent combat, characters, music, and minigames. Skip it if open-world checklists, uneven pacing, visual/performance tradeoffs, or convoluted ending choices will wear you down.
Best for
Best for players who want a huge, character-driven Final Fantasy RPG with tactical action combat, abundant side activities, and a lavish reimagining of Gaia. It especially suits fans ready to spend dozens of hours exploring rather than rushing.
Not for
Not for players who dislike open-world checklists, frequent minigames, long runtimes, or stories that remix familiar events with cryptic timeline choices. It may also frustrate those sensitive to performance-mode blur or navigation friction.
Verdict
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth earns strong praise as a massive, affectionate reimagining with standout combat, a beloved and better-developed cast, an exceptional soundtrack, and a world that often feels dazzlingly alive. The clearest tradeoff is scale: the same abundance that makes Gaia feel generous also creates bloat, repetitive world-intel loops, mandatory-feeling minigames, and pacing drops. Reviews are also split on the new narrative direction, especially the ending, which some find fascinating and others confusing or emotionally muddled. Even with visual-mode compromises and occasional navigation frustrations, the overall evidence points to a rich, memorable RPG whose highs outweigh its messiness for players ready to give it time.
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
Final Fantasy XVI
- Worse: combat system preference The reviewer likes Final Fantasy XVI's action approach but frames Rebirth's hybrid combat as one of the series' best systems.
Remake
- Worse: overall sequel improvements The reviewer says Rebirth eclipses Remake in nearly every way.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
60 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 47% 28 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 37% 22 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 15% 9 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 2% 1 feature
- Very negative below 1.5 0% 0 features
Pros
-
Atmosphere is praised for beauty, loss, escapism, and a strong sense of place.
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World-building is praised for making Gaia feel more alive, detailed, and newly understandable compared with older versions.
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Art direction receives high praise for maximalist world creation and imaginative modern design.
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Crash stability is strong in the limited evidence, with one reviewer reporting no crashes.
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Expressive faces are credited with amplifying the cast's emotional drama.
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Fast travel is praised as well-designed, plentiful, and fast.
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The soundtrack is an overwhelming consensus strength, repeatedly described as incredible, phenomenal, moving, and among the series' best.
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Reported bug frequency is low, with multiple reviewers saying they encountered no bugs or only minor visual issues.
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Environmental detail is heavily praised for making Gaia's landscapes, regions, and familiar locations feel vivid and emotionally resonant.
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Reviewers strongly praise its respect for Final Fantasy VII's legacy while still modernizing or reshaping it.
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Load times and fast-travel speed are praised as quick and convenient.
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Character development is a standout consensus strength, with reviewers emphasizing deeper bonds, richer backstories, and more rounded portrayals across the party.
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Voice acting is one of the clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly calling out expressive, emotional, and well-cast performances.
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Writing is strongly praised for expanding the original, deepening the human element, and selling relationships, even when broader story choices remain divisive.
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Reviewers frequently describe the game, combat, Queen's Blood, and minigames as extremely fun despite pacing or bloat caveats.
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Synergy Ability animations are praised for personality and relationship expression.
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Innovation is praised in the game's density, polish, and inventive design ambition.
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Reviewers describe the overall loop as a much larger and more satisfying RPG experience than Remake, with battle, exploration, and side systems keeping them engaged.
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The roster is praised for adding distinct, memorable party members whose combat styles and personalities broaden the experience.
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Boss fights are regarded as major highlights, with reviewers praising their spectacle, challenge, and layered design.
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Combat is one of the strongest points: reviewers repeatedly praise the hybrid action/ATB foundation, Synergy additions, tactical depth, and character-specific playstyles, while only a few note occasional clumsy or frustrating encounters.
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Emotional impact is very strong overall, producing tears, reflection, and attachment, though one review says the ending's delivery undermines a crucial moment.
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As a remake/reimagining, Rebirth is widely praised for honoring the original while expanding, modernizing, and sometimes boldly changing it.
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Replay value is strong thanks to hard mode, New Game Plus, postgame options, relationship outcomes, and many remaining activities.
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Exploration is broadly praised for rewarding curiosity with sights, activities, and regional depth, especially when the world design feels handcrafted rather than checklist-driven.
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World Intel and regional information are praised for deepening understanding of Final Fantasy VII's world.
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Originality is supported by reviewers who say the reimagined story still surprises them despite familiarity with the original.
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Dialogue is praised for charming quiet moments, sharp exchanges, and touching character interactions.
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Visual spectacle is strong, although one reviewer notes motion blur can obscure otherwise striking battle imagery.
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One review specifically says AI-controlled party behavior and aerial-combat complaints from Remake were addressed through Synergy systems.
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Postgame content is viewed positively for adding more to do after the main story.
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The game is packed with minigames, card battles, side activities, races, and regional diversions; most reviewers praise the abundance, while a few feel it becomes too much.
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Value is strong because of the game's length and abundance of content, though some reviewers question whether it asks for too much time.
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Polish is generally high but not flawless, with minor hiccups, visual issues, or areas needing more shoring up.
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The checkpoint system is praised for reducing repetition during tricky chocobo-taming sections.
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PS5-specific features receive light but positive mention through DualSense motion controls and haptics.
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The character upgrade system is viewed as more nuanced and strategic than Remake's approach.
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Visuals are often praised for cutscenes, vistas, and character models, but performance-mode blur and occasional inconsistency reduce the score in several reviews.
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Side quests are generally viewed positively when they deepen party relationships or world context, though some reviewers call out filler, repetition, or isolated dull tasks.
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Narrative response is divided: reviewers praise the character-driven journey and remixed story, but several criticize thin macro plotting, convolution, or the ending's execution.
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World interactions such as animals leading to objectives and fast-travel points were seen as pleasant touches that make Gaia feel reactive, though repetition remains a caveat.
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The open-world structure is the most divisive area: many reviewers admire its scale and reward loops, while others criticize bloat, repetition, and momentum-breaking busywork.
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Enemy variety is praised in combat-focused reviews, though one reviewer found open-world mobs bland and rote.
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Handheld suitability is mixed: Steam Deck/PC handheld play is possible but compromised, while PlayStation Portal use is praised.
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Folios and related progression systems are considered useful and flexible by several reviewers, though at least one found character leveling and skill growth confusing.
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Level design ranges from exceptional set pieces to divisive dungeons, with the Cait Sith/Shinra Manor-style segments and hallway-like stretches drawing the sharpest criticism.
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Performance is mixed across platforms and modes: some reviews report smooth play, while others criticize blur, pop-in, texture streaming, or technical tradeoffs.
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The interlocking combat and progression systems can feel overwhelming at first, but reviewers say they become rewarding once understood.
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Difficulty balance is mostly manageable and rewarding, but reviewers mention a strange spike, demanding bosses, and encounters that occasionally test patience.
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Onboarding is uneven: Red XIII's recap helps returning players, but multiple reviewers warn newcomers may still be lost.
Cons
-
Sound design is mixed: effects and environmental audio can impress, but multiple reviews mention poor mixing or music drowning out dialogue.
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Grind and bloat are manageable when players avoid completionist impulses, but the amount of optional content can be overwhelming.
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Pacing is mixed: some reviewers like the scenic, character-forward route, but many complain that open-world checklists, minigames, and late sections slow or derail the main story.
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Mission variety is mixed because Chadley-style objectives and world intel can repeat across regions despite the game offering many different activities overall.
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Movement is mixed: broad traversal supports adventure, but dodging, climbing, chocobo handling, and uneven-ground movement drew complaints for feeling awkward or stiff.
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Crafting receives limited support and one reviewer found little need to engage with it.
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Menu usability has a notable complaint around the lack of saveable loadouts for equipment and Materia setups.
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Map and compass design is criticized as insufficient for complex terrain such as Gongaga.
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The small stealth segments were singled out as a weak link, especially because the engine was not seen as well-suited to stealth maneuvers.
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Some mandatory or heavily gamified tasks were criticized for interrupting flow and failing to give players breathing room.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Video Games, this product is above average in bug frequency, crash stability, writing quality, below average in movement feel, mission design, sound design.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 63% 5 features
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 38% 3 features
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| bug frequency | 4.9 | 3.2 | +1.7 |
| crash stability | 5.0 | 3.3 | +1.7 |
| writing quality | 4.8 | 3.6 | +1.3 |
| character development | 4.9 | 3.9 | +0.9 |
| facial animations | 5.0 | 3.7 | +1.3 |
| movement feel | 2.9 | 4.0 | -1.1 |
| mission design | 2.4 | 3.5 | -1.2 |
| sound design | 3.3 | 4.4 | -1.1 |
FAQ
Is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth good for newcomers?
Some reviews note a helpful recap, but others warn newcomers may be lost because Rebirth builds on Remake, the original story, and wider lore. Returning players are likely to get more from it.
How is the combat?
Combat is one of the strongest consensus positives. Reviewers praise the hybrid action/ATB system, Synergy abilities, party variety, and tactical depth, though a few mention frustrating enemy designs or spikes.
Is the open world worth exploring?
Many reviewers enjoy the regions, rewards, and sense of scale, but the open world is also the most common source of criticism. Completionist play can make the game feel bloated or repetitive.
Are the minigames good?
Most reviewers praise the sheer variety, and Queen's Blood is repeatedly singled out as excellent. The caveat is that the density of minigames can interrupt the main story's momentum.
How are the graphics and performance?
Reviews praise cutscenes, vistas, and environmental detail, but performance mode blur, texture pop-in, and mode tradeoffs appear repeatedly. Bugs and crashes were rarely reported.
Does the story stay faithful to Final Fantasy VII?
Reviewers generally say it respects the original while expanding and changing it. The character work is widely praised, but the revised ending and timeline elements are divisive.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - FightinCowboy
- Review score
- 4.7/5
YouTube - Eurogamer
- Review score
- 4.6/5
YouTube - Retro Rebound
- Review score
- 4.7/5
Article Reviews
rockpapershotgun.com
- Review score
- 4.1/5
eurogamer.net
- Review score
- 4.2/5
Consider This Instead
If you want better mission design
Choose Absolum. It scores 5.0 vs 2.4 for mission design, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better pacing
Choose Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight. It scores 5.0 vs 3.2 for pacing, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better map and navigation design
Choose Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. It scores 5.0 vs 2.5 for map and navigation design, with a 4.3 overall score.
If you want better movement feel
Choose Ghost of Yōtei. It scores 5.0 vs 2.9 for movement feel, with a 4.1 overall score.
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