Which is the best version of Final Fantasy Tactics? The Ivalice Chronicles, War of the Lions, and PS1 Compared

I recently published a detailed look at all the different releases of *Final Fantasy Tactics*, from the very first version on PlayStation to the current versions available now. This includes releases on PSP, mobile devices, and as a PS1 Classic. This feature is similar to my previous deep dives on *Final Fantasy IX* and *Chrono Trigger*, where I compared how the games evolved across multiple console generations, but this time focusing on *Final Fantasy Tactics*. I’ve been doing individual game comparisons for a few months, but this one covers the entire history of the title.

I created this guide to help you choose the best version of Final Fantasy Tactics for you, and to clarify how the different releases on various platforms have changed over time. Square Enix often makes updates with each new version, and I’ve been exploring which version and platform offers the most enjoyable experience for this type of RPG.

Final Fantasy Tactics release timeline

Final Fantasy Tactics has been released on many different systems over the years, including handheld consoles. This year, it’s become available on all modern consoles and PCs, following a long history of ports and re-releases. Before diving into the different versions and changes, it’s helpful to know about this background.

Final Fantasy Tactics has a rich release history across multiple platforms. The original game first launched in Japan on PlayStation in June 1997, followed by a North American release in January 1998. A remake, Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, came out on PlayStation Portable in Japan in May 2007, and in the West in October of the same year. Digital versions of the original PS1 game became available on the PlayStation Store in Japan (May 2009) and North America (September 2009). In 2011, The War of the Lions was released as a downloadable PSP title in Japan (March), followed by North America and Europe (July). An iOS version of The War of the Lions, featuring improved visuals and controls, arrived in August 2011, and an Android version launched in Japan in February 2013, with a wider release following in June 2015. Most recently, Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is scheduled to release worldwide on PS5, PS4, Switch 2, Switch, Xbox, and PC in September 2025.

Final Fantasy Tactics feature differences across platforms

There are three main ways to play Final Fantasy Tactics: the original PlayStation version, The War of the Lions on PSP, and the newer Ivalice Chronicles release. The first version, on PS1, wasn’t translated as well as later editions. The War of the Lions on PSP improved the story with a much better translation, plus it added new characters, classes, cut-scenes, and enhanced graphics. However, this version had some technical problems, like slowdown and lower-quality music.

The mobile version of The War of the Lions is built on the original PSP game, but it’s designed for touchscreen controls only. While that might not always be ideal, this mobile version features surprisingly good touchscreen controls. Plus, it avoids the technical problems that sometimes occur when playing the PSP version on PSP or PS Vita.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is intended as the ultimate edition of Final Fantasy Tactics, though it doesn’t include the content from ‘The War of the Lions’. This version offers a wealth of improvements, including quality-of-life changes, adjustable difficulty, new voice acting, a redesigned user interface, in-battle dialogue, a tactical overview, expanded lore, and the option to skip random encounters and cutscenes. The interface is also much faster and more responsive, and it includes the Sound Novels in all available languages for the first time.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles lets you play the original Final Fantasy Tactics in a ‘Classic’ mode, with updated translation from ‘The War of the Lions’ and the convenience of autosaving. You can also skip most cutscenes. While it’s great to have this classic option, the lack of a fast-forward feature during battles is a disappointment. Though understandable that new difficulty settings and extra content weren’t added, autosave feels like a natural place to also include fast-forwarding, which would have made replaying the game much more appealing.

Now that we’ve covered the differences between versions and features, let’s look at which versions you can actually purchase today. *Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles* is the only version available on current consoles and PC – you can find it on PS5, PS4, Switch, Switch 2, PC, and Xbox Series X|S. If you’re looking for *Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions*, it’s only available on mobile devices (iPhone, iPad, and Android) or, if you can still find it, on the PS Vita. The original *Final Fantasy Tactics* is only accessible in certain regions, and only on PS Vita or PS3 through the older online store.

Just so you know, the comparison images were created using different methods. PlayStation 5 and 4, and both docked Nintendo Switch consoles were captured with a 4K capture card. Handheld and docked Switch 2 images come directly from the console’s built-in capture feature. Steam Deck and ROG Ally screenshots were taken using Steam’s uncompressed capture, and the iPad version uses the iPad’s standard screenshot function. All images were then resized to make any differences more visible.

Final Fantasy Tactics visuals and performance differences across PS1, PSP, PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, PC, mobile, and more

There are several versions of this game available, and each one has its strengths and weaknesses. While the original PlayStation version still looks good, many preferred the updated visuals and added cut-scenes of the PSP release when it first came out. However, the PSP version, titled *Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions*, suffered from noticeable slowdowns during some animations. The iOS version fixed these performance issues and improved the graphics with higher resolution sprites and full display support, even adding camera controls and zoom. It looks fantastic on larger screens like the iPad Pro. While it works on iPhones, the screen’s shape leaves unused space around the edges, and the same is true for widescreen Android devices. Overall, the iPad is the best way to experience the mobile version of the game.

Let’s talk about how Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles looks on different consoles. The game runs at a smooth 60 frames per second on all platforms, but the resolution changes depending on which console you’re playing on. The Switch and the new Switch 2 have similar visual quality whether played docked or in handheld mode, though the Switch 2 renders at a higher resolution in both cases. However, both Switch versions don’t look their best on larger, high-resolution screens – the original Switch looks blurry even on a 1080p display. The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions, on the other hand, look sharp and clear on both 4K and 1440p screens. Surprisingly, even the PS4 version, when played on a PS5, looks as good as the PS5 version.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles on PC adjusts its resolution to fit your screen. It even runs better on a docked Steam Deck than it does on the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. When playing in handheld mode, both the Switch and Switch 2 versions can experience some slowdown or stuttering while navigating the world map, but the game generally runs smoothly during battles and story scenes.

Final Fantasy Tactics load times across Switch 2, PS5, PC, Xbox, PSP, PS1, PS4, and Switch

To check how quickly Final Fantasy Tactics loads on different systems, I timed several actions: starting the game from the dashboard to the title screen, loading a saved game, loading story scenes, and starting battles. I also measured how long it took to switch between game versions. Because the classic mode feels like a separate game, I tested it separately, comparing load times on each platform. Since classic mode doesn’t have much loading *within* the game, I only timed how long it took to reach the classic mode title screen and load a save file there.

I played Final Fantasy Tactics and its various versions on many different devices. This included the Switch 2, Switch OLED, Xbox Series X, PlayStation 5 (both on the console’s internal storage and an external drive), Steam Deck OLED, ROG Ally, PlayStation Vita (with both the original and ‘War of the Lions’ versions), iPhone 15 Pro, and iPad Pro (2020).

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles and The War of the Lions load times tested

Platform / Test	Dash to title	Change version	Load save	Story	Battle
Switch 2	7-8	4	1-2	4	4-5
Switch	9-10	5-6	2	4-5	5-6
PS5	2-3	3	1	2	2
PS4	7	10-11	2	4-5	4-5
Xbox Series X	13-20*	5	2	3	5
Steam Deck	8-12	3-4	1-2	4	4
ROG Ally	7	3	1-2	3	4
PSP on PSV	18	N/A	3	4	3
iOS	2	N/A	1	2	1

Just so you know, all the loading times mentioned are measured in seconds. “Dash to title” means how long it takes to load from the main dashboard to the game’s opening screen. “Version” refers to loading a particular game version from the opening screen. “Save” indicates loading a specific saved game. “Story” represents loading a cutscene, and “Battle” means loading into a battle until you regain control of the character. One important note for Xbox players: loading times can vary quite a bit depending on whether your save data is fully synced.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles Classic Mode and PS1 load times tested

Platform / Test	Dashboard to title	Loading a save
PS1 on PSV	30	8
PS5	2-3 + 3	0.5
Xbox Series X	13-20* + 3	2
PS4	7 + 10	1
Switch	9-10 +10	1
Switch 2	7-8 + 4	1
Steam Deck	8-12 + 9	1
ROG Ally	7 + 6-11	0.5

Just to clarify, all the loading times mentioned are measured in seconds. The dashboard-to-title times include loading both the main title screen and the Classic mode title screen specifically for testing *The Ivalice Chronicles*. Also, loading times on Xbox can vary quite a bit depending on whether your save data is being synced.

Which version of Final Fantasy Tactics is the best?

I’m trying to determine the best version of Final Fantasy Tactics for both new players and longtime fans. For those new to the series, *Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles* is the clear winner. Its Enhanced mode includes features like voice acting, adjustable difficulty, a modern interface, an overhead tactical view, and the ability to speed up battles. Plus, it’s readily available on today’s consoles and PC, making it the easiest version to get. While it doesn’t include everything from *The War of the Lions*, the added features more than compensate for that, in my opinion.

For those curious about the best way to play the original Final Fantasy Tactics, the PlayStation 1 version is the definitive experience. Players who first enjoyed it on PS1 would appreciate having the original translation available in the classic mode of The Ivalice Chronicles. While a patch could potentially add this in the future, classic mode currently only offers the ‘War of the Lions’ translation.

Playing Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions on a modern phone or tablet is a significant upgrade over the original PSP version. For Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles, the PC and PS5 versions offer the best experience when played on a TV or monitor. If you want to play on the go, the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch 2 are the best choices thanks to their long battery life, outperforming the ROG Ally. The PS4 and original Switch versions are playable, but they aren’t ideal – the PS4 suffers from slow loading times, and the original Switch’s graphics aren’t great on a TV, though it plays fine in handheld mode.

Which version of Final Fantasy Tactics should you buy today?

I’ve spent the last few weeks playing Final Fantasy Tactics on different consoles and re-releases while working on this article. I’m happy to say the current version, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicle, is excellent. If you’re interested in how the game plays on other platforms, you can find my thoughts on each one below.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles on Switch and Switch 2: Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles on Switch includes a free upgrade to the Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles Nintendo Switch 2 Edition. With this version, you can play handheld or docked and save data syncs between the Switch and Switch 2 versions. Both Switch versions suffer from minor performance issues in the world map though. If you want to own the game physically, it is available as a proper physical game card on Switch, but not Switch 2. You can upgrade for free to the Nintendo Switch 2 Edition though. I recommend this on Switch 2 if you only play handheld and can tolerate minor performance issues.
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles on Steam: The Steam release of Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles plays perfectly on PC and Steam Deck out of the box. It also supports Steam Achievements. One thing to keep in mind is that the DRM implementation treats both the Enhanced (Ivalice Chronicles) and Classic versions as two different games through the game’s launcher. You might run into issues launching either of them offline for the first time. Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is also capped at 60fps on PC and sometimes has issues loading into Classic mode with different refresh rates. I ran into these issues in the last week when retesting the game. Other than that, the Steam version is great.
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles on Xbox: Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles on Xbox Series X|S has Quick Resume support which is great for a game like this, but it surprisingly is not a Play Anywhere title like Square Enix’s other recent Xbox platform releases. It also has achievement support. I hope Play Anywhere support is added in the future.
Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles on PS5 and PS4: If you want to play on your TV, care about trophy support, and don’t care about portable play (unless you stream to a PlayStation Portal or phone which is not a native experience), this is the version to get. It has the fastest load times in-game across all platforms as another point of comparison. The PS5 version is the only other proper physical release for Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles. There is no PS4 physical release in the West, but it is available in Japan.
Final Fantasy Tactics on PS1: The original release playable on PS1 and also digitally on PS Vita and PS3 in North America and Japan. If you want the absolute original experience, this is the one to get, but it is worth looking into what QOL mods are available for it.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions on PSP: This version is only available on PS Vita as a PSP classic, and the only reason to buy this is if you are not willing to play The War of the Lions on mobile. The only thing this offers over mobile is controller support, but it is lacking in every other way compared to the mobile release. I don’t recommend this on its own given how sluggish it feels.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions on mobile: The mobile versions have none of the performance issues on PSP and they also feature higher-resolution display support with the sprites looking fantastic in addition to more camera and zoom options during battles. A few things to keep in mind with this release are that there is no controller support and the iOS version is a separate purchase for iPhone and iPad compared to most of Square Enix’s other releases on iOS that are a universal single purchase. The touchscreen controls are fantastic though, and this remains the best version of War of the Lions.

What I want in Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles updates

Having explored all the different releases of Final Fantasy Tactics, I’d love to see a few improvements made to Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles to make it even more appealing to new players. While Square Enix hasn’t announced any updates, they’ve surprised us before with post-launch support for older titles, like they did with updates for Romancing SaGa 2 and Chrono Cross. Hopefully, they’ll do the same for this game.

I’m hoping future updates to Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles improve the fast-forward feature, giving players more speed options and allowing it to stay on without holding a button. It would also be great to see this feature added to Classic mode. On PC, support for higher refresh rates would be fantastic, and on a docked Switch 2, I’d love to see support for higher resolutions. For Xbox players, adding Play Anywhere support—allowing seamless play between Xbox Series consoles, PCs, and handhelds—would be a huge benefit. Overall, I’m really enjoying the Enhanced mode of Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles; it’s currently my preferred way to play.

Final Fantasy Tactics – The Ivalice Chronicles is now available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (via Steam). You can find Scott’s review, a handheld comparison, and all of our game guides linked here.

2025-10-08 20:30