What Final Fantasy Tactics Gets Right (And Wrong) About SWANA Representation

While the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been ongoing for decades, recent events have brought it to the forefront of global discussion. This has unfortunately led to increased prejudice against people of Arab descent. That’s why the inclusion of Rapha and Marach in The Ivalice Chronicles feels particularly meaningful to me and many other gamers from Southwest Asia and North Africa (SWANA). It’s incredibly welcome to see actors Elham Ehsas and Lara Sawalha portray these characters with such authenticity, especially considering how SWANA characters have often been portrayed negatively or stereotypically in video games – usually as exotic dancers, caricatures, or villains, as seen in games like Metal Slug and Counter-Strike. Rapha and Marach offer a different kind of representation – a more complex and relatable story that reflects the real challenges faced by our community, both in 1997 when the game was released and even more so today.






