Which is the best version of Final Fantasy XII? FF12 and The Zodiac Age compared across all platforms

This month marks the 20th anniversary of Final Fantasy XII, a game I still believe is one of the best in the series. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a particularly excellent version, and it’s currently available on almost every platform. To commemorate the original game’s anniversary, I recently played it on various consoles and PC, including handheld devices, to see how it holds up today. I intended to publish my thoughts last week, but work on the Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster and updates for the Switch 2’s handheld mode caused a slight delay.

Like my previous analyses of Square Enix RPGs such as Triangle Strategy and the Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, I’ll be taking a close look at Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age. I’ll cover everything from its release history and features to its graphics, performance, and loading speeds. I’ll also share my pick for the best version of the game and help you decide which version is right for you. Just so you know, I have access to almost all versions of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age except for the one on the Windows Store, which I didn’t review since it’s not part of the Xbox Play Anywhere program.

Final Fantasy XII and The Zodiac Age release timeline

Final Fantasy XII has seen a somewhat complex release history, appearing on different platforms with added features and updates over time. Before diving into the various versions and how they differ, it’s helpful to understand this journey.

Final Fantasy XII has seen several releases and updates across different platforms. It first launched in Japan for PlayStation 2 in March 2006, followed by North America in October and Europe/Australia in February 2007. An updated version with the Zodiac Job System was released in Japan in August 2007. In 2017, Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age brought the International Zodiac Job System version to Western audiences on PS4 with enhanced graphics, a new soundtrack, and faster loading times. The following year, a PC version arrived with support for 60fps and ultrawide displays, plus additional features. In April 2019, the game came to Xbox One and Nintendo Switch, adding even more improvements like a job reset function and the ability to save multiple Gambit setups. Finally, in April 2020, the PS4 and Steam versions were updated to include the features from the Xbox One and Switch releases.

Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age feature differences across platforms

Now that we’ve covered the release dates, let’s look at how Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age differs between platforms. This comparison focuses on the latest versions of the game. The PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch versions all offer the same gameplay and content after their recent updates. The only differences are in how the game looks and performs, which I’ll discuss next.

The PC version of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age includes two permanent boosters that maximize the rate at which players earn License Points and Gil. Unlike the console versions, players can also start the game with access to New Game Plus and New Game Minus modes, rather than unlocking them after finishing a first playthrough.

Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age visual and performance differences across PS5, Switch 2, Xbox, PS4, Switch, Steam Deck, and PC

Although Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a remastered version of a PlayStation 2 game, the way it looks and runs differs between consoles and PC. On PlayStation 4, the standard version aimed for a resolution of 1080p at 30 frames per second, while the PS4 Pro version targeted 1440p at the same frame rate. The PS4 version is generally considered the original release for this remastered game.

The PC version of the game is a significant upgrade, offering support for 4K resolution, 60fps, and ultrawide monitors. However, it can experience performance problems above 60fps, so it’s best to limit the framerate. Saving and loading times are also much faster on PC. The PlayStation versions, even on the PS5, still take a long time to save and load. Additionally, the PC version includes enhanced physics effects for things like clothing and character models – I learned about these improvements from a helpful video by AustinSV (linked below) which also details the changes made to the original PS2 version. I highly recommend checking out that video!

The technical quality of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age differs between Xbox and Switch. On standard Xbox One or One S consoles, the game runs at 1080p. However, on Xbox One X or Series X, it achieves a smoother 60 frames per second. Currently, the Xbox versions are the only consoles where you can play the game at this higher frame rate.

When played on the Nintendo Switch, both docked and in handheld mode, the game runs at a lower resolution than other platforms. Digital Foundry’s analysis shows it displays at 864p when docked and 576p in handheld mode, targeting 30 frames per second. To keep the game’s file size under 16GB, the developers also reduced the quality of some textures and assets, and shortened certain cut-scenes and audio clips.

When playing on the new Switch 2, games still run at 864p when docked. However, using the new ‘Handheld Boost Mode’ significantly improves the graphics when playing in handheld mode compared to the original Switch. While the target remains 30 frames per second, the visuals are noticeably better. Also, a compatibility issue with Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age on the Switch 2 has been resolved this month.

Let’s quickly talk about playing on handheld PCs. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is a truly excellent experience on the Steam Deck OLED. It also works great on the ROG Ally, but the Steam Deck OLED offers something special with its smooth 60 frames per second, crisp native resolution, and vibrant OLED screen.

Just to clarify how the comparisons were made: I took screenshots using the built-in features of the ROG Ally and Steam Deck, as well as handheld capture on the Switch 2 (comparing it to the original Switch). I used both regular and ‘boost’ modes on the Switch 2 and then adjusted the images to highlight the differences. Keep in mind that the Switch 2 version with boost mode looks better when played on the device itself than it appears in these screenshots, because the screenshots of older games are limited to a 720p resolution.

Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age load times across PS5, PS4, Switch 2, Switch, Xbox, Steam Deck, and PC

I wanted to see how quickly Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age loaded on different consoles and handhelds. I installed the game on a PS4 Pro’s hard drive, the internal SSDs of both a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, an SD card in my Switch OLED, the internal storage of my Switch 2, the SSD in my Steam Deck OLED, the SSD of a Steam Deck running the SteamOS preview, and the SSD in my ROG Ally. To keep things consistent, I skipped any introductory logos. I timed how long it took to get to the game’s title screen from each console’s dashboard, and then how long it took to load an early game save. I also measured how long it took to manually save the game, especially on the PS4 (and when played on the PS5), to highlight any differences. The times are listed below in seconds.

Platform	Dash to title	Loading save	Saving
PS4 Pro	16	17	14
PS4 on PS5 SSD	12	15	14
XSX SSD	12	4-5	<1
S1	15-17	6	1
S1 on S2	13-14	4-5	1
Deck OLED	13	6	<1
Deck LCD	15	6	<1
ROG Ally	13	5	<1

Saving the game takes a significantly long time on the PS4. It’s slow to both save and load, and it also has an outdated save interface that requires extra steps. On other platforms, like Xbox and PC, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age saves and loads much faster. It’s surprising this issue hasn’t been fixed after all this time.

Is it worth playing the original Final Fantasy XII over The Zodiac Age?

Honestly, I think Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is one of the best remasters ever made. It stays true to the original game I loved, but they added so many great quality-of-life improvements and tweaks that make it even better to play. Plus, it’s super accessible – you can really scale the difficulty and customize the gameplay to fit exactly how you want to experience it. It’s the definitive version of Final Fantasy XII, hands down.

Which version of Final Fantasy XII The Zodiac Age is the best?

As a huge Final Fantasy fan, I have to say the PC version of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age is incredible. Not only is it a fantastic experience right when you start playing, but the modding community has made it even better! It’s easily one of the best Final Fantasy games to come to PC – only beaten by Final Fantasy XV Windows Edition, in my opinion. While Final Fantasy XVI can be tough on your system, at least it felt like they put effort into making it work well. That’s more than I can say for the Final Fantasy VII Remake series, which still has a lot of frustrating issues on PC. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age just feels different. It actually supports ultrawide monitors beautifully, has a ton of extra features, and runs smoothly on a wide range of hardware. It’s a real standout!

If you’re not playing on PC, the best console version depends on your priorities. The PS4 Pro (and PS5) offers a sharper image at 1440p, but the game runs at 30 frames per second and saving is slow. The Xbox One X and Series X versions prioritize a smooth 60fps, but the resolution is lower at 1080p. Thankfully, saving is much faster on Xbox. The Switch version isn’t recommended, even with the upgraded Switch 2, as the Steam release is significantly better. While handheld mode on Switch 2 does improve the experience for Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, visual compromises make it hard to recommend if you have access to a PC handheld device.

Which version of Final Fantasy XII and The Zodiac Age should you buy to play today?

Here’s a breakdown of the best ways to play Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age.

PS4 & PS5: If you primarily play on a TV, this is the best-looking console version, but it’s limited to 30 frames per second, even on PS5.

Xbox: The Xbox version supports Quick Resume, which is handy for this game. Surprisingly, it’s not a Play Anywhere title like other Square Enix Xbox games, though an Xbox version is available on the Windows Store. It also includes achievement support. Hopefully, Play Anywhere support will be added later.

Steam: This is generally the best version overall, working well with monitors, TVs, and handheld devices. It has more features than other platforms, a thriving modding community, and runs perfectly on the Steam Deck.

Switch & Switch 2: While not the best, the Switch version is still enjoyable, especially the Switch 2, offering seamless play on both TV and in handheld mode. However, it has reduced resolution and is capped at 30fps.

PS2: With The Zodiac Age available on modern consoles and PC, the original PS2 version isn’t recommended.

I hope this guide helped you choose where to buy Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, or encouraged you to replay this fantastic RPG. I also hope Square Enix will treat all platforms equally in the future. It’s frustrating when updates or features are released for some platforms but not others – a truly multi-platform experience should be consistent across the board. We’re already seeing this issue with the handling of the Bravely Default remaster. I’m still hoping the PC enhancements for both Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age and Final Fantasy X & X-2 HD Remaster will eventually be included in the console versions. Ideally, I’d like to see native versions for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and the upcoming Switch 2, as the current console releases still have some limitations.

2026-03-22 21:32