Final Fantasy is a video game series developed and published by Square Enix (formerly Square). The first installment in the series, the eponymous Final Fantasy, was released in 1987 in Japan, and Final Fantasy games have been released almost every single year since. Sixteen games have been released as part of the main (numbered) series. Sequels, prequels, spin-offs, and related video games have been published, as well as numerous installments in other media forms. Each game in the main series takes place in a different fictional universe rather than serving as direct sequels to prior games, although some games have received sequels, or prequels, set in the same universe.
Most of the games have been re-released for several different platforms, many of which have been included in bundled releases. The series as a whole is primarily composed of role-playing video games, but also includes massively multiplayer online role-playing games, third-person shooters, tower defense games, and tactical role-playing games. Final Fantasy games have been released on over a dozen video game consoles beginning with the Nintendo Entertainment System, as well as for personal computers and mobile phones. The series is Square Enix's most successful franchise, having sold over 100 million units worldwide as of June 2011, across both the main series and its spin-offs.[1] Final Fantasy's popularity has placed it as one of the best-selling video game franchises.[2]