Final Fantasy VIII vs Final Fantasy X-2
Final Fantasy VIII is a JRPG open-world game from Square (1999) while Final Fantasy X-2 is an RPG game from Square (2003).
Quick answer: Final Fantasy VIII has the higher Metacritic, 90 to 85.
Final Fantasy X-2
What each one is
Final Fantasy VIII is filed under JRPG and Open-World. In contrast, Final Fantasy X-2 under RPG.
It is a time of war. Galbadia, a Global Superpower, has declared war on Dollet, a country whose training academy is home to two personalities: the hot-headed Seifer and the 'lone wolf', Squall Leonhart. Both are equally at conflict with each other as their country is with Galbadia; to others, Squall appears lacking in team spirit, while...
Final Fantasy X-2 is a 2003 role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation 2. Unlike most Final Fantasy games, which use self-contained stories and characters, X-2 continues the story of Final Fantasy X (2001). The story follows Yuna as she searches for Tidus, the main character of the previous game, while trying to prevent political conflicts in Spira from escalating to war.
Story, characters and reception
Plot
Setting and characters Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy VIII Most of Final Fantasy VIII is set on an unnamed fantasy world. The setting is highly European in design and features a blend of modern and futuristic locales. The planet contains five major landmasses, with Esthar, the largest, covering most of the eastern portion of the map. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Final Fantasy VIII received critical acclaim. In general, the game was compared favorably to its predecessors. Though questioning the game's lack of voice overs for its characters, Game Revolution praised its storyline and ending. (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting and characters Main articles: Spira (Final Fantasy) and Characters of Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 Final Fantasy X-2 takes place two years after Final Fantasy X and is set in the fictional world of Spira, which consists of one large landmass divided into three subcontinents, surrounded by small tropical islands. It features diverse climates, ranging from the tropical Besaid and Kilika islands, to the temperate Mi'ihen region, to the… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Critical response See also: Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster § Reception Reception According to review aggregator Metacritic , reviews for Final Fantasy X-2 were "generally favorable". In 2006, readers of Japanese video game magazine Famitsu ranked Final Fantasy X-2 as number 32 in a poll on the best video games of all time. The Academy of Interactive Arts Sciences awarded the character Rikku, performed vocally by Tara Strong , with " Outstanding… (Wikipedia)
At a glance
| Final Fantasy VIII | Final Fantasy X-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| GamingPickz Score | 7.5/10 | — |
| Steam rating | Very Positive (88%, 9,497) | — |
| Critic aggregate | 90/100 | 85/100 |
| Price | $11.99 | Unknown |
| Install size | 4 GB | — |
| Steam Deck | playable | Untested |
| Released | 1999 | 2003 |
| Developer | Square | Square |
Prices and Steam ratings are read live and move over time.
Final Fantasy VIII vs Final Fantasy X-2, point by point
Each facet side by side. A round is marked won only where a figure settles it; feel and "which is better" carry no mark, because no number we hold decides them.
Genre and premise
Final Fantasy VIIIJRPG open-world gameFinal Fantasy X-2RPG gameWhat each is filed as. Each game describes itself in full above; we do not judge a premise.
How it plays
Final Fantasy VIIIJRPG, RPG, ClassicFinal Fantasy X-2No descriptive tagsThe tags players apply most, in order of votes. A read on feel, not a verdict.
Reception
Final Fantasy VIII ✓Metacritic 90Final Fantasy X-2Metacritic 85Metacritic's critic aggregate, from the game's Wikipedia reception where it was never on Steam.
Content and scale
Final Fantasy VIII9,497 reviews · 4 GBFinal Fantasy X-2—Reach and footprint, not quality: more reviews or a bigger install is not a better game.
Price
Final Fantasy VIII$11.99Final Fantasy X-2UnknownRead live from Steam and subject to change.
Final Fantasy VIII takes 1 of the marked rounds to 0. That is only what a number can decide, not which you will enjoy more.
Which to pick, by what you want
- The better reviewed of the two: Final Fantasy VIII (Metacritic 90)
Where they differ
JRPGRPGClassicSingleplayerGreat SoundtrackTurn-Based
Tags players apply to one game and not the other.
Difficulty and who each is for
By the tags players apply, Final Fantasy VIII is middle-of-the-road on difficulty. Final Fantasy X-2 is middle-of-the-road on difficulty.
System requirements, side by side
| Final Fantasy VIII | Final Fantasy X-2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum GPU | DirectX 9.0c compatible card | — |
| Minimum CPU | 1Core CPU 2GHz | — |
| Minimum RAM | 1 GB | — |
| Install size | 4 GB | — |
Can your PC run them? Check each against your own kit: Final Fantasy VIII · Final Fantasy X-2.
Accessibility features
Steam store pages declare 2 accessibility features for Final Fantasy VIII and 0 for Final Fantasy X-2. A declaration is a floor, not a review.
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Common questions
How different are Final Fantasy VIII and Final Fantasy X-2 in scope?
Final Fantasy VIII has drawn 9,497 Steam reviews and installs in 4 GB. Final Fantasy X-2 lists little scope data.
Is Final Fantasy VIII or Final Fantasy X-2 better?
Neither carries enough reviews for us to score it reliably, so we do not call a winner. The table above shows what each does have.
Which is cheaper, Final Fantasy VIII or Final Fantasy X-2?
One or both do not have a current listed price, so a straight comparison is not possible. See the table above.
Should I get Final Fantasy VIII or Final Fantasy X-2?
Final Fantasy VIII has the higher Metacritic, 90 to 85. It also depends on what you want: the "which to pick" section above calls out which is cheaper, lighter on storage, better on a Steam Deck and the safer bet by weight of reviews.
Do you rank one above the other for a fee?
No. Neither game, nor anyone else, pays for placement or a verdict here. The order and every figure come out of the same public data the rest of the site uses.
Related comparisons
All comparisonsHow we compare, and what we will not do
The GamingPickz Score is a composite of player sentiment (adjusted for sample size), the critic aggregate and popularity, computed by the same code every ranked list on this site uses. The Steam rating label is Valve's own, reconstructed from the positive percentage and review count. Prices are read live. We do not write an opinion of which game is "better": we report the numbers and say which wins each measurable question above.