Square Enix has confirmed it tweaked its approach to mini-games for Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, but there are some things it won’t change “no matter how much feedback we receive.”
Director Naoki Hamaguchi opened up about the very, very loud feedback the team received following its approach to mini-games in titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth during an interview with Automaton. It’s a topic that has seen players calling for side activities to be reduced in an effort to curb any potential bloat criticisms, but he said respecting the original experience is far more important than catering to a modern player base.
“The request to reduce the number of minigames is a difficult one,” Hamaguchi said. “I have a very clear policy that I don’t want to change, no matter how much feedback we receive. After all, the original FFVII had an enormous number of minigames. This remake series exists because of the original game, and respecting the original is one of our core policies.”
Still, Square Enix saw an opportunity to reimagine some of the late-game events of Final Fantasy 7 with its Revelation remake chapter. For the upcoming third installment, Hamaguchi said they have made it so players “don’t have to engage with mini-games” if they don’t want to.
The team didn’t want players who, for example, focused on combat to feel forced to play mini-games to unlock certain combat-centric rewards. Final Fantasy 7 Revelation addresses feedback by not tying most of these rewards to combat, instead granting players access to character skins and customization options.
As a result, rewards to aid in combat and battle progression can still be earned through “combat-oriented side content.” It’s a move that Hamaguchi said has made this game “much more comfortable to play than past entries.”
Hamaguchi also teased that some Final Fantasy 7 Revelation mini-games will also feature difficulty settings for those looking to earn rewards without digging their heels in for one particularly tough mission. With Square Enix’s goal to “minimize frustration,” there will also be an option to skip mini-games, though Hamaguchi didn’t elaborate on this feature.
“The abundance of minigames is one of the original game’s defining traits, so even in a remake, that’s not something I intend to change. On the other hand, I do believe it’s crucial to make them more comfortable to play and to ensure players don’t feel disadvantaged if they choose to skip them. We’ve incorporated the lessons we learned from FFVII Rebirth into this game, so I’m looking forward to seeing how players respond to it.”
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation was announced at Summer Game Fest 2026 and will launch for PC, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S spring 2027. Hamaguchi also recently confirmed that Sephiroth’s English voice actor, Tyler Hoechlin, was unable to return, with the character now voiced by Travis Willingham. For more, you can read up on everything announced at last night’s show.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
