The release of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth in late February was a massive event for the entire gaming world, following the immense success of Final Fantasy VII Remake in 2020. Fans eagerly awaited the next chapter wondering what next was in store for Cloud and his party, then the stunning visuals, and of course, the return of fun mini-games. Now that the initial hype has calmed down, it is time to rank the top 5 mini-games in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth that kept the players coming back for more.
As someone who clocked more than 100 hours in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, I can only say that a good chunk of that time was spent in mini-games. With more than 20 mini-games it is hard to pick a few as favourites but some are simply better than others. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth offers a ton of content including strategic card games heart-pounding races and even a touch of musicality.
5. G-Bike
In Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, G-Bike brings back the motorcycle racing mini-game. In this incarnation, you control Cloud racing through Midgar streets, battling Shinra forces. The goal is to maintain high speed while eliminating enemies and collecting points. While lacking multiple tracks or customization, G-Bike is a solid mini-game with plenty of rewards.
Your score determines your rank and the rewards you receive. In Chapter 8’s standard course, reaching 30,000 points unlocks the top rank, awarding you a Whistlewind Scarf, valuable for its defensive properties, along with Gold Saucer Points. Later chapters increase the score requirement for the best rewards, which can include rare items like Dark Matter and Limit Boosters.
4. Piano Performance
Take a break from saving the world and unleash your inner musician in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth’s Piano Performance mini-game. Scattered throughout the game world are playable pianos where you can control Cloud to create melodies.
This mini-game offers two ways to play:
- Freestyle: You can compose your music on the fly! Perfecting your masterpiece may take some practice, but hitting the right notes is rewarding.
- Sheet Music: For those who prefer a structured approach, there is pre-made sheet music available for various in-game songs. Follow the on-screen prompts to play familiar melodies or discover new ones within the soundtrack.
3. Chocobo Racing
One of the fan favourite games, Chocobo Racing makes a return in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Race your favourite and trusty Chocobos at various tracks, using boosts and drifting to achieve a victory.
How to play:
- The mini-game is unlocked after completing Chapter 7: All that Glitters. Head to the Gold Saucer Chocobo Square to participate.
- Choose a difficulty rank and race track. Entry fees vary based on rank.
- Select your Chocobo – each has unique stats and abilities.
- Equip the gear you have collected to improve your Chocobo’s performance.
- During the race, collect different coloured balloons for various boosts:
- Blue Balloons increase overall speed (up to a maximum)
- Yellow Balloons fill your Dash gauge for a quick speed burst.
- Red Balloons charge your Chocobo’s unique ability.
- Use drifting (L and R1 buttons) to gain speed boosts.
- Learn the track layout – memorize shortcuts, boost pad locations, and obstacles to avoid.
Overall, Chocobo Racing is a fun mini-game that will keep you, just like me entertained for hours. There are numerous tracks, various customization options, and different Chocobos of course.
2. Fort Condor
Fort Condor in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a mini-game where you defend your fort by placing units on a grid-like battlefield, something like Tower Defence.
You need to place different units on the battlefield grid. There are units that counter each other, which means you will need to think of a winning strategy. There are multiple stages as you progress through the mini-game each harder than the previous. Completing stages earns you Protorelics, which contribute to world intel for Chadley. Chadley uses this intel to develop new Materia, some of which are exclusive to Fort Condor participation.
1. Queen’s Blood
Queen’s Blood in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth throws you into the world of collectable card games. As you travel, you’ll collect an ever-growing pool of cards, each with unique strengths and weaknesses.
Throughout your journey, you will face various opponents eager to test your skills. These matches range from friendly introductions to intense battles. The goal is to beat the opponent of course, using different spell and monster cards.
Victory is more than just bragging rights. It boosts your rank and expands your card collection, giving you access to even more powerful cards. With a vast pool to explore, Queen’s Blood offers a highly replayable experience that constantly rewards you for building and refining your deck.
- Winning the Shinra-8 card tournament grants access to exclusive cutscenes, adding to the story.
- Occasionally, winning Queen’s Blood matches advances certain side quests.
- The biggest rewards come from completing Queen’s Blood’s own side quest.
Overall, Queen’s Blood will keep you away for hours from the main story, but also help you with quests and side quests, making it the favourite mini-game in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.