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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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How It Works • Games & Tech

Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII is a 1997 role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Final Fantasy VII is a 1997 role-playing game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation. It is the seventh main instalment in the Final Fantasy series and follows Cloud Strife and his allies.

What it is

Final Fantasy VII is a role-playing game released in 1997 for the PlayStation. It introduced 3D graphics to the series, with rendered characters on pre-rendered backgrounds. The story centres on Cloud Strife, the eco-terrorist group AVALANCHE, the Shinra corporation, and the antagonist Sephiroth.

Why it matters

The game is widely regarded as a landmark title that helped popularise Japanese role-playing games internationally. It boosted PlayStation sales and is considered one of the most influential video games of all time. It also spawned the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII multimedia franchise.

Key details

The game is set on a world known as the Planet, later retroactively named Gaia. It was later ported to other platforms including Windows. The game's success led to sequels, spin-offs, animated works, and a remake project.

In short

  • Released in 1997 for PlayStation
  • Seventh main entry in Final Fantasy series
  • Introduced 3D graphics to the series
  • Sparked the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII franchise
Canadian angle

Final Fantasy VII has been widely distributed in Canada through major PlayStation and PC releases and remains a familiar title among Canadian gaming audiences.

Quick questions

What kind of game is Final Fantasy VII?
It is a role-playing video game released for the PlayStation in 1997.
Who is the main character?
The main protagonist is Cloud Strife, a mercenary who joins AVALANCHE.
Why is Final Fantasy VII historically important?
It is widely seen as a landmark title that helped popularise Japanese role-playing games and expanded the technical scope of the series.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_VII
    Supports: Basic release information, plot summary, setting, and general description.
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_VII
    Supports: Release year, platform, influence, and remake/compilation context.
  3. German Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_VII
    Supports: Series placement, 3D graphics, PlayStation and Windows release, and Shinra/Avalanche premise.
  4. Spanish Wikipedia — https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Final_Fantasy_VII
    Supports: Release year, 3D graphics, and plot overview.
  5. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compilation_of_Final_Fantasy_VII
    Supports: Description of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII franchise and its relation to the original game.