Final Fantasy Archives - Unwinnable

A crop of the US box art for Final Fantasy Mystic Quest with an almost art deco hero of flat blue and gold armor holding a glimmering sword that honestly looks pretty cool

Ode to Benjamin

By Alexander B. Joy • February 6th, 2025

In praise of Benjamin – an existential hero who views his adventure as an absurd joke and a colossal pain in the ass.

Interlinked

Close-up on a microscopic COVID-19 spike protein with its distinctive crown of spikes.

Status Ailment Era

By Phoenix Simms • January 14th, 2025

Do status ailments and their treatments in games perpetuate toxic mythology about diseases and disabilities?

a screenshot from Final Fantasy VI, a cutscene showing the planet from space with several explosions and an ominous fault line crack

Final Fantasy, Zelda, and Gradients of Apocalypse

By Jonathan Fenn • May 15th, 2023

The act of actually representing the transition between these peace, conflict, disaster, and rebirth in game is a massive challenge.

Feature Excerpt

Videogame Chamber Music

By William Dowell • February 26th, 2021

“One Winged Angel” is plenty haunting to start but then you hear the string quartet version. Find out what goes into that.

No Accounting for Taste

New Harmonies

By Adam Boffa • August 12th, 2020

Like just about everything else in the game, the music of Final Fantasy XII defies expectations. That’s also why it’s such a success.

Cloud, dressed as a woman in a tiara and dress, looks uncomfortably towards the camera

Wall Market Isn’t Burning

By Trevor Richardson • July 22nd, 2020

I’m tired of measuring progress in vague lines about beauty and the cheers of a straight woman.

Here's the Thing

Three Quick Ones

By Rob Rich • July 14th, 2020

Rob dives into how two series took a step forward in their decades-spanning gameplay formula this year, albeit to varying success.

No Accounting for Taste

The Shadow of the Past

By Adam Boffa • July 13th, 2020

In Final Fantasy XII, history is a living thing.

Here's the Thing

I Hope the FFVII Remake Changes My Mind

By Rob Rich • April 10th, 2020

Rob isn’t the biggest fan of Final Fantasy VII (to put it lightly) but he’s hoping that the upcoming remake will change that.

Not Your Enemy – Family Dynamics and the Disappointing Adult in JRPGs

By Malindy Hetfeld • February 25th, 2019

Teens are ever-present in Japanese roleplaying games, yet it’s easy to forget that – cute character design and the technical limitations meant that characters could be anywhere from 13 to 113, yet when a game reminds you of its characters’ age, this should put their behaviour and situation in context.