Final Fantasy VII Rebirth: What to Play Before Starting

Before starting Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, you should play the original Final Fantasy VII (1997) or at least watch its story summary, and ideally play Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020) and its Intergrade expansion, because Rebirth continues directly from that story and assumes you know the characters and events. You do not need to play Crisis Core, but it adds meaningful backstory for one key character. This article explains what each game contributes, what you can skip, and how to get the most out of your time before diving into Rebirth.

The Story So Far: What Rebirth Assumes You Know

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the second part of a planned trilogy that remakes the 1997 original. It picks up immediately after the events of Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020). The game expects you to know the main party members—Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Red XIII—and the basic conflict: the Shinra Electric Power Company is draining the planet’s life force (Mako) to use as energy, and the eco-terrorist group Avalanche is fighting back. You should also know that Sephiroth, a legendary SOLDIER, is the main antagonist, and that Cloud has a mysterious connection to him.

If you start Rebirth without any prior knowledge, you’ll still enjoy the gameplay and visuals, but many character relationships and plot twists will lose their impact. The game doesn’t re-introduce the characters from scratch; it assumes you’ve already formed bonds with them.

Must-Play: Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020)

This is the most important game to play before Rebirth. Remake covers the Midgar section of the original game, which is roughly the first 5-10 hours of the 1997 classic, but expands it into a full 30-40 hour experience. Rebirth continues the story from the exact moment Remake ends, so you will be lost on the plot if you skip it.

You also need to understand the Remake project’s unique twist: it’s not a pure remake. It introduces elements that suggest the story may diverge from the original, including the Whispers (entities that try to keep events on their original course) and Zack Fair, a character who was thought dead. Rebirth builds directly on these changes, so playing Remake is essential to understand the new narrative direction.

Important: Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (2021)

Intergrade is the enhanced version of Remake for PS5 and PC, and it includes the INTERmission DLC. This DLC follows Yuffie Kisaragi, a ninja from Wutai, as she infiltrates Midgar. Yuffie joins the party in Rebirth, and the DLC introduces her personality, her combat style, and her connection to the larger story. It also sets up the ending of Remake in a way that matters for Rebirth.

If you can, play the Intergrade version with the DLC. If you only have the base Remake, you’ll still understand the main plot, but you’ll miss Yuffie’s introduction and some foreshadowing.

Optional but Valuable: Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion (2022)

Crisis Core is a remaster of a 2007 PSP game that tells the story of Zack Fair, a SOLDIER who appears in Remake and is central to Rebirth‘s narrative. The game reveals Zack’s relationship with Aerith, his friendship with Sephiroth, and his connection to Cloud. It also explains the origins of the Buster Sword and the fate of the original SOLDIERs.

Playing Crisis Core is not required, but it enriches your understanding of Zack, who plays a major role in Rebirth. If you don’t want to play it, you can watch a story summary on YouTube or read a wiki synopsis. The game is about 15-20 hours long, so it’s a significant time investment.

The Original Final Fantasy VII (1997): Do You Need It?

You do not need to play the original game to enjoy Rebirth, but it’s highly recommended for one reason: it lets you appreciate the changes and surprises in the remake trilogy. The original is a turn-based JRPG with polygon graphics, which can be off-putting for modern players. However, the story is the same skeleton that Rebirth is building on.

If you play the original, you’ll know the broad strokes of what’s coming (e.g., major character deaths, plot twists). This knowledge makes the remake trilogy more interesting because you can see how the developers are altering events. If you don’t have time, you can read a detailed plot summary or watch a

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