Let’s be real: the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy has always been the black sheep of the modern Final Fantasy family. When the original launched, its linearity and slow-burn introduction polarized fans accustomed to sprawling world maps and varied towns. But time has a funny way of changing perspectives. Today, looking back at the complete saga of Lightning Farron, it’s easier to appreciate the ambitious storytelling, unique world-building, and fantastic combat systems that define these three distinct games.

If you missed out the first time, or if you’ve been thinking of giving it another shot, there is absolutely no better place to play than on an Xbox Series X or S. Thanks to Microsoft’s incredible backwards compatibility program, these games have been given a new lease on life, transforming them into what feels like a modern remaster collection.

Here is a look at each entry in this fascinating trilogy and why they are worth your time today.

Final Fantasy XIII: The Beautiful Corridor

The first game is infamous for its “hallway simulator” reputation. For the first 20-or-so hours, you are essentially funnelled down a beautiful, linear path with no towns or side quests to distract you. While jarring at the time, this focused structure serves a purpose: it forces you to learn the intricacies of the Paradigm combat system.

This is where the game truly shines. It’s a fast-paced, strategic dance of switching character roles on the fly—from Commando to Ravager to Medic—to stagger enemies and unleash massive damage. Once the training wheels come off and the world opens up in the vast realm of Gran Pulse later in the game, the combat becomes unbelievably satisfying and challenging.

The Xbox Advantage: On Xbox Series X, Final Fantasy XIII runs at a near-4K resolution with a rock-solid frame rate. Even more impressively, the backwards-compatibility team replaced the original, heavily compressed Xbox 360 cutscenes with higher-quality assets. The result is a game that looks absolutely stunning and stands toe-to-toe with many modern releases.

Final Fantasy XIII-2: Time Travel and Monster Taming

Square Enix took player feedback to heart with the sequel, creating a game that is practically the antithesis of the original. Final Fantasy XIII-2 throws linearity out the window in favor of a time-traveling adventure filled with branching paths, multiple endings, and bustling hubs to explore.

The story follows Lightning’s sister, Serah, and a newcomer from the future, Noel, as they hop through different eras to fix a broken timeline. The genius addition here is the monster-taming mechanic. Your third-party member slot is filled by a monster you capture in battle. You can level them up, infuse them with abilities, and build a perfectly customized team. It’s like a high-fidelity Pokémon game built into a Final Fantasy RPG. The pacing is snappy, the exploration is rewarding, and the soundtrack is an eclectic banger.

The Xbox Advantage: This is where the Series X’s power really shines. The game runs at native 4K resolution and benefits from FPS Boost, delivering buttery-smooth 60 frames per second gameplay. It’s a transformative experience that makes the fast-paced combat feel incredible.

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII: The Doomsday Action-RPG

The finale is the most radical departure of them all. Lightning Returns sheds the traditional party system entirely for a solo action-RPG experience centered around Lightning. You have 13 in-game days to save the world before it ends, creating a constant, thrilling sense of urgency that dictates how you explore its open-world regions.

The combat is brilliant. You customize three different “Schemata” (outfits), each with its own weapon, shield, and abilities, and switch between them instantly in real-time battles. It requires blocks, parries, and exploiting elemental weaknesses, making it feel more like a character-action game than a turn-based RPG. It’s a unique and deeply satisfying system that provides a fittingly epic conclusion to Lightning’s journey.

The Xbox Advantage: Just like its predecessor, Lightning Returns is glorious on Xbox Series X, running at native 4K and 60fps. The crisp visuals and smooth performance are essential for a game so focused on timing and action.

Final Verdict

The Final Fantasy XIII trilogy is a fascinating experiment in game design, with each entry offering a completely different flavor. It’s a saga with high highs, some low lows, but an undeniable amount of heart and ambition.

Playing them back-to-back on Xbox is the definitive way to experience this journey. The visual enhancements and performance boosts wash away the technical blemishes of the PS3/360 era, letting the art direction and gameplay mechanics shine. Do yourself a favor and step back into the world of Cocoon. You might just find yourself falling for it.

Have you played the XIII trilogy? What are your thoughts on these polarizing games? Let me know in the comments below!

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.