Square Enix doesn't do big Final Fantasy discounts often, but the exceptional XIII trilogy is less than half price for the next few days

Final Fantasy XIII heroine Lightning facing the viewer wearing a set of black armor

(Image credit: Square Enix)

If, like me, you think Final Fantasy XIII is an elite-level FF series then I've got good news for you—you're 100 per cent correct and have superb taste in games. Give yourself a pat on the back, you legend.

If you don't think Final Fantasy XIII is an elite-level FF series then, um…well, this is a bit awkward. Yeah, I got nothing… sorry. Maybe just leave this article and go read PC Gamer's write-up of the other best deals in the 2024 Steam Spring Sale.

Unbelievers left? Let's proceed with the other piece of good news—the entire Final Fantasy XIII series is currently discounted by 60% in the Steam Spring Sale, meaning that regardless of if you've previously stepped into the shoes of Final Fantasy XIII heroine Lightning (what a gal!) and now want to relive those adventures, or if it's a series that passed you by originally, now is a great time to jump into its epic Fabula Nova Crystallis world.

I've personally played and enjoyed all three Final Fantasy XIII games (indeed, I'm currently replaying the epic concluding game in the series, Lightning Returns), and can vouch that this is some top-tier Final Fantasy-ing and excellent JRPG gaming in general. I've got some buying advice below for those who are new to the series below, but first here are the details on what's on offer.

My Final Fantasy XIII series buying advice

In terms of buying advice, I only really have one piece of wisdom to pass on here. If you've not played any of these games before then don't start with Lightning Returns. This isn't just because of coming to it without experiencing the story beats of the previous games (which is something you can easily catch up on in YouTube compilations if you so desire), but more because it is a very complex game that marries an astonishingly open design with a strict and oppressive doomsday clock game over mechanic. Without going into any in-game details to avoid spoilers, the fact is that in Lightning Returns you only have a set number of days to beat the game and win and, if you don't, it's game over.

Upon failure, a cool (and very much needed unless you use a guide) New Game Plus mode is then unlocked, which allows you to have another crack but entering the game with all your abilities and gear, something that obviously helps massively. But you will then obviously replay good chunks of the game and its story so, while Lightning Returns is my personal favorite of the trilogy, the odd structure and assumed knowledge makes it the wrong place to start. I'd suggest starting with XIII or even XIII-2 (set three years after the original game) first.

Last few points of interest on these PC gaming versions of the XIII series, they come with a host of PC benefits that the original PS3 releases never got, such as better framerates and resolutions, plenty of DLC content, and my favourite thing of all, unlocked Japanese voiceovers with English subtitles (the perfect combo IMO). These discounts are available until 21 March by the way, so if you're interested, I'd strike while the iron is hot. Enjoy!

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Rob is editor of PC Gamer magazine and has been PC gaming since the early 1990s, an experience that has left him with a life-long passion for first person shooters, isometric RPGs and point and click adventures. Professionally Rob has written about games, gaming hardware and consumer technology for almost twenty years, and before joining the PC Gamer team was deputy editor of T3.com, where he oversaw the website's gaming and tech content as well its news and ecommerce teams. You can also find Rob's words in a series of other gaming magazines and books such as Future Publishing's own Retro Gamer magazine and numerous titles from Bitmap Books. In addition, he is the author of Super Red Green Blue, a semi-autobiographical novel about games and gaming culture. Rob loves riding motorbikes, too.