The Gathering’s Final Fantasy Collab Has Opened a Pandora’s Box That Shouldn’t Be Closed Anytime Soon

It is no exaggeration to say the Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering set was the most successful one in history. Within a day, the Final Fantasy set made $200 million – a total it took Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle Earth six months to earn. Final Fantasy printed money for Magic: The Gathering, proving Square Enix’s most famous IP was a perfect fit for the trading card game.

Wizards of the Coast hit a home run with the Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering set, but it doesn’t need to be lightning in a bottle. Square Enix has tons of other popular IPs that could make for incredible Magic: The Gathering sets, such as Kingdom Hearts, Dragon Quest, and NieR. Though they may not be able to meet the steep sales precedent of their predecessor, Magic: The Gathering has some great avenues to continue its partnership with Square Enix, and ride the wave to even further success.

Square Enix is Ripe for More Magic: The Gathering Sets

Kingdom Hearts – Popular Series With a Mouse-Shaped Catch

Among the many IPs of Square Enix, Kingdom Hearts is perhaps one of the few games that can compare with Final Fantasy in terms of raw excitement – in no small part because it itself has featured Final Fantasy characters in the past. Sora, Riku, Heartless, Nobodies, and Keyblades would be excellent fits for Magic: The Gathering, and with Kingdom Hearts 4 in development, a timely crossover could be perfect for both games.

That said, there is a significant hurdle to overcome before this theoretical collaboration: Disney. Unlike other Square Enix properties, many Kingdom Hearts characters and locations are drawn from Disney IPs as well. The entertainment giant is notoriously stringent with its characters, and needing to negotiate with both companies could prove to be a prohibitively expensive obstacle.

The Charming Creatures of Dragon Quest

Though not quite as popular as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest is another IP with nearly as many fans—and games. Drawn by the late Dragonball artist Akira Toriyama, this fantasy RPG series is full of wondrous creatures that would be a delight in Magic: The Gathering, from the adorable Slimes to the iconic Golems. What’s more, Dragon Quest 12: The Flames of Fate could release in 2026 in time for the franchise’s 40th anniversary, and Magic: The Gathering could capitalize on the hype.

The Existential Androids of NieR: Automata and NieR Replicant

The 2017 action RPG NieR: Automata exploded in popularity, even though the franchise’s roots went back much further. With challenging gameplay, gorgeous visuals, and moving sound design, the deeply existential story of Nier: Automata started something that was continued with the enhanced prequel NieR Replicant in 2021. Its unique weapons, characters, enemies, and abilities would be incredible additions to Magic: The Gathering.

A NieR x Magic: The Gathering set would also not be a hard sell, either. NieR game director and scenario writer Yoko Taro has gone on the record saying he is a “slave to capitalism” who would do “anything for money,” and is open to virtually any crossover if the price is right. Before the most recent NieR crossover with The First Descendent, 2B and friends have appeared in over two dozen other games, including Final Fantasy 14, Rainbow Six: Siege, and Stellar Blade, so it would not be a stretch of the imagination to see Magic: The Gathering added to this list.

Square Enix’s Deeper Cuts Hold MTG Potential, Too

• Chrono Trigger
• Romancing SaGa
• Bravely Default
• Octopath Traveler
• Tactics Ogre Reborn
• The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

Other Square Enix games, like Chrono Trigger, Romancing SaGa, Bravely Default, Octopath Traveler, Tactics Ogre Reborn, or even in-development titles like The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, could make for interesting Magic: The Gathering cards as well, though they may individually struggle to carry an MTG set like Final Fantasy did. However, if they were bundled together – perhaps even alongside spin-off FF games like Final Fantasy Tactics – they could absolutely score big. Regardless, Square Enix has a goldmine of IPs to pull from, so hopefully, Magic: The Gathering doesn’t let these opportunities pass them by indefinitely.

Original Release Date

August 5, 1993

Designer

Richard Garfield

Player Count

2+

Age Recommendation

13+