Final Fantasy is one of the most legendary video game franchises around that it needs no introduction. The series' peak may be a long time behind now at this point, but this doesn't change the fact that every new Final Fantasy game still sends ripples throughout the industry, showing just how many fans covet every title in the series to this day. With amazing world-bending narratives and a wealth of optional content that's a blast to uncover, it's easy to see why each Final Fantasy game has something or the other going for it that makes it worth checking out in the eyes of many fans.

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One thing fans expect from every game in the series is optional dungeons that let players gain access to game features like new items, weapons, abilities, or summons. These dungeons can range from entertaining to wildly frustrating, with the vast majority of them leaving a lasting impression in the minds of many fans because of how amazing they can be when everything just clicks. Of all the extra challenges players encounter, these are the best optional dungeons in the Final Fantasy series.

5 Pitioss Ruins

A Dungeon Built Around Parkour And Puzzles

There's no denying that Final Fantasy 15 has its fair share of obstacles that stemmed from the development issues that delayed the game multiple times. However, despite all these problems, the camaraderie between the main cast, coupled with cinematic combat, makes this title a blast to play through. After players finish the game and gain access to the Regalia Type-F, they can fly to a distant corner of the world map that houses one of the most unique dungeons in Final Fantasy.

It's a dungeon that features no combat whatsoever, which is a first for the series. Only Noctis can access this dungeon, with the entrance sealed unless players head to this area at night. What follows is a series of parkour challenges that range from intriguing to extremely irritating because of how janky the movement can be at times, but this is all made worthwhile once players gain the Black Hood accessory, which allows for automatic dodges and parries.

4 Deep Sea Research Center

Two Of The Game's Toughest Guardian Forces Can Be Found Here

Whenever players gain access to an airship in the Final Fantasy games, the world is well and truly opened up for them as they explore optional and unique locations to their hearts' content. Final Fantasy 8 is no exception here, and players who finally get their hands on the Ragnarok can explore one of the best optional dungeons in the game. Players should definitely head to the Deep Sea Research Facility if they want to earn the favor of two amazing Guardian Forces.

The first of these is the legendary Bahamut. Approaching this Force is pretty intimidating, as is, with the king of all dragons asking players a series of cryptic questions, with the last one's answer being outside the text box. Only by answering correctly can players gain this dragon's favor, but things don't end here. Players who make their way through the rest of the dungeon will initiate a boss fight with the legendary Ultima Weapon, who is pretty tough to defeat. However, this is a worthwhile endeavor to undertake, since players are rewarded with Eden, the strongest Guardian Force in the game.

3 Omega Ruins

An Endgame Dungeon With Some Tough-As-Nails Encounters

Final Fantasy 10 is considered by many to be the last "great" game in the series before the series went down a route of constant experimentation and inconsistent quality. Players who want to explore an endgame dungeon full of the toughest encounters around can enter a set of coordinates to gain access to the Omega Ruins, housing two optional bosses in the form of Ultima and Omega Weapon.

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While the bosses are pretty challenging in their own right, a lot of people would agree that the fights against the Master Tonberry and Great Marlboro are tougher simply because of how tricky they can be. Thankfully, the experience gained with each encounter is so high that players won't mind making the effort to brave this dungeon. There's a treasure minigame players can mess around with here too, and they must nail this game somehow to gain access to a whopping 99 Warp Spheres, which makes it easier to form powerful builds for every character.

2 Cultists' Tower

A Magical Gauntlet With One Of The Toughest Bosses In The Game At The End

The World of Ruin is one of the biggest and most mind-blowing swerves in any Final Fantasy game to date, with players witnessing firsthand how their failures doomed the world. Still, this doesn't mean that players should just give up, and Celes can bring the party back together once again to face off against Kefka one last time. However, before that, they should prepare by exploring a bunch of optional dungeons, including the mysterious Cultists' Tower.

Ascending to the top of this tower is as challenging as can be, especially since players only have access to magic, with their attack commands being blocked out. This means that players should ensure the party they use here has high magic stats and a vast selection of spells, especially with the enemies getting stronger and stronger as they work their way to the top. Their reward for this is the valuable Soul of Thamasa relic, which lets players cast two spells in one go. However, before players can leave the dungeon with this relic, they must deal with Magic Master, who's relatively easy to deal with until his death, when he casts Ultima and potentially dooms the party, unless they prepare for this attack beforehand. Failing to do so means that the entire party is guaranteed to be wiped out by this boss' final attack.

1 Shinra Mansion

Houses One Of The Best Optional Characters In The Series

It's only a given that a dungeon that houses some important flashbacks and one of the best optional party members in JRPG history would be considered by many as a highlight in the Final Fantasy series. The Shinra Manor is a foreboding optional dungeon that players explore for the first time during Cloud's flashback, when Sephiroth learns the truth of his origins and descends into a state of pure madness. When players revisit Nibelheim, they can explore this area once again to find that there are many things to do now.

Players must defeat a unique boss called the Lost Number to get Red XIII's ultimate Limit Break, the Odin materia, and a key that opens a door in the basement where Vincent is resting. Along with this, there are two flashbacks that players can access too, with Cloud's backstory being especially interesting and letting players understand just how important of a role Zack played in his life.

Final Fantasy

Creation Year

1987

Developer(s)

Square Enix

Publisher(s)

Square Enix