If there is one thing the Final Fantasy series seemingly loves it is weird names. From side characters like Zhijie from Final Fantasy 7 Remake Episode INTERmission to prominent stars like Count Cidolfus Orlandeau from Final Fantasy Tactics, strange names are all over this franchise including titles too. As great as the PS5 version of Final Fantasy 7 Remake is, that port name is a mouthful.

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Then there are the secret organizations within these games. For the most part, they have some pretty clever names along with some that are a bit too on the nose. In honor of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth which has a boatload of funky names, here's a look at the series’ roster of secret organizations and find the best of the best. There will be spoilers.

8 NORA

Final Fantasy 13

Snow in Final Fantasy 13
Final Fantasy 13

Platform(s)
PS3 , Xbox 360 , PC
Released
March 9, 2010
Developer(s)
Square Enix

NORA is the rebel group in Final Fantasy 13 that is led by Snow. It’s another organization that doesn’t have a huge role in the game beyond the opening battle scene other than NORA members popping up every now and again.

That said, the opening battle in this game is one of the highlights. Snow isn’t much of a leader either as he is a bit boisterous which is something that annoys Lightning. A lot of this game feels like it is trying to mirror a lot of other entries in the series, and NORA is like their attempt at Avalanche from Final Fantasy 7.

7 The Returners

Final Fantasy 6

A scene with The Returners in Final Fantasy 6
Final Fantasy 6

Released
October 11, 1994
Developer(s)
Square Enix , Square

The Returners are from Final Fantasy 6 and players first meet up with the larger group after Locke forms a party with Terra, Edgar, and Sabin. The crew meets with the leader, Banon, who even joins the party temporarily on a trip down the rapids. This is also where players encounter Ultros for the first time leading to the party being split three ways.

The Returners don’t do much beyond this first meeting in the game but their uniforms are snazzy like ace pilots from World War 2. A remake of the game could add a lot to this organization.

6 White SeeD

Final Fantasy 8

A scene with White Seeds in Final Fantasy 8

SeeD is a special unit in Final Fantasy 8 used to describe military students. The whole revolves around rival schools battling each other, with the main cast belonging to the Balamb Garden school. White SeeD was a secret organization created by the antagonist Edea before she was brainwashed by the witch Ultimicia.

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It was a group created to deploy in emergencies and they show up late into the game. Their uniforms are pretty spiffy and they do seem like a well-put-together group, but they don’t have a huge role in the game.

5 Comodeen

Final Fantasy: Unlimited

Cid in Final Fantasy Unlimited
  • First Aired: October 2, 2001
  • Studio: Gonzo
  • Creator: Square & Akitoshi Kawazu

Comodeen is probably one of the most obscure organizations in the series as it is from the anime, Final Fantasy: Unlimited. That said, it is more prevalent than a lot of other organizations as their war with the empire is constant. Everyone has matching costumes, obscuring their bodies and faces which was probably done to save on design costs.

Even if that is true, the Comodeen attire works fine and the Cid of this universe even has a modified version. The anime overall puts some wild twists on the lore such as using guns to call out Summons.

4 Deepground

Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7

Weiss in Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Final Fantasy 7: Dirge of Cerberus

Platform(s)
PS2
Released
August 15, 2006
Developer(s)
Square Enix

Deepground was an organization within Shinra in Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7. They were created for black operations even beyond what The Turks handled. When Shinra fell at the end of Final Fantasy 7, they eventually took over and Vincent was sent in to clean them out in this game.

They do show up in Yuffie’s DLC for Final Fantasy 7 Remake as well, seemingly setting up a return in future games. The team sort of feels like they were taken from a Metal Gear Solid game as the core members have supernatural powers including their leader, Weiss.

3 Church Of Glabados

Final Fantasy Tactics

Fighting Cuchulainn The Impure in Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics

Platform(s)
PS1
Released
June 20, 1997
Developer(s)
Square

The Church of Glabados was founded by heretics in Final Fantasy Tactics. They do not see themselves as heretics though because they think their god will come down to remake the world. They use Zodiac Stones to try and be closer to god, and also for power, thus transforming them into horrific monsters.

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There have been a lot of dark games in this series, but there are so many moments in Final Fantasy Tactics that it could easily be the scariest. That’s what makes the game so compelling though because the Church of Glabados makes for a good villainous organization in the story.

2 Avalanche

Final Fantasy 7

Barret in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth
Final Fantasy 7

Released
January 31, 1997
Developer(s)
Square Enix

When it comes to secret organizations within this series, Avalanche is probably at the top of a lot of minds. As mentioned earlier, it’s from Final Fantasy 7 and Barret frames it to Cloud as an anti-Shinra organization. The team is small but they are mighty as they can destroy multiple reactors in the beginning sections of Midgar.

As the series went on, Avalanche would be more fleshed out including a tie to Wutai. The remake trilogy has set things up for the main branch of Avalanche to have a huge role in the final game for a showdown with Shinra.

1 The Turks

Final Fantasy 7

Reno in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth

Avalanche is a classic pick, but the absolute coolest organization within Final Fantasy 7 and the series as a whole is The Turks. They have a theme song that will be impossible to get out of your head not to mention their suits are incredible. The remake trilogy has truly turned the surviving members into even more badasses.

They even got their own game, Before Crisis: Final Fantasy 7. Sadly, it was never released in the West although it is supposed to be remade within Final Fantasy 7: Ever Crisis so that fans can finally bask in the glory of The Turks during their height within Shinra.

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