How many world regions are there inFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth? We suppose the answer is either six or seven, depending on how we qualify the question. There are six landmasses to explore, and then, later in the game, there’s a ‘seventh’ in the form of the ocean between them all.
We just had to rank them all, because, well, you know us. And if you don’t, welcome aboard! We rank things. We decided to include the Meridian Ocean, because why not? Hopefully, you’ll enjoy our whirlwind trip across FF7 Rebirth’s great span of the Gaian world. Here we go!
This list, by its nature, will containlight spoilers!
7Meridian Ocean
The Meridian Ocean is pretty cool, actually! But if we have to flex our brains a bit to choose a ‘worst’ region in FF7 Rebirth, it kind of takes it, anyway. After all, a large part of what makes the Meridian Ocean click is built on the sheer novelty factor.
Driving around the ‘good ship’ Tiny Bronco opens up Rebirth’s world in a big way. It’s a wonderful moment when you first take the wheel, especially if you hadn’t yet pieced together the likelihood that the game had tipped its hand a few times revealing future docking locations.
But there’s just not much todo. It’s by design, so it’s fine - and the treasure hunt stuff is fun! The conclusion to the Protorelic questline is similarly thrilling. It’s just… that’s everything.
6Junon
Junon isn’t bad. It’s got some neat perks. We love how the Crow’s Nest is a small hub in its own right, nestled atop a mountain. Junon, as a city, israd. Under Junon and the city above both have heaps of flavor, and the topside plot sequence is spectacular.
The wreckage of the Republic of Junon’s many boats adds nifty naval texture, and scaling cliffs with your chocobo feels great. But the overarching aesthetic with the Junon region is, at least in our minds, merely good in a game with plenty of downright great world design.
5Nibel
Nibel’s chocobos allow us to soar over bodies of water via a jetstream. How cool isthat?The music here is among the game’s best; a lush rendition of the classic ‘Main Theme of Final Fantasy 7’. And while Nibel’s got a bit of ‘Junon syndrome’ going on (a relative dearth of environmental diversity), it still looks cool for what it is.
Nibel’s Achilles heel is its size. Put plainly, the region is pretty small. Rather, it isn’t small so much as it’s small within context - the rest of FF7 Rebirth’s zones dwarf it. So, there’s not as much proverbial playground to get lost in. You’ll have seen it all within an hour or so.
It’s fine, but it has the knock-on effect of eliminating it a bit early on our list.
4Grasslands
The Grasslands is the inaugural sprawl, the beginning of the ‘unknown journey’, as FF7 Remake’s final words so ominously declare. It’s a big tutorial, really, but that doesn’t stop it from being a big barrel of fun to boot.
Our favorite areas all have a nice biodiversity to them, and the Grasslands is no exception. Yes, the titulargrasslandsare pretty. And vast! But there’s also a wasteland as you venture closer to Midgar (as well there should be, all things considered). And there’s a swampland to the south.
The result is a trio of well-defined zones-within-a-zone. This makes exploration a treat. The same can be said about our higher-rated picks, mind you!
3Gongaga
Gongaga is gorgeous. This verdant jungle could have gone on forever, and we wouldn’t have complained. And the music - chef’s kiss. It’s the best pair of tracks that any region can claim, and we say ‘pair’ because - like the others - Gongaga’s music shifts once you’ve discovered half the towers.
The second version is unstoppably good; we let it run for hours while working at the computer, and we don’t regret it one bit. If you’ve played Xenoblade Chronicles, you’ll likely agree with us that great music can bring an already-intriguing environment to even greater heights. Plus, Gongaga is such a charming village!
We’d give the win to Gongaga, but frankly, it’s got an issue. A not-inconsiderable issue. Its mushrooms serve as springboards for your chocobo to soar from one place to the next. Which is cool! But it’s also frustrating. It isn’t implemented in a clear enough way, so traversal takes a real hit.
The map design just doesn’t accommodate this well enough for us to make heads or tails of where we’re going, which puts a dour note on an otherwise-stellar package.
2Cosmo Canyon
The titular Cosmo Canyon, home of Red XIII and spiritual headquarters of the beautiful Planetology religious movement, is as splendidly reimagined in Rebirth as we could have hoped. The Cosmo Canyonregionis even better.
From the vast desert expanse to the cool and crisp caves, Cosmo Canyon doesn’t disappoint. Your chocobo will fly overhead, crossing vast distances in the process, and you’ll see the region’s many landmarks from myriad angles.
The extensive ruins of a bygone civilization will surely catch the eye, and the enigmatic Gi tribe’s impact on the land is keenly felt as well.
The Canyon shines brightest in its darker bits, as it happens; the dimly-lit locales truly pop on Rebirth’s graphics engine.
1Corel
Corel surprised us. Big-time. We went into FF7 Rebirth expecting… well, we’re not entirely surewhatwe were expecting, but… a big, empty desert and some coastal fun?
We got a desert so well-sculpted between rocky mountains and other vertical joys that we adored our time driving the buggy around in it, and we got a coastal eastern half that put us in the mood to party. Bright, poppy, and groovy.
The two zones are separated by a river to the south and Mount Corel to the north, and looming over the central mass is the Gold Saucer, the best hub in FF7 Rebirth and home to many of its most emotional story beats.
There is no shortage of unique sights to see, much of which is eye candy, but we think our favorite part is actually one of the ‘uglier’ bits. The Gold Saucer, seen from outside, isn’t anything to write home about. In fact, it looks kind of monstrous. A metalthingwith eight extensionthings. And that’s how it should be, isn’t it?
Shinra built this place for bread and circuses, but no glitz and glam can conceal its industrial impact on nature when seen from afar.
