Final Fantasy VII is one of the most popular RPGs ever made, and it has been reborn as Final Fantasy VII Remake. Before being somewhat jumbled together for FF7 Remake, the story of the original FF7 was added to by many different creators across a timeline of books, movies, and video games.
There are many incredible Final Fantasy games, but FF7 was the title that helped put Square Enix (then known as Square) on the map as a global entity, bringing JRPGs to an audience outside of Japan. The story of FF7 continued in other forms of media, even though the game never received a direct sequel, as FF10 or FF13 did.
FF7 was the first game in the series, and it went on to spawn a multimedia franchise called the Compilation of Final Fantasy 7. Fans assumed this metaseries was over when FF7 Remake was announced, but it will be retold in the upcoming FF7 Ever Crisis mobile game. FF7 Remake referenced the other pieces of FF7 media, so it's clear aspects of the Compilation are still valid, even if their position in the timeline has changed.
Original FF7 Timeline - Final Fantasy 7 Prequels
There were multiple FF7 prequel games made for release on several platforms, as well as an animated FF7 prequel movie.
- Before Crisis - This Japan-exclusive FF7 mobile game marks the earliest point in the timeline depicted so far. The story follows the Turks as they attempt to defeat an earlier, more advanced version of Avalanche. The player controls a team of Turks, each named after their weapon, as they try to stop Avalanche from wiping all human life from the planet. Avalanche tracks down the summon Materia for a creature called Zirconiade, which will destroy mankind. The Turks manage to defeat a newly-formed Zirconiade in the skies above Midgar, and they later defeat a creature called Jade Weapon before going into hiding until the events of FF7.
- Crisis Core - This prequel game follows Zack as he bears witness to the end of the original incarnation of SOLDIER. Zack learns of the experiments used to create people like Sephiroth, Genesis, and Angeal, turning them into unstoppable supermen. Genesis defects and creates an army of clone troopers as he desperately seeks a way to stop his body from degrading. Zack witnesses Sephiroth learning the truth of his birth and the destruction of Nibelheim. Zack and Cloud are kidnapped by Hojo and taken to the Shinra Mansion, where they are experimented on. Zack manages to break them free, but he is then killed in a last stand against the Shinra army, leaving a confused Cloud to finish the journey to Midgar on his own, leading into the events of FF7.
- Last Order - This animated movie follows Zack as he escapes from the Shinra Mansion and attempts to flee to Midgar with a catatonic Cloud. The movie incorporates elements from Before Crisis, showing the Turks attempting to save Zack before he dies at the hands of the Shinra army. This movie also shows a different conclusion to the Nibelheim Incident, as Sephiroth willingly takes his own life by jumping into the Mako Reactor, rather than being thrown in by Cloud.
Original FF7 Timeline - Final Fantasy 7
The original FF7 follows Cloud and the members of Avalanche as they try to stop the Shinra Corporation from sucking the life out of the planet. Their goal quickly shifts to FF7 villain Sephiroth, who wants to use the Black Materia to summon Meteor and crash it into the world. Aerith is killed by Sephiroth, and Meteor is summoned. The party manages to stop the rampaging Weapon monsters, and the Shinra Corporation breaks the barrier around the North Crater, where Sephiroth resides. Cloud and his friends manage to slay Sephiroth and use the White Materia to call on Holy so it can stop Meteor. Holy isn't strong enough to stop Meteor, but Aerith uses the power of the Lifestream to back it up. The game ends with a post-credits scene showing Red XIII and his cubs running to the ruins of Midgar.
Original FF7 Timeline - Final Fantasy 7 Sequels
The events after FF7 were fleshed out by two novels, a movie, and a game.
- On the Way to a Smile - This anthology novel contains several short stories set in the aftermath of FF7. Sephiroth survives within the Lifestream, and he inflicts a plague called Geostigma on the world, which starts killing people indiscriminately. The members of Avalanche scour the world for a cure while adapting to pre-Mako technology. Aerith is also alive within the Lifestream, and she ponders a way to help her friends. Sephiroth is able to create three beings called Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo, which he uses to search the world for any remaining pieces of Jenova so he can be reborn once more.
- The Kids are Alright - In this novel, a teenager named Evan Townshend creates a detective agency in the city of Edge, as many people are still looking for their missing relatives after Meteorfall. He teams up with Kyrie and Leslie (who will be familiar to fans of FF7 Remake) to create an office. Evan is also on a journey to find his mother, who disappeared years earlier. He discovers that he is the nonmarital son of President Shinra, and his mother was involved with the SOLDIER program. Evan and Kyrie are almost killed in a battle with Kadaj before returning to Edge. The final scene of The Kids are Alright involves Evan and Kyrie taking their infected friend to be cured in Aerith's old church.
- Advent Children - This sequel movie involves a world ravaged by Geostigma. Cloud now works as a courier, and he encounters Kadaj, Loz, and Yazoo. They are able to track down some of the remaining Jenova cells, and Kadaj revives Sephiroth. Cloud battles his old adversary and is able to defeat him once more, but Sephiroth promises him that he cannot die, so long as Cloud remembers him. Aerith uses her power from within the Lifestream to cure Geotstigma. Cloud has a vision of Aerith and Zack together in the Lifestream.
- Dirge of Cerberus - In this video game, Reeve (the man who controlled Cait Sith) creates the World Regenesis Organization in an attempt to help the world heal after what Sephiroth and the Shinra Corporation did to it. Dirge of Cerberus protagonist Vincent Valentine battles members of a group called Deepground, which was an organization of super soldiers created by the Shinra Corporation. Deepground was sealed away beneath Midgar, but they broke free when Meteor struck. Vincent discovers that Hojo lives on as an A.I. and is attempting to summon Omega Weapon, which will take the remaining Lifestream and flee to another planet. Vincent defeats Deepground leader Weiss (who will be appearing in FF7 Remake: Intergrade) and stops Omega from destroying the world. A secret post-credits scene shows Genesis from Crisis Core taking the body of Weiss away, in a cliffhanger that was never resolved.
FF7 Remake Timeline - Final Fantasy 7 Remake Prequels
FF7 Remake uses a brand-new continuity, as the game's cast literally defeats aspects of fate in order to forge a new path for themselves, going forward. It's unclear exactly how much of the prequel content from the Compilation still applies to FF7 Remake's continuity. Some of the events of Before Crisis happened, as they are referenced by President Shinra. Hojo also confirms that Genesis exists in this timeline, as he refers to G-type members of SOLDIER.
FF7 Remake will receive its own prequel in the form of Final Fantasy 7 The First Soldier, an upcoming battle royale mobile game. This game is set thirty years before the events of FF7 Remake and will show the formation of SOLDIER, but fans don't know any more details about it, at the time of writing.
FF7 Remake Timeline - Final Fantasy 7 Remake
The first game in the FF7 Remake series is currently the last part of the new timeline, but that will change once FF7 Remake Part 2 is released. There are a few key differences in this timeline, as both Aerith and Sephiroth appear to have knowledge of the previous games. Biggs also survives the events of the game, and it appears Zack is also still alive. The details of the Final Fantasy VII Remake timeline are a mystery, but fans will know more in the future.