Zanarkand Ruins in Final Fantasy X, one of the more famous ruins in the series.
Ruins (遺跡, Iseki?) are found across worlds in the Final Fantasy series as remains of ancient civilizations or simply constructs that have fallen into a state of disrepair, either through natural causes, or by deliberate acts of destruction.
In many cases, these ruins indicate a certain level of technological advancement that has ceased to exist in, or is hidden from, the present society. Ruins play a varied role in the series, either to advance the plot by, for example, revealing a machine that will further aid in the protagonist's quest, or to present backstories and offer optional subquests and powerful bosses for players to challenge their character's fighting capabilities. Ruins are a typical backdrop to a dungeon.
Appearances[]
Final Fantasy[]
The Chaos Shrine is a ruined shrine that the rogue knight Garland uses as a hideout. The Sunken Shrine is a ruined shrine located underwater that houses the Water Crystal.
Final Fantasy III[]
The Ancient Ruins are attributed to the enigmatic race known as the Ancients. The ruins serve as an important plot location, housing an airship that will be used extensively by the party.
Final Fantasy IV[]
While not appearing the original or Pixel Remaster versions of Final Fantasy IV, the Lunar Ruins, first appearing in the Advance and Complete Collection versions, house an optional dungeon and is unlocked only by defeating the final boss.
Final Fantasy V[]
The Ronka Ruins house the Earth Crystal, which was worshiped by the ancient civilization of Ronka. The ruins float by the crystal's power, and despite being empty, still house a working defense mechanism.
A portion of the Interdimensional Rift contains some ruins that resemble the Ronka Ruins. The Sealed Temple contains the Tomb of Memory, the Ruined Shrine, and the Heart of Ronka, three different series of ruins.
Final Fantasy VI[]
The Ancient Castle is an underground complex inhabited by monsters.
Final Fantasy VII[]
Temple of the Ancients entrance.
Ancient and modern ruins are found across the world. The existence of the ancient Cetra civilization is hinted at with the Temple of the Ancients; a maze-like complex inspired from real-world Mayan designs, and the City of the Ancients of the Cetra.
Gongaga Reactor is a malfunctioned mako reactor that was left for ruin. The ruins of Corel have been repurposed as Corel Prison. After the events of Final Fantasy VII, Midgar was left in ruin. Even before that, Midgar had already shown major signs of urban decay, such as the haunted train graveyard situated near the slums of Sector 7. Society had built itself a replacement city in Edge in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-.
Final Fantasy VIII[]
Centra Ruins.
The Tomb of the Unknown King is an old labyrinthine tomb for a forgotten king, whose waterways still operate. Completing the sidequest therein earns the Guardian Force Brothers. The nomadic civilization of Centra's capital was obliterated by the Lunar Cry, and whatever remains of their civilization are seen in the Centra Ruins. This location serves for two sidequests for Guardian Forces Odin and Tonberry. Edea's House appears in ruins of similar style to the Centra Ruins, but was only recently abandoned. Trabia Garden visited in-game is only seen in its ruined state.
Final Fantasy IX[]
Ruins of the mole people at Mount Gulg.
The world of Gaia houses a number of ruins in its four continents, due to the failed planet-assimilation with Terra. The Mist Continent houses the Gargan Roo, an ancient underground tunnel complex that serves as a transportation network across the continent, and Fossil Roo, which leads to the Outer Continent. Both are served by a gargant, a large insect that travels the two Roos along the roots of the Iifa Tree.
The Outer Continent is home to the ruins of Madain Sari, home to the obliterated tribe of summoners. The Forgotten Continent is another ruin hotspot that houses structures of Terran origin, Oeilvert, and the so-called Ipsen's Castle. The Lost Continent's Mount Gulg has ruins of the now-extinct mole people.
Final Fantasy X[]
Mi'ihen ruins.
The appearance of many ruins marked a civilization that had transgressed its boundaries. The Zanarkand Ruins was once home to a civilization engaged in a Machina War against Bevelle. The war resulted in the creation of the creature known as Sin. Other ruins include the submerged island city of Baaj and the Omega Ruins that contains a powerful optional boss. Unvisitable ruins are seen as background elements when traveling Besaid and the Mi'ihen Highroad.
Final Fantasy X-2[]
Situated at the Calm Lands is an optional dungeon, the Ruin Depths. The dungeon serves for the game's chocobo raising sidequest.
Final Fantasy XI[]
Because of the age of the land of Vana'diel, many ruins can be found dotting the landscape. The Horutoto Ruins, Delkfutt's Tower, and Fei'Yin are ancient relics left behind by the Zilart and Kuluu people. The Ruins of Alzadaal are remnants of an ancient race found in the Near Eastern Empire of Aht Urhgan, spanning the underwater area between the mainland and the Arrapago Islands.
Final Fantasy XII[]
Ruins in the Tchita Uplands.
The civilization of Galtea existed before the events of Final Fantasy XII, and left ruins across the region of Ivalice alongside lost and forgotten technology. The Tomb of Raithwall and the Stilshrine of Miriam are only accessible to blood members of the Dynast King Raithwall's legacy. Necrohol of Nabudis was destroyed two years ago, leaving it in ruins. Tchita Uplands have numerous ruins, and Sochen Cave Palace is an abandoned palace inhabited by monsters, which leads to Old Archades. Giruvegan is an ancient abandoned city associated with the Occuria, and Ridorana Cataract is an island on the precipice of a giant waterfall on a Jagd that mysteriously has many ruined buildings and the towering Pharos used by the Occuria to house the Sun-Cryst.
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings[]
The Glabados Ruins in the island at the southern coast of Bervenia is home to a mysterious structure attributed to the predecessor of the aegyl race.
Final Fantasy XIII[]
Yaschas Massif ruins.
The Hanging Edge, the area in which the game begins, is a ruined area once used as a residential area for the people of ancient Cocoon. During the War of Transgression, parts of Hanging Edge were damaged and exposed to the outside world, and as such the area has been declared off limits to the public.
Far into the area of Lake Bresha, a ruined area used by people of Cocoon long past can be found. It is here that the party fights the Garuda Interceptor and secures an aircraft to help them escape.
The lowerworld of Gran Pulse is devoid of habitats and ruins are scattered about in Yaschas Massif and Oerba. The party also visits the abandoned Taejin's Tower.
Final Fantasy XIII-2[]
Bresha Ruins 5 AF.
The crystallized waters of Bresha have gone and now only the Bresha Ruins remain. New tunnels were discovered since the fall and the ruins became an archaeological site for Academy with restricted passage for civilians. It is here that the party faces Atlas from a distant future. In 20 AF, ruins suffer sudden monster influx.
Two visitable areas from 700 AF—New Bodhum and A Dying World—are ruins of hometowns of two main characters of the game, Serah Farron and Noel Kreiss, respectively. Ruins of New Bodhum are small area and in the place where once a sea was host an endless plain of mushroom-shaped rocks, while A Dying World is a large valley with the ruins of a Farseer settlement to the east.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII[]
Dead Dunes ruins.
The Dead Dunes are dotted with ancient ruins beneath its sands, mainly: Shrine of the Tablet: Atomos's Sands, Shrine of the Tablet: The Grave of the Colossi, the Temple Ruins, and the Ultimate Lair. Monoculus and researchers scour the ruins for treasure and historical artifacts.
The Wildlands used to be the city of Academia, and some ruined structures still remain. The Major Routes are abandoned highways, now inhabited by monsters that emerge from frequent Chaos infusions.
Final Fantasy XIV[]
The aftermath of Bahamut's rampage in the Umbral Calamity resulted in a number of ruins being unearthed throughout Eorzea. Some of the better known include the Sunken Temple of Qarn in Southern Thanalan and the Floating City of Nym in Outer La Noscea.
Final Fantasy XV[]
Pitioss Ruins.
Many ruins are found around Lucis, such as the recently abandoned Balouve Mines and the town of Keycatrich and its now-abandoned shelter. The structures left behind by the ancient civilization of Solheim still remain in Costlemark Tower, Steyliff Grove, and Pitioss Ruins, as well as Tempering Grounds. After the Fall of Insomnia, Insomnia becomes a ruined ghost town.
Final Fantasy XVI[]
Fallen ruins in Velkroy desert.
The ruins of the Fallen civilization dot the landscape, many being repurposed for modern day shelters, such as Cidolfus Telamon's hideaway in the deadlands and Lostwing in Sanbreque. Structures predating even the Fallen are found in apodyteries, the inner sanctums of Mothercrystals, and the Reverie tower in Ash, though the latter two are still being maintained.
Due to the advancement of the Blight, many smaller settlements have been abandoned, many only recently, being overtaken by wildlife, foliage, and monsters, and sometimes re-habited by bandits.
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]
The Ruins of Delgantua is an isolated fortress.
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time[]
The Ruins.
Final Fantasy Adventure[]
The Cave of Ruins is the only ruin in the game, the entrance to this place is blocked by a crystal in the Crystal Desert.
Final Fantasy Legend II[]
The Relics of the Ancient Gods is the only ruin in the game, its hidden inside South Forest on First World.
Final Fantasy Legend III[]
There are quite a few ruins found within the game. The first ruins the player comes across is the Northern Ruins found on the Floatland. The next set of ruins are found in Pureland, they are: Southwest Ruins and Eastern Ruins where the barrier machine is located.
Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade[]
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Etymology[]
Ruins are the remains of human-made architecture: structures that were once complete, as time went by, have fallen into a state of partial or complete disrepair, due to lack of maintenance or deliberate acts of destruction.