Square Enix doesn't do big Final Fantasy discounts often, but the exceptional XIII trilogy is less than half price for the next few days

Final Fantasy XIII heroine Lightning facing the viewer wearing a set of black armor
(Image credit: Square Enix)

If, like me, you think Final Fantasy XIII is an elite-level FF series then I've got good news for you—you're 100 per cent correct and have superb taste in games. Give yourself a pat on the back, you legend.

If you don't think Final Fantasy XIII is an elite-level FF series then, um…well, this is a bit awkward. Yeah, I got nothing… sorry. Maybe just leave this article and go read PC Gamer's write-up of the other best deals in the 2024 Steam Spring Sale.

Unbelievers left? Let's proceed with the other piece of good news—the entire Final Fantasy XIII series is currently discounted by 60% in the Steam Spring Sale, meaning that regardless of if you've previously stepped into the shoes of Final Fantasy XIII heroine Lightning (what a gal!) and now want to relive those adventures, or if it's a series that passed you by originally, now is a great time to jump into its epic Fabula Nova Crystallis world.

I've personally played and enjoyed all three Final Fantasy XIII games (indeed, I'm currently replaying the epic concluding game in the series, Lightning Returns), and can vouch that this is some top-tier Final Fantasy-ing and excellent JRPG gaming in general. I've got some buying advice below for those who are new to the series below, but first here are the details on what's on offer.

Final Fantasy XIII | $6.39/£4.39 (60% off)

Final Fantasy XIII | $6.39/£4.39 (60% off)
The opening game of the FFXIII series is well worth playing despite the first half of it being very linear. Slip into the shoes of heroine Lightning, as she and allies fight to carve their own destiny in the world of Gran Pulse and its floating continent of Cocoon.

Final Fantasy XIII-2 | $7.99/£5.19 (60% off)

Final Fantasy XIII-2 | $7.99/£5.19 (60% off)
The second game in the series is considered the best of the three by many gamers, despite the fact that you play predominantly as Lighting's younger sister Serah Farron, as well as male protagonist Noel Kreiss, who must journey through time to find her.

Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns | $7.99/£5.19 (60% off)

Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns | $7.99/£5.19 (60% off)
The closing game in the series is the most mature and complex of the three. As the title implies, this game sees the return of Lightning as protagonist, and is set many years after XIII-2. A unique and mature gaming experience, as well as a fitting conclusion to the trilogy.

My Final Fantasy XIII series buying advice

In terms of buying advice, I only really have one piece of wisdom to pass on here. If you've not played any of these games before then don't start with Lightning Returns. This isn't just because of coming to it without experiencing the story beats of the previous games (which is something you can easily catch up on in YouTube compilations if you so desire), but more because it is a very complex game that marries an astonishingly open design with a strict and oppressive doomsday clock game over mechanic. Without going into any in-game details to avoid spoilers, the fact is that in Lightning Returns you only have a set number of days to beat the game and win and, if you don't, it's game over. 

Upon failure, a cool (and very much needed unless you use a guide) New Game Plus mode is then unlocked, which allows you to have another crack but entering the game with all your abilities and gear, something that obviously helps massively. But you will then obviously replay good chunks of the game and its story so, while Lightning Returns is my personal favorite of the trilogy, the odd structure and assumed knowledge makes it the wrong place to start. I'd suggest starting with XIII or even XIII-2 (set three years after the original game) first.

Last few points of interest on these PC gaming versions of the XIII series, they come with a host of PC benefits that the original PS3 releases never got, such as better framerates and resolutions, plenty of DLC content, and my favourite thing of all, unlocked Japanese voiceovers with English subtitles (the perfect combo IMO). These discounts are available until 21 March by the way, so if you're interested, I'd strike while the iron is hot. Enjoy!

Print Editor

Rob is editor of PC Gamer magazine and has been PC gaming since the early 1990s, an experience that has left him with a life-long passion for first person shooters, isometric RPGs and point and click adventures. Professionally Rob has written about games, gaming hardware and consumer technology for almost twenty years, and before joining the PC Gamer team was deputy editor of T3.com, where he oversaw the website's gaming and tech content as well its news and ecommerce teams. You can also find Rob's words in a series of other gaming magazines and books such as Future Publishing's own Retro Gamer magazine and numerous titles from Bitmap Books. In addition, he is the author of Super Red Green Blue, a semi-autobiographical novel about games and gaming culture. Recreationally, Rob loves motorbikes, skiing and snowboarding, as well as team sports such as football and cricket.

Read more
Gallica and the protagonist from Metaphor: ReFantazio.
The best deals in the 2025 Steam Spring Sale
Merchant in Santa outfit.
Elden Ring is 40% off in the Steam Winter Sale, the cheapest it's been since this time last year
South Park The Stick of Truth screenshot showing Cartman dressed as a wizard.
The legendary South Park RPG that has over 50,000 'Overwhelmingly Positive' reviews on Steam is now cheaper than a cup of coffee
A screenshot of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PC version, using the game's photo mode
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PC performance analysis: Runs well and looks good, but the tight system requirements and dearth of PC-centric options spoil the show
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth PC
It seems like Square's finally consistently taking the PC ports of Final Fantasy seriously
Aerith
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is technically functional on Steam Deck, but it's a terrible way to play
Latest in RPG
Alligator skull with glowing eyes on human body and cords coming out sitting at piano with "The Norwood Etudes" ready to play
My new most anticipated RPG let me be a kleptomaniac gourmand set loose in a noir city on a quest to make 'the perfect sandwich'
Rise of the Ronin review
Rise of the Ronin review
A lolporrit squeals in excitement while being driven in a moon buggie in Final Fantasy 14: Dawntrail, patch 7.2.
Final Fantasy 14 patch 7.2's trailer has me finally hyped to get stuck back in—and to go to the moon and pilot some mechs, because why not
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2 barbers change hairstyle - Henry sitting on a horse wearing armour.
How to find a barber and change hairstyle in Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Key art of the videogame Lunacid, showing a pale, long haired knight in purple armor contemplating a purple, flaming sword surrounded by the different phases of the moon.
One of my favorite indie RPGs is getting a follow-up made with FromSoftware's 25-year-old Super Mario Maker for first person dungeon crawlers
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 image - Henry riding a pink and blue striped horse while holding a fish
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 now has Steam Workshop support, and of course one of the first mods lets you adjust the 'jiggle physics'
Latest in News
Man facing camera
The Day Before studio reportedly sues Russian website for calling infamous disaster-game a 'scam'
Will Poulter holding a CD ROM
'What are most games about? Killing': Black Mirror Season 7 includes a follow-up to 2018 interactive film Bandersnatch
Casper Van Dien in Starship Troopers
Sony, which is making a Helldivers 2 movie, is also making a new Starship Troopers movie, but it's not based on the Starship Troopers movie we already have
Assassin's Creed meets PUBG
Ubisoft is reportedly talking to Tencent about creating a new business entity to manage Assassin's Creed and other big games
Resident Evil Village - Lady Dimitrescu
'It really truly changed my life in every possible way': Lady Dimitrescu actor says her Resident Evil Village role was just as transformative for her as it was for roughly half the internet in 2021
Storm trooper hero
Another live service shooter is getting shut down, this time before it even launched on Steam