Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles remaster offers extensive ‘lite’ version, full cross-play

People interested in Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition can play a large chunk of the game for free.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles was originally released for Nintendo GameCube in 2004, and, in order for players to enjoy the game with friends, each player needed a link cable and a Game Boy Advance, a huge hardware investment that was inaccessible to most players. Square Enix’s Remastered Edition finally includes online multiplayer, allowing fans to enjoy the game with friends without having to own extra hardware.

Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 players will be able to grab Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Lite when the game launches on Aug. 27, which allows players to complete the first three dungeons in single-player, and up to 13 dungeons in multiplayer, as long as the session is hosted by someone who owns the full game. Lite version players will also not have access to any of the new post-game dungeons.

iOS and Android players will use the original Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles app to play the Lite version, and the full content can then be bought via in-app purchases.

Unfortunately, Lite version players will not actually be able to beat the game, since only the player who hosts the dungeon is able to collect the myrrh reward. While Lite version players can join in and try out different dungeons, they won’t be able to make it to the end of the game due to lack of progression.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition is also cross-play compatible, so no matter which version of the game you get, you can play with your friends on other platforms.

Update (Aug. 27): Polygon reached out to Square Enix and confirmed that Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Remastered Edition Lite players cannot complete the game without upgrading to the full version. We’ve edited the article to reflect this.