Choose FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2
Choose FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 if it matches what drew you to this matchup. 2,854 Steam reviews back the pick.
FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 vs LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII
FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 and LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII both land in RPG on Steam, which is why they keep getting compared. The comparison below is built from each game's Steam metadata — release year, genres, categories, Steam Deck status, price, and review score — refreshed daily by imho.run's scraper. Headline differences: Both are RPG games on Steam. FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 (2014) is 1 year older than LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII (2015). LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII scores higher on Steam reviews (79.8% positive) than FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 (58.1% positive). No login or purchase needed — scroll for the full table, the verdict FAQ, and links to ranked similar games for both titles.
Which should you pick?
Choose LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII
Choose LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII if you want the Playable without Timed Input and Keyboard Only Option side of the pairing. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 79.8% positive across 2,168 reviews.
Both FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 and LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII sit in RPG on Steam and both list Adjustable Text Size, Stereo Sound, and Surround Sound, so either pick lands in the same broad neighborhood. Use the side-by-side table for the feature view, or follow the "Games like" links below to see ranked alternatives for either title.
Side-by-side comparison
 FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 |  LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2014 | 2015 |
| Genres | RPG | RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Playable |
| Price | 7.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 58.1% positive (2,854 reviews) | 79.8% positive (2,168 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Square Enix | Square Enix |
Side by side
- Both are RPG games on Steam.
- FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 (2014) is 1 year older than LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII (2015).
- LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII scores higher on Steam reviews (79.8% positive) than FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 (58.1% positive).
- LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 (7.99 USD vs. 7.99 USD).
- Both are Deck Playable.
FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 vs LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII — FAQ
- Which is better, FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 or LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII?
- On Steam reviews LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII scores higher (79.8% positive) than FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 (58.1% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII is the safer pick. Genre fit still matters — check the side-by-side table for the categories each game lands in.
- Should I play FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 or LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII first?
- If you want chronology, FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 (2014) came out before LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII (2015). If neither is a sequel to the other, order doesn't really matter — start with whichever fits your current mood, since both share enough on Steam to make either a reasonable opener.
- Are FINAL FANTASY® XIII-2 and LIGHTNING RETURNS™: FINAL FANTASY® XIII similar?
- They overlap on RPG on Steam, so the catalogue groups them together — but "similar" depends on the specific mechanics. Use the genre + category rows above to decide whether the overlap matches what drew you to the one you've already played.