Choose FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS
Choose FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS if you want the Playable without Timed Input side of the pairing. FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS launched in 2015.
FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS vs FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED
FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS and FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED 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 IV: THE AFTER YEARS (2015) is 4 years older than FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED (2019). FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED scores higher on Steam reviews (74.2% positive) than FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS (57.6% 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 FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED
Choose FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED if you want an Adventure game with Adjustable Difficulty. On Steam, it carries the stronger Steam consensus at 74.2% positive across 2,639 reviews.
Both FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS and FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED sit in RPG on Steam and both list Custom Volume Controls and Keyboard Only Option, 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 IV: THE AFTER YEARS |  FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED | |
|---|---|---|
| Released | 2015 | 2019 |
| Genres | RPG | Adventure, RPG |
| Platforms | Windows | Windows |
| Steam Deck | Deck Playable | Deck Verified |
| Price | 7.99 USD | 7.99 USD |
| Steam reviews | 57.6% positive (375 reviews) | 74.2% positive (2,639 reviews) |
| Multiplayer | Single-player only | Single-player only |
| Developers | Square Enix | Square Enix |
Side by side
- Both are RPG games on Steam.
- FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS (2015) is 4 years older than FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED (2019).
- FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED scores higher on Steam reviews (74.2% positive) than FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS (57.6% positive).
- FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED is currently ~0% cheaper on Steam than FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS (7.99 USD vs. 7.99 USD).
- Steam Deck: FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS is Deck Playable, FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED is Deck Verified.
FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS vs FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED — FAQ
- Which is better, FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS or FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED?
- On Steam reviews FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED scores higher (74.2% positive) than FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS (57.6% positive). Both have enough reviews to trust the signal, so for players using reviews alone, FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED 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 IV: THE AFTER YEARS or FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED first?
- If you want chronology, FINAL FANTASY IV: THE AFTER YEARS (2015) came out before FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED (2019). 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 IV: THE AFTER YEARS and FINAL FANTASY VIII - REMASTERED 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.