I wouldn’t buy any consoles, I would build (though you can buy) a really powerful gaming PC to plug up to my 4k TV. I’ve actually recently done just that and it works amazingly well.
Things to make it a good experience:
Make sure you have a 4k TV with HDMI 2.1 for 120hz gaming
Configure Windows to bypass the login screen on boot
Configure Steam to launch in Big Picture mode on startup
Buy an Xbox Controller and the little dongle for it (it works better than just bluetooth)
Buy a small wireless keyboard with built in trackpad for the odd occasion you need to use a mouse and keyboard (looking at you EA Play).
With that, you’ve got the best console ever. Huge backlog of games, games on steep discounts, a machine that has a much better experience outputting to a 4k TV than something like a Steamdeck or a console. I’ve tried the Steamdeck to a 4k TV and the quality was pretty awful; 720p does not upscale to 4k well at all. And if you wanted to, you could set it up with emulators using retroarch for any games you are missing.
My TVPC specs:
Ryzen 7800x
32GB DDR5-6000
2TB NVME SSD
RTX 4080
Fractal Design Torrent Nano
I picked that case specifically for the huge 180mm fan in the front, the fact it can fit a massive cooler like the Peerless Assassin and the GPU gets fresh air from the bottom. It’s not the smallest case, but it stays cool and super quiet.
I did try building a HTPC in the past, but it was just a headache to maintain. If didn’t use it for a few days, I found I was inundated by a bevy of updates. Kodi is a pretty powerful home theater software, but definitely not as simple as launching a Netflix app. My partner also had no idea how to operate it. Personally I prefer Moonlight streaming from my PC in my office. Once I get an ethernet port installed in the living room, it’ll have great picture quality and latency. Your build does sound pretty cool though.
Yeah it was a headache for me in the past too, but the latest Steam Big Picture which behaves more like a Steamdeck has made it pretty easy. Since it launches right away, I can easily launch and quit steam games with 0 issue and when I’m done I used big picture to just shut the PC down.
One issue I found was if I let the PC sleep, it always brings up the login screen on wake so I just shut it down everytime. NVME’s are so fast the boot up is whatevs. Non-steam games are also a little painful as sometimes it won’t switch active windows, or I have to login or something.
I only use this machine for games. Like you said, HTPC was a pain. I have a different server that I have Plex setup on and I use Apple TV’s / Roku’s for streaming.
Oh yea, Moonlight is really great if you already have a powerful PC.
I definitely will go with a PC for the living room, mostly because I don't want to use a smart TV's "smarts", but it'll be for streaming of all kinds, including Moonlight (or similar).
PC, and then whatever the current generation consoles are (assuming they remain just Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft so there are only 3).
Now I have access to every game ever. Mostly on PC due to having a larger back catalogue and through emulation.
If I am not allowed the PC due to it “not being a console” then I will use a modded Xbox instead and still have emulation and the ability to install windows for all those PC games.
Since the Steam Deck is a PC and a console, I think there’s definitely an argument to call a PC is a console, so long as it’s designed like one. If not the Steam Deck, then a small form factor PC running something like ChimeraOS. Windows is just too cumbersome to use anywhere other than sitting at a desk, and even then I hate it so much.
Wii (which naturally includes Gamecube) Switch (with its N64, SNES, and NES emulation) XBox 360 Steam Deck (Steam and all other Pc games, including emulators)
The only point in the numbered series where I’d say you should play a different one first is IX, which plays on nostalgia for the aesthetics and tropes of I, III, and V as a part of the cozy vibe it’s going for with its setting. And note that VII Remake is not actually a remake of VII and thus not a part of the numbered series, being best enjoyed by people already familiar with VII.
Beyond those stipulations, play whatever looks coolest.
There’s no story throughline at all through any of the FF games, they’re all completely separate and you can literally play them in any order with no regard for anything. They only share vague concepts, relatively generic fantasy/sci-fi tropes, and a loosely followed compendium of creature types, spells, and races.
FF1 - Depending on your comfort level with 40 year old games I may recommend you check out the very first Final Fantasy on NES. It has a very slight story, you’re into the meat of the gameplay loop almost immediately and it introduces the most basic mechanics of the franchise. Playing the first game will also potentially give you some reference points for many concepts the games still follow today.
FF4 - An absolute classic SNES game. Unlike the original you’ll immediately notice this one has actual named characters with story arcs. Most all of the modern FF tropes are now in the game (active time battles, chocobos, summons, dragoons, etc)
FF6 - Arguably the best in the series. One of the best stories at least. This is the first one where they started introducing themes of technology. You’ll see Moogles. There’s miniganes. Gameplay still feels fresh to this day.
FF7 - They went deep into technomagic science stuff with this one. Being the first one on Playstation it’s 3D and filled to the brim with cutscenes. I doubt you heard of this game, it’s pretty unpopular /s
FF9 - I like this one because they went back to a high fantasy theme and it really perfected the PS1 style they had been going for since 7. Loveable characters too.
FF12 - Not counting the MMO, this is when they started experimenting with moving away from their classic turn-based combat system. The class and skill system, specifically in the Zodiac version, is very open ended. The story and tone is also much more political.
FF16 - From 12 I would jump straight to this one (unless you’re into MMORPGs with 14). 13 and 15 have their merits but don’t stand the test of time IMO. FF16 switches the FF formula up more than any other mainline game. It’s arguably not even an RPG but a Character Action game like DMC or Bayonetta. The story, though obviously heavily influenced by GoT, is squarely wrapped in Final Fantasy tropes from the last ~40 years.
Start with the most recent one, then try out the classics VII and IX. I’m partial to X and XII, myself, but that’s personal preference. Plus, X was the first FF game featuring full voice acting, if that’s your thing.
I’ve been told by a friend who’s a SME on these things from having finished every single one (excluding 14, as it’s an MMO and you don’t really ever finish those) that FFIX is the best overall out of the series. Also, don’t play FFII, it isn’t worth your time.
The only single player ones I’ve ever played have been 1 and 7. 1 was…old. The mechanics and everything remind me of Dragon Warrior but I kind of honestly just prefer Dragon Warrior (although I guess that one is also nostalgic because I remember watching my dad play it as a kid).
7 is much more modern but still pretty old at this point. It has a good story and interesting characters. It’s been a while and I don’t remember what the actual gameplay was like but I don’t remember it being turn based.
I’ve also watched my BF play quite a bit of Final Fantasy Tactics and that’s just what it sounds like, a very tactical turn based game. Not for me but some people really like that style of game so that’s something to look into if it appeals to what you’re looking for.
I also played a little bit of Final Fantasy 14 online and it was fun, although not the styles of MMO I personally prefer. But again it’s all personal preference and if you like MMOs you should look it up because you might want to consider that instead of one of the single player games.
As others have said, the games are not sequential; while there are spinoffs and such, the mainline games are all separate. Do you like old, turn-based JRPGs, are those palatable at all? Or would you prefer something more modern and “action”-orientated? These are the kinds of questions you need to ask yourself. Beyond the older game design conventions, the earliest entries are also much lighter on narrative
This pair of videos by Final Fantasy Union and Austin Eruption will hopefully give you a clear idea of the different options available. I’d recommend just trying whatever stands out to you after the disclaimers provided during those videos.
There’s no “final fantasy universe”. Every numbered entry (or its remake) is a good entry point. It’s not that each game tends to be somewhat separate from the series, each of the games is completely separate. They don’t share characters or even worlds. Some are high fantasy, some are almost sci-fi.
I’d recommend the FF7 Remake. It’s old enough for you to grab it at a cheaper price, and new enough to have pretty accessible game mechanics.
There’s no “final fantasy universe”. Every numbered entry (or its remake) is a good entry point. It’s not that each game tends to be somewhat separate from the series, each of the games is completely separate. They don’t share characters or even worlds. Some are high fantasy, some are almost sci-fi.
I’d recommend the FF7 Remake. It’s old enough for you to grab it at a cheaper price, and new enough to have pretty accessible game mechanics.
There’s no “final fantasy universe”. Every numbered entry (or its remake) is a good entry point. It’s not that each game tends to be somewhat separate from the series, each of the games is completely separate. They don’t share characters or even worlds. Some are high fantasy, some are almost sci-fi.
I’d recommend the FF7 Remake. It’s old enough for you to grab it at a cheaper price, and new enough to have pretty accessible game mechanics.
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