Final Fantasy IV just landed on Game Pass today (April 7), and if you’ve never played the 1991 SNES classic that invented the Active Time Battle system, this is the easiest way to do it for $0.
The Pixel Remaster normally runs $17.99 on Steam. On Game Pass Ultimate, Premium, or PC Game Pass, it’s yours as long as you’re subscribed. This is also the fourth Final Fantasy game Microsoft has added in four straight months — FF1 in January, FF2 in February, FF3 in March, and now FF4 in April. The pattern suggests the rest of the Pixel Remaster collection is coming too.
What Makes Final Fantasy IV Different From the First Three
FF1 through FF3 are fun historical artifacts, but FF4 is where the series figured out storytelling. The first three games used blank-slate player-created characters. FF4 replaced them with named characters who had actual personalities, relationships, and arcs. Cecil starts as a dark knight committing atrocities for his kingdom and spends the game earning redemption. That sounds basic now, but in 1991 it was radical for a console game.
The big mechanical invention: the Active Time Battle (ATB) system. Instead of strict turn-based combat where you calmly pick moves, enemies keep attacking on a timer while you decide. It adds real urgency to every fight. Every Final Fantasy game from FF4 through FF9 used some version of ATB. It defined the series for a decade.
Nobuo Uematsu’s soundtrack is also a leap forward. The SNES sound chip let him compose with fuller, warmer samples than the NES could manage. The Pixel Remaster re-orchestrates the whole thing, and it sounds fantastic — “Theme of Love” alone is worth the price of admission (which in this case is zero dollars).
How Long Is It, Really
The main story runs about 14-16 hours. Completionists looking to grind every character and find every hidden summon will push closer to 25-30. It’s not a massive time commitment compared to modern RPGs, which is actually a selling point if your backlog is already out of control.
The Pixel Remaster includes some quality-of-life improvements over the original: you can speed up battle animations, turn off random encounters if you want, and the UI is cleaner. There’s a bestiary, illustration gallery, and music player for extras. Notably, it doesn’t include the bonus content from the Game Boy Advance version (FF4 Advance) or the DS remake’s voice acting and 3D graphics. This is the 2D version, polished up.
How Does It Compare to Other Game Pass RPGs
If you’re deciding between this and other RPGs already on the service: Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the flashy modern pick (and a 2025 GOTY winner). Resident Evil 7 is there if you want horror. FF4 is the “I want to understand where JRPGs came from” pick, and it holds up better than you’d expect for a 35-year-old game.
It’s also worth noting that Game Pass now has FF1 through FF4. If you enjoy this one, the earlier three are already on the service. And at this rate, every mainline Final Fantasy game could be available by the end of 2026.
The Honest Verdict
Claim it. FF4 is the first Final Fantasy that’s genuinely great, not just historically interesting. The ATB system still feels good. The story beats land. The music is legitimately beautiful. At 14 hours, it’s not asking for your whole month — just a couple weekends.
If you’re the type who starts classic games and drops them after two hours because the random encounters annoy you, the Pixel Remaster’s speed-up and encounter-toggle options solve that problem. No guilt necessary.
Available now on Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium, and PC Game Pass — Cloud, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
