Amalia:The situation requires I accept such help as I find. Though it be from thieves. I shall accompany you until we find my companions. No longer.
Balthier:Let's think of her as a 'Guest', then. Unlike Fran or myself, our 'Guest' probably won't be taking orders from anyone anytime soon. And she'll leave when she pleases. So, we keep to our affairs, and she to hers. I doubt we'll find her wanting in valor... Being such an upstanding member of the insurgence.
Amalia:Resistance.
Guests (ゲスト, Gesuto?) or temporary playable characters are temporary party members in the Final Fantasy series who typically join and leave the party during set points. Guests do not always take up space in the player's party, though they might appear in menus. If the game only allows for three party members in battle, a guest can be a fourth fighter, and sometimes outside of the player's control. Their abilities and equipment usually cannot be customized.
Appearances[]
Final Fantasy II[]
Minwu, Josef, Ricard, Leila and Gordon join the party for story-specific quests before leaving for a variety of reasons. The player may freely change their equipment and spells, but they join with preset abilities in a few key areas. In the "Soul of Rebirth" side story in the Dawn of Souls and subsequent versions, Minwu, Josef and Ricard are normal playable characters.
Final Fantasy III[]
Guests are not treated as regular party members. In the original version, they can be spoken to by pressing a button while outside of battle, during which they will usually give some hint as to what to do next. In the 3D remakes' battles, they appear at random to fire off a random attack from their set list of moves. The rest of the time, they will not appear and do not have HP or other stats that enemies can attack.
If the active party is defeated, the game ends in a Game Over, with or without the guests being still alive. Outside of battle, they can be spoken to with , the only method the player has to interact with them.
Guest characters include:
Final Fantasy IV[]
Edward, Palom, Porom, Tellah, Cid, Yang, and Fusoya join the party for a short time. Additionally, Kain, Rydia, and Rosa all leave and rejoin the party at least once throughout the story, making Cecil and Edge the only members to permanently remain with the party from the time they join to the final boss fight. In the Advance and The Complete Collection versions, the player may include these characters in the party at will, excluding Tellah and Fusoya. Guests can have their equipment changed freely, and Palom and Porom can continue learning the rest of their magic spells. In addition, Golbez is briefly playable in a flashback in the DS version.
Final Fantasy IV -Interlude-[]
Rosa, Yang, Monk A, Monk B, Cid, and Rydia? join the party briefly. It is advised to remove their equipment and use them for the current characters who will stay until the end of the game.
Final Fantasy IV: The After Years[]
Guests usually have few Band abilities, and those who know magic usually join knowing all the spells they will ever learn.
List of guest characters:
- Biggs
- Wedge
- Black Mage
- White Mage
- Monk A, Monk B, and Monk C
- Elder of Mysidia
- Guard A, Guard B, and Guard C
- Fusoya
- Kain?
Final Fantasy V[]
Galuf can be considered temporarily playable, as Krile will inherit his abilities and job experiences after the events in the Great Forest of Moore.
Final Fantasy VI[]
This was the first game to truly define a "guest character". Guests' equipment is preset and cannot be modified and they have no Desperation Attacks, cannot equip magicite nor earn Magic AP, and they do not have chocobo-riding sprites.
Maduin is controllable during a flashback sequence, but there are no battles at this time and the player cannot open the menu to check equipment or abilities; all they can do while in control of Maduin is walk around and talk to other characters.
List of guest characters:
Final Fantasy VII[]
For a short while, Sephiroth joins the player's party during Cloud's telling of the Nibelheim Incident. His equipment is set, he has no Limit Break, and he acts on his own and cannot be given commands. He is invincible and cannot take damage.
Aeris is playable through Part I, but is not considered a guest. She could, however, be considered temporarily playable. When Aeris leaves the party, she relinquishes the Materia and accessory she had equipped, but keeps the weapon and armor she had on.
Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-[]
Cait Sith makes an appearance to assist Vincent in mako reactor 0.
Final Fantasy VII Remake[]
During "A Little Diversion", Wedge provides fire support for Cloud when they distract the Shinra Electric Power Company forces at a warehouse, but his machine gun only deals 1 damage. When dogs are released, he serves as a distraction to draw enemies away from Cloud.
Leslie Kyle accompanies the party to the sewers during "In Search of Hope", but does not partake in battles.
Red XIII helps the party at the Shinra Building, though he is not directly controllable, and does not appear in the menu. He uses abilities such as Stardust Ray and will sometimes heal other party members.
Sonon Kusakabe is a guest, accompanying Yuffie Kisaragi EPISODE INTERmission in Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth[]
As in the original game, Sephiroth is a guest character during Cloud's retelling of the Nibelheim incident in chapter 1, "Fall of a Hero". This time, he can be directly controlled, take damage, and has the Limit Break Octaslash.
Zack Fair is a temporarily playable character during the interlude segments, and partakes in battles during the game's opening, as well as the battle against Sephiroth Reborn, alongside Cloud.
During "Dawn of a New Era," Cloud masquerades as the captain of Midgar's Seventh Infantry. After he and the others are outed as potential assassins, several members of the Seventh Infantry stand by Cloud as he creates a diversion and fight alongside him against attacking Shinra troops. They cannot be controlled nor appear in the menu, but have HP gauges and can be healed or KOed.
Final Fantasy VIII[]
Guests' junctions and spell lists may be changed, and they have Limit Breaks.
The following characters temporarily join the party at different points in the game:
When playing as Laguna, the player does not accumulate steps (used to determining draw point fill times, SeeD salary intervals, and the rate at which Rinoa learns Combine skills). Laguna's party effectively acts as doubles for the player's regular party, sharing their junctions.
Edea and Seifer still have default compatibility values with all Guardian Forces, even if not all summons are available when they join the party. Seifer's Magic stocks are given to Selphie when he leaves. When Edea leaves, the game attempts to give her magic to the other party members spell by spell, but if all the other characters already have 100 of the spell/have 32 other spells, her Magic stock is lost.
At the start of the game, after the player exits the classroom, a girl can briefly follow the player around Balamb Garden. However, she does not appear in the party menu, despite being a future party member. Similarly, depending on the player's actions, a Moomba may briefly join Zell during the D-District Prison section, appearing only in the field and not taking part in any battle. After talking to her aboard the Lunar Base, Ellone will briefly follow the player around. However, she is not considered a party member and she cannot be interacted with in any way.
Final Fantasy IX[]
The following characters temporarily join the party at different points. Their equipment can be removed or changed, but they cannot learn or equip abilities, and they cannot enter Trance.
Each temporary character (except Beatrix) shares a character slot with permanent characters: Marcus shares his slot with Eiko, Blank with Amarant and Cinna with Quina. Marcus's stats carry over to Eiko, but his levels do not (known as Marcus/Eiko stat bug); however, Blank/Cinna levels carry over to Amarant/Quina, but their stats do not.
Regent Cid briefly becomes the player character during the events at Desert Palace. Much like Maduin in Final Fantasy VI, he does not participate in battles.
During a very brief sequence at Lindblum Castle on Disc 1, one of the soldiers is playable (in reality, however, it is one of the playable characters in disguise). He can only interact with other NPCs present in that area of the castle, but they will give different dialogue compared to what they would say when interacting with the regular player characters.
Final Fantasy X[]
The following characters temporarily join the party at different points in the game:
- ???? (later joins as a full party member)
- Seymour Guado
???? temporarily joins Tidus in the Submerged Ruins section from the battle against Klikk until the one against Tros, before eventually joining as a full party member later on under her real name.
Seymour participates in the second battle against Sinspawn Gui and leaves the party immediately afterwards. The player cannot view his equipment and cannot change it in battle, but he is directly controllable and has an Overdrive. Seymour will earn AP and gain Sphere Levels, but as he is never controllable again, the player never gets the chance to spend them, and he never appears on the Sphere Grid.
Additionally, Auron fights alongside Tidus for the Zanarkand section at the beginning of the story. He is then available as a full party member later on.
Final Fantasy X-2[]
In the International version of the game, a new feature is the Creature Creator, which allows to recruit fiends and characters to the player's party, although they are controlled by the game's AI. The characters that can be recruited through the Creature Creator are:
- Elma
- Brother
- Kimahri
- Lulu
- Leblanc
- Logos
- Ormi
- Baralai
- Buddy
- Garik
- Auron
- Gippal
- Lucil
- Nooj
- Seymour
- Tidus
- Trema
Final Fantasy XI[]
For specific story battles, some characters assist player characters in battle, and often must be kept alive for the battles to be successful.
Additionally, computer-controlled characters often play a major part in content like Besieged and Campaign. The player may also unlock access to versions of established characters as NPC party members through the Trust Magic system—these characters function independently, although some may respond through player actions, for example, to open or close a skillchain.
Final Fantasy XII[]
Guests appear as a fourth party member on the field and are flagged as guests in the menu. In the original version, they are AI-controlled and their equipment and gambits are outside the player's control, but ally-oriented gambits will apply to them when available. They do not have Quickenings, and typically have unique weapons. Items used by them are infinite and are not taken from the player's inventory. When a guest is in the party, they take their share of EXP but do not level up. If the player party dies, it is a Game Over, even if the guest survives.
In the Zodiac versions, guests can now be controlled by the player on the field, they level up and their gambits can be modified, but their equipment still cannot be changed, they cannot be put to reserve, and the items that they use are now taken from the player's inventory. The guests' skillset is also somewhat modified compared to the original; for example, Larsa has learned Cura to restore allies' HP so that he will not deplete the player's inventory by continuously using Potions.
Guest characters include:
- Amalia (later joins as a full party member under her real name, Ashe)
- Basch (later joins as a full party member)
- Lamont (returns later as guest under his real name, Larsa)
- Vossler
- Larsa
- Reddas
Reks is only controllable during the prologue, classing him as a temporary playable character.
There are other characters who will fight on the player's side, but do not appear in the party menu and act independently of the player's forces. For example, Basch and other ally soldiers fight alongside Reks in the prologue. Sometimes, these "allies" appear randomly, like the Garif Adventurers who appear in the field and will fight monsters alongside the party, not harming them as long as the player does not provoke them. Additionally, members of Clan Centurio that join the party to fight a Mark behave in this manner. When an ally NPC gives the killing blow to an enemy, the player does not get EXP or LP.
Support characters include:
- Basch alongside Reks at Nalbina Fortress.
- Dalmascan Soldiers alongside Reks at Nalbina Fortress.
- Amalia in Garamsythe Waterway.
- Larsa during a battle on Sky Fortress Bahamut.
- Gabranth during a battle on Sky Fortress Bahamut.
- Bansat when fighting Gil Snapper.
- Monid when fighting Trickster and Belito.
- Krjn when fighting Carrot.
- Viera Wayfarer when fighting Vyraal.
- Insecure Seeq when fighting Overlord.
- War-chief Supinelu when fighting Catoblepas.
- Rabanastre Watch who occasionally appears at the Yarding Labyrinth and Galtea Downs.
- Bangaa Hunter who occasionally appears at the Giza South Bank.
- Garif Hunter who occasionally appears at the Starfall Field and Ozmone Plain.
- Garif Warrior who appears at Ozmone Plain.
- Seeq Fisher who occasionally appears at Phon Coast.
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings[]
Guest characters are designated by a gold HP bar. They may fight on the party's side, but do not have access to Summoning Gates and Esper Troupes. Many missions involve defending a guest character.
Guest characters include:
- Giza Rabbits in Mission 04: The Coveted Derelict.
- Llyud (later joins the party as a player character) and Ansei in Mission 07: The Winged.
- Aegyl in Mission 11: Savagery.
- Rikken, Elza, and Raz in Mission 16: Pirates in Peril!, Mission 17: Pirates and Parrot in Peril!, Mission 18: Unrelenting Nemesis, and Mission 19: Filo in a Bind.
- Velis in Mission 21: The Man in the Jungle and Mission 23: Object of Desire.
- Penelo (who later returns as a player character) in Mission 24: The Dance.
- Fran (who later returns as a player character) in Mission 27: At Fran's Side.
- Dalmascan Soldiers and White Hares in Mission 35: The Secluded.
- Ba'Gamnan (as a temporarily playable character from the end of Mission 09: Reinforcements to when the party arrives at the Muruc Cahuac Skysea in Chapter 4).
Final Fantasy XIII[]
Two members of NORA assist Snow Villiers during the first chapter in the Hanging Edge. Their status, abilities, and inventory cannot be viewed, and they have an unknown amount of HP. Thus, they cannot fall to 0 HP and die, either.
Final Fantasy XIII-2[]
Lightning is temporarily playable at the start of the game as she fights Caius Ballad. She is playable again in "Lightning's Story: Requiem of the Goddess" DLC episode.
Snow accompanies Serah and Noel in the Sunleth Waterscape 300 AF after they save him from a mass-merging of flan. He is uncontrollable and acts of his own accord, and he cannot be knocked out as he has no health bar.
Sazh is playable in "Sazh's Story: Heads or Tails?" DLC episode. However, there are no fights during the episode, and his stats when viewed in the menu all show as ????.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII[]
There are two AI-controlled guest party members. Neither of them can be KO'd in battle.
- Fang fights alongside Lightning in the Dead Dunes after Lightning meets her in Ruffian, and until the two defeat Grendel (or Parandus, after Day 7). On the Final Day, Fang briefly rejoins Lightning inside the Luxerion Cathedral.
- The Angel of Valhalla aids Lightning in battle in the Wildlands after being nursed back to health.
Final Fantasy XIV 1.0[]
During certain quests, NPCs could join the player's party and worked like having another player join (even counting towards light and full party stat bonuses and max party size). Their current HP number was displayed as "???" and could only be guessed by observing their life bar, their actions were based on specific behaviors depending on the quest, and they could not be ousted from the party, and neither could it be disbanded. They could be targeted normally by any ability that could be used on other players.
If a guest character was KO'd in battle, the related quest battle was usually failed and had to be repeated, but some exceptions existed.
Guest characters included:
- Yda Hext
- Papalymo Totolymo
- Grinnaux
- Handeloup
- T'Kebbe
- Burchard
- Thancred Waters
- Niellefresne Thaudour
- Greinfarr
- Y'shtola Rhul
- Sthalmann Sthalmannsyn
- The player's Path companion
Final Fantasy XIV[]
Alphinaud Leveilleur, Y'shtola Rhul, and Hien Rijin are temporarily playable in the main scenario of Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood. Thancred Waters, Estinien Wyrmblood, Alisaie Leveilleur, Urianger Augurelt, and G'raha Tia are temporarily playable in the main scenario of Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers. Renda-Rae, Branden, Nyelbert, and Lamitt are temporarily playable during Shadowbringers' role questlines. The G-Warrior is temporarily playable during the Sorrow of Werlyt quest "Sleep Now in Sapphire".
Members of Adventurer Squadrons will join the Warrior of Light in Command Missions. They are not fully playable but the player can command them what to do.
Guests appear during certain single-player instanced quests and FATEs, and rarely in other duties. They cannot be controlled, but can be damaged and healed. Many quests and FATEs will end in failure if important guest characters fall in battle.
- Guest characters
- 269th Order Mendicant Da Za
- 2B
- 2P
- A-Ruhn-Senna
- A-Towa-Cant
- Admiral Bloefhiswyn
- Aenc Thon, Lord of the Lengthsome Gait
- Aersthota Morningcalm
- Akagi the Sound
- Aldis, Sword of Nald
- Alisaie
- Alka Zolka the Slayer
- Almet
- Alpha
- Alphinaud
- Ardbert
- Arenvald
- Artoirel Ironbone
- Arya
- Asahi sas Brutus
- Aymeric the Blue
- Bajsaljen Ulgasch
- Battleseeker Halga Tolga
- Biggs
- Branden
- Brayflox Alltalks
- Broenbhar Rocksplitter
- Broken Mountain
- Brother E-Sumi-Yan
- Brother Joacin
- Brother Nolanel
- Bruce the Big
- Captain Jacke
- Celestaux the Keen
- Chuchuto Brightstar
- Cid
- Cirina of the Laughing Reeds
- Cocobani the Cold
- Cocobezi the Contemplative
- Cocoboha the Curt
- Cocobusi the Cross
- Cocobygo the Craven
- Conrad Farsight
- Constaint Splinterblade
- Curious Gorge
- Cylva
- Cymet
- D'zentsa of the Endless Night
- Deep Red X'rhun Tia
- Dancing Wolf
- Drillemont the Honest
- Dorgono Blueblade
- Dozol Meloc the Yea-sayer
- Drusilla
- Emet-Selch
- Emmanellain the Lofty
- Eschiva the Aetherial
- Estinien Wyrmblood
- Eudestand
- Ezel II
- Fordola Lupis
- Foreseer K'lyhia
- Foulques of the Mist
- Fray
- Fufulupa the Unbending
- G'raha Tia
- Gaius Baelsar
- Galfrid the Gallant
- Gatekeeper Alpa
- Gatty Deepwood
- Geissfryn Eveningcalm
- Genbu
- Giott the Aleforged
- Glazrael Saltwind
- Golden Eye Yuyuhase
- Gosetsu Everfall
- Grand Storm Marshal Salfyrsyn
- Granson of the Mournful Blade
- Gundobald the Resolute
- Guydelot the Spent
- Hamon Holyfist
- Haurchefant of the Silver Fuller
- Heustienne Truethrust
- Hien
- Hourlinet the Devout
- Hythlodaeus
- Ilberd of the Dull Blade
- Indomitable M'zhet Tia
- Invisible Adder Tahla Molkoh
- Iroha
- J'olhmynn of Earth and Wind
- Jannequinard the Succedent
- Jehantel the Godsbow
- Jenlyns Straightblade
- Joye of Nine Faces
- Kabuto Ironshell
- Kan-E-Senna
- Karasu Redbeak
- Krile
- Kuplo Kopo
- Kyokuho of Wind and Water
- Lalai Darkeyes
- Lamitt
- Landanel the Unafraid
- Leveva Heavensreader
- Lightning
- Lostkin Kazagg Chah
- Lucia the Radiant
- Lue-Reeq of the Gilded Bow
- Lyna
- Lyse
- M'naago of the Crooked Fletching
- M'rahz Nuhn
- Magnai the Older
- Makoto the True
- Makura Raykeep
- Marsak Apella
- Maxima the Neoteric
- Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn
- Midgardsormr
- Mikoto
- Mirraudont the Madder
- Mogta Mogsong
- The Mongrel
- Muscadain of the Red Eye
- Musosai
- Mustardseed
- Mylla Swordsong
- Nashmeira
- Nero
- Noctis
- Nyelbert
- Oboro Moonrise
- O'tchakha of the Endless Day
- Owyne
- Papalymo
- Papashan
- Peaseblossom
- Perimu Haurimu Underfoot
- Pipin of the Steel Heart
- Princess Yuki
- Quimperain Evertrue
- Radovan
- Ranaa Mihgo
- Raubahn
- Raya-O-Senna
- Renda-Rae
- Rielle the Voiceless
- Rostnsthal the Reborn
- Rurukuta Tornstar
- Ryne
- Ryssfloh
- Sadu Heavensflame
- Sarisha
- Serpent Captain Sanson Smythe
- Setoto
- Shatotto
- Shikitahe Shellspinner
- Sidurgu of the Obsidian Heart
- Silvairre the Virtuous
- Sister Wulfiue
- Sophie
- Solkwyb the Enlightened
- Solkzagyl the Loyal
- Stark Woad
- Steelarm Cerigg
- Stephanivien Brightsun
- Storm Captain Ghimthota Sthalmoenwynn
- Storm Private C'nangho Enah
- Surito Carito the Strategist
- Sylphie Sweetwind
- Symme
- Tansui the Foxed
- Tataru
- Taynor
- Thancred
- Thubyrgeim the Transpicious
- Tiamat
- Tsubame Sunrise
- Tyr Beq
- Uimet
- Unukalhai
- Urianger
- V'kebbe the Stray
- Vedrfolnir
- Venat
- Wedge
- Wheiskaet, Son of Saeskyf
- Widargelt the Watcher
- Wilred of the Falling Petal
- Wiscar
- X'rhun
- Y'mhitra the Learned
- Y'shtola
- Yda
- Yugiri Mistwalker
- Zhai'a Nelhah the White Wind
- Zukin Shellbreaker
In addition to the above characters, several nameless guests from organizations such as the Grand Companies, the Temple Knights, the Brass Blades, and more will assist the player.
Starting with Stormblood, certain Quest Battles start using the "Roleplay" system, where the player controls someone other than their character. In those battles, the stats and abilities of NPCs the player controls are predefined. The NPCs controlled through the "Roleplay" system are:
- Alphinaud (twice)
- Y'shtola
- Hien
- Thancred (twice)
- Branden
- Renda-Rae
- Nyelbert
- Lamitt
- Estinien
- G-Warrior
- Alisaie (twice)
- Urianger
- G'raha Tia
- Unknown Imperial
- Godbert Manderville
In Shadowbringers, the player can opt to use Duty Support when playing through certain dungeons and trials, which allows them to take along a party of NPCs, instead of trying to find a party of regular players. Originally, only Shadowbringers dungeons were compatible, but Endwalker extpanded the system to dungeons and trials from other expansions. There are two versions of the system: the first one is Duty Support, is available from the start, only allows usage of specific party members, and said party members' levels are fixed depending on the dungeon. Upon completing the main story the Trust system is unlocked, which allows the player to use any party member in any compatible dungeon. The Trust party members also start at specific levels and have to be leveled by using them in dungeons. Not all Duty Support compatible dungeons (and none of the trials) are Trust compatible, and only some Duty Support party members are usable as Trusts.
Available Party Members
- Alphinaud Leveilleur (Trust)
- Alisaie Leveilleur (Trust)
- Arenvald Lentinus
- Aymeric de Borel
- Carvallain de Gorgagne
- Doman Liberator
- Doman Shaman
- Eager/Scion/Storm Marauder
- Eager/Scion/Serpent Conjurer
- Eager/Scion/Flame Thaumaturge
- Eager/Scion/Serpent Lancer
- Emet-Selch
- Estinien Wyrmblood (Endwalker only Trust)
- Gosetsu Daito
- Crystal Exarch/G'raha Tia (Trust)
- Haurchefant Greystone
- Hien Rijin
- House Fortemps Archer
- House Fortemps Banneret
- House Fortemps Knight
- Hythlodaeus
- Lyna
- Lyse Hext
- Mol Youth
- Temple Banneret
- Temple Chirurgeon
- Thancred Waters (Trust)
- Temple Knight
- Pero Roggo
- Raubahn Aldynn
- Resistance Fighter
- Resistance Pikedancer
- Minfilia/Ryne (Shadowbringers only Trust)
- Urianger Augurelt (Trust)
- Varshahn
- Venat
- Ysayle Dangoulain
- Yugiri Mistwalker
- Y'shtola Rhul (Trust)
- Zero
Final Fantasy XV[]
Noctis and his friends team up with Cor, Iris, and Aranea who have unique techniques and linked attacks, and while their equipment can be viewed, it cannot be changed. Guests cannot enter Danger state, making them unkillable, and they can still rescue others from Danger. They lack nodes dedicated to their growth in the Ascension and they cannot be character-swapped to. Camping with a guest applies the food buffs to them as well, and the player may get unique camping scenes with these extra characters present. Guests' presence in the party can change the party dynamic. For example, Gladiolus tends to protect Iris when she is in the party, and Ignis tends to protect Aranea. Every guest has a unique position using Ignis' Overwhelm technique, despite it not being possible to have more than one guest in the party at once.
Cor is playable in Keycatrich, but leaves as the party finds the Keycatrich Trench. He returns for the mission in Norduscaen Blockade. He rejoins in Chapter 14 in the Windows and Royal Editions near the Kingsglaive Base Camp, and for the secondary mission "Relics of the Empire." If the player has completed all of the secondary missions for the Glaives in Insomnia, Cor joins the second phase of the boss battle against Cerberus. It is not possible to camp with him in the party.
Iris accompanies the party in Chapter 6 from Lestallum to Cape Caem. Unlike the other guests, she can sit in the Regalia and has her own chocobo. She does not attack in battle apart from an occasional kick, using her technique, and performing linked attacks with Noctis. She occasionally heals the party with her own potions.
Aranea is a guest during Chapter 7 in Vesperpool and Steyliff Grove, and later when she randomly assists the party for battles at night against daemons and hunts. The party can take a photo with her in the party by the lakeside, but the player cannot fish when she is around.
If the player rents a chocobo, riding it levels it up, and it can begin to partake in battle somewhat, but it does not have its own HP, and is not targeted by enemies.
In Chapter 14, Umbra follows the player from Galdin Quay to Hammerhead. He is not targeted by enemies and does not fight.
DLC episodes also have guests who join temporarily and cannot be killed. Cor is a guest in "Final Fantasy XV: Episode Gladiolus", though he does not partake in boss battles. Aranea is a guest in "Final Fantasy XV: Episode Prompto". Ravus Nox Fleuret is a guest in "Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ignis". Ifrit joins as a guest in "Final Fantasy XV: Episode Ardyn". In "Episode Prompto", the player can also briefly control a magitek trooper in a dream sequence.
In the Royal Edition, the party can team up with the player Glaive from Final Fantasy XV: Comrades for the "A Glaive out of Time" sidequest, simply named "Glaive".
In the Terra Wars collaboration, Sarah from Terra Battle 2 joins Noctis as a guest. In the Adventurer from Another World quest, Y'jhimei assists the party as a healer, but does not appear in the UI or the menu, and is untargetable by enemies. She does not partake in the boss battle.
At two points in the story, the permanent playable characters are considered guests:
- At the beginning of Chapter 8, during the fight at the power plant, Gladiolus is unnamed (simply called "Hunter"), cannot enter Danger state, and does not appear in the party menu, but otherwise acts like he always does. He also wields the weapon he had equipped at the end of Chapter 6.
- In "Chapter 13, Verse 2", Ignis behaves like a guest. He appears in the menu and performs linked attacks, but has no health bar and cannot enter Danger state.
In Comrades, if the player opts to play offline, or fails to get a full party during the wait time, they are joined by random A.I. Kingsglaive members during missions. During several story missions, the player is assisted by a fixed party—Libertus Ostium, Elea, and Miles. Cor and Aranea both assist the player once, but they do not officially join the party, and they cannot enter Danger state.
Final Fantasy XVI[]
During his travels, Clive Rosfield is joined by different characters that can't be controlled by the player. They don't have an HP bar and that means they can't be defeated in combat. Only Torgal can be given some basic commands. Of these characters, Wade during his second and third tenures in Clive's party and Theodore occupy an explicit "Guest" slot; they will only accompany Clive during their own quests and will not follow him outside of their respective countries. Torgal remains in Clive's party during the final overworld exploration segment and Joshua and Jill can be re-recruited through a sidequest chain, making them the closest thing Clive has to a non-guest party.
- Rodney Murdoch
- Tyler
- Wade
- Torgal
- Cidolfus Telamon
- Jill Warrick
- Gav
- Byron Rosfield
- Theodore
- Dion Lesage
- Joshua Rosfield
Final Fantasy Tactics[]
Guests act in menus the same as any other non-generic units, except that they do not take up the roster space. The player can customize them as much as normal units with jobs, abilities and equipment, but the player cannot decide when to use them.
Guests only fight in specific story battles, and will not appear in random encounters. They are AI-controlled but will not be crystallized or turn into a treasure box after being KO'd for three turns, and thus cannot die permanently. If the battle objective requires the player to protect or rescue the particular guest, their KO will grant an instant Game Over. Most non-generic units fight in battles first as a guest before joining as a permanent party member.
In rare cases during random encounters, a guest may replace an enemy unit and fight alongside the player party. These guests are usually generic monsters, and do not join the party after the battle ends.
Guest characters include:
- Agrias (later joins as a full party member)
- Goffard
- Ladd (later joins as a generic party member)
- Alicia (later joins as a generic party member)
- Lavian (later joins as a generic party member)
- Delita
- Argath
- Boco (later joins as a monster party member)
- Ovelia
- Mustadio (later joins as a full party member)
- Orran
- Alma
- Rapha (later joins as a full party member)
- Meliadoul (later joins as a full party member)
- Zalbaag
- Beowulf (later joins as a full party member)
- Reis (later joins as a full party member)
- Cloud (later joins as a full Party Member)
- Byblos (later joins as a monster party member)
In The War of the Lions version, some plot-related characters who have joined as a full party member, will become guests again during the new event battles (their presence in the player's party is also the prerequisite to trigger these events). Usually after the fight (or scenario) has been completed, the player will be given the option to recruit them again.
The port also adds two new guests, Luso and Balthier, who can be recruited into the party after the battles in which they appear as guests.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance[]
Guest characters include:
- Montblanc (later joins as a full party member)
- Ritz (later joins as a full party member after the main story)
- Shara (later joins as a full party member after the main story)
- Ezel (later joins as a full party member after the main story)
- Babus (later joins as a full party member after the main story)
- Auggie
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift[]
Guest characters include:
- Cid (later joins as a full party member)
- Adelle (later joins as a full party member)
- Vaan (later joins as a full party member)
- Penelo (later joins as a full party member)
- Frimelda (later joins as a full party member)
- Bowen
- Tweigel
- Loa
- Veis
- Kyrra
- Popocho
- Dayvis
- Komodo Trader
Final Fantasy Type-0[]
Other characters can be called in to assist in battle via the Support Personnel feature. Most of the supports are "shadow" versions of the player cadets, but there are three unique supports:
There may also be allies and friendly units during missions who are not considered to be part of the player's party.
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest[]
Kaeli, Tristam, Phoebe and Reuben join Benjamin twice during set points in the story. With the exception of Phoebe, who gives the player her original weapon and then uses a different one, guests have set spells and equipment and cannot gain levels. Between the time they leave and join later, their spells, equipment and level has grown stronger. Guests can be toggled from Auto or Manual from the Customize menu or by pressing .
Unlike other guess, after Phoebe joins for the second time, she stays until the end.
Final Fantasy Adventure[]
The player has other characters help Sumo during his journey. Although, they are helpful, the player cannot control them. Guests do not gain levels, and they cannot take damage. They have poor AI, resulting in them attacking randomly, rarely aiming at enemies. If the player Asks the current guest, they will perform their special ability. If a guest kills an enemy, its experience points will be added to Sumo.
Temporary party members include:
Final Fantasy Legend II[]
Mr. S, Ki, Mask, Lynn, Hana, Taro, the lead character's Dad along with the goddess Isis, all join the party at various points with Lynn and Dad joining twice. With the exception of Mr. S, who is a Slime-type monster, and Isis herself, the guests are human. This includes Ki, whose magical powers are a result of MAGI, not mutant origin.
To offset the game's item durability system, the player may give equipment to guests, but cannot retrieve it, nor may they take any of the guests' initial equipment. The player cannot give meat to Mr. S during his short period with the party, and thus cannot transform. Guest characters will not gain statistics in any fashion during their tenure.
Pressing when the player has a temporary party member results in them giving a message.
Final Fantasy Legend III[]
At certain points a fifth character joins the party. They are at a sufficiently high level to make them powerful against the monsters and bosses the player will be facing. They do not gain EXP or level up, and they cannot undergo class changes. It is possible to give them equipment to fill out the empty slots, but (with one exception) the player cannot change or remove equipment once equipped. They cannot add or remove their magic spells either.
Borgin stays with the party until the end
Temporary party members include:
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light[]
Guests function like temporary playable characters due to the main party splitting up for the first half of the story. Guest characters wear certain Crowns that will obtained much later by the main party. Guests' Crowns cannot be changed, but their inventory and equipment can be customized. Guests will take everything they have with them when they leave the party, so it is advisable to remove all items and unique equipment to not lose them.
- Krinjh joins Brandt and Yunita in their search for the Moonlight Tower and Guera, and leaves after defeating the Sand Devil in Quicksand Castle. He wears the Spell Fencer crown in battle.
- Torte, as a mouse, joins Aire in her search for the Animal Staff in the Great Tree Roots, and leaves after defeating Arboroc at the Great Tree with Aire and Brandt. He wears the Sage crown in battle.
- Rekoteh joins Brandt and Jusqua in their quest to hatch the Dragon Egg in Invidia, and leaves after the party is ready to fly the Dragon to Spelvia. She wears the Dancer crown in battle.
- Rolan joins Yunita and Aire in their quest to purge the darkness in Rolan's Soul, and leaves after defeating Geri and Freki, the source of said darkness. He wears the Hero crown in battle.
Final Fantasy Dimensions[]
The player can exempt guest characters from taking part in battles, remove their equipment and distribute them to their own characters. By exempting guests, the player gains a 25% EXP boost when fighting monsters.
List of guest characters:
Final Fantasy: Brave Exvius[]
As the game content is regularly updated with new quests, events and characters, temporary playable characters appear in Unit Intro quests and in Story events. Both are available for a limited time. They are fully awakened at max level, they are equipped with weapons, armor, accessories and ability Materia. They cannot summon espers. They take up the Friend Unit slot when selected.
Unit Intro quests feature newly released characters that are important to the main story from Season 2 onwards. They generally have a fully CG animated Limit Burst with Japanese voice acting (except for Elena's, which has English voice acting).
List of Unit Intro guest characters (in order of appearance in the Global version of the game):
- Pyro Glacial Lasswell
- Blossom Sage Sakura
- Lotus Mage Fina
- Nameless Gunner Jake
- Heavenly Technician Lid
- Maritime Strategist Nichol
- Raegen
- Hyoh
- Citra
- Sieghard
- Folka
- Ignacio
- Cid
- Akstar
- Summer Fina & Lid
- Summer Folka & Citra
- Sacred Shield Charlotte
- Elena
- Radiant Lightning
- Warrior of Light Bartz
- Wild Rose Firion
- Aldore King Rain
- Magitek Warrior Terra
- Crown Prince Noctis
- White Lily Dark Fina
- Awakened Warrior of Light
- Hess King Lasswell
- Paladin Cecil
- Awakened Onion Knight
- Wizardess Shantotto
- Star Player Tidus
- Rakish Thief Zidane
- Infernal Fire Rain
- Cloud (FFVII: AC)
- Mystical Ice Lasswell
- Serah
- Lone Lion Squall
- Gilgamesh (WOTV FFBE)
- Sterne Leonis
- Kitone
- Wild Card Ace
- Seeker of Freedom Vaan
- Angel of Death Kuja
- Cloud (FFVII REMAKE)
- Rain -Neo Vision-
- Awakened Dragon Akstar
- Yoshikiri
- Starlight Elena
- Firion -Neo Vision-
- Ibara
- Sol -Neo Vision-
- Shoreline Fina & Daisy
- Physalis -Neo Vision-
- Terra -Neo Vision-
- Lasswell -Neo Vision-
- Rain & Fina
- Lasswell & Raegen
- Savior of Souls Lightning
- Faris -Neo Vision-
- Vinera Fennes
- Cobalt Blade Noctis
- King Behemy
- Vermilion Blade Ardyn
- Lightning-Fast Zidane
- Kaktiria
- Noppy
- Louise
- White Dragon Ling
- Guardian Blade Charlotte
- Cetra Descendant Aerith
- Avalanche's Tifa
- Legendary Hero Sephiroth
- Skye
- Triumphant General Celes
- Ygni
- Cressnik
- Bulwark & the Melodic Mascots
- Lara Croft -Neo Vision- (originally from the Tomb Raider series)
- Roca
- Olivera
- Full Moon Karten
- Ninja Master Hawkeye (originally from Trials of Mana)
- Angela (originally from Trials of Mana)
- Riesz (originally from Trials of Mana)
- Duran (originally from Trials of Mana)
- Maeve
- Summoner Yuna
- Summer Sniper Physalis
- Whimsical Winter Tiana
- Taivas
- Divine Beast Chow
- Dragoon Kain
- Storm Seeker Esther
- Dark Rain
- Reberta & Ignitos
Story events typically feature scenario stages and battle stages. In scenario stages the story of the event plays out in cutscenes, in battle stages the player fights wave battles against enemies. Before every chapter of the story the player may choose to have one of the characters featured in the event as a guest.
World of Final Fantasy[]
Several Grymoirian versions of main characters from games in the Final Fantasy series temporarily accompany Lann and Reynn in their adventures, on the field, but are not treated as regular party members, mainly doing so for plot-related reasons within a chapter.
- Refia accompanies the twins to get across Icicle Ridge to get to Saronia during Chapter 6, "Solace from the Ice". She will occasionally replenish the party's HP and AP completely if it gets low. Refia leaves the party once they reach Saronia.
- She also accompanies the twins again during the Postscript, "Turn Those Corners Up", returning to Icicle Ridge to track down a Kyubi.
- Rikku briefly tags along with the twins as they make their way to the Babil Region, during Chapter 9, "The Low Seas". She leaves the party once they reach The Rainbow Shore.
- Rydia accompanies Lann and Reynn during Chapter 11, "Crimson and Azure", as the twins look for the Key of Flames in Valley Seven. A giant pillar of fire deep into the dungeon causes Rydia to panic and run away, but after the twins catch up to her and rescue her from the enemies, Rydia rejoins the party and eventually dispels the pillar of fire, leaving after doing so.
- Snow joins the party during Chapter 12, "Ribbit Jiggle Panic", after the twins remove a curse that turned him into a toad. With his help, he and Shiva-Ixion create ice bridges in the marshy waters of The Windswept Mire to allow the twins to leave the swamp. Snow leaves the party after the player defeats the Golden Flan.
- Squall joins the party during Chapter 14, "Lost Powers", providing the twins with an eldbox to imprism mechanical Mirages, and briefing them of their mission to restore power to Figaro Castle. He leaves the party after the player defeats the Death Machine.
- Shelke accompanies the twins during Chapter 15, "The Mako Reactor and the Black Mages", after neutralizing their suppressors and follows them into Mako Reactor 0. She leaves the party after the power to Figaro Castle has been restored.
- Bartz tags along with the party during Chapter 16, "Clash on Big Bridge", demonstrating the use of Jump Pads to get across Big Bridge. He leaves the party after the player defeats Gilgamesh.
- Tidus briefly joins Lann and Reynn during Chapter 18, "The Fell Spell and the Quacho Queen", as the party swims their way underwater down to The Sunken Temple. He leaves once the party arrives at the temple grounds.