25 years ago today one of the best entries in the Final Fantasy series was released. At first glance, it's easy to consider Final Fantasy IX as a light and whimsical title, especially in the shadow of FFVII. But anyone who has played the game knows that beyond its colourful characters and gorgeous scenery, it explores themes of existentialism, identity, finding your chosen family, finding love and acceptance as you are, and also finding yourself and what it means to carve your own path and to make the choices that define you, despite your past or what inner or outer darkness you are fighting against.

It's a story that asks some very deep questions about dealing with depression, the meaning of life, and the fear of death and loss, that ultimately rejects nihilism by emphasising how even the realisation that existence is temporary and mortality is inevitable doesn't diminish the importance of connecting, loving, sharing, hoping, experiencing the little moments, and fighting for a better world. It's one the most beautiful and hopepunk games to have come out in the last few decades that remains more relevant than ever, and is well worth discovering even today.

(25th anniversary Illustrations by Yuya Ishihata and Toshiyuki Itahana)

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