How to Play Every Breath of Fire Game

It’s been quite a while since the last new game in the Breath of Fire series released, but it remains a beloved part of Capcom’s history. Indeed, so many people have requested Breath of Fire IV on the GOG Dreamlist that GOG itself shouted it out. Compared to many other RPG franchises dating back to the 1990s, Breath of Fire doesn’t have that many installments. That means whether you want to dive into it for the first time or just want to revisit it, Breath of Fire is relatively digestible. If you’re wondering where and how to play every Breath of Fire game today, here are your options.

Breath of Fire

The first game in the series introduces players to the conflict between the Light Dragons and Dark Dragons. It was originally released in 1993 in Japan on the Super Famicom, with a North American release in 1994. Those who don’t mind digging around in the secondhand market have a number of options to play this Breath of Fire game. You can pick up the Super NES original, the Game Boy Advance remake, or find one of Blaze’s original Evercade EXP handhelds which feature it as a built-in game. Otherwise, your only option is to play it via a Nintendo Switch Online subscription in the Super NES app.

Breath of Fire II

After the success of the first game, Capcom was quick to follow it up with a sequel. Breath of Fire II launched in Japan on the Super Famicom in 1994 and came to the North American Super NES in 1995. Your official options for playing this Breath of Fire game are similar to the first. You can search the secondhand market for the Super NES original cartridge, but you’ll have to pay a pretty penny. The Game Boy Advance remake can be found at a somewhat more reasonable price. The only place the game is currently offered by Capcom is in the Super NES app on the Nintendo Switch. You’ll need a subscription, of course.

Breath of Fire III

In 1997, the Breath of Fire series moved to Sony’s PlayStation in Japan. A launch in North America and Europe followed in 1998. Breath of Fire III adopted a 2.5D graphical style and remains a favorite of many players. Those cruising the used game shops can look for the original PlayStation disc release or the European release of the PlayStation Portable remake. The only place you can find Breath of Fire III currently sold is on the PlayStation Store. It’s the PlayStation Portable version, so you’ll have to play it on a PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, or PlayStation TV. Get it while you can!

Breath of Fire IV

Breath of Fire IV is the only game in the series to date to see a PC release, having launched for Microsoft Windows in Japan and Europe in 2003. The original 2000 release was on the PlayStation, and you can naturally track down one of those original copies today if you like. The other option is the PlayStation Store, where it’s available as a PlayStation Classic for play on your PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, PlayStation Vita, or PlayStation TV. PlayStation.

Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter

The fifth game in the series released on the PlayStation 2 in Japan in 2002, with a release in Western markets in 2003. Dragon Quarter shakes up the formula in a big way, and this decision proved to be quite controversial at the time. Time has been kind to this game’s reception, but it’s one of the harder games in the series to play today. Capcom released it on the PlayStation Store in Japan, but that digital release never came to Western markets. Your only choice to seek out a copy of the original PlayStation 2 disc and play it on a compatible console. The good news is that this is one of the cheaper entries to pick up secondhand.

Breath of Fire VI

This online multiplayer RPG was released in Japan for Windows, Android, and iOS in 2016. It was never released outside of Japan, and it was shut down after just a year and a half of availability. There are currently no official means of playing this extremely contentious chapter of the Breath of Fire series. Don’t worry, you’re not really missing out on much.