Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions review

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is the strategy pick for a PSP library. The setting is Ivalice after its defeat in the Fifty Years' War, where two dukes fight for the regency and the conflict becomes the War of the Lions; Ramza, third son of House Beoulve, and his commoner friend Delita are caught in it. Square Enix's current store page lists turn-based battles on 3D battlefields where terrain and turn order decide fights, over 20 jobs such as white mage, black mage and dragoon, hundreds of abilities that stay usable after a job change, and tameable chocobos. That page describes Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, whose classic version keeps the War of the Lions translation, so it is the legal modern option. On PSP, a used UMD lists at $34.99 before sales at DKOldies. New players face a steep learning curve, which is why it ranks ninth despite its depth.

Who it is for

Strategy fans who want a long, turn-based campaign with deep job customization.

Price

Used PSP UMD from $34.99 at DKOldies (regular price, before sales).

Original price: $34.99
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 10, 2026.

Key features

• Turn-based battles on 3D battlefields where positioning and turn order matter
• Over 20 jobs, including white mage, black mage and dragoon
• Hundreds of abilities that carry over when you change jobs
• Tameable chocobos and other creatures
• Story of Ramza Beoulve and Delita during the War of the Lions

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: One of the deepest strategy systems on the PSP
• Strength: Its translation is reused in Square Enix's current classic version
• Strength: Long campaign for the price
• Weakness: Hardest learning curve on this list for new players
• Weakness: Square Enix's current page describes the 2025 re-release, not the PSP disc
• Weakness: Regular used price of $34.99

Key facts

• Publisher: Square Enix
• Genre: Tactical role-playing
• Jobs: Over 20
• Protagonists: Ramza Beoulve and Delita
• Modern version: Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles

Where it ranks

Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is No. 8 in our Best PSP Games of All Time verdict.