Released in the 1999 Final Fantasy 8 became the fastest selling Final Fantasy title ever with an earning of $50 million in sales. Voted 22nd in the best games of all time in the Japanese magazine Famitsu.

Departing from the usual style game play from which one would expect from this title strayed from the old Magic Point system and the tradional means of gaining power. A new collectible card-based minigame called "Triple Triad" also peaked in this title sparking many other card games in later series.