Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII cover

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII

Critic score13 critics
First release
Nov 21, 2013
Publisher
Square Enix
Genres
Role-playing (RPG) · Open world, Action, Fantasy, Science fiction

As Lightning, it is your mission to save souls so they may be brought to a new world. However, with only thirteen days remaining, not everyone can be saved. Armed with all-new weapons, player customization and battle abilities, you are in a race against time to fully understand your destiny. It all ends here.

Also known as LIGHTNING RETURNS: FINAL FANTASY XIII, LRFF13.exe, Final Fantasy XIII Lightning Saga Project, Final Fantasy XIII-3

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
Five hundred years after the events of Final Fantasy XIII-2, the world of Nova Chrysalia is slowly dying and stands only thirteen days from its end, its people rendered ageless and childless by the chaos unleashed long ago. Lightning, the warrior heroine of the earlier games, is awoken from crystal stasis by the god Bhunivelze and named the Savior, tasked with freeing humanity's souls from their emotional burdens and guiding them to a new world before time runs out. Traveling across four distinct regions and reuniting with old friends and adversaries who each carry deep sorrow, Lightning races against the doomsday clock while uncovering the truth behind the world's fate and the god's true intentions.Read more

Five hundred years after the events of Final Fantasy XIII-2, the world of Nova Chrysalia is slowly dying and stands only thirteen days from its end, its people rendered ageless and childless by the chaos unleashed long ago. Lightning, the warrior heroine of the earlier games, is awoken from crystal stasis by the god Bhunivelze and named the Savior, tasked with freeing humanity's souls from their emotional burdens and guiding them to a new world before time runs out. Traveling across four distinct regions and reuniting with old friends and adversaries who each carry deep sorrow, Lightning races against the doomsday clock while uncovering the truth behind the world's fate and the god's true intentions.

Release dates
PlayStation 3
Nov 21, 2013
Xbox 360
Nov 21, 2013
PlayStation 3
Feb 11, 2014
All 9 release dates
Xbox 360
Feb 11, 2014
PlayStation 3
Feb 13, 2014
Xbox 360
Feb 13, 2014
PlayStation 3
Feb 14, 2014
Xbox 360
Feb 14, 2014
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Dec 10, 2015
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main Story
25h
Main + Extras
40h
Completionist
70h
Game modes
Single player
Perspective
Third person
Keywords
time travel, summoning support, military, time manipulation, female protagonist
… All 45, time limit, multiple endings, good vs evil, day/night cycle, sword & sorcery, playstation network, gods, customizable characters, human, color separation, profanity, saving the world, moral decisions, side quests, real-time combat, pax prime 2013, gamescom 2013, active time battle, mercenary, declarative title, floating island, non-linear storytelling, tokyo game show 2013, facebook games, motion capture animation, particle system, summoners, dimension travel, quick time event, not-so-bad guys, linear gameplay, androgyny, victory music, new game plus, optional lore, context sensitive, story recap, point of no return, playstation home tie-in, groundhog day scenario

At a Glance

Critic Score
70
Main Story (IGDB)
25h
Main + Extras (IGDB)
40h
Completionist (IGDB)
70h

Overview

Steam review summary

Steam users rate this Mostly Positive, 4,127 reviews in all languages, recorded 16 October 2026

Valve's summary of Steam user reviews. Valve counts only reviews from purchases on Steam, not key activations, and leaves out review periods it has marked as off-topic. It isn't part of the CritScore score.

Review summary: SteamSteam data provided via the Steam Web API (opens in a new tab)Not affiliated with Valve →

About storefront and compatibility information

Compatibility, feature and availability information shown on this page is recorded from the storefronts and services named against each fact, on the dates shown. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks of Valve Corporation; Steam data is provided via the Steam Web API. Other product and service names are trademarks of their respective owners. CritScore is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or certified by Valve Corporation or any other storefront or platform holder, and does not itself test or certify any game.