Dungeon A dungeon is a game element in the " Final Fantasy " series where the player is to explore and obtain treasure while defeating enemies . Dungeons are usually caves or ancient ruins . The end usually has a goal : an artifact to be obtained , a boss to be defeated , or a cutscene to be seen . Sometimes the story can only progress by completing a dungeon , and sometimes they are optional . Dungeons are usually accessed from the world map , but in some cases , they are accessed via other , smaller dungeons , either by passageways or warp devices , or in some rarer cases , the player is taken to a dungeon due to a plot event . The final dungeon is the area where the final boss resides . Most games also feature secret , optional dungeons , that either hold precious treasure or incredibly strong superboss es . Appearances . " Final Fantasy " . Each dungeon contains an important artifact and a boss , with exception of the first dungeon , the Chaos Shrine , and the Mirage Tower , which is merely a path to the Flying Fortress . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy II " . Almost every dungeon has a boss , a key item to be obtained , or a cutscene to be seen . " Final Fantasy II " was the first to feature a point of no return in dungeons . Due to the story - driven gameplay , many events take place in dungeons . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy III " . " Final Fantasy III " follows the series ' consistency , having one boss per dungeon and was the first to feature an optional dungeon , and cutscenes in each of them . In some dungeons , the party is forced to induce a status ailment to transfigure the party so they can enter , such as the Subterranean Lake or the Tower of Owen . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy IV " . Party members often leave and join the party inside dungeons . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy IV - Interlude - " . Dungeosn cannot be revisited after leaving the area via the " Falcon " , because the game is short and linear . List of dungeons : Every dungeon from " Final Fantasy IV " , with the exception of the Giant of Babil , returns . While many dungeons return untouched , new ones have been added , and some existing ones have been expanded . A new series of optional dungeons named Challenge Dungeons appear in each character ' s tale . List of additions : " Final Fantasy V " . By the time of " Final Fantasy V " , plot events became more common at the end of dungeons than the acquisition of key items . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy VI " . The use of dungeons as pathways is common in the World of Balance , while the World of Ruin is filled with optional dungeons that reward with a playable character , and in rare cases , magicite . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy VII " . Many dungeons appear as either a passage or an optional dungeon . Items are more scarce than in previous games . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy VIII " . " Final Fantasy VIII " has a fewer locations than earlier installments , so dungeons either end in plot events , or are optional . Many of the dungeons later in the game are points of no return . Unique until that point in the series , many of the town areas also offer dungeon - type gameplay of fulfilling objectives and killing monsters , before usually returning to being towns . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy IX " . " Final Fantasy IX " has many dungeons when compared to its predecessor , in a pattern similar to earlier games in the series . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy X " . " Final Fantasy X " doesn ' t have many dungeons as the world map has been abolished . Via Purifico , Mt . Gagazet , and Inside Sin are mandatory dungeons . Cloisters of Trials also has dungeon - like appearance and require completing a task to continue with the story . The Cavern of the Stolen Fayth and the Omega Ruins are optional dungeons . " Final Fantasy X - 2 " . " Final Fantasy X - 2 " introduces more dungeons , but removes Omega Ruins . " Final Fantasy XI " . " Final Fantasy XI " has many dungeon areas distinguished by enemies re - spawning more slowly , players being able use the spell Escape , and chocobo s not entering them . Almost all dungeons are at one point used in a mission or quest : " Final Fantasy XII " . Dungeons can be distinguished by areas that cannot be accessed via the " Strahl " . List of dungeons : Being a real - time strategy game , " Final Fantasy XII : Revenant Wings " is not considered to have many dungeons , since , like in the " Tactics " sub - series , gameplay is restricted to battles . The Well of Whispered Oaths has several enemies , treasure and floors , and thus , can be considered a legitimate dungeon . " Final Fantasy XIII " . The traditional concept of dungeons largely doesn ' t exist in " Final Fantasy XIII " . On Gran Pulse , however , there are a few optional areas the player can explore , the Faultwarrens being closest to a traditional " Final Fantasy " dungeon . " Final Fantasy XIII - 2 " . Similar to " Final Fantasy XIII " , the game doesn ' t have clear dungeon areas . However , Augusta Tower harkens back to classical tower dungeons from the series with its puzzles . " Lightning Returns : Final Fantasy XIII " returns to a more typical dungeon - style gameplay . To complete the area ' s main quest , the player typically needs to defeat the boss at the end of a dungeon . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy XIV 1 . 0 " . Dungeons were a form of duties where a group of four or eight adventurers explored and worked together to defeat enemies , find treasure and complete objectives . Dungeons could only be entered after progressing to a certain point in a quest . The player could then join other player characters to make a party of four or eight ( depending on the dungeon ) , either by inviting members or by using the Duty Finder , before they could access the dungeon . A four - player party had to contain two DPS , one healer and one tank class , whereas an eight - player party had to contain four DPS , two healers and two tank classes . All dungeons had a recommended level , and players whose level was below the recommended would be denied entry . Players at least four levels higher than the recommended level had their level synced to three levels higher , meaning their stats and the power of their equipment was lowered while inside the dungeon . Once inside the party had ninety minutes to complete all objectives , or they were ejected . As with other instanced duties , players could not change their class or job while inside , and whenever they were KO ' d , they had the option to revive at the start of the dungeon . Dungeons typically had three or four boss areas , and engaging any enemy within these areas started a ten - second countdown , after which the area ' s exits were blocked until either all enemies were defeated , or the party was wiped out . There was a boss at the end and its defeat revealed the exit , successfully completing the duty . " Final Fantasy XV " . Many dungeons appear , several of which contain Royal Tomb s at the end where Noctis can acquire Royal Arms . Most dungeons have quests associated with them with recommended levels , though it is possible to enter many of them without the associated quest or far below the recommended level . Many of these dungeons also contain a sealed door which leads to a secondary dungeon containing extremely powerful monsters that can only be accessed after completing the main story , for the sidequest Menace Beneath Lucis . Given the name of the sidequest , these bonus dungeons are often referred to as " Menace " dungeons by the playerbase , such as Keycatrich Menace or Costlemark Menace . Dungeons have their own maps and the player cannot save the game once inside unless they find a haven , which fill the role of save point s . Most , but not all , dungeons give the player the option to return to the entrance from the save screen . " Final Fantasy Tactics " . " Final Fantasy Tactics " has no dungeons of the traditional sense , as gameplay is limited to battles and the world map . Midlight ' s Deep , however , is said to be a large dungeon . To reach all ten levels the player must find the exit on each level mid - battle . At the bottom level is the game ' s lone superboss , Elidibus . " Final Fantasy Type - 0 " . Dungeons are usually optional , and there may be tasks given by NPCs to defeat the monsters within , or to obtain certain items . In dungeons a quest arrow leads the player into the final battle room , and once the enemies there are defeated , the arrow leads the player back to the entrance . Throughout the dungeon the player can collect treasures and collectibles , the most common being Knowing Tag s . Many dungeons have such high level enemies they are best tackled in New Game Plus . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy Mystic Quest " . Consumable items and ammo are found within the brown wooden chests scattered throughout the dungeons that respawn when exiting to the world map . Monsters are also respawn in the same way as the chests . List of dungeons : " Theatrhythm Final Fantasy Curtain Call " . A " Shrine " , which closely resembles a dungeon , appears as the FMS for several final dungeon themes throughout the series : " Final Fantasy Adventure " . Each dungeon contains numerous enemies , and some enemies found in earlier dungeons will continue to make an appearance in later dungeons . List of Dungeons : " Final Fantasy Legend II " . Each dungeon contains important items and sometimes a boss has to be defeated . Countless items , weapons , and armor can be found throughout these dungeons . List of dungeons : " Final Fantasy Legend III " . Almost every dungeon has a boss to defeat , and / or an important item to be obtained . There are also a number of optional dungeons to explore which are simple to navigate and contains valuable treasures . List of dungeons : " Bravely Default " . A majority of the dungeons are optional , as they can only be found during sidequests . List of dungeons : Most of the dungeons from " Bravely Default " return , along with some new ones . " Final Fantasy Record Keeper " . A dungeon is the record of an event from the series . Each consists of one or more battle rounds , each representing a particular area within the event . Each round has a Stamina value that must be expended by the player to play . Most dungeons have a boss area requiring slightly more Stamina than other areas , and a relative few dungeons have more than one boss area . The core objective is to complete each area as efficiently as possible while taking the least damage . Meeting this combined objective to any degree earns Chocobo Medals ; the more Medals earned , the better the player ' s ranking in the dungeon . This layout forces the player to think somewhat strategically , as one is not only limited by his or her total Stamina , but also by the number of charges remaining on the party ' s Abilities . Target Scores worth three Chocobo Medals each are awarded for actions in a boss area . Thus , it is common for a player to store Ability charges until a boss area is reached . Completing dungeons earns various rewards . Completion Rewards are always available , and usually include gil . Additional First - Time Rewards are bestowed on the player ' s first visit to the dungeon . Special Mastery Rewards are collected once the player earns enough Medals to qualify as a Champion ( Excellent in Japanese ) . There are over 250 dungeons in the standard game , plus a variable number by way of active events . Most are divided into Classic Dungeon s and Elite Dungeon s , each with progressive levels of difficulty . Musical themes . The early series had a " Dungeon " theme , but as the series evolved , each dungeon began to have its own background theme . In compilation - style games , such as " Final Fantasy Record Keeper " , the source material determines the dungeon theme . In " Final Fantasy Record Keeper " , the original 8 - , 16 - , and 24 - bit music tracks are used despite many games having been remastered and re - scored , in effect adding to the game ' s nostalgic feel .