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The Unwinnable Final Fantasy x Politics is here! It overflows with amazing stories, so let's go through one by one. But only after you take a moment to appreciate @sydneyjones.bsky.social's fantastic cover art. Buy: tinyurl.com/53f7schv Subscribe: unwinnable.com/subscribe/

Do not be fooled by Final Fanstasy XII’s gorgeous blue sky, says @aguaspoints.bsky.social, the world of Ivalice is a nightmarish one. Excerpt: unwinnable.com/2026/04/28/x...

For @solfleet.bsky.social, the most powerful thing you can do is find a way to make a difference, whether that’s large or small. Excerpt: unwinnable.com/2026/04/29/f...

"The system will not bear someone building a better system within it." Taylor Hidalgo accuses the good cop of Final Fantasy Tactics of heresy. Excerpt: unwinnable.com/2026/04/30/t...

Grace Benfel looks at two Final Fantasy games that deal with the literal end of history and how they compare to Fukuyama's theory. "Fukuyama's end of history may well be what Benjamin described as 'homogenous and empty time.' Both Ultimecia and Garland represent those hollow eternities."

Unwinnable's own Melissa King writes about death, tech, accountability, representation and Final Fantasy XIV. "The story of the Endless teaches us that we have to hold others accountable for their impact on society, even when we care about them."

EIC @unwinnabledavid.bsky.social weighs in on Final Fantasy's child soldiers. "Cloud and Lightning might be the only two Final Fantasy protagonists without a need for a fake ID to buy a beer in the United States."

Per subscriber demands, we included some steamy Final Fantasy fanfic in this issue, by @nochshorn.bsky.social. "He whispered in Cecil’s ear: 'I never stopped hating you.'" Spoiler: what follows does not seem like hate!

That's it for today! Columns tomorrow. Remember, Unwinnable exists for readers because of subscribers. Subscribers rule! You should subscribe! www.unwinnable.com/subscribe

"If there’s a parallel between Final Fantasy and Rage Against the Machine, it may be that the political content of their messaging is often misunderstood." @bensailer.bsky.social sets the record straight.

"It is clear that a change will come, whether or not it is accelerated via detonation." Oluwatayo Adewole looks that different ways Final Fantasy VII and its remake escalate scale, in their themes, their explosions and their real-world productions.

They all have the same FACE! @glassethound.bsky.social explores the unnerving revelation that many Final Fantasy women look the same. "Regardless of the market-capitalism reason [...], in order for women to exist in games at all, there’s an almost impossible visual bar to clear."

"He bellows in despair, 'I DIDN’T ASK TO BE CREATED!'" @unabridgedgamer.bsky.social examines two videogame demiurges formed out of impotence, rage and sadness.

LL actors are only the most recent stop on a longer road. @saraclemens.com on Spirits Within: "Aki Ross was not only presented as the easily controlled version of a leading lady but marketed as a woman, full stop [...] yet was given no autonomy and no interiority beyond what was scripted for her."

@jaymcastello.bsky.social picks apart the relationship between royalty, retainers and the guy driving your car in Final Fantasy XV. "Noctis and Ignis are not childhood friends. Ignis has been Noctis’ servant for more than a decade of childhood labor."

@rubeck.bsky.social has some thoughts on the divine right of kings. "[Final Fantasy] forgets the relentless march of time and that capable, compassionate leadership is not genetically passed down but something that needs to be forged and maintained through the ages."