Check Out How Final Fantasy’s Chocobos Have Changed Through the Years
The giant yellow birds called Chocobos are some of the most recognizable mascots from the Final Fantasy series. They’ve also been featured in nearly every Final Fantasy games in some way, so they’ve gone through a tone of changes over the years. Please note that not every appearance of a Chocobo is listed here, but every mainline entry and most prominent spinoffs.
Chocobos didn’t technically appear in the first Final Fantasy, however certain statues in Castle Cornelia bear a striking resemblance to the giant yellow birds.
Final Fantasy II was the very first game the Chocobo appeared in. You could find the yellow bird in the forest south of Keshuan Keep, and use it to take a quick trip around the world map. Once you dismount the creature though, it instantly runs away.
Chocobos make a couple appearances in Final Fantasy III, with multiple Chocobo Forests dotted around the game’s world. You can also summon a Chocobo in battle, with a level 1 Summon Magic Spell. this also marked the first appearance of the Fat Chocobo, who stores items for you when given Gysahl Greens.
Final Fantasy V features what might be the most famous Chocobo of the series, Boko. The main character Bartz and Boko are steadfast friends, and the Chocobo remains a constant character throughout the game. There’s also a Black Chocobo you can find, and a Summon.
Chocobos return as rideable creatures, but finding them is a bit different. You can actually rent Chocobos from stables that are built in various towns and forests. Some options in battle like the Confusion spell, features Chocobos in their animations.
Final Fantasy’s leap to 3D brought Chocobos along with it, in some new and fun ways. There were the standard Chocobos you could ride and summon, but there’s also a surpsingly deep breeding minigame that has you trying to get the ultimate Gold Chocobo. Additionally, the Golden Saucer holds the colorful Chocobo Races that you can bet money on.
Final Fantasy XIII actually has two different variants of the yellow Chocobo, one from Gran Pulse and one from Cocoon. The cocoon ones match the normal style of the creatures, while the Gran Pulse ones are larger and tougher. Chocobos can be ridden on Gran Pulse to speed up exploration, and the character Sazh carries a tiny Chocobo Chick in his hair.
The Chocobos of Final Fantasy’s first online MMO have a bit different design from anything before, looking almost reptilian in design. To ride a Chocobo, players originally had to obtain a Chocobo License from a quest and rent them from a stable. With the expansion Treasures of Aht Urgan, however, Square Enix added a Chocobo breeding system.
Chocobos are a large part of the military forces of Akademia and Rubrum, helping soldiers in battle. They can be ridden around the world of Orience for faster travel, and a Chocobo breeding mechanic is in the game.
World of Final Fantasy is the newest spinoff title in the series, and it has a monster capturing system that has your recruiting “Mirages” for your party. There are multiple variations of Chocobos you can recruit, and they evolve from Chocochick to Chocobo. You can also ride them on the field map with a certain ability.
Chocobos will make their return once again in Final Fantasy XV. As you might expect they can be rented in various locations around the world and ridden around. Battle may even start while you’re riding a Chocobo, and if forced the birds will defend themselves.
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Chocobos
The giant yellow birds called Chocobos are some of the most recognizable mascots from the Final Fantasy series. They've also been featured in nearly every Final Fantasy games in some way, so they've gone through a ton of changes over the years. Keep in mind that not every appearance of a Chocobo is listed here, but those in every mainline entry and most prominent spinoffs are.
Final Fantasy
Chocobos didn't technically appear in the first Final Fantasy, however certain statues in Castle Cornelia bear a striking resemblance to the giant yellow birds.
Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy II was the very first game the Chocobo officially appeared in. You could find the yellow bird in the forest south of Keshuan Keep, and use it to take a quick trip around the world map. Once you dismount the creature though, it instantly runs away.
Final Fantasy III
Chocobos make a couple appearances in Final Fantasy III, with multiple Chocobo Forests dotted around the game's world. You can also summon a Chocobo in battle with a level 1 Summon Magic Spell. This also marked the first appearance of the Fat Chocobo, who stores items for you when given Gysahl Greens.
Final Fantasy IV
The Chocobo is once again a Summon monster early on, this time for the Summoner Ridia. There are Chocobo Forests scattered across the world, and different colored Chocobos start to pop up at this point. White Chocobos restore the party's MP, and Black Chocobos don't run away the first time you dismount them.
Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy V features what might be the most famous Chocobo of the series, Boko. The protagonist, Bartz, and Boko are steadfast friends, and the Chocobo remains a constant character throughout the game. There's also a Black Chocobo you can find, and a Summon.
Final Fantasy VI
Chocobos return as rideable creatures, but finding them is a bit different. You can actually rent Chocobos from stables that are built in various towns and forests. Some options in battle, like the Confusion spell, feature Chocobos in their animations.
Final Fantasy VII
Final Fantasy's leap to 3D brought Chocobos along with it in some new and fun ways. There were the standard Chocobos you could ride and summon, but there's also a surprisingly deep breeding minigame that has you trying to get the ultimate Gold Chocobo. Additionally, the Golden Saucer holds the colorful Chocobo Races that you can bet money on.
Final Fantasy VIII
Besides the normal uses, Final Fantasy VIII introduced the idea of baby Chocobos known as Chicibos. The party obtains a young Chicibo named Boco, which can be used in a minigame known as Chocobo World. Unfortunately this minigame was only available to play on a device sold separately in Japan, or on the PC version.
Final Fantasy IX
Early on in Final Fantasy IX you meet a Chocobo named Choco who can then be summoned at any time on the world map using Gysahl Greens. A new minigame, called Chocobo Hot and Cold, has Choco searching for hidden treasure in forests. Additionally, two Black Mages raise and name a Chocobo Bobby Corwen, an extension of the name Boco. It's a fun little easter egg.
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X marks the point where Chocobos start looking less cutesy, and more realistic. They can be rented from Chocobo Stables across the world of Spira, and also feature heavily as transportation for the residents of the world.
Final Fantasy X-2
Chocobos bear the same design as Final Fantasy X, but this time they're more of an optional thing. After Chapter 5, the beasts can be ridden if the player helped Clasko open the Chocobo Ranch in the Calm Lands. You can capture Chocobos in battle, and use them to find hidden items.
Final Fantasy XI
The Chocobos of Final Fantasy's first online MMO have an altered design, looking almost reptilian. To ride a Chocobo, players originally had to obtain a Chocobo License from a quest and rent them from a stable. With the expansion Treasures of Aht Urgan, however, Square Enix added a Chocobo breeding system.
Final Fantasy XII
Chocobos are a vital resource in the land of Ivalice, functioning as transportation, battle mounts, and more. The birds of Final Fantasy XII have a harsher, sterner look to them. Yellow Chocobos can be rented from stables and ridden, while other colors and variants pop up as monsters and elite marks to hunt.
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy XIII actually has two different variants of the yellow Chocobo, one from Gran Pulse and one from Cocoon. The cocoon ones match the normal style of the creatures, while the Gran Pulse ones are larger and tougher. Chocobos can be ridden on Gran Pulse to speed up exploration, and the character Sazh carries a tiny Chocobo Chick in his hair.
Final Fantasy XIII-2
Two different variants of Chocobos can be ridden in XIII-2, the normal yellow and maroon ones. The game also features a recruitment system that has monsters joining you in battle, and different colored Chocobos are just a few that can join in.
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
One of the main quests in Lightning Returns has Lightning saving a dazzling white Chocobo called the Angel of Valhalla. Once saved, this Chocobo can be ridden around certain areas of the game. Other, yellow Chocobos are also seen throughout the game.
Final Fantasy XIV and Realm Reborn
Like Final Fantasy XI, Chocobos are found throughout the world of Final Fantasy XIV. They can be ridden for faster travel, rented from stables, and feature into the story as well. Subsequent updates to the game have even added in Fat Chocobo mounts, and Chocobo races at the Manderville Golden Saucer.
Final Fantasy Tactics
Chocobos are seen throughout the world of Ivalice and come in the varieties of yellow, black, and red. The creatures can be recruited as party members, and ridden in battle. There's even a specific Chocobo named Boco that joins your party at one point.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance and A2
Chocobos once again appear in the world of Ivalice, although the first Tactics Advance game only features them as mounts for the Judges. Tactics A2, however, sees the creatures join in battle. There's also a Moogle job called Chocobo Knight, which weakens and mounts Chocobos.
Final Fantasy Type-0
Chocobos are a large part of the military forces of Akademia and Rubrum, helping soldiers in battle. They can be ridden around the world of Orience for faster travel, and a Chocobo breeding mechanic is in the game.
Crystal Chronicles Series and the Crystal Bearers
Surpsingly, most of the Crystal Chronicles series doesn't actually feature Chocobos, just references to them. There are Chocobo-themed weapons and a bit of lore, but it wasn't until the Crystal Bearers that the birds actually appeared and were rideable.
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
There aren't actually any Chocobos in Mystic Quest, however, weather vanes in the town of Windia are fashioned in their design.
Final Fantasy Adventure
Final Fantasy Adventure was actually the game that eventually created the Mana series for Square. A Chocobo is a temporary party member in the game, and functions as a mount for Sumo. Eventually, it even becomes a mechanized Chocobo.
Dissidia and Dissidia 012
Chocobos only have a minor appearance in the Dissidia games, popping up as a summon that you can use during battle.
Theatrythm Series
Cute chibi versions of Chocobos are seen frequently in the Theatrythm games. On Field Music Sequences, doing well in the feature drive section will make your character hop on a Chocobo and speed up their journey.
World of Final Fantasy
World of Final Fantasy is the newest spinoff title in the series, and it has a monster capturing system that has you recruiting "Mirages" for your party. There are multiple variations of Chocobos you can recruit, and they evolve from Chocochick to Chocobo. You can also ride them on the field map with a certain ability.
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Final Fantasy Unlimited is a bit of an unknown anime from the series. Two siblings named Ai and Joe travel to a mysterious world called Wonderland. One of the main party members they meet along the way is an eccentric Chocobo named Chobi.
Chocobo Series
The Chocobos' presence in Final Fantasy is so huge that the cute bird even got its own subseries. There are quite a few games, and they usually feature a cuter version of the bird as the main protagonist. The games also make up a few different genres with titles like Chocobo Racing, Chocobo's Mysterious Dungeon, Dice de Chocobo, and Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales.
Final Fantasy XV
Chocobos will make their return once again in Final Fantasy XV. As you might expect, they can be rented in various locations around the world and ridden around. Battle may even start while you're riding a Chocobo, and if forced, the birds will defend themselves.
About the author
Hayes Madsen
A connoisseur of all things RPG related, and always looking for the artistic expression in gaming. His love of Gundam is only matched by his love of Pizza. Playing Games Since: 1991 Favorite Genres: RPGs, JRPGs, Strategy,
