While it’s true every great RPG must have a great story, rich characters, and an interesting world, the true staying power and replay value of an RPG often relies on the quality and quantity of its side-quests. Final Fantasy VIII is filled with side-quests for players to enjoy. Some of them are obvious and are discovered during particular parts of the story, while others are a bit more tucked off and require some sleuthing to find.
Without a guide, it might be next to impossible to find all the game’s secrets. No worries though, that’s why you have us. We’ve explored every corner of the map from the coasts of Galbadia to the coasts of Esthar and everywhere in between to make sure we found all of the best spots (and in some cases side-quests) for you to enjoy on your journey as a SeeD. Read on to find 10 of the best-hidden areas in Final Fantasy VIII Remastered.
10 Chocobo Forests
If you wondered if the iconic yellow birds made an appearance in Final Fantasy VIII, we’re to let you know they do. While other titles in the series make chocobos a natural part of the story, in Final Fantasy VIII, you can only find them tucked away in hidden forests on the world map.
Look for dome-shaped forests and approach them to enter the Chocobo forest. From there, you can play a minigame to catch them or pay the Chocobo boy to catch one for you.
9 Obel Lake
Obel Lake is quite possibly the most well-hidden area in the game. While the rewards for completing the side quest are less than phenomenal, the completionists out there should take a look at this lengthy task. To find the lake and begin the side-quest, head for Timber and use it as a guide to find Obel Lake to the north.
Once you’ve found it, there’s a peninsula attached to the lake. Walk the peninsula and hit “X” until a window prompt asks if you want to throw a rock or hum. Hum at the lake until a shadow appears and thus the side-quest that takes you all over the world’s overmap will be triggered.
8 Inside The Magic Lamp
Before you depart for your SeeD mission in Timber, Headmaster Cid gives Squall an item called the Magic Lamp. It’s possible to miss the item if you don’t trigger the cutscene. It’s also possible to miss this area if you sell the lamp.
However, if you sell the lamp you’ll be transported inside the lamp to battle the demon that sleeps within, Diablos. While the area within the lamp isn’t an “explorable” one, it’s certainly of significant import if you wish to obtain all of the Guardian Forces.
7 Cactuar Island
There’s a tiny island tucked off to the east of Kaskabald Desert near Esthar that is home to cactuars as well as the Guardian Force with the most stylish mustache, Jumbo Cactuar. In order to reach the island, you’ll need the Ragnarok spaceship.
You’ll know you’re in the right spot if you see a cactuar materialize and dematerialize sporadically on the island. If you manage to manage to catch him, you’ll trigger a battle with the Guardian Force. The small cactuars on the island also net you plenty of AP if you’re fast enough to defeat them.
6 Centra Ruins
On the continent of Centra, that’s the one that looks kind of like a weird moon, there’s a tall structure that resembles the skeleton of a yellow diamond. If you approach it you’ll be inside a dilapidated but beautiful ruin and a timer starts.
If you complete the puzzles here and make it to the throne room, you can challenge Odin and add him to your party. Depending on when you get here, you can also spend some time bullying the village Tonberries and eventually challenge the Tonberry Guardian Force to add him to your party as well.
5 The Tomb of the Unknown King
Before you begin your first assassination attempt on The Sorceress, you’re tasked with a preliminary test. Head to the Tomb of the Unknown King and find the ID of a student who disappeared there.
You’re warned to go no deeper than needed as it’s dangerous. Ignore that. Buy a map and location marker from the soldier before heading out and solve the puzzle of the tomb to reach the bowels of the tomb wherein there is a sarcophagus guarded by The Brothers. Defeat them and the Guardian Force will join your party.
4 The Island Closest To Heaven
If you’re looking for a nice place to grind against some powerful enemies that hold even more powerful magic to stock, then you’ll want to head here.
Located on the easternmost edge of Esthar, the enemies here are all level 100 and rely on debilitating status effects to challenge your party. Expect to encounter enemies like Marlboros, TriFaces, and Chimeras. For a quick win, use Quistis’s Degenerator Limit Break.
3 The Island Closest To Hell
What would be Heaven if there was no Hell? Nothing, and that’s why, on the opposite side of the world, sits the Island Closest to Hell. Similar to its heavenly counterpart, the Island Closest to Hell features all level 100 enemies with powerful abilities.
Unlike the Island Closest to Heaven, however, the monsters here rely on devastating physical attacks to take down your party so come prepared. You can expect to encounter enemies like T-Rexaurs and dragons here, so junction accordingly.
2 Shumi Village
This village is located in the cold, wintry North area of the map. The village is occupied by a race called the Shumi, a calm and contemplative people. Once here you’ll be given a series of tasks and promised a reward for your efforts. We won’t tell you what the prize is and ruin the surprise but know that you can obtain a second item called the Phoenix Pinion here.
Using it in battle resurrects all of your KO’ed party members and also unlocks an additional summon called Phoenix. Phoenix is similar to Odin with the exception that they only show up when you would have normally gotten you a game over. Phoenix has a chance to revive your party while dealing damage to your enemies. Definitely worth a trip to the North Pole.
1 The Deep-Sea Research Center
This hidden gem lies tucked away on the bottom left corner of the map. Also known as Battleship Island, this location is home to the elite Guardian Force Bahamut. Navigating inside can be a bit difficult, just remember to only walk when the glow dims or you’ll be in for a lot of fighting.
Once you reach the glowing core you’ll be asked a series of questions. Answer them correctly and defeat the monsters they bring, and you’ll be brought into the core to face Bahamut.