19 July 2001 is one of the most legendary release days in video game history. It was the day Final Fantasy X was first properly introduced to the world. I was in Europe, so I wouldn’t get to play it until the following year, but I still remember booting it up for the first time. Hearing “Otherworld” over that incredible opening, followed by the Blitzball sequence, had me hooked from the very beginning.

Graphically, the game was well ahead of its time. Combine that with a brilliant combat system and one of the most moving stories in gaming, and you have an artistic masterpiece.

It was that story that truly drew me in. Final Fantasy X follows Tidus, a talented blitzball player who is suddenly torn from his home and stranded in the mysterious world of Spira, a land living under the constant threat of a colossal creature called Sin. As he searches for a way home, Tidus joins the summoner Yuna and her guardians on a dangerous pilgrimage across a breathtaking world, uncovering its cultures, beliefs, and history.

Along the way, the game explores themes of grief, faith, sacrifice, hope, and finding the strength to challenge long-held traditions. It remains one of the most emotionally powerful stories ever told in an RPG, and it was probably one of the first games that made me realise video games could be so much more than simple “pew pew” entertainment.

The bond between Tidus and Yuna is exceptionally beautiful. What begins as a light-hearted crush gradually develops into a deep friendship and ultimately a romance that feels both heartfelt and bittersweet. Teenage me couldn’t fully appreciate what the game was trying to say, but replaying it during the COVID lockdowns gave me a completely different perspective. For the first time, I truly understood just how beautiful its story was, and there were moments that genuinely moved me to tears.

Even today, Final Fantasy X still has a profound emotional impact on me, which is why I recently made a video exploring the psychology and emotional themes behind the game.

There’s a reason so many people still consider Final Fantasy X to be one of the greatest video games ever made.