The Route, Region by Region

The regions in order

1. Grasslands (chapters 2–3)

   Kalm, Bill's Ranch, the Mythril Mine. Six towers, thirty intel, five side quests, Titan. The chocobo here is the plain one. Leave when the swamp is clear; everything returns in chapter 12.

2. Junon (chapters 3–4)

   Under Junon, the beach road, Junon itself. Twenty-four intel, five side quests, Phoenix, Fort Condor for the protorelic, the 7th Infantry to recruit and the parade to perform. The mountain chocobo climbs steep slopes and cliffs.

3. Costa del Sol and Corel (chapters 6–8)

   The beach minigames buy the swimwear the story wants; Yuffie joins. Corel's thirty intel, four quests, Alexander, Cactuar Crush for the protorelic — only its first two parts before chapter 12. Then Mt. Corel, the mines, the Gold Saucer and Corel Prison.

4. Gongaga (chapter 9)

   The forest region and the reactor. Twenty-eight intel, five quests, Kujata, the Turks' simulator battles for the protorelic and Cait Sith. The forest chocobo is the only way through the mushrooms.

5. Cosmo Canyon (chapter 10)

   Thirty intel, four quests, Bahamut Arisen, Gears and Gambits for the protorelic. The sky chocobo glides, and half the intel is placed so that you have to. The Trials of the Gi lock the party to Barret and Red XIII.

6. Nibel (chapter 11)

   Nibelheim, Mt. Nibel, the manor. Twenty-three intel, two quests, Odin, the Black Robe escorts for the protorelic and the ocean chocobo, whose Chocojet uses water to propel it upward. The chapter’s dungeon is long; do the region before the manor.

7. Chapter 12: everything at once

   The Gold Saucer date, then all six regions with their eleven extra quests, the third and fourth Cactuar Crush parts, Gilgamesh Island once the protorelics and summons are done. This is the completion chapter; the story waits.

8. Chapters 13–14: no way back

   The Temple of the Ancients and the Forgotten Capital have no open world. Everything unfinished is finished through chapter select after the credits, with all progress kept.

Before leaving any region

• Towers, then whatever the towers marked that is on the way. The rest can wait for chapter 12 without penalty.
• The summon crystals (Divine Intel): each one found weakens the summon in the simulator, and the summon's materia is the region's best reward.
• The moogle emporium: Moogle Medals from Moogle Mischief buy the region's cards and items, and the Moogle Lover trophy wants the merchant rank maxed.
• The side quests the chapter opened — they raise relationships now, when the date is still being decided.

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