The game is noted for its cyberpunk themes, with "GamesRadar+" calling it one of the best games of the genre, and Harry Mackin of "Paste Magazine" comparing its cyberpunk city of Midgar to "Akira" and "Blade Runner". Aja Romano of "The Daily Dot" and Philip Boyes of "Eurogamer" cited "Final Fantasy VII" as an example of dieselpunk, a genre similar to steampunk. According to "Comic Book Resources", the game's environmental and climate change themes are more relevant and meaningful in 2019 than they were in 1997. William Hughes of "The A.V. Club" notes that Barret and his terrorist cell AVALANCHE are one of the few examples of "heroic pop culture terrorists" in video games, and that the game's "political relevance remains" in a post-9/11 world. Dani Di Placido of "Forbes" said the game was still relevant in 2020, drawing parallels between the game's events and contemporary issues such as climate change, environmental catastrophe, economic collapse, and the COVID-19 pandemic (comparing the latter to the game world after Meteor is summoned). Murray Clark of "Esquire" argues that several characters wore clothing which anticipated several contemporary fashion trends.