What is the subtitle of Final Fantasy XIII-2's direct sequel released in 2013?

The subtitle of Final Fantasy XIII-2’s direct sequel released in 2013 is Lightning Returns. The full title is Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII.

Released in Japan in November 2013, the game concludes the storyline begun in Final Fantasy XIII and continued in Final Fantasy XIII-2. It returns the spotlight to Lightning, who awakens centuries later in a world approaching its end.

The game differs from its predecessors with real-time exploration, a time-limit structure, and a combat system centered on switching Lightning between customizable outfits called garbs. Its title reflects both Lightning’s return as the central playable hero and the developers’ decision not to call it simply Final Fantasy XIII-3.

A common mix-up is confusing it with Final Fantasy XIII-2, which is the direct sequel to the original Final Fantasy XIII. Lightning Returns is the third and final main game in the XIII story arc.