Among fans of JRPGs, there is no greater developer than Squaresoft (later Square Enix.) Their success story is legendary and an inspiration to many. The company developed many underselling titles before finally creating the right mix of ingredients that resulted in the game that pulled them out of bankruptcy, Final Fantasy.
Of the entire franchise, the most love and care is put into developing the main series games. They are the culmination of the blood, sweat and tears of some of the greatest minds the company has brought together. While they all deserve praise and respect, this list ranks them based on which ones deserve your praise the most and gives a little insight into each game. A special mention to the Final Fantasy MMOs that will not be ranked: Final Fantasy XI (a historic MMO from the golden age of MMOs that contributed to much of the original design of XIV) and Final Fantasy XIV (a great proof of the entire series in MMO form that unites Final Fantasy under one banner).
13/13 Final Fantasy II
Final Fantasy II isn’t necessarily the “worst” game in the series, but in terms of its legacy and influence compared to the rest of the main games, it just can’t beat it. The story is definitely the weakest, as it’s basically the first entry where well-defined characters were present. And as the first attempts usually go, it wasn’t exactly the cream of the crop.
However, it is important to note that without 2 there would be no 3, 4, 5, and so on. Without lows, there are no highs. Even more important to note is the fact that this game was the birthplace of the iconic Chocobo, among others. Even if it’s the latter, this alone elevates it leaps and bounds above other, Chocobo-less video games.
12/13 Final Fantasy II
In addition to Final Fantasy II comes Final Fantasy I. As the predecessor to the series, this is the foundation on which the entire series is built. The key gameplay elements, many of the original more basic monsters, the classes, and essentially the overarching theme that every Final Fantasy game builds around were conceptualized with this title.
However, what puts it low on the list is the very same fact. All of these ideas were rudimentary and had yet to grow and evolve into everything we know and love about the series today. There have been remakes and reinventions of a game’s inventive gem, but as it stands, the original remains as old-fashioned as an experience as you’d expect.
11/13 Final Fantasy XIII
Potentially a highly controversial entry, Final Fantasy XIII is placed just above two of its founders for essentially the opposite reason. It’s a modern title that did a lot of things… interesting. For so many things it does well, it does just so much less well.
While not universally loved, the combat system was probably one of the game’s more satisfying elements. In terms of level design, it is very commonly referred to as a “gait” or “gait simulator” because it is notoriously linear to a fault. On a more subjective note, the characters are a bit flat in terms of identity and motivations.
10/13 Final Fantasy XV
Remember how Final Fantasy XIII was linear with a flaw? Another polarizing entry, this game came across as quite the opposite, as it was seen only as an open world. As such, it is popularly seen as the game where “four friends go on a road trip.”
To its credit, however, this can also be seen as the advantage it has over Final Fantasy XIII, as the cast of characters is easily the game’s strong suit. They aren’t much more memorable than many of the fan favorites from other games, but as you play they make the game just that much better when you see friends spending time together getting to know each other and their bond leading them through many trials and tribulations.
9/13 Final Fantasy IV
With Final Fantasy IV, the series really started to become a household name among RPG fans. The main point to look back on in this title is the depth of the story and characters. While the gameplay isn’t amazing, this game cemented the series as a series full of impactful ideas and moments.
While a little gooey, the sadness of almost every character you meet will make you take them seriously (or maybe not, depending on your opinion). Aside from the usual dungeon-crawling sections, for the most part, the gameplay acts as a conduit to take you to the next story point, be it a cinematic event or a challenge blocking your path. While it’s not quite there yet, the formula here started to be perfected and the series started to exceed expectations.
8/13 Final Fantasy III
The legacy of Final Fantasy III is similar to the other titles in the first four. The first entry laid the groundwork for the rest of the games, and the second was an experiment to build on. While the fourth game was a study of how the story of a Final Fantasy should be, Final Fantasy III was a study of how the gameplay should be. The jobs, the classes, the skills, it’s all there. What this game lacks in its light story, it makes up for in the fact that it’s the one that probably started the funniest aspect of the series, which is the variation in the gameplay.
However, how does it stand on its own? Decent. The original sold well in Japan, a telltale sign that they were on the right track. However, the DS remake for the game has updated the classic in pretty much every way possible, while still retaining the unforgiving NES/SNES difficulty that makes revisiting these old games an absolute treat.
7/13 Final Fantasy XII
While each entry is ranked, it is at this point in the list that each entry becomes a clear question of “Which of these great games is better” because it would be easy to imagine one of these titles hitting number one. claims space for someone else. First, however, we have Final Fantasy XII, the decidedly most underrated of this half.
The story is complex, the characters are complex, and the gameplay? While it’s pretty basic in terms of depth, what really stands out is how much is in this title. The amount of time you can spend doing side content in this game is quite staggering. With all kinds of missions and items that you can find, the game is a perfect example of the classic RPG spirit to get carried away with things other than the main mission.
6/13 Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy VIII is a tricky beast to describe, and that’s one of the things that makes it great. For better or worse, this is one of the more creatively inspired games with many departures from the usual Final Fantasy-esque elements. The draw system, the node system, and the way subpoenas work are all elements unique to this game
The gameplay wasn’t the only thing that differed as much of the game is spent watching and controlling an entirely different group of characters with different skills and character dynamics. It makes the story a bit confusing to follow at times, but it all comes together in the end. Is it good? Yes, very true. How good exactly, is different for many.
5/13 Final Fantasy IX
The last game to be released on the Playstation 1, Final Fantasy IX, was released at an odd time in the year 2000. Most notably, it was released after the PS2 came out, making it technically the last generation from the start. .
This doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things though, as the game itself continues to be loved by those who have played it. It was a return to form after Final Fantasy VIII that was much appreciated. It ranks highly not for its legacy, but for its ability to hit every note well. It has the fights people loved from Final Fantasy VII, the quality of the film from VIII, the fantasy influences of the previous titles, and a whole host of deep characters with intriguing stories to tell.
4/13 Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy V is essentially the culmination of everything Squaresoft has learned from the previous four games. They combined the storytelling methods of Final Fantasy IV, albeit with a much more humorous approach this time, with the successful gameplay additions of III and boom. A perfect storm of Final Fantasy elements that is one of the most replayable entries to date.
The story is relatively simple, four characters embark on a strange journey guided by the crystals to defeat the evil sorcerer Exdeath. The magic comes in the shenanigans that follow along the way. Even better is how well the track system has been refined since its implementation, giving you unlimited variety to play.
3/13 Final Fantasy X
In terms of storytelling, Final Fantasy X probably has the best visual appeal of all Final Fantasy games on paper. While Spira’s world is still one of fantasy and technology, the cast of lead characters is so down-to-earth and recognizable in the real world that it’s impossible for most people not to get sucked into it.
While the elements of both the gameplay and story are not all perfect in their execution, it all turns out to be positive. If it has any advantage over the other top three games, it’s its dedication to providing the player with countless hours of gameplay, be it through the fun mini-games, the atmosphere of the movie, or the uniqueness of the soundtrack.
2/13 Final Fantasy VI
Most people would consider Final Fantasy VI to be the Final Fantasy magnum opus and for good reason. Whenever the question, “Can video games be art?” When asked, this is usually one of the examples people bring up. If you thought of Final Fantasy V as a triumph in gameplay, VI would be the triumph of the series in storytelling. It’s so good.
With deep characters with complex motivations, as well as set art and music direction, most flaws can be forgiven if the positives more than make up for them. The gameplay doesn’t lag behind either, as it is the last main game on the NES and SNES before the company stepped into the modern generation of game consoles. The developers were at their peak, delivering the best possible experience for games of that time. .
1/13 Final Fantasy VII
The lasting impact Final Fantasy VII had on the series is immeasurable. The original game has the most number of sales, it has the most number of sequels, prequels, side games, and even a movie, and it has brought the most number of players to the Final Fantasy series as a whole. You could say it might not be the “best” Final Fantasy game, but it came at the perfect time and the perfect time in the series to become Squaresoft’s lucky number seven.
It’s a rollercoaster of emotions told across three discs on the Playstation 1 and features some of the most iconic scenes, characters and monsters from the overarching franchise. It has gotten quite old and plays just as well today as it did then. It stands as the purest form of the active time battle, and the materia system offers a pleasant amount of customization for the characters.
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