The Final Fantasy series has spawned some of the best and worst video games of all time. For every Cloud Strife, there was a Lightning dragging the score down.
This is due to the series’ obsession with evolution, which hasn’t always resulted in innovation. Sometimes, Final Fantasy has been ruined by unnecessary changes to the formula rather than sticking to what works best.
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A few ground rules: no sequels, no spin-offs, no remakes that completely change the game (all apologies to Stranger of Paradise), and MMO expansions are factored in and not considered separate.
With so many spiky-haired swordsmen to go through, let’s kick off with the worst mainline Final Fantasy title of them all.
16
Final Fantasy 2
The Grind is Real
Poor Final Fantasy 2 is often maligned by fans, even though it drastically improved upon the story of the original game, with a Star Wars-style tale of rebellion and overthrowing an evil empire.
The reason people hate on Final Fantasy 2 is due to its abysmal gameplay system, where stats are improved by completing actions, rather than gaining levels.
This leads to some of the most obnoxious grinding in the history of the franchise, where the party is forced to use the same spells and attacks over and over again in order to be able to face the challenges awaiting them.
15
Final Fantasy 1
An Increasingly Ironic Title
The game that started it all is also a victim of the times. The original Final Fantasy was ground-breaking when it came out, with its huge world, time-twisting story, and job system that was more complex than its contemporaries.
Final Fantasy is a victim of the times, as its basic gameplay and story can be off-putting to modern audiences. While not a terrible game, it can be extremely repetitive and dull to go through at times.
If only Jack Garland was there in the ‘80s to help spruce things up. Then again, Nintendo would have censored his potty mouth at every turn, ruining the best thing about him.
14
Final Fantasy 3
The Dark Side of Crystals
Final Fantasy 3 is the best of the NES Final Fantasies, with its expansive job system, the introduction of the summon monster mechanic, and the shockingly massive world for the hardware.
That being said, Final Fantasy 3 is also a punishingly difficult game. Anyone who has experienced the rat boss while stuck in mini form, the dungeons and bosses that force the use of specific jobs, and the grueling hell of the Crystal Tower will know the horrors of this game.
The 3D remake alleviated some of the issues with Final Fantasy 3, but the original was revived in the Pixel Remaster series, giving new fans a chance to experience true old-school horror.
13
Final Fantasy 13
One Path to Boredom
Final Fantasy 13 is a gorgeous game with a fantastic soundtrack. The compliments end there.
The story is baffling, with the game never bothering to stop to explain basic concepts that the audience will be unfamiliar with.
For the majority of the game, the world is a straight path with minor deviations. The towns and complex dungeons of the previous Final Fantasy titles are hardly present.
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The job-switching system is made redundant by the fact that characters have set roles for most of the game, so there’s no incentive to explore different classes.
Final Fantasy 13-2 did improve the gameplay and story, but its predecessor was a huge misstep for the series.
12
Final Fantasy 11
A Tale Too Old For Time
It’s not so much that Final Fantasy 11 is a terrible game, more that it’s just a product of its time and is overshadowed by its much more user-friendly Eorzean successor.
Anyone who is used to modern MMOs and their numerous QoL improvements will struggle to get into Final Fantasy 11. Even the installation method is convoluted and unnecessarily long.
If any Final Fantasy game is crying out for a modern remake, it’s Final Fantasy 11. But, with the success of Final Fantasy 14, who would be interested in returning?
Final Fantasy 14 introduced a Final Fantasy 11 crossover dungeon in the Dawntrail patches, so that might be the best way to experience its world, without the pain of actually playing it.
11
Final Fantasy 15
A Road To Nowhere
Originally planned as a spin-off of Final Fantasy 13, Final Fantasy 15 was reworked into a whole new game with most of the same characters and setting.
What fans got was a road trip story with a genuinely excellent combat system, one that evokes the fast-paced action gameplay of the Kingdom Hearts series.
The big issue with this game is the story, which requires homework on the part of the player, as they’re expected to watch the supplementary material to know what’s going on.
Final Fantasy 15 also put chunks of its story in the DLC, which fans had to pay for. This means the game can be very difficult to follow for those who just play the core experience.
10
Final Fantasy 12
A Trip to the Wrong Ivalice
Final Fantasy 12 has a mixed reputation among fans, mostly because of its protagonist, Vaan. The wannabe sky pirate tends to rub people the wrong way and is overshadowed by the other party members.
Those who can look past Vaan’s floppy hair will see a fantastic story with lots of political intrigue tied to fantasy warfare.
Final Fantasy 12 also has expansive dungeons and tons of powerful enemies to challenge. It also features one of the best party member AI systems ever seen in an RPG.
9
Final Fantasy 4
From Darkness To Light
A game that’s still surprisingly popular among Japanese fans, Final Fantasy 4 was an evolution of everything created in the NES games.
Final Fantasy 4 improves upon the evil empire story of Final Fantasy 2, defines the job roles from Final Fantasy 3 in ways we still see used today, while sharpening the tactical turn-based gameplay of the original.
Final Fantasy 4 is also the first entry where party members really resonated with fans, with some excellent character dialogue and story arcs.
The late-game story twists are the biggest problem with the game, as they come out of nowhere and reframe events in an unsatisfying way. However, the rest of the game is still enjoyable, even up to the final dungeon.
8
Final Fantasy 5
This is a Job For Bartz
Like Final Fantasy 4, Final Fantasy 5 improves on the systems from the NES games. In this case, the job system was retooled, with players getting to mix and match abilities they’ve mastered for a staggering number of party compositions.
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Final Fantasy 5 was also the darkest entry to date. While it wasn’t the first Final Fantasy to have a party member, it was the first to have a genuine emotional impact when it happened.
Final Fantasy 5 also introduced Gilgamesh to the series. His multiverse-hopping story has continued throughout the franchise, and fans can only hope that they’ll get to return to the world of Final Fantasy 5 someday and watch his destined rematch with Bartz.
7
Final Fantasy 16
Game of Chocobos
- Released
-
June 22, 2023
- Developer(s)
-
Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
-
Square Enix
- Engine
-
Proprietary Engine
- ESRB
-
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language, Violence
- How Long To Beat
-
36 Hours
- X|S Optimized
-
no
- Steam Deck Compatibility
-
yes
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Mighty
- Cross Save
-
yes
- Cross-Platform Play
-
Final Fantasy 16 does not support cross platform multiplayer
- Metascore
-
88
- PS Plus Availability
-
N/A
Final Fantasy 16 brought Game of Thrones-style political intrigue and adult content to the series. With the team behind Final Fantasy 14 working on it, hopes were high going into this game.
What fans got was more of an action game than had been seen in a mainline Final Fantasy to date, with a single character switching between the power of summon monsters on the fly.
Final Fantasy 16 has one of the best combat systems in the series to date, so long as people don’t go in expecting the turn-based battles of old.
The only problem with Final Fantasy 16 is that action game aficionados will find it too easy. Anyone who has sliced their way through Devil May Cry or Elden Ring will find the game to be a breeze.
6
Final Fantasy 9
Stealing the Spotlight
After the highly experimental gameplay and settings of Final Fantasy 7 and 8, Final Fantasy 9 returned to the series’ roots, with a fantasy world filled with swords and sorcery.
Those expecting a NES-style basic story were shocked by the game’s deep characters, often dark subject matter that questions the nature of life and death, and the epic scale of its conflict.
While the item-based ability system isn’t as exciting as what some of the other games used, the combat is still excellent. Final Fantasy 9 also has some of the best minigames in the series, especially Chocobo Hot and Cold.
Final Fantasy 9 stumbles with its end boss, who literally shows up out of nowhere for the sole purpose of giving everyone something to stab. The other 99.9% of the game is fantastic, however, which is why the rumors of a remake have fans excited to see the return of Zidane and the Tantalus troupe.
5
Final Fantasy 8
The Best Looking Guy Here
How does any company follow up a game as important as Final Fantasy 7? By doing something the series had never done before: write a love story.
Squall and Rinoa’s romance is a tale told across time and space, one that leaves the player rooting for them to get together. The growth of the party members is key to the game’s appeal and is the reason why so many people still love the game to this day.
Final Fantasy 8 has one of the strangest worlds and gameplay systems in the franchise’s history, but that’s what makes it so memorable. The sorceresses, time compression, the Guardian Forces, the mysterious benefactors of the Gardens: they all leave an impression.
Okay, the story twist involving amnesia is dumb and hasn’t gotten better over time, but it doesn’t leave any lasting damage.
4
Final Fantasy 10
Forget About The Laughing Scene
- Platform(s)
-
PS2
- Released
-
December 17, 2001
- Developer(s)
-
Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
-
Square Enix
- Engine
-
PhyreEngine
- ESRB
-
T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- How Long To Beat
-
45 Hours
- OpenCritic Rating
-
Strong
- Metascore
-
92
It’s a shame that Final Fantasy 10 is so often remembered for the laughing scene, as it ranks among the best entries in the series.
Final Fantasy 10 has everything: from the original implementation of the skill tree system that lets players customize any party member, the sheer ton of content to partake in, and the touching story of grief and sacrifice.
It’s the story that has earned the game such high acclaim among fans. Tidus’ journey through the strange land of Spira, the endless war with Sin, the revelations about Yuna’s mission, and the truth behind the world’s fate are all captivating to discover.
With the HD Remaster finally giving US fans the chance to experience the extra content that Japanese and European fans had access to, there’s no reason not to play this classic on modern systems.
3
Final Fantasy 14
MMO Final Fantasy Done Right, Eventually
- Released
-
August 27, 2013
- Developer(s)
-
Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
-
Square Enix
- Engine
-
Originally the Crystal Tools engine, but currently it’s a custom engine using parts of the Luminous Engine.
- ESRB
-
T for Teen – Language, Mild Blood, Sexual Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- How Long To Beat
-
99½ Hours
- Steam Deck Compatibility
-
Playable
- How Long To Beat (Completionist Runs)
-
3347 Hours
- PC Release Date
-
August 27, 2013
- PS5 Release Date
-
May 25, 2021
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
-
March 21, 2024
The most successful Final Fantasy of all time had a rough start, with the terrible original version of the game almost dealing permanent damage to the brand.
When Naoki Yoshida and his team took over, they revamped it into one of the best MMOs of all time.
The key to Final Fantasy 14’s success is its amazing story told across multiple expansions, helped by the fact that the game incentivizes veteran players to help out new ones so they can get the best experience possible.
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It can take hundreds of hours to get caught up in Final Fantasy 14’s story, and it’s worth the journey, especially if there are friends around willing to go on the adventure.
Frankly, if it weren’t for the stumble that was Stormblood, this game would have taken the top spot. Sorry, Hien, but you’re just too boring to carry an expansion.
2
Final Fantasy 6
The FF SNES Finale
Square Enix ended the SNES generation of Final Fantasy games with a bang, via a game that squeezed every drop of performance out of the hardware.
The fact that a game that came out thirty years ago managed to fit so much story and content into such a small cartridge is nothing short of a miracle.
Final Fantasy 6 might well have the best graphics and sound on the SNES, but that doesn’t mean much in the modern era.
The reason why this game is a classic is due to its amazing story and characters, an excellent battle system with a range of party members with unique abilities, and a second-act twist that completely shakes up the game.
While it may have been overlooked in its time due to its successor, there are many who will call this the best Final Fantasy in the series.
1
Final Fantasy 7
Cloud’s Still On Top
What else could take this spot, save for the game that made Final Fantasy a household name?
The story of Cloud Strife has remained dear to players for decades, with the struggle to save the planet being (unfortunately) more relevant now than it has ever been.
The Materia system was the natural evolution of character classes, tying abilities to equippable items, ensuring that every party composition could work in a playthrough.
Final Fantasy 7 represented a change for the series, as it finally left the restrictions of the Nintendo era behind and allowed Square Enix to tell a truly adult and gripping story.
When the leash was removed, the developers showed just how incredible this series could be when it was allowed to reach its full potential.
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