I had the profound privilege of getting to write this piece for a publication back on 3/27/24. Grateful that I received the opportunity to write this and just wanted to achieve it on this site.
When questioning myself on what my favorite video game series is, the answer is something that has constantly changed over the years.
In my childhood it was most certainly the Super Mario Bros. Series. In my early teenage years I would have probably chosen either the Call of Duty games or the games in the Halo Series. Now in my early adulthood, the Final Fantasy series has become the definitive favorite.
I really enjoyed the series as a child, playing the original games on the Nintendo Entertainment System and Super Nintendo Entertainment systems that my Uncle had given me. Between playing them on those systems while also owning a number of the games in the series on my Game Boy Advance as well, my love for JRPGs, or Japanese Role Playing Games, began there.
As mentioned, my taste in games has certainly changed over the years, so I will admit as a young teenager, I did fall out of the series a bit. In 2020 though, I rekindled my love for the series. I’m certainly happy I did so as the number of Final Fantasy games that have released this decade have been absolutely fantastic.
Final Fantasy XVI is the only mainline game to be released this decade, and while I personally adored the game and my time spent playing it, the game is very polarizing. Some people absolutely hate it, and I’ve actually seen a select number of people call it one of their top games in the series.
Today, I wanna countdown the five Final Fantasy games that I believe are the best games in the series. I want to not only give my opinions on each game, but celebrate the importance of these games and the series. I also think it’s important to highlight how iconic these games are, and how much of an influence they have had on many people, including myself.
5 – Final Fantasy X
Having Final Fantasy X at the fifth spot might rub people the wrong way. I know many people who have it in the first place spot, but in my eyes the fifth place spot is a perfect place for it. Final Fantasy X is an excellent game, but I do believe Nostalgia really takes over for a lot of people when discussing this title.
One of the biggest things that jumps out to me is the voice acting that certainly is a product of its time. When the game was released in North America back in 2001, having voice acting for the first time in the Final Fantasy series was such a massive step up from previous games in the series. Of course though, like most video games, or even animated films, released in 2001 that contained voice acting, it sticks out like a sore thumb. The voice acting for characters such as Wakka and Lulu is actually pretty darn good, but there’s a reason a number of memes still exist on the internet for voice lines said by Tidus and Yuna.
I am also not super fond of the leveling system in this game. For the first time in the series, Developer Square Enix (formerly Square Soft) went with the “Sphere Grid system.” Rather than traditional leveling like most JRPs, each character has their own sphere that you upgrade by using specific spheres you unlock. Each Sphere Grid has different nodes that you move your character through with points you unlock through battles. Essentially you gain points in this game rather than experience. As someone who grew up on traditional JRPGs like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, this addition just isn’t my cup of tea.
With those two major complaints out of the way now, I will say mostly everything else is very enjoyable and has aged pretty well.
The blitzball game mode is very fun once you get the hang of it. Essentially it’s Water Polo with a Final Fantasy flare added to it. Six players represent their respective teams while every player is completely submerged underwater. That’s just about the most Final Fantasy take on sports that I’ve ever seen.
I also think the combat system is pretty great. This is one of the very few areas of this game that didn’t stray away from its typical JRPG roots and I really enjoyed it. That of course is saying a lot as it’s probably the most important area of the game for a player to enjoy. With skills, special attacks, magic and summons, it’s very easy for any JRPG fanatic to jump into this game and not need much time to get acclimated with the controls. Overall the combat system is quick, smooth and eventually profound enough that it does a great job of keeping JRPG enthusiasts engaged for the entirety of the game.
I also think the soundtrack to this game is phenomenal, which is pretty par for the course when speaking on a Final Fantasy game.
I also think the visuals were something that was mind blowing back in the day. The sixth generation game consoles, the PS2, original Xbox and Nintendo GameCube, really made a priority to show off how much the water technology had advanced since the previous generation. So that should help a younger gamer understand why beautiful beaches and water areas make up a number of locations in this game.
While there is a sort of religious allegory to this game that feels a bit weird, the story is enjoyable. I think there are a number of characters that feel a bit trivial also, but throughout my multiple playthroughs of the game, I never once had that moment where I felt disengaged or lost interest.
Final Fantasy X certainly isn’t perfect and like I said I think nostalgia drives many people’s love for it. At the end of the day though, it features a terrific fighting system, a phenomenal soundtrack, and really pioneered a lot of aspects that have been staples of the modern Final Fantasy games.
While I do have my criticisms of Final Fantasy X and I went over them here, I do have to give the game its flowers and recognize how groundbreaking of a title it truly was.
4 – Final Fantasy IV
Admittedly, of all of the games on this list, Final Fantasy IV is the least recent game that I’ve played. I grew up playing this game on both Super Nintendo and the GameBoy Advance, and some of my earliest gaming memories are tied back to this title.
This game builds on everything the previous three games in the series had done up to that point, while also adding innovations to the combat system that subsequently became staples in the Final Fantasy series.
This is the first Final Fantasy game to include the, “Active Time Battle.” This system is one of my favorite combat systems in any JRPG and the fact this system would end up sticking around in the following five mainline Final Fantasy games speaks to how well the system worked. The entries in the series that used this system following the release of IV added their own variations and improvements to the mechanics of its combat. I think all games putting their own twist on it is nice, but the original variation of the system in IV is still very much admired.
One other element this game introduced was in changeable character classes. With the fact that this game is also the only game in the series that allows you to have five controllable characters in your party, giving them their own flair unique to them changes things up completely. Features such as this do make IV one of the most restrictive games in the entire series, but it adds a comprehensive new layer of brainstorming for the player.
The story telling in this game is among the many reasons why many view it as one of the greatest video games ever created. Without spoiling anything, this game took a more dramatic shift than really any other JRPG, or even RPG, had at the time. The plot also feels more fleshed out and magnificent than the RPGs released around the same time as IV was.
I will say that the open world exploration of this game feels very outdated compared to JRPGs we’ve gotten in the years since the release of this game. While I do think this game made revolutionary changes to the combat system that Square deserves to be lauded for, it hasn’t aged the greatest and is a gripe many fans have with this game.
The villains in this game are off the chart. The main antagonist, Golbez is praised by many fans, and understandable so. I don’t wanna spoil any of the story but there’s a very valid reasoning behind why people feel Golbez is the best villain in the entire series.
This game is an extremely easy recommendation for any gamer, especially a JRPG fan, and truly revolutionized the JRPG and RPG genres. This game also revolutionized the Final Fantasy series, in many respects as well. While many people might elect to play a more recent game in the series, Final Fantasy IV is still one of the best games in the series and truly revolutionized the JRPG genre forever.
3 – Final Fantasy VII
Arguably the most iconic game in the series, Final Fantasy VII is a game that every JRPG enthusiast must play before they can even call themselves an enthusiast.
Much like how X was a mind blowing jump from IX, VII was a remarkable leap up from VI. The first game on the Fifth-Generation game consoles, this was the first game in the series to use full motion video and 3D character models. The character models and art design was mind blowing stuff at the time of release. Seeing Cloud with his spiky hair and giant Buster Sword, as well as Barrett with his huge muscles and Gatling gun for an arm, was a total shift from the 8 and 16 bit graphics of previous entries in the series.
While Final Fantasy VI did in fact have a steampunk style environment and setting, it still rooted itself in a world filled with magic and fantasy. Final Fantasy VII goes all in on the futuristic and cyberpunk inspired aesthetic. The main city this game takes place in, Midgar, draws so much inspiration from that aforementioned cyberpunk aesthetic and ships the player into a whole new universe.
While I think the combat in this game is tremendous and immensely fun, Final Fantasy VII’s strongest characteristic in my opinion is its characters and story. The extremely emotional, sentimental and dramatic story draws gamers in instantaneously and is the reason why we’re currently in the midst of the release of the Final Fantasy VII Remake Trilogy.
The very unique looking and unconventional cast of lovable characters make it so much easier to fall in love with this game. We already spoke on Cloud and Barrett, but among the characters in your party, you also have Aerith Gainsborough, a sweetheart hampered by her childhood trauma, Tifa Lockhart, a strong, nurturing woman always ready for a fight, and Red XIII, a red lion with a flaming tail that could talk. It’s not hard to see why so many gamers in 1997, and even players still today, fell in love with this game.
Also the main villain, Sephiroth is arguably the most badass in the entire series. He’s not who I would say is the best villain in the series, but his silver hair, black trenchcoat and the lengths he goes to in order to torture his enemies make him one of the most satisfying villains to face off against in any RPG.
With how iconic the victory fanfare from this game is, as well as the soundtrack overall, I do have to give both a very deserved shout out to both, as the soundtrack supporting this game helps paint the entire picture beautifully. You truly feel transported into another reality while playing this game
I think this is definitely one of the best video games ever created, but I think the game just isn’t as great as the next two games on this list. I think what Final Fantasy VII may lack, it makes up for with its phenomenal characters and gripping story. There’s not many flaws with this game, it’s just not as good as these next two games on this list.
2 – Final Fantasy IX
Final Fantasy IX is my favorite game in the entire series. You might be questioning why I have it at the number 2 spot then, and we’ll get to that when I reach number 1. I also will say that I do like to have a layer of objectivity when ranking these games as well.
This game is one that I feel many didn’t appreciate enough or perhaps not even pay enough attention to. The reason I say that is because at the Square Millenium Event in 2000, Square Soft showed off Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy XI. When the company developing the game simultaneously shows off the two next entries in the series that are releasing, you’re probably gonna be shadowed a bit. It also didn’t help that the game released on the PlayStation 1 which was looked at as dying hardware at that point due to the PlayStation 2 set to release the following year, in 2001.
Even with all of that working against it, Final Fantasy IX managed to be what I believe is the game that represents everything a Final Fantasy game should be.
It’s a game that masquerades itself as being so childlike and cute while containing such a deep and dark tone that the gamer won’t expect upon starting up the game. The characters are extremely charming and made me adore them arguably more than I did with the cast of Final Fantasy VII. Most importantly, the game returns to the medieval setting for the first time since Final Fantasy V and that’s such an appreciated decision. After multiple games embracing futuristic approaches and environments, going back to the basics just worked.
The story is extremely well paced and also does a great job with making sure the growth, development and progression of each character simply isn’t rushed. The themes of identity, morality and mortality that come up throughout this game take the gamer through an emotional rollercoaster that not many other Final Fantasy games manage to. The story simultaneously manages to be uplifting and heartbreaking at the same time and it’s rare that any piece of media can manage to do that while really leaving an impact on you.
Without spoiling much I absolutely loved the two characters Vivi and Quina, both for very differing reasons.
Vivi is a black mage that is kind, innocent, and constantly questioning things about himself and his own life throughout the story. Vivi’s lack of confidence, fears of the world and loyalty to his friends makes him very lovable and a fan favorite for very understandable reasons.
Quina is a blue mage that loves their friends as well as food. Quina constantly serves as the comedic relief for the audience and is so lovable as a result. Quina speaks in broken English consistently throughout the game and often fails to complete tasks due to their love for food, most specifically, eating frogs.
Quina provides the laughs while Vivi provides the introspection and thoughtful moments and for that reason I love them both.
I must say though that Amarant is a character that certainly is on the weaker side. Amarant is introduced super late and is undeveloped in terms of attributes while everyone else is already extremely developed. It also doesn’t help that he’s a very quiet character and has very few redeeming lines in this game. Amarant fails to really open up and confide in the group, and after putting in so many hours without him, that certainly doesn’t help his cause.
Many people aren’t super crazy about the main antagonist, Kuja, but I do really think he’s a great villain. I think the reason I’ve always found Kuja so interesting is because he truly just wants to feel understood. All Kuja wants is to be validated, yet all he’s ever felt in his heart is hate. His character development and actions keep players engaged throughout the entirety of Final Fantasy IX, and that’s why I believe he’s one of the best villains in the entirety of the series.
I will also say the card game Tetra Master is also my favorite card game of any Final Fantasy. I have spent hours playing Tetra Master and love everything about it and its concept.
I also really enjoyed the combat, and Final Fantasy IX is the final game in the series to use the traditional Active Time Battle system. I will say though that many people are not fans of the fact that the combat system is definitely on the slower side. Many people even describe the combat system as sluggish.
Of course with this being my favorite game in the series, I have to shout out its soundtrack also. The music is just so well done in this game and the music that plays in the overworld has been stuck in my head for years now. Also, the song Melodies of Life, is one of my favorite songs in any video game ever and is a beautiful way to set up and also send off the player at the start and conclusion of this game.
With that said though, Final Fantasy IX is certainly my favorite game in the series and will always hold a special place in my heart. It does a lot of things correctly and not many things erroneously. If the story and antagonist are so great, why is this only at number 2? Well we’ll talk about that in a second.
1 – Final Fantasy VI
Putting my objectivity hat on, I can firmly say this is the best final fantasy game ever created. This game does so many things right, and we’ll get into what those things are, while also delivering extremely well on the story.
I’ve spoken of my love for Sephiroth and Kuja, but the main antagonist in this game, Kefka, takes the cake for the best villain in a Final Fantasy game. I might even go as far as to say he’s the best villain in any video game ever. The amount of deranged, maniacal and nauseating things Kefka does makes it so easy to see why he’s able to get under the characters, even heck even the player’s skin.
I really think the depth that this game goes to in order to fully flesh out the backstory of each character deserves to be spoken on. The struggles and storylines each character faces or has to face makes things so much more interesting and engaging than most entries in the series.
Well maybe not ever character has a fledged out story. Characters like Umaro and Gogo both have their own weaknesses in terms of how they were written by the creators of the game. Umaro’s only real strength is that he is very useful when trying to gather a great deal of Celestriads in the Colosseum. Gogo at least has the great trait of being a versatile character in battle, but he essentially has no story and just feels more so like a random recruitable character.
While speaking on combat though, I will say that the Esper system while fighting is also a touch that is very aidful and adds more flexibility and flair to a players’ combat. Players can equip Espers, who are magically beings that can aid you profusely in battle. What makes it so robust is that after battles you unlock AP, this gets utilized to learn the Esper’s spells and help to aid you in battle.
I think the game dealing with the themes of oppression, rebelling and ambition make it a phenomenal story and something every gamer should experience. I also think Kefka forcing you to overcome what he accomplishes, makes this a story take a much different angle than most Final Fantasy games do.
The game really touches on strength, resilience and being tireless while fighting grief. These story elements certainly make it one that grips players’ attention and that I feel makes it so easy to sink a large number of time into.
The one thing I will mention is that this game, even despite being over 30 years old, still hasn’t aged too poorly. The graphics and soundtrack, even on original Super Nintendo hardware, still get the job done. Kefka’s laugh also still sounds extremely devilish on the Super Nintendo to this day. I would still recommend to people who either play through it again, or try it for the first time, play through the pixel remaster version of the game that released in 2021.
The games strategic breadth and profound character customization make the traditional and classic turn based combat feel as fresh as ever. Recruiting characters to your team also feels so exceptional and like an experience you won’t get from a JRPG anywhere else.
Final Fantasy VI is certainly a one-of-one game and a game that I recommend everybody plays. This game feels like the epitome of what a classic, old-school RPG should be about. With dynamic character writing and one of the best villains in all of gaming history, Final Fantasy VI essentially hits every nail on the head when trying to develop both the characters and the game’s story. Truly a masterpiece of a game and quite possibly the best RPG released on the Super Nintendo system.
Final Thoughts
The Final Fantasy Series is near and dear to my heart and I hope now you can see why these games mean so much to me. With each game having its own quirks and boundary pushing traits to it, it’s clearly a special gaming franchise that I believe everybody should experience. Even if you only indulge in one Final Fantasy game, there’s something beautiful about an expansive story that can absolutely take you out of the real world and transport you into a different one. Luckily for Final Fantasy fans, the five games listed here do it just as well, if not better, than almost any games ever created have.
SLOT 