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The Final Fantasy franchise is over 30 years old and still a huge name in gaming. Square Enix’s RPG franchise has gone through several renditions, evolving from simple turn-based gameplay to MMOs, then to the more action-oriented feel of Final Fantasy XV. Between the numbered games and their follow-ups, there are 18 main series titles that vary in quality. Here’s every main entry in the series and how they rank against each other according to critics.
For this ranking, we’ve averaged the Metacritic and Internet Games Database scores available for each core game. Unfortunately, there was not enough data to score and rank Final Fantasy V, despite it gaining a reputation for being a hidden gem the West first experienced in Final Fantasy Anthology almost a decade later.
17. Final Fantasy II: 54/100
Final Fantasy II failed to captivate players the same way its predecessor had only a year before. Despite the game being the first to introduce things like Chocobos, steampunk-esque airships and characters named Cid, FFII failed to resonate through its unrewarding gameplay and progression. Largely regarded as the worst main entry in the series, Final Fantasy II‘s innovations would find a much better home in other games.
16. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII: 68.5/100
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII is the final entry in the FFXIII trilogy. Departing from the gameplay of most Final Fantasy games, and even the former FFXIII titles, Lightning Returns featured an action-heavy combat system and gameplay akin to The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask revolving around saving friends and acquaintances before the world ends. While some critics appreciated the new take on combat, many found the plot weak and the time mechanic annoying.
15. Final Fantasy III: 69.5/100
Like Final Fantasy II, the third entry in the franchise was initially released in Japan only because of concerns that a Western audience would find the game too difficult. Final Fantasy III wouldn’t get into fans’ hands until the 2006 Nintendo DS remake. The game combined the best from Final Fantasy and its sequel, bringing back character experience and classes. Though the game held a long reputation for being one of the best of the franchise, by the time Western gamers were able to play, it felt repetitive and archaic.
14. Final Fantasy: 70.25/100
The first Final Fantasy title was the game that sparked it all. FFI played a massive role in popularizing RPGs and attracting players to the budding genre. It made a huge splash on the NES, driving players with its unique gameplay and then-phenomenal graphics. That said, the title did draw some criticism when it came to the amount of time players had to spend grinding random encounters to level up.
13. Final Fantasy XI Online: 74/100
Final Fantasy has made a few attempts to enter the MMO market, the first of which was 2004’s Final Fantasy XI Online. The game could be played on PC, Xbox 360 or PlayStation 2 via Ethernet adapter, but it was trying to trail-blaze the MMO scene while other were still only just beginning to find their way. Like many early MMOs, FFXI was still trying to figure out what an excellent online RPG looked like, right up until it was eclipsed by bigger, better competitors.
12. Final Fantasy XIII-2: 77/100
Square Enix had always planned on sequels to Final Fantasy XIII. The game was part of a series called Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy, consisting of several titles across various forms of media. Final Fantasy XIII-2 picked up where its predecessor left off, continuing the story and changing its formula to address issues players had with the first game. Critics were generally impressed with the gameplay changes but found the narrative a convoluted mess.
11. Final Fantasy X-2: 80/100
Final Fantasy X-2 was the first direct sequel to a Final Fantasy game and the first to feature an entire cast of female characters. It was also a tonal shift from slow and somber to comedic and upbeat, while gameplay became a faster garment-based throwback to the original Final Fantasy‘s character classes. Final Fantasy X-2 made a great impression with most critics after release, but fans are more split on it. The game’s drastic change in mood and departure from a traditional Final Fantasy soundtrack left some disappointed.
10. Final Fantasy XV: 81.5/100
Though many may not know it, Final Fantasy XV was actually the closing title in the Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy series. The game ended up with its own aesthetic and style for marketing purposes, but several elements from the Final Fantasy XIII games are at home in FFXV. It’s the first main Final Fantasy title to feature real-time combat, playing more like a Kingdom Hearts game than its own namesake. The title was received favorably among critics, many enjoying the realistic environments and modernization of aging tropes. Still, some found the combat lacked depth compared to other action titles, while others couldn’t find joy in the characters or story.
9. Final Fantasy IV: 81.8/100
Final Fantasy IV was initially released as Final Fantasy II in North America but heralded some of the essential evolutions for the franchise and the genre as a whole. Final Fantasy IV pioneered dramatic storytelling in RPGs and the Active Time Battle (ATB) system. The game introduced players to Cecil, a Dark Knight who must become a Paladin to prevent the evil sorcerer Golbez from destroying the world. Some critics have brought up issues with the English translation and frustrations with visuals, but the game has been retrospectively looked back upon as one of the crucial RPGs of all time.
8. Final Fantasy XIII: 82/100
The Fabula Nova Crystallis Final Fantasy series all began with Square Enix’s announcement for Final Fantasy XIII. Though there were two accompanying titles revealed alongside FFXIII, they were delayed and altered beyond the point of their initial appearance. Final Fantasy XIII carries on the Fabula Nova Crystallis series’ true legacy, showcasing the originally planned crystal-centric narrative. Though the game generally received positive reviews and was praised for its visuals, it featured a slog of a linear story.
7. Final Fantasy XIV Online: 84.75/100
Final Fantasy XIV Online is one of the most successful MMORPGs available today. The game went through a tremendous transformation after launching to an overwhelmingly negative player and critic commentary. In response to the criticism, Square Enix did an about-face, ended the current game state with an in-game calamity, and rereleased an improved version of the game subtitled A Realm Reborn. Since then, FFXIV has steadily released hit expansion after expansion, growing to the one of the biggest MMORPGs ever.
6. Final Fantasy VII: 88.5/100
Final Fantasy VII may be the most iconic of the franchise’s main entries. The game centers around the SOLDIER 1st Class Cloud Strife and his allies as they contend with a planet-killing megacorporation. Final Fantasy VII‘s popularity transcended its initial 1997 release, spawning feature films, spin-off mobile games and an anime. It’s also receiving a complete multipart remake that began in 2020, with future installments on their way. Some have called FFVII the greatest game ever made, and it was transformative at the time, offering a narrative well beyond anything expected from a PlayStation RPG. In retrospect, the game’s biggest fault is that the English translation didn’t accurately portray its story.
5. Final Fantasy IX 89/100
Square wanted to get back in touch with Final Fantasy‘s roots when developing Final Fantasy IX. The original Final Fantasy was the primary inspiration for FFIX‘s direction, returning to the medieval style of the series’ forebearers as opposed to the futuristic approach of later games. Despite the more classic style, though, FFIX introduced new features to keep the series feeling new and fresh. Players and critics loved it for both its return to form and modernization of the traditional formula, but it received some criticism for leaning into new elements.
4. Final Fantasy VIII: 90/100
Coming off the success of Final Fantasy VII, Square found itself in a position to better use newly emerging computer graphics technology to further its attempts to blend real life with fantasy. Final Fantasy VIII allowed for the most realistic visuals in the franchise at the time, and with that boon, Square decided to depart from FFVII‘s dark and ominous themes. FFVIII was to exemplify “light emerging from darkness” with a story that focuses on the love story between Squall and Rinoa. FFVIII earned critical acclaim, wowing players with its cinematics and plot, but some felt the gameplay was overcomplicated with excessive systems and menus.
3. Final Fantasy XII: 91.5/100
Final Fantasy XII took the brave but necessary step of distancing itself from the turn-based combat the series had become known for. However, it didn’t entirely remove the concept; characters still had an ATB-like bar fill before performing their action. However, random encounters were gone and enemies freely roamed the wide-open game areas. After its release, the game reached near-universal approval from critics, being named both best PS2 game and best RPG by various outlets. FFXII has some imperfections, but even the title’s executive producer wished creative differences during development didn’t impact the overall game.
2. Final Fantasy X: 93.5/100
Final Fantasy X brought players the first fully-voiced Final Fantasy game and improved the franchise in nearly every conceivable category. FFX used the PS2’s power to its advantage to create beautiful, immersive visuals, and Square revised battle and leveling systems to offer more accessible and flexible options too. FFX‘s story was the most cinematic yet, featuring a cast of unique characters with personalities just as prominent. Despite the mostly positive reception, some have found it too linear and the found its unskippable cutscenes tedious.
1. Final Fantasy VI: 95.5/100
Known as Final Fantasy III in its initial North American release, Final Fantasy VI is regarded as one of the best RPGs of all time. It reinvigorated the series with improvements or reinventions of many of the major systems and balanced it all alongside a cast of well-written characters. Though basic turn-based gameplay was becoming stale at the time, FFVI had allure in its simplicity and familiarity.
The game’s story and soundtrack are still considered some of the best in the franchise, and though a certain one-winged angel gets all the attention, Kefka could be regarded as a more insidious antagonist. As countless others have said before, Final Fantasy VI has everything anyone could want from a traditional RPG, and that remains true even after all the genre’s advancements.
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