Square Enix
The 15 best Final Fantasy games in the series, from worst to best
Take a look at some of the best titles in Square Enix’s Final Fantasy series according to MeriStation’s own reviews.
Final Fantasy had a birthday in December 2022. It was not just any birthday, as the veteran Square Enix series blew out no more and no less than 35 candles. More than three decades after the first installment, some of the key figures in the series have left the company, but the fantasy continues to advance with new titles. Turn-based combat systems have given way to other proposals, sometimes hybrid (Final Fantasy VII Remake), others more focused on action, as is the case with Final Fantasy XVI.
All Final Fantasy titles share common points, elements that are in each of the video games in the series. However, in the same way that there is a common denominator, the gameplay has always offered new systems and stories. In fact, until the arrival of Final Fantasy X-2, there were no official sequels. Meanwhile, in recent years, the series has had a hard time finding the formula. Hajime Tabata picked up Tetsuya Nomura’s gauntlet in Final Fantasy XV, but the final product showed the years of ups and downs that had gone through its development. The sixteenth installment, designed by the creators of Final Fantasy XIV, has entered the top with great force.
Final Fantasy has not earned its reputation by chance. The title created by Hironobu Sakaguchi in the eighties saved Squaresoft from bankruptcy and became a clear competitor to Dragon Quest, although fate and circumstances have wanted both seriess to be sheltered under the same umbrella after the merger of Square and Enix. After more than thirty years, dozens of video games on the market, and many stories told, we take advantage of the premiere of Final Fantasy XVI andl the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to rate the games based on the notes we gave in MeriStation. Spin-offs and online game expansions are not taken into account.
The origin of Final Fantasy
Squaresoft was in deep financial trouble when Hironobu Sakaguchi started working on a new RPG, a novel game concept that Dragon Quest also explored. Both series entered into a kind of competition, but they differed enough so that each one maintained its own identity. Developed by a team of just seven people, the title managed to save the studio from total bankruptcy.
The basic concepts that appear in Final Fantasy begin to draw some of the guidelines that continue in the series to date. We are talking, for example, about magical crystals or the creation of the protagonists, often predestined to become heroes.
15. Final Fantasy II
If the original game was released in 1987, Hironobu Sakaguchi’s team would not take too long to repeat it. Final Fantasy II was released exclusively for the Japanese market, back in December 1988. The main lines remained the same, although this time the saving of up to four different games is allowed. The embryo of the work system also stood out, since the characters could freely carry the weapons or magic that the player wishes and train the protagonist to reinforce a certain type of work.
Firion, Maria, Guy, and Leon are four young people from the kingdom of Fynn who have a common past: their parents were killed by the Palmecian empire, which used infernal monsters in its attempt to dominate the world. The emperor left the group for dead, but they survived thanks to the care of characters like Hylda and Minu, despite the fact that León remained missing. All would join the cause to banish the forces of the night.
14. Final Fantasy XV
Director Hajime Tabata didn’t have it easy with Final Fantasy XV. The title was born as Final Fantasy Versus XIII, a game that was planned exclusively for PlayStation 3, but whose development plunged into a spiral of problems that forced Square Enix to cancel the project. Tetsuya Nomura, until then director, was relegated from directing, while Tabata took over the reins of the project. In essence, some of the main characters were rescued, as well as certain aspects of their world and their original script, but the rest was redone.
The evil Niflheim Empire invades the kingdom of Lucis when they were preparing to sign a peace agreement. It is a plot hatched by the emperor to get hold of the crystal, an artifact of incredible power. The ruler does not count on the survival of Prince Noctis, who is outside the kingdom at the time of the invasion. From the outside, Noctis hears the news of the death of his father, King Regis, so he will have to undertake a journey across the world to recover the throne and save his people. The team led by Hajime Tabata conveys the spirit of a road movie in a game that is not without problems, which was later corrected through free updates.
13. Final Fantasy XIII
Since Final Fantasy VII, the series had been linked to PlayStation consoles, something that changed again with PlayStation 3. Square Enix decided that Final Fantasy XIII would also enjoy a version for Xbox 360. Directed by Motomu Toriyama, the game once again redefined the gameplay, this time in a direction that many players didn’t like. Its linear structure followed more the precepts of the dungeon crawler than of the JRPGs of a lifetime. Instead, its sequels—Final Fantasy XIII-2 and Lightning Returns—initiated a more extensive exploration of the world.
Anima, a Fal’Cie from Paals, threatens to turn everyone in the area into Lu’Cie, so Sanctum orders the exile of all people in contact with Anima. As The Purge unfolds,Lightning tries to save his sister Serah from a terrible fate. Everything will get complicated when the NORA resistance group begins one of its operations and the mother of a boy, Hope, dies shortly after.
12. Final Fantasy III
On November 21, 1990, Nintendo released the Super Nintendo, its new 16-bit video game platform. That same year, Final Fantasy III made an appearance, but not as a product for the SNES. Kyoto’s 8-bit still had a life ahead of it, so Squaresoft prepared one last installment for that system. In playable terms, many of the mechanics of the previous ones were collected, although the work was reinforced with new features that would continue in later chapters, such as the possibility of attacking members of your own team.
At the plot level, the classic story of good and evil is told. The balance between the two forces is broken and the four warriors of light appear with the aim of reestablishing it. The fighters will embark on a mission in which they will discover their own role in history.
11. Final Fantasy XI
In its day, the fact that Square Enix decided to classify Final Fantasy XI Online as a video game of the main series was controversial. However, all of its essential elements remained, including the story, summons, and many other aspects of the classics. Time has proved him right, since since its launch on PS2 and PC, the title has continued to live and it has done very well in the MMORPG market, which motivated the company to try again with the fourteenth chapter.
The narrative is set twenty years after the Crystal Wars, which pitted San d’Oria, Bastok, and Windurst against each other. against the hosts of an evil enemy. Of course, being an online project, it received numerous extra content that expanded the main game.
10. Final Fantasy V
Final Fantasy II may have laid the foundation for the job system, but it wasn’t until the third installment that that mechanic was fully implemented. Final Fantasy IV, the first for the SNES, put it on hold, but the fifth chapter reinforced that system, which has remained since then, even in spin-offs like Final Fantasy X-2. As for Final Fantasy V, it has never had the transcendence of IV and VI, despite the fact that its quality is unquestionable.
The four crystals once again take center stage, since in the mythology of this title, when one of the crystals is destroyed, the corresponding element disappears. If this happens, an evil spirit will return from the dead and wreak havoc on the world. The plot puts us in the shoes of Bartz, a character who travels with his chocobo just at the precise moment when a meteor falls on earth. The young man approaches to investigate the crater and discovers a girl, whom he must help.
9. Final Fantasy XIV
The premiere of Final Fantasy XIV Online can only be described in one way: disastrous. Its ill-fated debut coincided with a delicate moment within Square Enix. Final Fantasy XIII had not convinced and Versus XIII was still in limbo, which caused concern among fans of the series. But the creators reacted, boy, did they! With a change of director, the studio worked on a version that came out a year later. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn did exactly as its title says, and it has become one of the best-rated MMORPGs in history.
That the title is online does not imply that it does not have a narrative load. The premise picks up a constant period of war between the nations of Eorzea., so intent on their battles that they fail to see the actions of an empire located to the east, Garlean, which is coming to destroy Ala Mhigo. Faced with this common enemy, they must unite and raise their arms against the invader. It should be noted that Nobuo Uematsu returns to the composition of the soundtrack.
8. Final Fantasy VIII
After the success of the seventh installment, it was difficult to offer a product that excited players in the same way as the previous installment. Final Fantasy VIII was the second game in the series for PlayStation, a production that came out two years after Final Fantasy VII. Director Yoshinori Kitase, who was also in charge of Cloud’s adventure, opted for a link-based combat system, which did not finish crystallizing. Unlike other chapters, magic was perishable, in the sense that it worked like items. Depending on the links, the stats of the characters and weapons also underwent changes.
Squall Leonhart isn’t exactly the life of the party. With a taciturn and shy character, the young man prepares to become Seed, an elite body that is dedicated to fulfilling commissions, although its ultimate goal is to kill witches. Classes at Balamb Garden precede the final exam that Squall and the other classmates must attend if they are to meet their goals. Upon graduation, they will embark on an epic story full of adventures and betrayals, in which love will not be lacking. Romantic love with Rinoa (hence the Final Fantasy VIII logo, which shows both protagonists embracing), but also love between friends.
7. Final Fantasy XII
The historical context of Final Fantasy XII (PlayStation 2) is preceded by the box office failure of Final Fantasy: The Force Within, a film directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi that nearly ruined Squaresoft, to the point that it had to merge with Enix. The operation ended with the departure of Sakaguchi himself and with the goodbye of Nobuo Uematsu, who founded the Smile Please company. The latter’s relationship with Square Enix did not end entirely, since he has participated in other projects. Be that as it may, the situation of this twelfth installment was complicated due to the illness of its director, Yasumi Matsuno. Ito replaced him when he could not continue his work.
In Final Fantasy XII, friends Vaan and Penelo dream of a future as space pirates. Of course, in this attempt, they will soon find themselves with problems of all kinds. The death of the emperor gives rise to a complicated succession and a belligerent attitude toward the new emperor. The plot takes on more political aspects and modifies its battle system, which does not neglect turns, but does abandon random combat. The player sees the enemy on the stages at all times, so he can avoid them if he wishes. The Gambits system is also implemented, which automates the actions of allies. The sequel, Revenant Wings, is a strategy game for the Nintendo DS that continues the story.
6. Final Fantasy IV
The new generation of consoles suited the JRPG genre well, which was finally able to show off more dazzling graphics. In the case of Final Fantasy IV, the gameplay benefited greatly, as it was the game that established the ATB (Active Time Battle), designed by Hiroyuki Ito. It differs from the original system because it adds a bar that determines when the teammates will be able to attack. The job system disappears, though.
Cecil Harvey, Dark Knight, fights alongside the Baronian army as captain of the Red Wings fleet. To his right, one of the Draconarius and childhood friend, Kaim. The sovereign’s orders are far from the restraint he had shown in the past, so many are beginning to wonder what has happened to him. Cecil conveys his suspicions to the king and he relieves him of command and sends him on a mission in which he will finally open his eyes.
5. Final Fantasy XVI
Square Enix has experimented with different battle systems over the years, but until now they hadn’t dared to completely abandon turns and strategy. With Final Fantasy XVI, the team led by Naoki Yoshida has opted for real-time action, a controversial decision that not all fans of the series liked. Be that as it may, the player manages only the protagonist, so that the rest of the team members fight by his side autonomously. The eikons, the invocations of Final Fantasy, return with all their power after several installments in which they have been rather anecdotal.
Creative Business Unit III, the development team behind Final Fantasy XVI, has woven a more mature story than usual, with a similar tone to Game of Thrones. Clive Rosfield, son of the Archduke of Rosaria, is an experienced swordsman. However, it was Joshua, his little brother, who was blessed with the grace of the Phoenix, the Eikon of fire. Valisthea, the world in which the plot takes place, is on the brink of war, as the influence of the Mother Crystals and the ether is growing. In this installment, the different kingdoms fight to obtain this finite resource.
4. Final Fantasy X
Some consider that it is the beginning of the end of the series as it was known until then. World maps had been an untouchable element in the series, something that disappeared in Final Fantasy X. Just because it was more linear doesn’t mean there weren’t things to do, as Squaresoft respected the exploration and added additional tasks and challenges. In addition, its combat system, also turn-based, implemented new elements, such as the ability to replace characters in the middle of the battle.
Tidus, star of Blitzball, Zanakard’s particular sport, is attacked by a huge beast while playing one of his games. The young man does not die at the hands of Sinh thanks to the accurate and quick action of Auron. When Tidus wakes up, he finds himself in an unknown place. There he will run into Rikku and come into contact with a good number of characters, including the summoner Yuna. Every ten years, the mighty Sinh is resurrected and the corresponding summoner or summoner must sacrifice himself and die for everything to return to normal during that period of time. The turn comes to Yuna, who will embark on a journey where she will discover love and many other things. The sequel, Final Fantasy X-2, loses its serious tone and offers a more light-hearted experience.
3. Final Fantasy IX
PlayStation 2 was about to launch when Final Fantasy IX came out. PSX closed a golden trilogy with one of the most beloved titles in the entire series. If Final Fantasy VIII opted for the realistic style, the ninth installment preferred to return to the cartoonish models, with big-headed characters. The medieval tone was mixed with technology in a work that stood out for many reasons, among which was the magnificent soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu, the main composer of the series. The direction passed from Yoshinori Kitase to Hiroyuki Ito, director of Final Fantasy IV, VI, and XII.
Zidane is a young thief who is part of the Tantalus theater band. The narrative begins with the kidnapping of Princess Garnet von Alexandros, from the city of Alexandria. Surprisingly, Garnet wants to leave her home at all costs, so she willingly accompanies the bandit gang. Things have not been going well in the kingdom for a long time, as dark forces have infiltrated the heart of Alexandria. Final Fantasy IX takes literally the title that gives its name to the series and offers an adventure full of fantasy, adventure, and magic.
2. Final Fantasy VI
Like all games prior to the seventh chapter, the original version of Final Fantasy VI was not released in Europe until the PSX port was released. The North Americans, on the other hand, did enjoy the work, although it was known as Final Fantasy III, a mess of numbers that was carried out to be consistent with previous releases in that territory. Later, when all the previously unreleased classics were ported to new systems, the titles returned to the correct order in the United States. Final Fantasy VI marked the farewell to two dimensions within the main series.
Terra Branford is the first female protagonist of Final Fantasy. Since then, only Lightning, from Final Fantasy XIII, has had that role in the main series, although some sequels have featured female leads. The story of this chapter begins after the Magi War, a bloody battle between humans and espers. More than a millennium later, the mighty empire tries to bring all peoples under its boot. It is then that Terra, who lived controlled by the empire, meets Locke and joins the resistance.
1. Final Fantasy VII
The companies did not believe that JRPGs would be successful outside of Japan’s borders. For this reason, Final Fantasy was not published in Europe until the seventh installment. However, Squaresoft’s classic for PlayStation left its mark and became one of the most successful games in history, even in the West. This installment marked the end of a fruitful relationship between Nintendo and Squaresoft. The developers turned to the Sony platform, mainly because the Nintendo 64 cartridge format made it difficult to introduce cutscenes due to memory limitations. The questionable English and Spanish localization has finally been resolved, albeit in the remake.
Cloud Strife is a mercenary, a former member of the elite Soldier Corps. Tired of working for Shinra, he signs a contract with the AVALANCHE ecoterrorist group, whose objective is to destroy the Mako reactors, managed by Shinra. The company is using that energy source to power the technology, something that is sapping the lifeblood of the planet. Cloud will meet Tifa again, but he will meet other characters such as Barret, Aeris, Red XIII, Caith Sith and other protagonists. ATB combats stand out for their subject system, which has also been adapted in the remake.
