OK, so, I don’t necessarily believein fullthat loving Final Fantasy 9 is a telltale sign that somebody has superior taste. But it’s a symptom, right? Or maybe you dislike the game, in which case, we’re starting things off on the wrong foot, here.
Hear me out, though. I love them all - OK, not all of them, but most of them - and I think there’s an interesting conversation to be had about whichFinal Fantasyhappens to be someone’s favourite. What does it reveal about you? Maybe nothing, but probably something! Does your answer warrant rich analysis in a bid to wring your soul for every ounce of deepest intrigue? Probably not! But let’s have some fun, anyway.
16Final Fantasy
You Think Roots Are Unrivaled
If your absolute favourite Final Fantasy is the very first, I dare say you’ve got a real thing for feeling like the source of a thing will forever be the greatest part of the whole.
You may be the sort who I bump into on the internet sometimes, who proclaims an original as unbeatable on the grounds that it’s the root of all that came thereafter. Final Fantasy did create plenty of iconic elements: its designs for White, Black, and Red Mages have especially entrenched themselves in recurring FF development, and the saga of the Crystals begins here.
15Final Fantasy 2
You Really, Really Value Experimentation
You probably adore Kawazu’s SaGa series. You do, don’t you? Final Fantasy 2 is effectively the root of SaGa, the black sheep Final Fantasy title that birthed a series so steeped in experimentation, so thoroughly devoted to doing notably strange things with staple JRPG mechanics.
FF2, in its own right, is not especially well regarded. To this day, it is often cited as the worst of the mainline entries. Yet, it did something different. It’s soremarkablydifferent from the rest of the series, especially its immediate predecessor and successor, both of which ran big into Job Classes and Crystals. In Final Fantasy 2, stats are gained through active usage of associated skills, and magic levels up per your dedication to a spell.
The result sounds cooler than it is, if you ask me, but hey, you do you.
14Final Fantasy 3
If You’re Not Japanese, You Must Be Heavy Into Emulation
Final Fantasy 3 debuted in Japan for the NES in 1990. It did not come overseas in (more or less) its native form until 2021.2021. The first real taste of FF3 that Western gamers got was its dramatically-overhauled 3D remake for the Nintendo DS back in 2006. The 2D version, which is truly a different game at its core… took bloody forever.
Therefore, I’ve got to hand it to you if you somehow only became a massive, massive, fan of Final Fantasy 3 in the past few years, because unless you’re Japanese (in which case, yes, there’s a great deal of reverence for FF3), any big-time FF3 diehard would probably have been exposed to it via the emulation scene instead.
Or you adore the remake, I guess. I’ve never met anybody who feels so strongly about that version, but I guess that doesn’t mean they don’t exist?
13Final Fantasy 4
You’re Gettin' Up There
Look, far be it from me to call you old. I’m one of those rare people who, as a child, didn’t even consider folks to be “up there” until they were like 50. I didn’t feel much of anything when I turned 30. Just another year. In short, I’m the last person to call someone with intense positivity toward Final Fantasy IVold.
But if FF4 is your main squeeze, you’re probably no spring chicken. FF4 is often cited, for good reason, as the first time Square really dove into a more complex story. It’s got some real Saturday morning cartoon vibes, mind you - and maybe that’s part of your love for it! - but nevertheless, it’s their densest Final Fantasy story until FF4.
It also eschews the Job Class system in favour of fixed classes for its vast party, which is pretty nifty in my book. And its conflicted heroes, Cecil and Kain, are FF characters for the ages. I like FF4, even if I don’t quite worship at its altar.
12Final Fantasy 5
You’ve Definitely Heard Of Four Job Fiesta
Final Fantasy 5 is frequently cited as one of the most underrated FFs, a game that flies under many Westerners' radars. That may still be true to some extent; after all, its SNES release passed us all by, and it wasn’t until 1999 in North America, and2002in Europe, that we got our hands on it.
But here’s the thing. I’d argue that Final Fantasy V has one of the most fiercely devoted fandoms in gaming history. Every year,a hardcore group of fansgets together (and invites us all to partake, if we’re interested!) and uses a random selection process to dictate which four Jobs (out of 20+) they must be locked into using for the entire game.
FF5 is built upon the foundation of I’s and III’s Job system. It thrives on a more in-depth rendition of that mechanic. By artificially limiting oneself to a randomly-determined quartet, things get harder, but they can also become fascinating for those of us who are deeply familiar with the title.
In other words, if FF5 is your Final Fantasy love, I’m willing to bet you’reprobablypretty hardcore about it. Neat!
By the way, the script translation from the Game Boy Advance version onward is leaps-and-bounds ahead of the PlayStation version’s, so I thoroughly recommend not playing this on PS1.
11Final Fantasy 6
You Experienced A Real “What About Me?” Phase In Life
For a long time, Final Fantasy 6 diehards felt the need to shout from rooftops that they believe FF6 to be superior to the more internationally popular Final Fantasy 7. Voices were no doubt hoarse. Well, maybe not, since y’all chiefly did this through the internet. Fingers were tired? I guess?
The point is, FF6 endured an underdog status for a long time. Even in Japan, I don’t think it’sthatbig a deal, with several other titles surpassing 6 in overall popularity. Even so, Final Fantasy 6, with its spectacular cast, its heart-wrenchingly good story, and more, has picked up the pace so much in the public conscience through the decades that it’s now quite frequently ranked right near FFs 7 and 10 as the most revered of them all.
Nevertheless, the perception that it had been overshadowed in fandom discourse for far too long has led some to act as though that’s never changed. I beg to differ; I hear about it all the time now! But back then? Yeah, probably.
10Final Fantasy 7
You Have Something Of An Unfair Advantage
First off, let me just say, Final Fantasy 7andFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth are two of my favourite video games ever made. The original is a brilliantly melodramatic epic with an outstanding suite of core mechanics and a dizzyingly cool suite of minigames. Rebirth, the second part in an ongoing trilogy reimagining, brings back the effortlessly vast vibes of Square’s PS1 era in spades, and injects coolness and rad characterization in virtually every beat of its lengthy runtime.
But there’s something about what I just said that gives FF7 a real edge. It hasremakes. Like, serious, from-the-bottom-up, splendidly visual, serenely soundtracked, remakes. (I know, “soundtracked” isn’t a word. Well, now it is.) Plus, it enjoyed the limelight for so long asthezeitgeist for the genre, the terrifically-selling, multi-award-winning, extravaganza that put JRPGs on the map for an entire generation.
There’s a lot going on here. I’m not one of those folks who resents people for answering FF7; I mean, heck, like I said, I can’t get enough of it, either. But yeah, discourse about Avalanche’s desperate bid to save the planet from a heartless corporation and a jaded former hero totally dominated the FF-lovin' net for a few years back there, and now, with FF7 Rebirth’s sterling critical reception, it’s kind of done so all over again. I can’t help but call that an innate advantage!
9Final Fantasy 8
You’re Sick And Tired Of Having To Tell People That Card Mod Is Better Than Drawing
Take a drink every time somebody inevitably disses Final Fantasy VIII for expecting players to use the Draw command to tritely pluck 100 of every spell, several at a time, from your enemies. For hours… and hours… and hours.
Finish your drink if you, as an FFVIII fan, are keenly aware of this unfortunate spread of misinformation. Card Mod is the way to go. You’ll get that Magic so much more swiftly with this command, dang it, and plenty else, to boot. And you don’t even have to enter a fight for it.
Say what you will about FFVIII’s romantic storytelling, its sharp focus on the emotional journey of one Squall Leonhart, and all the rest of its somewhat contentious elements. But Triple Triad and the in-fight Card command are the real unsung heroes, the methods through which to eliminate so much of that unnecessary tedium, and boy howdy, do I wish more people had realized that by now.
8Final Fantasy 9
You’re Not Alone. No, Seriously, You Aren’t
Forget Final Fantasy 6. It’s Final Fantasy9with the biggest “my favourite game is super-underappreciated” dilemma of them all. Or, so one would think, if they listened to many of F9’s big supporters. Whereas FF6has at last been accepted as, in truth, as widely beloved as it actually is, FF9 fandom still appears largely convinced that only the few and the proud see the glory in this nostalgic tale.
It’s not true! FF9 has built a sizable fandom over time despite hitting with a bit of a (relative) whimper back in 2000. Look at it this way.In 2019, FF9 had sold six million copies worldwide.Its PS1 days only had it a tad above five million, which, while decent, was nowhere near what 7 and 8 pulled - nor 10, a year later.
In 2025,Square Enix announced that FF9 has surpassed 8.9 million.That’s just shy ofthree million since 2019. That’s a boom. That’s a game with new-wave staying power. Modern single-player Final Fantasy games would kill for legs like that.
Is it weird that this entire write-up centers on sales? Probably. Let me emphasize, FF9 is one my faves, full stop. It is so damn charming, and filled with nearly as much gameplay diversity as FF7. It’s a treasure. But if you’re still telling people it’s underrated… it isn’t. I promise.
7Final Fantasy 10
You Love The PlayStation 2
Final Fantasy 10 is probably one of just two new entries to pull in anywhere near as many brand-new fans as FF7 did. Positioned as an early showcase for the power of the PlayStation 2, this colourful and deliciously bittersweet story blends a fully turn-based battle system with a memorable cast on a fateful journey across one of gaming’s most vivid worlds.
FF10 arrived at the height of Square’s commanding presence as one of the most technically capable developers in the industry. At launch, this game was seen as jaw-droppingly lush, with CG cutscenes unlike anything else around. You might have gotten a PS2 for this one. If not, there’s a fair chance it was one of the first PS2 games you scooped up afterward. When people think PS2, Yuna’s Pilgrimage is commonly among the quickest memories to spring to mind; FF10 was almost as generationally defining as FF7 had been.
Or maybe you just really, really, like FF10-2’s battle system, because I bump into fans all the time. 10-2 isn’t really my cuppa, but I hear ya. I’ll lump you in with us FF10 aficianados; you absolutely count.
