Final Fantasygames are some of the most diverse and beloved RPGs out there. Everyone and their Chocobo has their opinions on the best entries among the mainline Final Fantasy games, including popular titles like Final Fantasy 15. On this ranked list, we are turning our attention to some of the spin-offs that extended the franchise as well.
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We are ranking Final Fantasy games by the quality of their combat mechanics, plot depth, character development, and overall gaming experience. Whether you’re here for strategic warfare or deeply woven narratives, this list is here to guide you toward some of the most compelling and influential titles from within the Final Fantasy universe.
10Final Fantasy 15
Engaging Action And Close Party Relationships
Two of the most talked about features of Final Fantasy 15 are its large and visually stunning open world and its bold combat. Eos is so beautifully designed, with breathtaking views and different environments, but many gamers have been surprised by just how empty this world really feels. Large distances between key locations can make for areas that are deprived of meaningful content.
The combat in Final Fantasy 15 is a thrill, with fluid, stylish action sequences featuring Noctis and his friends executing dramatic, choreographed attacks that showcase the game’s impressive graphics and dynamic battle system. While the stylish and responsive combat of the party members' different weapons and abilities really spices things up, the overall feeling of emptiness and lack of interactivity within Eos more broadly are why we’re placing Final Fantasy 15 in the first spot in our countdown.
9Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age
Exploring The Unknown And Forging Unbreakable (If Limited) Bonds
With the added x2 speed button in The Zodiac Age, the flow of battles and exploration in Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age is significantly faster than in the original, making gameplay more dynamic and engaging. This feature effectively addresses the first game’s slower combat pace. Additionally, the job system offers deeper customization and strategic options, enhancing the overall experience.
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Set in the richly detailed world of Ivalice, the game’s narrative is filled with rebellion and the quest for freedom (and some rather dastardly boss fights). However, its grand scope can be a shortcoming, due to the focus on political intrigue and world-building at the expense of character development and emotional connections. Despite these issues, the improvements make The Zodiac Age a notable upgrade.
8Final Fantasy 8
Customize Your Path To Power
Final Fantasy 8’s junction system provides extensive customization options by allowing players to equip spells to character attributes. This offers incredibly unique layers of strategic depth. This mechanic allows characters to be tailored for various combat situations, but junctioning can become repetitive as well as challenging for some players. The junction system can be a hassle due to the high frequency at which spell management is required, which results in a much more tiring and less intuitive experience.
Squall’s journey, filled with emotional depth and intricate narrative elements, adds significant appeal. He and his friends confront their personal struggles while unraveling a time-traveling plot that twists their fates. Although the intricacy of the junction system affects its ranking, the game’s strong characters and compelling plot make it a standout entry in the series.
7Final Fantasy 7 Remake
Iconic Characters Reborn
The Final Fantasy 7 Remake is acclaimed for its modern graphics, a refurbished story, and a new action-packed combat system, a significant shift from the original’s iconic turn-based mechanics. That transition to an action-based approach to combat, however, has received mixed reactions from some long-time fans, with some feeling it lacks the original’s magic. The story changes, meanwhile, cause even more of a divide within the community.
Even with these mixed feelings, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake still impresses with its visual upgrade and the newly refreshed experience it holds. With the success of the sequel and the anticipation towards the third title in the trilogy, the impact of this first installment of the remake project is only amplified. It secures its place at seventh on our list.
6Final Fantasy 10-2
Battling And Singing To Save Spira
Final Fantasy 10-2 strongly departed from its predecessor through its refined combat system. The ATB system brought fast and strategic brawling featuring the Dressphere and Garment Grid mechanics, creating quite an engaging and pleasant combat experience for fans. However, its light-hearted nature and playfulness turned away some people, who were looking to get something more serious and emotionally intense, similar to its predecessor.
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In its combat, Final Fantasy 10-2 has loads of versatility, and multiple endings making it very replayable. Yuna’s journey toward solving the mystery of Tidus' return and her personal growth through the story create emotional depth. While the playful tone may not work for everyone in this game, its fresh mechanics and engaging combat system keep it in sixth place on our list.
5Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy
An Engaging Spin-Off Fighter With Unique Combat Mechanics
Dissidia Final Fantasy revitalizes combat with unique fighting mechanics. Instead of traditional RPG elements, it features a system where Brave Attacks build up Brave Points to allow for the dealing of HP damage, requiring balance and offering a striking, fast-paced experience. The fast and flashy action is a major highlight, though its unconventional format may not suit all traditional RPG fans.
Even with its unconventional style, Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy builds upon the original with more characters and content, dazzling and fascinating with ingenuity in gameplay and storytelling. Square Enix diligently crafted Dissidia into the underrated magnum opus it turned out to be. It has exciting action and depth of strategy combined with recognizable and iconic Final Fantasy characters, making both games a must-have in any PSP collection.
4Final Fantasy Tactics
Plan Your Moves And Dominate
Final Fantasy Tactics is celebrated for its grid-based tactical RPG combat. The game’s design requires players to plan and think strategically about class abilities, terrain, and positioning, setting it apart from any other turn-based or action-oriented installment in the series. Thejob system (seen throughout the series and notably in Final Fantasy 14)makes the game very versatile, although, at times, too slow for some gamers.
Final Fantasy Tactics delivers deep strategic combat where positioning is everything. Broad customization accompanies an extensive job system that enhances tactical depth. Then there’s the dense political intrigue fleshing out and adding layers to the narrative. Its depth and makes it an iconic classic of the Final Fantasy series and ensure its place on our list.
3Final Fantasy 7: Dirge of Cerberus
A Dark Chapter In The Final Fantasy 7 Saga
Final Fantasy 7: Dirge of Cerberus introduces a third-person shooter format with RPG elements, focusing on Vincent Valentine. This rightfully earned third-place departs from the traditional Final Fantasy formula with its fast-paced gunplay for an action-packed experience. Even though it lacks some deeper RPG mechanics, it’s engaging and full of fun.
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Vincent’s crusade against the soldiers of Deepground teaches us more about his past and creates extra layers to this tale. The fusion seems to be a perfect blend for Final Fantasy veterans seeking more action and a deeper dive into the Final Fantasy VII lore, as well as for new players just starting their Final Fantasy fascination. Dirge of Cerberus is a good gateway game in that sense.
2Final Fantasy 9
A Royal Rescue Mission That Changes Everything
Final Fantasy 9 harmonizes the best elements of earlier games with innovative mechanics, winning over players, critics, and long-time fans. It ranks as one of the best entries in the series, emphasizing character roles and introducing equipment-specific skills to encourage strategic equipment choices and new strategies.
The engaging narrative, featuring Zidane and his friends on a quest to stop warfare consuming the world of Gaia, adds nostalgic charm and enormous stakes to the action. The Active Time Event system enhances storytelling and strategy. These elements, combined withthe story’s emotional depth, make Final Fantasy 9 a standout, landing it in the second spot on our top ten list and making the choice between first and second place difficult.
1Final Fantasy 7
A Beloved World On The Brink
Final Fantasy 7 sits at the top of many lists for its mix of real-time and turn-based elements, the innovative Materia system, and its implementation of cinematic summons and Limit Breaks. Final Fantasy 7 was set apart as a technical marvel with previously unseen rich environments and 3D graphics. The emotionally heavy moments connect players to the characters and their stories, proving that RPGs can combine complex gameplay with vibrant storytelling and stunning visuals.
The game features the groundbreaking Materia system for extensive customization and strategic depth. Its ATB system blends real-time action with turn-based mechanics for dynamic combat. Filled with unforgettable characters and emotional moments, Cloud Strife’s quest to thwart the Shinra Corporation and Sephiroth became iconic. Final Fantasy 7 revolutionized the RPG genre and remains a landmark title, solidifying its place at the top.
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