Final Fantasy Games, Ranked

The franchise's breakout hit, whose ~14 million lifetime sales make it the best-selling classic-era mainline entry. Its 3D shift, Materia system, and the death of Aerith brought JRPGs to the mainstream West and spawned a full Remake trilogy starting in 2020.

A 14-character ensemble epic with an opera scene and Kefka, a villain who actually succeeds in destroying the world. Widely cited as the peak of the 2D era and one of the greatest RPGs ever made.

The series' PS2 debut delivered full voice acting, the Sphere Grid, and the Tidus-Yuna pilgrimage. It became the first entry to receive a direct sequel with X-2.

A deliberate return to medieval fantasy roots with Zidane and a warm, storybook tone. Series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi has named it his personal favorite.

Introduced the Active Time Battle system and a genuinely character-driven plot centered on Cecil's redemption from dark knight to paladin. A milestone in JRPG storytelling.

After the 2010 original flopped, A Realm Reborn rebuilt it into one of the most successful and critically praised MMOs, with the Shadowbringers expansion earning near-universal acclaim.

Yasumi Matsuno's dense tactical spin-off paired an intricate Job system with a Machiavellian political story of war and class. Still the gold standard for tactical JRPGs.

Its Gambit-based, MMO-influenced combat and Ivalice political setting were ambitious and divisive. The 2017 Zodiac Age remaster boosted its critical standing considerably.

Its deep, freeform Job system remains a series high point and a favorite for challenge runs. A lighter story kept it from the top tier but the mechanics endure.

A decade in development, it delivered an open-world road trip with four bros and flashy action combat, but a disjointed second half showed its troubled production.

A darker, action-focused, Game of Thrones-styled entry with spectacular Eikon battles. Praised for combat and presentation but debated for shedding RPG depth.

Squall and the Junction/Draw system make it the most experimental and polarizing PlayStation entry. Beautiful but its mechanics remain a lasting point of contention.

The 1987 Famicom original (reaching the West on NES in 1990) helped rescue a struggling Square and launched the entire franchise. Foundational and historically vital, if inevitably primitive by modern standards.

The series' first MMO and once its most profitable title, but its brutal grind and reliance on group play make it nearly impenetrable today.

Introduced the iconic Job-change system but wrapped it in a thin story and steep difficulty. Never officially left Japan until the 2006 DS remake.

Ditched levels for a stat-growth system that players could break by attacking their own party. An interesting experiment that most fans found tedious.

A mobile cash-grab with mindless tap combat and predatory microtransactions, including paid random-character unlocks. Widely regarded as the franchise's low point.