With 15 (soon to be 16) mainline entries and dozens of spinoffs and related titles, the Final Fantasy franchise has branched out into several genres, console generations, and storylines. Since each numbered entry in the series brings its own new world and narrative with it, fans of the series have absorbed many tales of ragtag groups of heroes fighting against intimidating villains.
From sci-fi cities to fantasy realms and everything in between, these games run the gamut of imaginative settings and memorable characters to fill them with. These Final Fantasy titles are remembered by fans for these elements, as well as their fulfilling narratives and deeply emotional twists and turns, often culminating in epic boss battles.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
With the praise that the world of Final Fantasy VII received, it's no surprise that it was expanded into several spinoff titles, including the PSP prequel Crisis Core. The game centers on Zack Fair, a soldier who is tasked with finding his missing friend Angeal and another missing soldier named Genesis.
Classic Final Fantasy VII characters like Cloud, Aerith, and Sephiroth are a large part of Zack's journey, but this prequel also carves out plenty of space for developing its own characters. While it isn't better than the original in many fans' eyes, this spinoff's twisty and emotional story is still remembered for standing along with the series' best.
Final Fantasy XIII
The world of Final Fantasy XIII was one of those Final Fantasy settings that was so ripe for exploration that it received its own sequels and spinoffs. This means that the original game's story of a group of rebels given an unseen task by the godlike machine Anima resonated with many fans.
Although the ragtag group of rebels is a common trope of the series, this game's approach to giving them all the same fated task that they must discover for themselves feels unique, bringing the game's complex sci-fi-fantasy world to the forefront. Fans especially love the game's cast of characters, like protagonist Lightning and the lighthearted Sazh.
Final Fantasy VII Remake
One of the biggest surprises of the Final Fantasy VII Remake for longtime fans is that the storyline has been changed drastically from the iconic original. Given that the remake is the first chapter in a saga that is to be continued, the game has plenty of space to grow and change, too.
The story still follows the eco-terrorists Avalanche as they take on the Shinra Corporation, but much more attention is paid to fleshing out the group, especially protagonist Cloud Strife. Final Fantasy VII Remake also features several new characters, sees Sephiroth appearing much sooner, and adds a mysterious new plot element known as "whispers."
Final Fantasy IV
While the earlier entries in the Final Fantasy series are not as known for their stories as their successors, their massive fantasy worlds started the series' trend of epic storytelling. Final Fantasy IV stands out as one of the early games' best-received and most resonant stories.
Following a group of heroes led by Cecil, the story focuses on their efforts to stop the sorcerer Golbez from gathering crystals capable of creating a global apocalypse. The worldbuilding and character development in the game are standout features, but the game's twists and turns surrounding its antagonist are perhaps its most salient elements.
Final Fantasy X
Featuring island paradises, a terrifying beast called Sin, and the wild sci-fi sport blitzball, Final Fantasy X has an incredibly memorable narrative. The story still sticks with fans to this day thanks to the game's fan-favorite cast, featuring lovable characters like Tidus, Wakka, Yuna, Lulu, Kimahri, and Rikku.
Sin kicks off the game's story when its attack on Tidus' home Zanarkand displaces him to the land of Spira, and the epic adventure starts with him meeting the new friends who will help him defeat Sin. The plot is complex, but it revolves around these characters' evolving relationships and the exciting revelations surrounding Sin's true nature.
Final Fantasy VIII
In addition to being a big step forward in terms of graphical presentation, Final Fantasy VIII (recently rereleased on mobile) offers fans of the franchise an epic time-travel storyline that uniquely combines sci-fi and fantasy. Here, a young band of mercenaries is thrust into a time-bending war with the imposing sorceress Ultimecia.
The game's cast includes fan-favorite characters like Seifer, Zell, Rinoa, and memorable main protagonist Squall Leonhart, all of whom add a human element to the game's cosmic story. Between the personal journeys of these characters, the game's epic spacetime scope, and the daunting villains, this game's story is firmly stuck in fans' minds.
Final Fantasy IX
Following the blending of technology and magic seen in the settings of the series' last several games, Final Fantasy IX returns to traditional fantasy. The game does not lose the momentum of the series' beloved stories of this era however, centering on a group of thieves who take on the power-hungry Queen Brahne and her devious confidant Kuja.
Brahne's daughter Garnet, mysterious mage Vivi, and lead thief Zidane make up just some of the rest of the game's cast, beloved by fans for their emotional and dramatic character arcs. The game's return to fantasy is not held in quite the same regard as some of the series' earlier sci-fi entries, but Final Fantasy IX is a huge standout for fans.
Final Fantasy Tactics
This strategy-driven spinoff game has become one of the most beloved in the entire franchise, in part for its impressive and impactful story centered on the war-torn Ivalice kingdom. Final Fantasy Tactics follows childhood friends from different social classes Ramza and Delita during the political Lion War.
With the focus on this shifting relationship between friends, as well as a large cast of characters with various political and personal motivations, the game tackles a lot of emotional ground. Fans also love the plot's twists and turns, which slowly reveal the story of the Lion War and the characters' place in it.
Final Fantasy VI
As the first game in the franchise to start to drift into more sci-fi and steampunk territory, Final Fantasy VI was a milestone for the series' storytelling. The game follows young soldier Terra who is released from the grip of the Gestahl Empire, joining a group of rebels bent on stopping the Empire's reign of terror.
One of the most infamous villains in the entire franchise, the dangerous general and court jester Kefka is the main villain of the game, a manipulative schemer remembered by fans for his atrocities. With a large cast of iconic characters and an epic story that begins with rebellion and ends in apocalypse, this is a clear standout of the franchise (although some versions are better than others).
Final Fantasy VII
Argued by many to be the best game in the Final Fantasy series and simply one of the best games of all time, Final Fantasy VII has one of the most well-known stories in the franchise's history for good reason. In a sci-fi city, the conflict between eco-terrorists Avalanche and the evil Shinra Corporation escalates over the course of the game.
At the game's center is Cloud Strife of Avalanche, while other iconic characters like Barret, Tifa, Aerith, and Sephiroth are among the game's main cast. These beloved characters are remembered by fans and even known by non-fans almost as much as iconic moments like the indelible image of Aerith's prayer and the not-to-be-spoiled event that follows.