Final Fantasy is a franchise that needs no introduction. If players have even a smidge of interest in vast, expansive RPGs, then they've surely heard of this series several times. For many players, Final Fantasy is a series that invokes their nostalgia and brings forth warm and comfortable memories of roaming around a vast and expansive world with memorable characters before going on a quest to save the world.
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So many players grew up engrossed in the earlier entries in the series, like the iconic Final Fantasy 7 and the enchanting storybook stylings of Final Fantasy 9. While comparing these entries in the series and how well they stack up against each other may be considered a fallacious and unnecessary endeavor by many, it's still interesting to see how critics ranked each Final Fantasy game when it was released.
Updated on June 15, 2023, by Ritwik Mitra: Final Fantasy is one of the best JRPG franchises of all time, featuring hit after hit and enamoring a generation of gamers who love the turn-based roots of the series. While later attempts to broaden the appeal of the series by shifting to real-time action have seen mixed results, there's no denying that many players still admire the series' efforts to change while still adhering to the roots of the series. The critical reception to Final Fantasy titles has been quite varied, but there's no denying that the vast majority of these games have seen positive reviews across the board.
In many ways, Final Fantasy 10-2 was a real curveball. A sequel to the much-beloved Final Fantasy 10, it arrived at a time when Square Enix was trying to shake things up a little. Classic turn-based battle systems were starting to fall out of favor somewhat, so 10-2 opted for a more dynamic and high-octane take on the formula.
10-2 was a very different experience, giving the trio of Yuna, Rikku, and Payne time to shine. The Garment Grid and Dressphere mechanics were creative, and the game is packed with things to do. So much so, in fact, that it's notoriously difficult to complete 100%. Still, the Final Fantasy faithful would never complain about something like that.
Final Fantasy 11 was the series' first attempt at turning this hardcore series into an MMORPG. Suffice it to say, the endeavor was a successful one, with many fans loving what this title brought to the table despite their worries that the single-player Final Fantasy series should never try to explore this genre early on.
This ambitious adventure is set in the land of Vana'diel. While there, players engage in traditional MMORPG activities: questing (alone or with others), nabbing loot or hopping into various in-game events. The game features a bustling world that has been expanded with a whole array of content since its original Japanese release back in May 2002.
Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn wasn't the team's first attempt at a fourteenth mainline Final Fantasy title. Late in 2010, the original Final Fantasy 14 launched, launching to such poor reception that the only solution that came to Square Enix's mind was to nuke the entire world this game was based on and start the whole thing from scratch.
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Happily, though, Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn came along in 2013 and was intended to resolve the previous game's faults with a new team at the helm. This far-better-regarded title casts the player as an adventurer in the land of Eorzea, following largely the same MMORPG model as Final Fantasy 11.
While the franchise is best known around the world for fantastic and compelling traditional RPGs, Square Enix has delved into various offshoots and variations on the formula as well. Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions is one of the very best in this regard and a must-play for fans of compelling strategy RPGs.
A game of turn-based tactics akin to Fire Emblem or Advance Wars, War of the Lions is a 2007 PSP retelling of Final Fantasy Tactics, which launched on the original PlayStation a decade before. It's the definitive way to play this long, engrossing game, and the use of traditional Final Fantasy job classes as units will appeal to all fans.
Final Fantasy 4's focus on character-driven storytelling was a great move for the series, especially with the first and third games prioritizing the gameplay over everything else. The game used the Job System to help characters adhere to their specific roles, molding their personalities to gel with the combat system.
Watching Cecil start out as a Dark Knight only to question the morality of his actions and become a Paladin after ascending to the very top of Mount Ordeals makes for one of the greatest moments in the series. It may be a simple tale at the end of the day, but the manner in which Final Fantasy 4 executes its story is truly groundbreaking for its time.
After its fateful reveal so many years ago, Final Fantasy 7 Remake finally saw a release to great pomp and fanfare. While many hardcore fans had some issues with the creative liberties this game employed when it came to the original story, the Remake is still an excellent title with a unique narrative that deserves all the praise in the world.
The complete edition of the game, Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade, features a side story with Yuffie along with numerous graphical enhancements and a new superboss to fight as well. It's the definitive way to enjoy this masterpiece that something that fans should check out before the release of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
While Final Fantasy 8 does take the traditional RPG route that the franchise is best known for, it's also the ultimate black sheep as far as the series goes. Even franchise die-hards aren't quite sure how they feel about it.
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Controversial mechanics like the Junctioning system (and the ease of exploiting it to make characters incredibly overpowered) tend to sour fans' opinions of the game. Square Enix apparently lost the source code for this title as well, not giving fans a remaster until quite recently. Contentious as the game may be, this ambitious adventure is as compelling and unforgettable an RPG as any classic series entry.
After a disastrous launch, many fans were amazed to see just how well the MMORPG managed to clean up everything to make for a spectacular and ultra-refined gaming experience that fans of the genre simply couldn't get enough of. Even before the release of Endwalker, fans were amazed to see how far the game had come from its broken state just a few years back, but this expansion pack truly cemented Final Fantasy 14 as one of the greatest video games ever made.
This expansion focuses on the Warrior of Light and how they need to stop an apocalypse from ravaging the nation of Sharlayan while also dealing with several nefarious foes along the way. For an MMORPG, it's amazing just how much of a central role this
Now, players might not think that the humble Game Boy Advance would be the system to offer time a definitive version of a sprawling RPG, and they may be right. After all, Final Fantasy 6 Advance features a notably downgraded soundtrack that had to adhere to the limited sound chip of the GBA, but that's really the only big problem in an updated release that is pretty great otherwise.
The original 1994 SNES version of Terra and her friends' adventures is regarded as one of the best video games ever made, telling a poignant story that fans will never forget. The Game Boy Advance release (which launched in 2007) added new dungeons, bosses, and espers, making it a worthwhile title to play through for fans of the original game.
When it comes to the most iconic releases in the series, there's no doubt that Final Fantasy 7 is right up there. It has its detractors, as all games do, but nobody can deny the influence that this 1997 PlayStation release went on to have.
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Often credited as the game that popularized the whole concept of JRPGs in the West, it will always hold a place in the pantheon of gaming legends. Final Fantasy 7's blockier-than-Minecraft visuals may not have aged all that well, but it's still an excellent title in its own right that deserves all the plaudits in the world.
As all gamers know, the whole open-world concept has become almost as ubiquitous as battle royale modes lately. Everybody's at it. For the Final Fantasy franchise, the twelfth installment was the first to offer such a liberating overworld.
Final Fantasy 12 first arrived on the PlayStation 2 in 2006. It was a huge success, with fans and critics alike enjoying the dizzying scope of the title and the fascinating new gambit system. It's always a bold move to get a little creative in an established franchise, but it paid dividends here.
There were a lot of expectations riding on Final Fantasy 10 before its launch. The previous title, Final Fantasy 9, was the series' PS1 swansong, after all. Its follow-up had to prove that the series could still deliver in the brave new console generation that the PlayStation 2 heralded.
Needless to say, the game delivered in spades. Presentation-wise, Final Fantasy 10 was wonderful and still holds up to this day, with its voice acting still somehow being way more fathomable than the disasterclass that was Final Fantasy 13. The gameplay was paced perfectly, being familiar and deep enough for series veterans to sink hundreds of hours into. The engaging tale of the battle against Sin and the incredibly addictive mini-game of Blitzball make this one RPG package that can't be missed.
The topic of which Final Fantasy game is the best one of all time is a heck of a question. Every fan will have a different (and passionately defended) reason for their choice. However, as far as Metacritic's ratings go, the series' aforementioned PS1 swansong is at the top of the mountain.
It's well-known that the team wanted to go back to the franchise's roots with Final Fantasy 9, and it shows throughout. Zidane and Garnet's timeless love story is also a love letter to Final Fantasy and its fans, who have continued to heap praise on the game since its initial launch in the year 2000.
Final Fantasy 16 will launch on June 22, exclusively for PS5.
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