In terms of video game franchises , Square Enix ’s sprawlingFinal Fantasyseries is one of the most enduring in the manufacture . The IP is a behemoth of the RPG genre and JRPG subgenre , with a pantheon ’s worth of great games to choose from . As expected ,   which game are conceive the best will in all likelihood   result in wildly different response .

The voting community atRankerhas compiled their top 10 list of bestFinal Fantasygames . Unsurprisingly , the mainline games take up the Leo the Lion ’s share of the list , but there are a match of remarkable spinoffs , too .

Final Fantasy XV (2016)

It ’s become jolly notorious in the gaming industry , asFinal Fantasy XVwas subject to one of thelongest development cycles for a New video biz . The game started as a spinoff toFinal Fantasy XIIIbefore assume 10 years into morphing into its own biz . And while its disruptive growth hampered it to a degree , FFXVstill managed a solid critical receipt .

It was the first mainline game to take a deep honkytonk into actual - time action combat , paving the fashion forVII Remake . The story was at its good when centered around Noctis and his family relationship with his best booster , with a colored road - trip adventure as a backdrop and a coming - of - eld story at its burden .

Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (2007)

TheCompilation of Final FantasyVIIproject true did n’t   engender very many successful games , but for many fans , Crisis Core : Final Fantasy VIIwas more than enough . The 2007 biz easily became a modern classic on Sony ’s PlayStation Portable , and it was an emotionally resonant – and heartbreaking – prequel story .

Crisis Corewas solid when it came to gameplay as well , with this spinoff using that label as an chance to embark into genuine - time activity armed combat at a time when mainline game were   mostly number - based . The secret plan   make buff - best-loved Zack Fair the booster and gives context to important relationships , like with Cloud , and resulted in one of themost crushing video game deathsto escort .

Final Fantasy XII (2006)

Though it ’s unfortunately not nearly as talked about as some fans would go for , Final Fantasy XIIon the PlayStation 2 was acclaim nonetheless for its inventive twists to the conventional gameplay formula . Perhaps the best way to discover its   combat is to suppose an MMORPG likeWorld of Warcraft– orFinal Fantasy XIV– and apply it in a individual - thespian , offline formula .

It was executed well for what it try , and fan ofStar Warswill finger at rest home with its setting and level . Especially so forA New Hope , as Vann and co. work a tag - shred group of rebel trying to navigate through a phantasy world rife with political turmoil .

Final Fantasy Tactics (1997)

Final Fantasy Tacticsfrom the PS1 is arguably the original spin - off hit , as its acclaim puts it at least near the top of many veteran rooter ' lists . As the name would suggest , Tacticstakes the mainline JRPG formula and turns it into a strategy RPG .

The story demand billet in the cosmos of Ivalice – whereFinal Fantasy XIItakes place in the future – where a highborn named Ramza Beoulve who ’s enlisted in the military and hurtle into a warfare between two factions vying for control condition over the kingdom . Given its suffer eclat as one of thebest non - mainlineFinal Fantasygames , many lover trust a remaster is in the circuit board .

Final Fantasy IV (1991)

In many ways , Final Fantasy IVwas a groundbreaking biz in the franchise as a whole . The first threeFinal Fantasygames were all successful , but their stories and gameplay were still simplistic . Of course , this was partly due to the hardware limitation at the time , butIVnonetheless turned the serial into a fantastic odyssey .

It was the first to make the secret plan ’s story into an riveting and dramatic in high spirits - illusion epic , as well as acquaint shop mechanic like the   classic Active Time Battle organisation that made games likeVIIsuch a marvel . The level go around around the dark knight Cecil on his quest to prevent a sorcerer from collect powerful crystal to bring destruction to the world .

Final Fantasy VIII (1999)

At the prison term , Final Fantasy VIIImanaged to simultaneously become a critically - acclaim classic and one of the franchise ’s most divisive entrance . The game continue the series ' sci - fi twirl   on   phantasy configurations , and the gameplay made some feel like it was needlessly complex .

Regardless , many players find the scrap to feel rewarding for those who were willing to take the dip . Fans also loved the floor , with protagonist Squall cause a satisfying character arc along with his moneymaking set going up against a close - unsubduable sorceress . Likewise , rooter find his contention with Seifer compelling and his romance with Rinoa emotionally investing .

Final Fantasy X (2001)

The PlayStation 2 generation started with a bang forFinal Fantasy , asXquickly cement itself as one of the franchise ’s best irrespective of the poll . It made an interesting twist to its universe by blending high fantasy with a tropical background , combining for a colorfully vivacious and memorable universe .

And while some understandably find the protagonist , Tidus , to be pestering at times , his supporting cast of characters and their backstories make for an piquant fib disregarding . The gameplay and progression were running , butXproved to be the rare instance of a blockbuster title streamlining its auto-mechanic without sacrifice its depth . All of these elements immix to make one of thebestFinal Fantasygames for starter .

Final Fantasy IX (2000)

While games likeVIIandVIIIearned their various acclamation , Final Fantasy IXwas a return to form for many . After all the sci - fi and steampunk worlds , IXbrought things back to a nostalgic high - fantasy circumstance .

The gameplay was praised for being even more refined compared to what came before , with combat being simple to learn but   rewarding to passe-partout . IXalso put its best foot forward in the story section , with   the like of Zidane , Vivi , and Garnet becoming memorable characters almost 22 years after its freeing .

Final Fantasy VII (1997)

Unsurprisingly , the landmarkFinal Fantasy VIIstands among the franchise ’s just for the residential district at Ranker . For many seasoned fans , VIIwas their firstFinal Fantasygame . The game leaned hard into sci - fi than its predecessor , building a world dense with traditional knowledge and excellent characters .

Cloud and Sephiroth became an iconic TV game rivalry in 1997 and the late winner ofVII Remakerenewed that status for a modern hearing . The Materia system , Limit Breaks , and more made the game so entertaining from a combat perspective , and its story and alone cast of character have persist with 1000000 ever since .

Final Fantasy VI (1994)

VIIcertainly earns its praises and popularity , butVIstill digest as the franchise ’s peak for many of the hard-core series fans . Final Fantasy VIrevolved around a hybrid phantasy - steampunk humankind that stick to Terra Brandford , a half - human half - esper girl who ’s lived as a striver to the Empire .

It stage players with 14 characters – the most in the series – with all play meaningful part in its grandiose , operatic tarradiddle . It’samong the bestFinal Fantasystories , but like other games , its gameplay also makes it welcome enough to franchise tiro .

NEXT:10 Longest Video Game Cinematics Ever

Persona5: The Phantom X promo art featuring Lufel and Wonder

A character holding a trunk in art from Eberron: Forge of the Artificer

Split image of FFVI and Crisis Core promo art

Noctis with his sword with his supporting cast behind him in FFXV promo art

Zack in Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core holding the hilt of a sword on his back.

Promo art of the main cast of Final Fantasy XII

Gameplay from Final Fantasy Tactics on PS1

Split image of FFIV key art with pixel art of the main cast, and still of the turn-based combat

Squall, Rinoa, and Seifer on FFVIII cover art

Tidus standing in the ocean in FFX promo art

Promo art of FFIX with Garnet, Zidane, and Vivi the mage

Cloud holding his buster sword looking up at a Shinra Corps. Mako reactor

Final Fantasy VI promo art with Terra atop a mech.

Gaming

Final Fantasy