Final Fantasyis a franchise that needs no introduction. If players have even a smidge of interest invast, expansive RPGs,then they’ve surely heard of this series several times. For many players,Final Fantasyis 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.
So many players grew up engrossed in the earlier entries in the series, like the iconicFinal Fantasy 7and the enchanting storybook stylings ofFinal 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 criticsranked eachFinal Fantasygamewhen it was released.
Updated on July 26, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Final Fantasy is one of the greatest video games ever made, and it’s easy to see why so many fans have fallen in love with the quirks of this series. Each Final Fantasy game aims to push the envelope, letting players interact with unique combat systems and form bonds with a wealth of memorable characters. While it’s only a given that some players have their personal favorites in the genre, scoring systems have given a decent idea of which Final Fantasy games deserve the most praise.
In many ways,Final Fantasy 10-2was a real curveball. A sequel to the much-belovedFinal 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, so10-2opted for a more dynamic and high-octane take on the formula.
10-2was 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 was packed with things to do. So much so, in fact, thatit’s notoriously difficult to complete 100%.Still, theFinal Fantasyfaithful would never complain about something like that.
Final Fantasy 11was the series' first attempt at turning this hardcore series into an MMORPG. Suffice it to say, the endeavor was a successful one, withmany fans loving what this title brought to the tabledespite their worries that the single-playerFinal Fantasyseries 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 Rebornwasn’t the team’s first attempt at a fourteenth mainlineFinal Fantasytitle. Late in 2010, the originalFinal Fantasy 14launched, 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.
Happily, though,Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborncame 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 asFinal Fantasy 11.
Final Fantasy Tacticsis one of the best strategy RPGs of all time and arguably the bestFinal Fantasyspinoff title ever made. It introduced players to the rich world of Ivalice, a setting previously shown inVagrant Story, one of Square’s most underrated games.
So, it’s only a given that expectations were high forFinal Fantasy Tactics Advance. While the combat and art style of the game is pretty refined, the isekai undertones and lighter mood drew more of a mixed reception from players who loved the mature complexity of the previous game.
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 Lionsis 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 toFire EmblemorAdvance Wars, War of the Lionsis a 2007 PSP retelling ofFinal 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 traditionalFinal Fantasyjob classes as units will appeal to all fans.
Final Fantasy 4’sfocus on character-driven storytellingwas 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 whichFinal Fantasy 4executes its story is truly groundbreaking for its time.
After its fateful reveal so many years ago,Final Fantasy 7 Remakefinally 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, theRemakeis 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 RemakeIntergrade, 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 and something that fans should check out before getting intoFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
Final Fantasy 14has been on a warpath the likes of which the MMORPG genre hasn’t seen since the rise ofWorld of Warcraft. After one of the most disastrous launches for anyFinal Fantasygame in the series' history, the first iteration of this MMO was nuked to give rise toA Realm Reborn, a stable release that addressed most of the game’s criticisms and ended up being a pretty fine game in the genre.
However, with the advent of numerous expansions forFinal Fantasy 14, the game has turned into something of a phenomenon that is literally suffering from success. Expansions likeShadowbringersadd some incredible worldbuilding, a fun story, and some of the best boss battles inFinal Fantasyhistory that’s a treat for fans to experience.
WhileFinal Fantasy 8does 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.
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 ofEndwalker, fans were amazed to see how far the game had come from its broken state just a few years back, butthis expansion pack truly cementedFinal Fantasy 14as 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
