We Ranked ALL 16 FINAL FANTASY Games! | Backlog Battle

[@BacklogBattle]

ERRATA: Final Fantasy XVI shows up twice when the full list comes up! Final Fantasy IV is number 5 in the Community Rankings!

[@riverswater5688]

The thing that drops FFIV much lower for me is how they handled the end of the game… having to fight all the bosses was such a drag.

[@sinsung4159]

Your list is S H I T. At least the community knows how the rank. Don't ever make another video again B I T C H. You know nothing.

[@Weonlyknewoneway]

It's satisfying to know that people are finally realizing how important ffvi really is. It's the most important video game of all time. It's been 30 years and nothing compares to this day. When they finally do a next Gen remake it will become the best game ever all over again. Much respect , this list was very interesting and well put together. It's refreshing to hear and see all if these games being discussed and getting their proper respect regardless of individual opinions of where each game stands in their opinions. Regardless Final fantasy games are special and can really help so many people if they'd only stop resisting them . ✌

[@SiyamthandaQwabe-or7er]

Fr

[@DuckDuck-g6u]

13 is also underrated as well

[@MTTT19]

For me, Final Fantasy X will always be my favourite. Two of my best memories of this game is playing and finishing it for the first time and getting to meet the voice actors for Tidus, Wakka, Kimahri and Rikku.

[@helennethers9777]

I love the battle system and how the damage went up over 9999

[@504Trey]

Mines too.. nothing beats FFX & idc what anyone says 😎

[@dmike3507]

That final boss fight though was SOOOO stupid!!

[@FinalFantasyXDen-br4to]

X is truly great. It sucks that you need a mod to skip cutscenes though. Other than that, it's a Masterpiece.

[@iqqlibre]

way to linear tho

[@soonersfan74]

FF VII to me means the most, simply because back in ‘97 I logged 128 hrs into one game. When you grind that much, breed a gold chocobo, beat Emerald and Ruby weapons, it’s hard to not rank this one too on the list

[@jenniferallen2234]

I think it was my first, I was 10 and I thought it was magical and make me love video games, I even have a cat called Tifa.

[@blacksource2101]

FF7 will always be the best

[@kevin-sj3wt]

VII was the best and IX melodies make me wanna see the remaked version of IX

[@drownthepoor]

@@jenniferallen2234 I was going say I think all us boys had a cat named Tifa, but you're a girl so nvm lol.

[@504Trey]

My top 6 1. X 2. VI 3. VII 4. XIV 5. VIII 6. IX

[@stances8789]

Final Fantasy IX and X are very very dear to my heart! Absolute masterpieces.

[@syamsulm.8628]

yeay someone who agrees ! IX and X has a special place in my heart as well

[@helennethers9777]

8,9,10,7

[@CobraXXVI]

​@@helennethers97779,10,7,8

[@FinalFantasyXDen-br4to]

X is best and IX is amazing second. I can't love VII because I played it as an adult and it was ruined because it was everywhere. Not so fun when the game is completely ruined because it was so famous/popular. Also, a hardcore fanboy ruined it for me and I did not have fun playing it.

[@MetalHeadEnjoyer]

@@FinalFantasyXDen-br4to I'm sorry you had that experience with it. I just finished remake and am prepping for rebirth now, but I played the original before and really enjoyed it despite knowing all of the story beats. I think the gameplay and friendships in that game surpass the story for me.

[@masterxl97]

I want to thank you for keeping this list positively-oriented from beginning to end. Even with the lowest ranked and most controversial games, you focused more on what they did well than what they didn’t. Final Fantasy has one of those Star Wars-type fandoms where even fans who love the games prefer to focus on what’s wrong with them and how they don’t live up to what’s come before. It’s really refreshing to see someone celebrating ALL of these games, even as you explain which ones are better or worse than the others.

[@SmokeyChipOatley]

In the spirit completely antithesis to that of your comment, what's your most controversial FF hot take? No disrespect btw... I'm mostly asking because I thought it'd be funny so I completely understand if you'd rather not answer (or if you don't really have one off the top of your head to begin with). I guess I'll go first... FFVII Remake/Rebirth are overall better experiences than the original in nearly every way and is a perfectly acceptable retelling of the original. Everyone upset about the direction the new games have taken are being unreasonable and are allowing their nostalgia goggles prevent them from enjoying games they normally would otherwise. I know that's sure to gain me a few irritated responses lol.

[@torri_sa]

Final fantasy 15 is my favorite because it was my first game plaued from the series,and it let me get super involved with a fantasy world that felt like i could go anywhere i want without border. I also loved the brother bond between the friends just hits hard for me

[@AlexRiderGreyhavens]

@@torri_sa FFXV is definitely the most advanced game in the world. I have never seen such a freedom of choice in a game. The open world is huge, I can't image how much work had to go into it, and I'm not surprised that the development was long, I've made small versions of ffxv, and simply to make something the size of Hammerhead takes me nearly 80hrs. The main map is hundreds of thousands of times bigger. The bonding between characters is real, and something that has never been rivalled. It has has made me attached to Noctis to the point that I now want to meet him in person and live in that world (or better still, be him). I hope to one day remake FFXV when the copyright expires, or alternatively use it as a strong base for a similar game. The plot simply requires some time to understand and get in to, like a real life situation, it makes it all the more realistic. I hate how people think ffxvi is better, Enix has destroyed the series there, 16 is such a failure, as it's solely focused on the hack and slash, no connections, no real people, and unnecessarily dirty

[@Nadia-nt8gb]

@@AlexRiderGreyhavens i think the characters are the strongest point of the game. the dynamic between the 4 of them really is one of the greatest things ive seen in any game, the idea is brilliant, but the way they executed their friendship and growth was beautiful and i feel like the story there really didnt do them good enough justice in that part. i love games that give you good character relationships, its so much more immersive that way. the open world and added dialogue from the four of them just makes it so much more fun and gives the whole game more character.

[@AlexRiderGreyhavens]

@@Nadia-nt8gb Agreed 200%, it's very rare to be able to make a game that conveys emotion so well. This fact alone makes me able to feel like I am in the game, as a character, and having a friendship with the other characters.

[@Bacalao.]

FFIV changed my entire life. Its story and characters brought light to some dark moments in my life, and I'm thinking of inmortalize the game in an arm tattoo. So is amazing to know that you and the FF community like that much the game. Love you channel bro. Don't let the Rpg die. Greetings from Argentina!

[@12ealDealOfficial]

While I was playing XVI, I constantly thought about how much soul FFIV has by comparison. I really wanted a title that felt less like medieval Mass Effect and more like a continuation of IV or even VI (which I did not even really care for when it came out).

[@adolfocabrinihormazabal4093]

Shit man I was thinking doing the almost the same lmao. Cecil Dark Knight and Paladin on the arm, and Terra and her esper form in the forearm. I hope yours turns out incredible. Saludos desde Chile!

[@jjd4034]

I have a tattoo based on Amano's FFI concept style. Unbelievable how games can be so life-changing!

[@chrisw8069]

It's my favorite too. They nailed everything with it at release. I revisit it often.

[@crimsonpua]

9 sucked

[@Enharmony1625]

FFVI is not only my favorite Final Fantasy game, but my favorite game of all time! A timeless masterpiece! And, oh my god, I hope and pray that we get a proper remake one day! That would be incredible!!

[@hector4470]

It really should get a remake after 7 is done. Apparently a lot of internal Square Enix developers really want to do it so fingers crossed 🤞🏽 it happens eventually.

[@igm1571]

FF VI is old but "finewine" for me, i played VI for 3 times already and still ready for play again if i have a chance And if VI got a remake, yup Square take my money!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@fatcatzero]

There are some really good modded versions of the SNES game. I loved Brave New World (though it's been years since I played it, and the developers changed their system very drastically at least once prior to when I played it so they may have again, possibly for the better!).

[@turkatron5747]

wouldnt get your hopes up on a proper remake, but alas i'd love to see it too

[@Enharmony1625]

@@turkatron5747 Oh, I don't know. I definitely think it's quite possible. Square is very well aware of the demand, which they recently acknowledged in a discussion with Sakaguchi about the Pixel Remasters. Kitase even admits that many of the internal staff at Square Enix want to remake 6, so.. only a matter of time. :) We just need to keep asking, and we shall receive.

[@Sigmalyn]

FFIX will always be my first choice. The nostalgia hits way too hard with this one. Just remembering feels like a pleasure and fairy tale to me.

[@BacklogBattle]

I will say that in the Community Polls, FFIX was below VI for a good amount of time, until closer to when the polls closed! I think IX is a fantastic game!

[@JLind854]

IX is my favorite too! VI is overrated.

[@scabu3]

@@JLind854 if you think 6 is overrated you didnt play it when it came out

[@JLind854]

@@scabu3 you are correct sir I beat it for the first time a couple weeks ago! But this isn’t me saying “old game bad” I just didn’t like any of the characters. I loved playing V right before it tho that one’s pretty high up on my list now

[@scabu3]

@@JLind854 oh wow crazy. Never heard that perspective before. I tried 5 recently but its too hard to get through at this point haha. I could play 6 for nostalgia reasons tho

[@edwardbrannon4418]

12 is my favorite. I love the Gambit system and the hunts. Exploration was amazing and the story was good.

[@aimerw]

I loved the gambit system too; it is highly likely my preferred combat system. Real-time control of one character with positioning mattering, with control that can be switched between party members, setting up a plan before combat, with real-time pause if needing to make alterations on the fly. It is difficult to think of something preferable. Dragon Age Origins shares this system and also shines. The alternatives: Turn-based combat: This is fine, with FFX topping out on this list, but it is too easy to make optimal decisions - especially if they build upon each other. I am a strategist and tactician, so this is something I really dig, but again, it is too easy. It also makes most combat encounters a chore since you can not easily let the party go to town while looking around the area or just travelling through. Whatever FF13 is: This is awful. The game plays itself and you hardly matter. It is like real-time turn-based combat in control of one character with a built-in AI that makes optimal moves automatically. This is like clicker-hero combat, except you don't even click. MMO-style: Great, but you only play one character always. It is simlar to the gambit system, except you have to shout in real life at people rather than having a control scheme. Platformer-style: Otherwise known as Kingdom Hearts-style, this is what 15 and I believe 16 uses (not played either, but seen a fair amount of 15 while a friend was playing it, and seen trailers of 16). It is OK, but Kingdom Hearts done it a lot better from what I can tell. In particular, 15 seems a bit too auto-spam without much thought - building off the 13 playerbase I guess. Anyhow, the combat style itself can work (as Kingdom Hearts shows), but I still prefer the gambit system for being more thoughtful. --- Back to FF12 - sadly the PS2 was crippling to this title. They really should have waited for the PS3 to come out, which if I recall was quite soon after. The game couldn't handle multiple magic effects in play at the same time and so had to queue them - which relegated magic to being very suboptimal outside of healing (and even then, potions were often preferable). The Mist Charge system was garbage, but I have a feeling it came down to realising that players were not going to be using their MP much otherwise. The story was fine, with some elements being great - loved the Empire invasion part of it, although I might be bias as a Brit due to the voicing. The characters were all over the place, from the MC being a sideshow character that somehow got stuck to the party, the sidekick of the sideshow character making even less sense than that, two other sidekick characters that were kind of OK, then a wishy-washy princess/freedom-fighter, and then finally a kickass skypirate (rumoured to have originally been the MC before some bad decision making added Vaan and Penelo). If they had stuck to Balthier, Ashe, Fran, and Basch and expanded those characters a lot more with ALL the freed up time, this could have been great. The exploration was good, although the randomized/hidden/mutually-exclusive chests (before Zodiark Age fixed this) made it painful at times. The envionment and hunts were great. Visuals, great. Could have been better with the PS3, though. Music, fine. So, yeah, I think I would rank it in my top 5. Probably FF10 > FF9 > FF7 > FF12 > FF8 >>> FF14 >>>>>>>>>>> FF15/FF13/FF11. I've played FF6 but it was so long ago I can't really recall enough to rank confidently. Possibly after FF8, but maybe before. FF5 and earlier either I didn't play or I just cannot recall at all. Not played FF16 yet, might get around to it when it exits exclusivity. FF15 not going to touch; can't stand the storyline/characters, and the mechanics didn't seem up to much either.

[@drovaneg]

my fav too !

[@ricsrecipe6530]

You can sleep and you wake up you beat the boss

[@sanderstormalekhine697]

Final Fantasy XII TZA finish it and play the game - if you want the hard way.@@ricsrecipe6530

[@elizabeth4689]

Despite its flaws I had so much fun playing 15. Getting to drive around in an openworld and ride chocobos was so fun. 13 gets a lot of hate but I honestly loved the story

[@Krackorn]

Final Fantasy 8 was my first Final Fantasy and they have been my favorite games ever since. There is no set of games that mean more to me then the Final Fantasy series does.

[@zerti86]

i also started with ff8. still have the box at home. damn, games used to come in a box :D one of the best final fantasy games ever made with by far the best soundtrack in all of the final fantasy franchise

[@carlytweedle9943]

Not my first, that was 7, but definitely my favourite with 16 right behind ^^

[@ronartest7748]

ff8 sucked. squall was virgin loser

[@davewalmash6849]

I think maybe your selection is biased as it was the first game you owned. FF7 set the incredibly high standards of an RPG, which FF8 kind of took and dived with. FF8 was alright, but nothing compared to it's predecessor

[@carlytweedle9943]

@@davewalmash6849 what's my bias then? People just like different things 🤷‍♀️

[@bdut22]

FFX is my all time favorite game. Glad to see it so high in the rankings!

[@evilproducer9647]

Yeah, it is also my favorite FF game in terms of story!

[@demi8598]

@@evilproducer9647 ffx and xii are my best of em all as i hate the new approach

[@DiademAce]

The story is amazing w game

[@Rabestern]

For me FFX is also favorite but best ending is in FF8.

[@hgladam]

I love FFX for its story/music/main game playthrough but what ruins for me is some of the post game non-sense that every title afterwards whittles down

[@elsemir-ca]

FFVI is still the best to me. I’m a huge VII fan, but VI is just up there with Chrono Trigger as timeless masterpieces to me.

[@longhornburnt]

Chrono trigger 😭❤

[@hector4470]

Same here! Despite so many new entries since 6 there hasn’t been an entry that’s matched how deep the story was and all it’s characters just stood out beautifully because of it.

[@OfficialCrowMauler]

⁠@@hector4470 VI is deep? _Deep?_ I’d love for you to expand on this claim, if you have the time.

[@prestonasher2291]

Completely agree. 7 just had the marketing, timing and system.

[@JLind854]

I just finished VI a few days ago for the first time. Idk I just thought it was fine. Didn’t like kefka as a villain at all and I only cared about maybe 3 or 4 of the main cast of characters. I enjoyed V a lot more personally

[@Vayne_Solidor]

As a completionist, 12 Zodiac Age is perfect. Way over 100 hours of great content. The optional stuff is easily the best in the whole series. 5 Espers are main story. 8 are optional with one of them being an absolute menace. Just to showcase the scale.

[@I_Am_The_Social_Reject]

Taking an hour to beat the ultimate boss wasn't fun and having cheat codes built in made it worse. No sense of difficulty or reward. Just auto pilot

[@sanderstormalekhine697]

Did you finish the game. Then try the game minus w/o cheat. then tell me if it is easy, Maybe you don't even try@@I_Am_The_Social_Reject

[@_nagazaki__]

Dry cast of characters, dry story and dry battle system bruh

[@alca7538]

@@_nagazaki__ I really love the battle system and being able to run in the world instead of the freezing crashing into battles. Made the game feel so much more fast pace. I wished the gambit system and open world style was a optional for every other game coming after it.

[@BCOG1691]

Community making FF9 be #2 made me smile. It will always be my number 1 storywise and game-wise.

[@I_Am_The_Social_Reject]

I was shocked. It's my favorite game of all time and fans rarely have good tastes haha

[@504Trey]

My top 6 1. X 2. VI 3. VII 4. XIV 5. VIII 6. IX

[@I_Am_The_Social_Reject]

@@504Trey Sorry try again lol

[@ElectricLegend14]

@@504Trey Correct :)

[@jacopom.7477]

Gameplay wise is probably one of the worst final fintasy, it's incredibily slow

[@ye-roon]

FF9 is my fav in the series. Its story, its characters, great sidequests, best music, many different themes in the story. Its just fantastic. I also have 15 higher up then many, as that game I played in a period of unemployment and it helped me out with just having a road trip with the boys and as such i never fast traveled and let the car run by itself.

[@Fogdiver69]

Agreed, FF9 has the best music, best characters, and best plot of any of the series' games I've played.

[@realtayo42]

I played Final Fantasy XIV years before I even discovered the JRPG genre because I kept hearing so much about it from tons of people. Many games later, it's still by far my favorite FF game. It's just a magical experience to be in Eorzea

[@BacklogBattle]

Definitely unlike any other FF, even XI!

[@jasonsern]

Cause. You are the warrior of Light. And the Music Rocks

[@goobatroopa_]

Kefka is my all time favorite video game villain. The perfect balance of maniacal, hateful, and evil without over doing it in any one department.

[@user2125]

U forgot hes funny asking his soldier to clean his feet.

[@Ihatefoodbuffs]

U forgot the annoying octopus that is equivalent to team rocket 😂

[@MrWesleyton]

He was my fav until emet-selch arrived 🎉❤

[@MrWesleyton]

@@Ihatefoodbuffsultros lol

[@thehater6189]

He was very over the top though. The best ff villain for me is seymour

[@fashlimakarim6757]

FF VI taught me that - In any situation, no matter how chaotic the world is, giving up is the last option because there is always hope that I can find even if the world has turned to the dust. - No matter how many your sins in the past, you could do better in the future. - No matter what looks and race you have, someone would love you. - You have to let go of the person you love the most, even if it's really painful FF VI is kinda relate with covid and current world situation (that's why FF VI is the better option for the remake than FF VII) and I love it

[@KlukePhoenix]

FF 7 is amazing so hyped for rebirth

[@michaelmoody9569]

My top 4 are 4.VII 3.X 2.IX 1.VI

[@helennethers9777]

FF8 - best love story FF7 - best save the world FF9 - best fantasy world FF4 - Epic save the worlds FF Mystic Quest - best story focusing on yourself with help from different allies at any one time FF10 - best story flow with battle system

[@matthewgallagher6283]

I really enjoy your videos and I really like how you always try and find something positive to say even if you don’t like something, it’s such a breath of fresh air.

[@BacklogBattle]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate this!

[@Kyur4deIch]

FFXI is my all time favorite. The memories I created in that game and lifelong friends I've made through the game are irreplaceable. The real life weddings I've attended and sadly, the funerals too, are etched deeply in my person. The story, the music, the homage to the job classes and the beastiary was top notch. I understand folks may not have had the same experience I have, but I feel bad that y'all didn't get to experience that. I'm glad I got to re-do that cycle with FFXIV and thus the MMOs, to me, are above all the rest. A very very biased look into it, I know.

[@time9293]

In my opinion, having not played the mmos or 16, it was the last good FF Game.

[@ItsKhaan]

11 should easily be top 3.

[@justinh7560]

@@ItsKhaan The problem is if people try it in its current state, they get a vastly different experience than the XI we all fell in love with. FFXI up thru Wings of the Goddess is my #1 FF, during its golden years when servers were full. Now, you can't even join an EXP party if you wanted. You're stuck playing with trusts all the way to 99, with half the servers being afk. Not the same as trying to open Garlaige Citadel gates with a bunch of random people, or accidentally linking half of Crawler's Nest.

[@user-gr5bv4op7d]

You can always tell which FF ranking creators either never played FFXI or never got past the dunes by how low they rank FFXI.

[@anthonyphillips4415]

2002 ushered in a new era FFXI was part of something great built off of many that came before i will never forget

[@yes-hv2bb]

I’ve played 5 final fantasy games so far and I’d rank them 5. Final fantasy xii 4. Final fantasy v 3. Final fantasy iv 2. Final fantasy vi 1. Final fantasy x

[@mugetsu9393]

FF8 was my first final fantasy game ever. my uncle gave it to me along with his ps1 and memory cards, sadly he died in a military operation back in 2000 in iraq shortly after giving the game to me... he never got to finish the game and i took it upon myself to finish it for him coz i knew how much he loved it, i was like 10 years old at that time, i cried so many times during that game tbh. till this day i still have that very same ps1 and discs. so emotionally, ff8 takes the nr1 spot for me.but FF7 is still the best imo storywise etc followed by FF6 and 10

[@keinlieb3818]

Sorry for your uncle. I also served in Iraq. I started playing FFXI just before leaving for Iraq in 2003. I tried playing it when I got back, but once I returned, WoW was what all my friends played, so I switched and never got back into FFXI. FF8 is also my favorite and also the 1st FF I ever played.

[@nathank2289]

8 will always be #1 for me. Best sound track. Best minigames. Best highwind. On screen relationships. Best syfi/fantasy fusion. Really open character building.

[@GamekingRo46]

Great list Alex! Thanks for all the work you put Into this. And it was fun to be a little part of this through voting 👍🏻 cheers

[@BacklogBattle]

You're very welcome! It's always great to see the community coming together to vote on something like this!

[@Michaelpatrickwarren]

What a wonderful video. I really appreciate your respect for every entry. So many of these type of videos just talk smack about the bottom half of the list. You managed to find positive elements from every game. Well done, Sir. While my three top favorites would be IX, VI, and the VII, I respect your video very much and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@BacklogBattle]

You totally get it! Even though my ranking is my own, the whole point of the video is to celebrate the entire series and what each game brought to the table. Thank you for recognizing that!

[@TotaledThunder]

Unreal that ffxv was first announced during the Bush administration! Lol

[@Robodob0]

My top 3 would be 7, 12 and 6, in that order, but i am impressed with this community list. Just proves that the community really knows what's up! Cheers all!

[@maximos905]

That's my same order as well with 8 and 9 after that

[@supremeoverlorde2109]

I like that this list focuses mainly on the positives, even of the games that are ranked lower on the list. I think it just goes to show that there's something good to be found in every FF game and there's a reason people's favorites vary so much. I can honestly say I haven't played a title I've actively disliked.

[@Zakemaster]

Oof. IX being ranked 7th hurts my soul a bit. I think it’s the perfectly distilled version of the original era of Final Fantasy, with a fantastic cast, cool world, and compelling story that got surprisingly dark and introspective for how it appears. In many ways it’s the perfect representation of the series I grew up playing before it finished transforming into what it is today. XIV has eventually edged it out as my favorite game in the series, but IX will always have a special place in my heart.

[@VesperAegis]

FF1, 4, and 5 are also ranked far too low. 5 is very underappreciated among the American audience, and 4's story was excellent.

[@BunchaNothin]

I feel you, but I've recently come to realize my memory of IX is better than the game holds up for me. IX was my favorite for a long time, but I also realized I hadn't played IX in years. I recently replayed VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, and XII, and found that IX did not hold up as much as my memory of it. The story, gameplay, and overall feeling of the game fell short of what I previously thought of it. IX used to be my #1, but it is a lot lower for me now. Conversely, I enjoyed X when it came out, but has now reached near the top of the list after my recent playthrough.

[@VesperAegis]

@@BunchaNothinVery strange at least on the story front. I'll admit it has a few childish moments, but after studying more about existentialism after my first playthrough when I was just a kid, I really get quite a bit more out of the story. A lot of great themes underneath about the nature of agency.

[@fangiscool1]

@@BunchaNothin I played ff9 recently. It definitely holds up. If you're claiming it didn't hold up because of something about VIII or XII, then I think it's that your perception is off

[@BunchaNothin]

@@fangiscool1 differences of opinion. Didn't say my thoughts were objective, because it's a matter of taste. Your response, on the other hand, is unnecessarily aggressive.

[@greenlong1987]

X will always be my favorite. It has such unique, fleshed out characters. Also I really enjoy the themes of religions vs faith. It’s all just so damn good.

[@firepenguin38]

It's my second favorite. Good gravy. I hate Seymour lol

[@MindandSorcery]

100% And Auron as to be the most badass character they brought to life in the whole franchise. Down to the way he moves, his stance, the voice acting is spot on. "No time to waste let's go"

[@firepenguin38]

@@MindandSorcery I will agree there. He's a bad ass

[@geenalawrence8338]

X is what i consider to be a flawless game. Absolutely magnificent.

[@firemeyer1256]

Amazing soundtrack as well, top 5 in series easily, though it’s my favorite

[@totsuzendesho]

Thank you for your amazing list! I've played them all too, and VII to this day is still my favorite, with X as a close second. The chills when I got to see Midgar from top-view sight in the intro when I was 10...I still try to find something as powerful as this in my life to this day. I've always preferred a few others (VII, X, VIII, IX) to VI for various reasons, but I can see why so many people adore VI more than anything. It's the pinnacle of emotional moments in video games.

[@spotifyseascapessmoothjazz]

FFXI from 2005-2009 was my favorite gaming experience of all time. For anyone who actually had 20+ hours per week of uninterrupted, distraction-free time to play during that era and a lot of patience, it was truly something special. The community, gil economy, exploration, brutal challenges and the grind... unforgettable. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event.

[@BacklogBattle]

It may appear low on my list, but I will never forget someone shouting "train" and everyone scattering so they won't be murdered by mobs lol

[@ytToxicDreams]

Ffviii will forever have a special place for me. Absolutely loved that game.

[@gog6256]

Final Fantasy VI is my favorite FF game, and RPG in general. I was so immersed in this game when I first played it and up to this day, I can still remember the game as if I played it yesterday. I also remember every piece of music in the game. It was and is still amazing.

[@gbonifant]

Final Fantasy VI was my absolute favorite game growing up. I used to ride the bus home from school as a kid and re-read the same strategy guide over and over on that ride home, waiting impatiently to play this amazing game night after night. I read that strategy guide so much the cover literally was following off lol.

[@rottentomatoplays]

I still have my guide in relatively excellent condition

[@Will-wv7sn]

9 was my favorite for a loooong time and it still has the best group of characters and side quests of them all....felt like a True Final Fantasy. Best soundtrack, best character themes. Its also a cool change of pace because the main character isn't necessarily a warrior or the strongest of the bunch. He was theif that was in a group of oddball rogues which was really lighthearted and funny. Also the class system where everyone had their unique capabilities solely for them. 9 aside from 12 also has the best cities....which leads me to bridge into FF12....which is probably slightly my favorite. The world was just too amazing and hunts and mini quests were underrated. It was the first true open world FF game and every character played an important role...with the true main character being Baltheir which I thought was cool. Very underrated game imo...and my favorite of the bunch.

[@neikthasneak619]

To this day FF9 is still my favortie game of all time. The story, skill and ap system, sidequests and mini games, awesome cutscenes, and beatiful and colorful settings and characters instead of the dingy dark settings of 8 and 9. Not to mention the deep charvacter development for almost all the characters in the game not just playable ones.

[@EKk8819]

16 and the 7 Remake/Rebirth stand head and shoulders above every other FF game, but 13 and 10 are close!! The Story in 16 is just so captivating and brilliant. I fell in love with Jill and Clive an Joshua. And of course 7, Cloud, Barett, Tifa, Goats of the video game world. Final Fantasy game are all like piccasos, just beautiful, always stylish and innovative and arent afraid to try new things.

[@Shagrath06]

My first FF I've played was 7, in 1998. It was the best FF for me until I started playing FF 14 which is now my favourite FF and game overall. It is absolutely incredible.

[@Darkadvocate5423]

Final Fantasy IX has always been my favorite. I had played VII and definitely enjoyed it, but it didn't land with me the same way as IX. IX really cemented the series as one of my favorites, I tend to try to play through it again every 5 years or so. I'm really hoping all those rumors of a remake are true as I would absolutely love to see some of those environments remade with newer technology.

[@crov43]

I'm kind of pissed that IX is often overlooked and ppl prefer VII over it. IX even has more enjoyable characters (I mean, look at Cloud, he's lame af if you compare it to Zidane)

[@resetbutton7982]

@@crov43how is Cloud lame?

[@badmeetsevil6163]

Yeah putting IX at #7 is ridiculous. Only FF that even comes close to IX is VI.

[@badmeetsevil6163]

@@crov43 Yeah I really cannot understand how ppl would put VII over IX...must be rose-tinted glasses. I really found VII super underwhelming.

[@badmeetsevil6163]

@@resetbutton7982 He's a boring character and pretty ugly too

[@brichan1851]

A great list. I haven’t seen if you have done it, but if not, I would love to see a similar list, “Final Fantasy off-shoot games ranked.” Games like Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy X-2, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII… It may be a bit of a long video, but it would be great to see.

[@Tjorhunter]

Final fantasy 12 is EXTREMELY underrated.

[@theunknowngamer2397]

I’ve been playing FF14 and there are many visual elements that feel a lot like 12 and make me want to go back and play that too. I don’t think I finished it when it came out and I need to correct that mistake.

[@appliedforcesJYG]

FF12 and 14 in my opinion are the best in the series. Love that politics feel. You can imagine a whole world behind the games. The lore in some other single player releases were tacked on I found (not necessarily in meaningful ways).

[@andreashutabarat7072]

Agree, FFXII the best

[@sion7651]

for someone who does not like starwars it is tough to get into. i beat it but i never looked back.

[@appliedforcesJYG]

Fair

[@HiphopisaGIF]

My FF list: 1) FF 13-2 2) FF 16 3)FF: Lightning Returns 4) FFXIII 5)FFX Haven't played any others yet. Peace! Edit: FF16 is officially my favorite. Amazing!

[@manchiang]

Mine is a toss up between 6 and 7. Most memorable moments in 6 is sabin unleashing bumrush on opponents. In 7, the scene with red saw his dad as a statue and i also shed some tears.

[@hippopotatomoose]

XI is an insane mmo. Brutal, unforgiving, but hugely satisfying. There will never be another MMO like it. It's unfortunate that WoW was the one that gained popularity when XI was far more superior.

[@luroc]

Excellently made ranking video of such an important video game series for me and I have no qualms whatsoever with both the community rankings and your ranking. My top 5 is 1. FFVI 2. FFIV 3. FFX 4. FFVII 5. FFIX. and even though i understand that these particular lists are all relative, there have been some other ranking videos ive seen that have left me scratching my head.

[@JurassicPancake]

mad respect for even putting 14 on the list, lots of people dont. it was my first final fantasy game and while the other games certainly dont play like it the amazing story & world is 100% on par with what i've played from ff7 remake and the first ~4 chapters of ff7 rebirth so far

[@kupotanisTTV]

The WAY I pumped my hands up and down and slightly lifted my leg up seeing the first place spot. Tears. Thank you for this video and this list!

[@DanielSantosAnalysis]

Interesting ranking! Mine would be quite different but that's to be expected, these games are vastly different from each other and therefore are going to impact every player in profoundly contrasting ways.

[@FinalFantasyXDen-br4to]

I think it also has to do with when you played them. IX was my first FF game and I was in middle school at the time, so it holds a special place in my heart. I love X and I've played it the most. As i got older, I disliked FF games more and more. XIII and XV were very disappointing.

[@vigovolda5511]

Sephiroth may be the most famous villain in all of JRPG, but man... Kefka... let's be honest, there is not a single villain in the world of JRPG games that is as crazy and maniacal as Kefka!!

[@LordofRacoons]

Final Fantasy 7 was the first Final Fantasy I played and for me is still the greatest game I ever played. It was a time of great nostalgia for me because they were the best years of my life and I just don't enjoy anything about life as much as I did at that time. And 9 and 10 are equal second favourites of mine.

[@TheGunmanChannel]

Why is non binary in the description? No way any video games work without binary code.

[@BacklogBattle]

😂

[@silenoz666]

My top 3 is just the same as yours. VI is my all time game ever. Whenever I hear the Theme of Terra tears of joy come to my eyes - same thing with To Zanarkand from X -.

[@RyuHirakashi1]

I bought FF VI the day it released here and in north america. I waited till everyone went to bed, and popped it in my SNES. I was simply floored by intro. I loved EVERYTHING about this game. I loved how you could customize the way the menus looked. I loved the music. I loved how everything progressed through each of the experiences of the each playable character. I even loved just how much I hated Kefka. He was one of my favorite antagonists. This was a guy who did his own dirty work. He delighted in making people suffer. I really loved magic system. I've replayed it numerous times over the years. I will play again once I by the pixel remasters. Sadly, as much as I love 6, after years of internal debate 7 finally took the top spot for me. I also spent big money on the OSTs when they were available. Sadly, I love the old school FFs so I haven't played anything past 10. I can't get into these new generation FF games. They are just too different from what I grew up on.

[@NYCHeavyHitz212]

7 is undeniable. I love 6 though.

[@wingegiah828]

yea 10 was the last good one for me… I tried the others after that… Somehow I cant really get into them…

[@paulsutanto9471]

Wow i think everyone has different taste. My best is still ff6,but i dont like ff7 and i dont even want to play ff8 and ff15 back then. I like ff10, ff12, ff tactic and even ff16(i treat ff16 like action game like god of war or dmc not an rpg game, the story is good the action is good, no complaint then it is good action adventure game).

[@actuallynotsteve]

I also grew up on FF and remember racing home from grade school to play ff6 after years of previews. It's still one of the most important games I've ever played, because I really love and loved its message and themes. That said, ff16 really deserves so much more praise and I hope you get the chance to play it. It's very different than the old SNES games, but it sincerely gave me the same feeling as an adult that the old SNES games did when they came out.

[@RyuHirakashi1]

@@actuallynotsteve Sadly ff16 doesn’t even feel like an rpg. I would be more willing to play it if it was an action rpg, but it’s not even that. They just took a random action game and slapped the Final Fantasy name on it to make it sell more. Squaresoft wrote book and established a genre that the rest of the industry has upheld to this day. This latest generation of players can only seem to play action games and can’t really appreciate deeper levels of complexity that older games offered. Square enix just threw us old school fans under the bus for the sake of profits. It’s down right despicable. Under the old flag of squaresoft such groundbreaking titles such as earthbound and chrono trigger were made. All while being turn based. We’ll never see that kind of innovation ever again.

[@KuriYellow]

13 will always be my favorite. i understand why people didnt like it but I'll never change my mind

[@drewtheunspoken3988]

It's one of my top 5. I never understood the hate it gets. I mean, I believe people who say they don't like it and why. I just don't feel that way. I love the whole trilogy and Lightning Returns, to date, is the only game I've ever Platinumed.

[@TheCakeling]

I’ve always been a sucker for Final Fantasy IX. The game hits all the right emotional beats for me and the characters are just so iconic! I also enjoy the equipment and ability system too

[@BacklogBattle]

I have the game installed on my Steam Deck and will be playing through it again once I install the Moguri mod! Admittedly, its placement here is based off of shoddy memories from when I played it more than 20 years ago - but I'm the type of person who loves revisiting games just to see if my opinions of them change!

[@TheCakeling]

@@BacklogBattle the Moguri mod is awesome. Tried that a couple years back! I’d like to hear your thoughts on the game after a refreshed look! I also like to revisit games periodically to see if they hold up to my initial reactions and memories

[@BacklogBattle]

For sure! Right now, I'm working on FFVI, but here's hoping I can get some time with it over the next few months!

[@Ashkore11]

@TheCakeling "Chivalry requires a knight to look after his comrades-in-arms. I will not abandon you! And I shall follow you to kingdom come if I must. You remember that!" Steiner to Zidane in Pandemonium

[@Yeaster]

FF6 is so timeless. Always seem to come back to it. FF7 is #1 for me, and will always be. You just had to be there when it came out

[@fiLthy_Rx]

"You just had to be there when it came out." 💯 I was 15 when it was released, and that game was incredible, it overshadowed everything else at the time. Gaming will never be exciting on that level for me ever again.

[@cyborgtemplar1989]

for me that would be legend of dragoon in ff7 spot. Mostly because I never got to play 7 at that age, where I did get to play and fully enjoy legend of dragoon. If i had that same fond memory of 7, it might actually beat out x for me. but as it stands X is my #1, even though I have FAR more hours on both zodiac age and XIV.

[@Moraalridder123]

7 is by far the best and has the greatest story, totally unpredictable in the beginning, def #1

[@harrysmith7320]

You played FFXI during the golden years. The difficulty really made everything feel that much more of an accomplishment and the celebration of that first time you hit 75, golden memories. The difficulty of levelling made camping level specific gear worthwhile. A game I can never replay though, as the time requirement and being an adult, its just not possible.

[@Aries_Aria]

The Level 75 era was peak 11. Specially during ToAU and the early parts of Wings. Though leveling BLM and SMN was not fun lol

[@willis8863]

Yeah, I think the difficulty was both what makes it a nostalgic experience for me and one I could never return to lol

[@butterschunkmcdonalds5333]

IX deserves soo much nore attention than it recieves tbh. I notice when many people talk about their favorite FF games, They list VI, VII, VIII & X, And I'm always baffled at why IX isn't getting mentioning as i think its easily one of the absolute best in the series, Characters are all so lovable, Story is very well written without getting overly complicated like so many games in the series, The whole fantasy vibe is fantastic and the music is some of my favorite. Personally i think FFIX is top 3 with X & VI, And if someone said its THE best, I wouldn't argue, Its def worthy of a 10/10.

[@findtruth7]

FF7 will always be my favourite, excellent story line, game play and sound track. I agree with the community ranking its number 1.

[@BGalligan65]

Great list. I also appreciate how you made a list that is truly your own, and it seems to keep you own opinion at the forefront ahead of some influences from the Final Fantasy community that I feel sometimes can skew some people’s lists.

[@chrisyarbro5550]

Yeah man, you nailed it with FFVI. Best game of all time. No doubt. Nothing else matters. Well done.

[@mitchlacasse361]

I'm calling it now before I watch this video, FF VI is the best Final Fantasy game of all time, arguably the best RPG of all time, with a long and layered story that sees the good guys lose half-way through the game, the largest cast of playable characters, everyone of them memorable with unique combat skills. I easily sank 200 hours into this single player Super Nintendo game, with my favorite sound track. Terra's theme is my favorite song is song I will often play as I go about my day, and the opera song you can hear the lyrics even though there are none. Also not to mention how beautiful that game looks for a 16 bit game.

[@enutrofdude]

The soundtrack was (and still is) glorious. I've had the 3-CD soundtrack for nearly 30 years. The graphics were definitely amazing, too. FF-VI was such a huge leap over FF-IV despite being on the same console. The FF-VI "pixel remaster" opera song has actual vocals, which are nice to hear despite never being necessary in the first place.

[@SarutaValentine]

My top three are: 1: Final Fantasy 13 2: Final Fantasy 7 3: Final Fantasy 15. To say this series has given me great memories would be an understatement. It has given me fantastical worlds to run to when real life is too much

[@VictoriaSteelmountain]

Good list!

[@SarutaValentine]

@@VictoriaSteelmountain thank you!

[@tylersmith9868]

Ff13 is the biggest pile of dog shit lmfao wtf

[@NocturneCXIV]

I totally agree with you! Those are my favs too but in a different order: 1. FF15 2. FF13 3. FF7

[@SarutaValentine]

@@NocturneCXIV I love it!

[@nekosahara]

Thanks for your list, always good to see how someone else ranks the games. I was surprised 9 being in the middle of your list. it would have been interesting to hear why you ranked them there. It’s refreshing to hear the positive spin on all the games, but made me curious why 9 wasn’t higher on your list. 8 is always high up on my list but it’s propped up by nostalgia, it was my first FF game, but can understand people’s dislike of it.

[@gangsterHOTLINE]

Your list was the perfect formula of all the lists I've watched. The facts about directors and composers was a much appreciated addition for me, and your list aligned with my own ranking title for title which was fun to silently mouth the next entry along with your reveal. You earned yourself a sub. Also to kinda gush over XI and the time period you played it, I was there too and it was hilarious to hear you mention the mechanics that true players of XI (especially in the west) were accustomed to during its peak life. The shouting in the dunes for a party slot with your level and jobs is so spot on, and the overall brutal difficulty of the game with unforgiving death punishment of losing experience you sometimes spent hours and hours gaining... oh my god. Deleveling because you got lost in a zone trying to find the exit after a successful party and level up, just to train 20 enemies smacking you till your HP reached zero. And on top of that, trying to yell to everyone in the zone that you were approching the exit with 20 enemies in tow which could potentially kill everyone leveling near the enterence, it was such a stressful experience. I remember playing as a samurai for most of my time in the game and it was so hard to find a party that needed a SAM ever. Then you had some of the job classes that were so outrageously sought after like the Red Mage with their refresh spell, that people were paying millions of gil for a RDM to even join a party that all RDM players were filthy rich. And the Black Mage's were able to teleport people to the other major cities and made a killing just teleporting, it was great. Then there were the all BLM mana burn parties where black mages decided they didn't need any other class for leveling and parties of just BLM would burn through enemies so fast they didn't need tanks or healers. Such a special time in MMO history with FFXI. Staying up till all hours of the night using the built-in translator to try and get into a japanese player party to help finish your artifact armor quests is something I wouldn't trade in for the world. Final Fantasy XI is the hardest game I ever played for the silliest reasons to be called hard. Wow that was a thing I just typed. Bravo on your list and content friend!

[@Spazilton1]

I remember playing FFIX for almost 30 hours straight because the story had me that hooked.

[@Curaga.]

Final fantasy 9 has one of the best stories in all of gaming. Such an underrated masterpiece

[@arisuaozora]

True and the songs is good

[@k4yser]

i wonder if its just me, or if other people see the similarities within the overall story of ix and xvi. its almost a copy. never heared someone talking about it, but in both you have a failing civilization which tries to rebirth themselves into a new vessel. (somewhat)

[@arisuaozora]

@@k4yser xvi is a copy pasterino cuppachino of everything. The battle theme is copy pasted from ff8. The mog is from ffxiv. Lazy overrated yoshi p and soken

[@Dzzy123]

​@@k4yserYeah, Ultima's goal and history parallels the Terrans from IX. IX did the twist better, though.

[@PlazDreamweaver]

​@@arisuaozoraExactly!!

[@Jordie_42]

I ordered a physical copy of FF Pixel Remastered and will arrive this week. Only played 6. So I'm eager to finally get into the earlier games

[@JD.78]

On nostalgi alone FFVII cleans up, the impact this game had on me back then defined not only my gaming entheusiasm for the medium, but me as a person. Loved it, still do...in fact i'm playing through the PS1 version of FFVII right now. I really enjoyed VIII and XII too mainly because they delved into terriyory that i love, mainly Sci-Fi and World Eploration respectively. Though IX is a throwback to classic Final Fantasy character classes which the series was built upon. Cheers.

[@mindblockandroid]

For me it’s IV. I played it with my older brother way back in 92, but now he lives far away. I love VI, but IV’s story is my preferred one

[@SEYEBOY]

VI is the Greatest Game . FF6 was Infinity war and Endgame put together. My Number 1 forever.

[@calebwest1684]

Of the four that i’ve played, 1. VII 2. VI 3. IX 4. XVI

[@WaruiDeshou]

Being a massive 13 stan, I consider it making your top ten a huge win 😁

[@TRafael82]

Many don't like 13 but I love it as well. One of my favorites.

[@markstenquist2315]

I'm rewatching the cutscene movie with my wife right now and she's enjoying it. I love 13.

[@TheOnceandFutureJake]

Seeing FFIX place second in the community rankings is really heartwarming. It's nice to see it finally start getting the recognition it's due.

[@alexandrert948]

9 is no longer an unknown gem, it currently has almost the same relevance and audience as 7, being one of the most beloved in the community.

[@a.jackson9613]

I know a lot of people absolutely dont like FF 13, but I still love the battle system in it. The end game in it was a lot of fun, but it stays so linear for so long. It feels like so much of the game acts like a tutorial for the battle system, which really opens up mid to late game.

[@sonicmania9993]

Enjoyed the video: fun list, which doesn't fill me with frustration/low-key rage like so many lists like this do HAHA. Nice presentation as well! I don't agree with all of your rankings, but a lot of them are near where I'd put them. FF16 will probably be my goty 2023, but I feel it's too high here -- closer to "middle of the pack" for me, ranking behind 9 and 8. 7, 6, and 14 are top of the heap for me ... and maybe 7 & 6 are only above 14 for nostalgia reasons. I don't like MMOs generally, but 14 somehow continues to climb in my estimation. I still play FF14 20 hours/week a lot of the time, so amazing! Always thinking about it. And it's even better now than 2-3 years ago, now that you can basically play single-player with trusts right through all expansion dungeons if you want to. I am starting to realize that FF14 is my favorite game of the last 20 years...

[@BacklogBattle]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you! One thing that I've been thinking about too is that because there's only 16 (haha "only") Final Fantasies, there's this interesting conversation that's coming up with what games should be in the Top 10, with some saying that, "only good games need to be in that Top 10." But let's be real - not every Final Fantasy is going to hit home with everyone, and that's by design.

[@97ajg]

Final fantasy 13 will always be my favorite the memories I have with the game are amazing and the combat is my favorite. I do recognize the game is flawed but realistically they all are to a degree

[@thelittleowl8399]

6 and 10 will always be my absolute faves so it's nice to see them getting the love they deserve

[@martinusriovanni4632]

A lot of people don't realize, when a fan votes VI as the best, is that the amount of work that was involved in that game as well. As wonderful as the story, the system, the music, and everything else was, people need to realize this game pushed the SNES and the cartridge to it's absolute limits. Designers said if FF6 was to be their last in the series, they would had been satisfied with their work. Nobuo Uematsu has mentioned that he places his best work within this game as well. It truly was a symphony of system-pushing achievements. It was everyone's best offering and the series true magnum opus.

[@lindabradley7683]

My first ever FF is VIII so I have special memories with that one. I loved the story in IX and play it once a year. FF-X made me cry when I finished it. Such a great story. I played VI in later years but never finished it. The game always stuck in my head. It’s on my agenda to play before the year is out 😊

[@ThatsOurRobert]

My first final fantasy was actually mystic quest. Which isn't even seen as a serious FF game. But that game is soooo nostalgic and awesome to me! It isn't even that bad. It's just very easy lol.

[@AirTails]

Always fun going through these :) 16+15/Dead rank: III + XI - Haven't played 14: II - I admire it in a few ways, but it's way too grindy and doesn't feel rewarding enough for it. 13: XV - Story has the blueprint of greatness, and the boy band dynamic was great, but that was the only home run for me. Open world was not well-executed, and even with all the peripheral material I did not feel like it salvaged the feeling of incompleteness or that it lacked assertion in what it wanted to be. 12: I - Surprisingly holds up well for its age, and quite difficult. Not much to say, it's alright for what it is. 11: XIII - It's a good game, just disappointing for an FF game, not to mention one on new hardware at the time. Plot wasn't my cup of tea, but the battle system was fun enough. Characters were a bit annoying. I feel like if it didn't have the FF name it'd be more fondly remembered. 10: VIII - This is such a bizarre game. I like it despite its flaws (and my #1 has several flaws too), but the story feels like it's made up as it goes along, and the battle system is just fine. I like the cinematic soundtrack and presentation, and the aesthetic is awesome. It's just..... _weird_ . 9: IV - The quintessential FF? For its time it was gold standard, and this might feel like a low placement for some, but I do enjoy this game. Story is good, for its time. Invented ATB. Three world maps. Just a solid RPG. I feel embarrassed seeing it this low but it's only a testament to how good the series is. 8: XII - Lovely aesthetic and world, lots of open spaces to explore, and fairly robust character building. Story feels a bit aimless / non-committal after a point, but the gameplay works well, and the hunts were great additional content. Just feels like it's missing a little magic to call it truly great. 7: XVI - Difficult to place because it's quite different and still fresh...about middle feels right? While it has attributes other modern entries have been criticised for, it seems better-received, I think in large part because it's more assertive in what it wanted for its gameplay and story. The voice acting is outstanding, and the story feels like a return to form, but I'm unsure it's one I want to revisit as much as the classics. 6: V - I will die on this hill, and to be honest I'd rather replay this more than VI. The story is whatever, but the job system is so much fun. You do get situations where maybe certain jobs are incompatible with bosses, but for the most part there's a lot of gameplay explorations and replay value to be had, especially for its age. It's FUN, and on the right day I could easily bump this up a few places. 5: X - The fan's darling. It is a classic. Replaying it is a bit of a slog for me because of the long scenes, formulaic encounters/bosses for a large chunk of the game, and swapping everyone around to beat up a lone ant to get that sweet AP. But the narrative is tight with some great twists, the difficulty curve is excellent, and the aesthetic is jaw-dropping. 4: VI - Probably my hottest take on a relatively conventional list? This is by far the most common #1 on critic and fan lists. But it's close among the top few for me. It's a giant among its kind both for its hardware, and emotive story. The series suddenly became more mature, and while I'll take quality over quantity for roster, about 2/3 of them were quality enough (and I'd say only handful REALLY high quality, namely Locke, Shadow, Celes and Terra, maybe Cyan) with the rest adding some gameplay variety. I'm not the biggest fan of the split party sections and the early pacing, but it's undeniably one of the all-time-greats for sure. 3: XIV - This one is a long journey, and one that definitely starts from an awkward place - retaining the world and lore of the failed 1.0 release. With the expansions however, the team behind this game have crafted one of if not the best stories in the franchise - particularly the Shadowbringers chapter - and it captures that magical essence that many feel was lost despite its MMO structure. While the mandatory story content is a bit faceroll, the wealth of combat design in the extreme trials and savage/alliance raids is fantastic. 2: VII - My entry point to the series, as it was for many. While the blocky characters are a bit funny, it doesn't take an hour or 2 of play before I get comfortable with the game's style again. The story is an interesting tapestry of mystery with a more personal story focused on mainly one character. The game just has an absorbing narrative and atmosphere that holds up, and the combat is great and snappy. My biggest complaints are that the story feels more like it's going through the motions once the big mystery is solved, and a lot of the mini games feel awful even if at the time it made the game feel immense. Also hands down Uematsu's best work, in my humble opinion. 1: IX - While for every gem in this game's crown lies a flaw (Trance, battle pace, tetra master, some under-developed main characters), the deft script that perfectly balances humour and relatable, serious themes - the core of which being coming to terms with mortality - is a huge gem in that crown for me. It's a cosy and moderately-paced story that might not be for everyone, but even the most minor of characters radiate a wealth of charm, the chocobo games and worldwide treasure exploration were great, and it just generally feels like a labour of love that's pleasing to explore every nook and cranny of for the next rewarding exclamation bubble. Both Moogles and Chocobos are at their most memorable here too as a bonus.

[@lxlPhishlxl]

I agree with the majority of your out take here. Good job 👍

[@alexandrert948]

Good to read more sincere and mature analyzes

[@michaeldoeslifefan]

just got into final fantasy more with 16 that game changed my life and made me a fan of these amazing games, i will forever love 16 for welcoming me into the series

[@aCidNow]

there was a saying among the FF series fans: "you favorite FF will be the FF you first played" (and finished - for me). My fav is FF7 (first FF), then FF8 and 3rd is FF15 because the journey was so familiar to 7 and 8 (bunch of people who joined together because something went wrong and they couldn't go back home)

[@jjoeyj83]

@@aCidNow that’s true of a lot of FF fans. I started with 7. It’s my 2nd favorite. X is my all time favorite. 16 is now my 3rd favorite. (Don’t personally understand all the love for 9)

[@alexandrert948]

Your next game now has to be Devil May Cry, because that's the franchise this game belongs to, and no, 16 is not from the FF franchise, I refuse 😂

[@natas2375]

Notably due in part to the soundtrack, FFX Has remained my favorite, followed only by FFVII. I was ecstatic to see that it was ranked at number 2 on this list

[@kaboom328]

My favorites are X, XIII, and XII for their great stories and side content. My least favorite has got to be IX. That dumb speed run sword is the bane of completionists and goes against the pacing of RPG games.

[@OmarAOrtizM]

It definitely was a surprise to see VI on top ❤️

[@SurferKroky]

VII , X , IX , in that order for me. Nothing will ever beat 7 for me . That game seemed like it was specifically made just for me . X came close as did IX. I am going to play Vi really soon on my new steam deck. Can’t wait to see how good it is as it’s so highly regarded . Great vid man. Brought back so many memories

[@zaydraco]

FFXI and FFXI are my favorite... I keep playing 11 and it is really a treasure. The bonds and community are outstanding

[@BacklogBattle]

You must really like 11 a lot to mention it twice!

[@zaydraco]

Lol yes, but also FF VI

[@Christopher-me3nf]

"At the time of final fantasy 1 and 2, which form the basis of the series, we were limited by the hardware capabilities of the machine. Everything we dreamed of doing then, we were able to achieve in FFXI. You know, I've been working on the Final Fantasy series since the very first one, and for me the most Final Fantasy of all the episodes is undoubtedly XI." -Hiromichi Tanaka

[@afinecuppatea]

I really love that you mentioned the good qualities of each game, which is usually the opposite of what people do with these rankings. 😊 Also, so glad to see another ranks FFX above VII! VII is near and dear to me too, but X is a perfect masterpiece that makes me cry everytime and I will die on that hill. 😆 Also thanks to this, I’m going to play 4 and 6 now, it speaks volumes that these two rank higher than all the modern games. 😮 I’m very intrigued!!

[@BacklogBattle]

Thank you very much and I hope you enjoy IV and VI!

[@Fogdiver69]

FF9 is by far my favorite of the series, so I hope it's up there somewhere.

[@ILoveThisBlank]

I'm my opinion, you definitely got the correct one in the top spot! VI will always be my favorite.

[@BacklogBattle]

Same!

[@KnightRaymund]

FFXIV has become my favorite FF. Followed by Tactics. Then VI and then VII for actual numbered entries. I'm loving XVI so far.

[@10S4Y]

I completed each of them and my ranking is more or less horizontal. I found joy and singularity in each. And they each hold a special place in my heart for different reasons.

[@JonathanLeiman]

FF7 showed me that video games can have as deep and rich of a narrative as a movie or book, and is my favorite game of all time.