I Ranked Every Mainline Final Fantasy From Worst To Best

[@IvinationOTM]

I just finished VI for the first time, and it was amazing! So much better than it had any right to be! I would give it a 10/10 for sure

[@BLa-lq2bs]

Shocked to see 10 in your 8 spot. Especially since it usually ranks pretty high for people. So interesting how subjective these games are.

[@retrobrandon]

Well, like I said, this is one I would not be surprised at all to see higher, I just personally go back to these others more often. I do love X, though!

[@shisuna4030]

​@@retrobrandon I would be interested to see how the games would be rated today if they were released today. I think the nostalgia factor plays a role and games like FF7 would no longer be number 1 for most people. Of course, it's also because people expect more today and graphics are more important, and many things weren't possible in the past. I can imagine, for example, that you associate more with FF8 than with FFX and for me it's the other way round. But objectively, or at least based on the opinions of the majority, FFX is ahead of FF8. But fortunately this is not an objective list XD. Nevertheless, I believe that many RPGs from the past are still better than some of them today, or at least not much worse.

[@retrobrandon]

@@shisuna4030 I completely agree! I’m actually prepping a series of videos based on this issue that I see from myself and other content creators. I’ll be going back to games I haven’t played and others I have to challenge them as objectively as possible. But I absolutely agree, X is a better game objectively, I just personally go back to 8 more often. And that was one of the things about this video that I asked myself. Which ones do I actually go back to and love to play? It’s not that X isn’t on that list, I’ve just replayed the others so much more

[@shisuna4030]

@@retrobrandon and there's nothing wrong with that, I personally think Kingdom Hearts 1 is better than 2, especially better than 3, although the other parts are superior in almost every respect. Maybe it's because it was the first game, maybe it's because you've played it more or the others less. However, I think the vibes in the first part are much better, the feeling just gets broken bit by bit and maybe it's the same for you with the newer Final Fantasy parts.

[@Sephirothkingdom782]

@@shisuna4030that’s understandable, me personally I think kh2 is better in a pure game sense due to how absolutely incredible the combat is due to final mix changes.

[@brndn31107]

So awesome to see VIII and XII so high. Love both of them and replay them a lot as well. You really can't go wrong with the franchise for the most part as all games bring something great to the table. Nice list

[@LN-Lifer]

Ha 8 and 12 are two I played upon release but never did beat So recently I decided to play them both again Beat 12 (absolutely loved it this time around) and now I'm about 75% of the way through part 8

[@Dulkh4n]

Final fantasy XV was a gem in potencial. Bring the zones that are there but incomplete, re-use the old optional dungeons in the world of ruins and add more story to that section, help them rebuild before dealing with the bad guy. fix a few things with combat and you are done for a complete edition, you don't even need better graphics ( add raytrycing if you want), and put a few more deep to the story of lunafreya and his brother. and other side characters

[@IronMatty]

Wow - where to even start with this video, let’s first address the elephant in the room, how the hell are you only 2k subs??? That’s insane! The only quality and presentation of this video is on par with content creators with 100k subs+ it’s just fantastic! I was so impressed with the editing and your presentation of the whole video. I can see HUGE things in your future. It’s so so refreshing to see someone who can rank the final fantasy games objectively with their own true personal feelings and placing them where you truly feel they should be based on YOUR feelings rather than trying to appease the fan base and always have 6 7 and 9 top 3. I genuinely don’t think I’ve ever seen any list place 14 in their top 3 and that’s criminal! It should always be in every top 3. I massively enjoyed this video and would absolutely love to see more final fantasy videos from yourself, maybe an entire retrospective video per game, breaking them down game by game, I’d watch every one! U earnt a new sub instantly from this. I’ve been a content creator for over 3 years and I can foresee you overtaking me very quickly! Keep up the great work.

[@retrobrandon]

Wow! Thank you so much! This was a massive labor of love for me but I know it can be a hot topic to not put games where people think they should go, so comments like this really make it for me!

[@IlliyaVjestica]

Can I just say this is best video on KZbin about the Final Fantasy series. You’ve got me hyped to play 12. Keep up the great work Brandon! Top stuff 👍

[@retrobrandon]

Wow, thank you so much! I put SO much into this video, I'm so glad to see the passion paid off with comments like this. ❤️

[@IlliyaVjestica]

@@retrobrandon I can tell it's a labour of love. I think your videos got recommended to me after watching Happy Console Gamer. Glad I found you, because your channel is a gem, not surprised if your channel it grows! You deserve it brother!

[@retrobrandon]

@@IlliyaVjestica Thank you so much!

[@josiahbrake4547]

I wasn’t originally going to leave a comment, but then sephiroth intervened.

[@retrobrandon]

He’ll get ya!

[@F1rstWorldNomaD]

Sephiroth is THE most overrated villain of all time. One of the most bada$$ looking for sure and probably one of the strongest... But his story is flat as fakk. There is sooo little depth to him and there is basically no ambiguity. Compared to Edea, Kuja or even Kafka, hes an Amazing *_looking_* card board cut out.

[@sevenn1ghts]

​​@@F1rstWorldNomaDyeah he is I was expecting more honestly And in the majority of the game, it's just a fragment of jenova

[@MD97531]

@@F1rstWorldNomaDhe’s an amazing antagonist. When you first played FFVII he was just a sinister presence, mysterious and haunting the characters across Midgar and it was a long time until you finally saw him in your party in the calm flashback, with his awesome power. However since that game he’s just been seen too much and beaten too many times and it’s retroactively diluted his menacing factor, mystery and aura. Bit like Vader.

[@claudeyanly5356]

​@@F1rstWorldNomaDI think he's a good villain for the first half of the game but loses all personality and disappears almost completely in the second half until the end.

[@joetheno87]

XIV and IX in the top two...the list checks out.

[@SubduedRadical]

The nice thing about FF14 is that they've made it where you can do the entire MSQ with Trusts (except some 8 man fights, but they're even doing some of those). So they aren't SUPER far from it being single player-able if someone really wants to. Especially if you only play free trial, which is unlimtied (forever as long as the servers are up) and gets the level cap bumped 2 or so expansions back from whatever is current endgame for people paying a sub. So it's not really so bad for that even now.

[@retrobrandon]

Totally agree! And I'm more than happy with that for now and would absolutely recommend it. But the dreamer in me would still love a reimagining that was true single-player on disc or cartridge. It'll never happen, of course, but one can dream!

[@ashm4938]

With 9, I agree, graphical revamp and slight battle mechanic changes. However, I would also happily welcome a little bit more character development for Amarant and Quina as well as a better wrap up to Freya's arc which just fell flat in the end. Even if it was a late game optional quest tracking down where Fratley went travelling around the world leading up to Puck finding him with no memory.

[@retrobrandon]

Totally forgot to mention those, but I completely agree on all fronts! Amarant and Quina end up feeling like forgettable side characters for sure, so I’d love to see more of that. And ABSOLUTELY Freya. Let’s hope we see it happen!

[@SubduedRadical]

@@retrobrandon Gizmaluke's Grotto/Freya's theme and Burmicia: Realm of Eternal Rain are two of the most amazing tracks to me in all of gaming history. I've listened to some amazing mixes of Burmicia (complete with rain sound), and I just love that theme so much. I think someone has one on KZbin called Burmecia: A Melancoly Tribute (or something similar) that's fantastic. That along with You're Not Alone and Chrono Cross' Theme of a Shore Bordering Another World (the world map music from Another World which is my number one RPG music piece of all time) are just so good.

[@SketchyDoodle]

Haven't seen the entire video yet, but already big compliments on the editing ✌.

[@retrobrandon]

Thank you!

[@sindelio]

Ff9 is my favorite as well!

[@nickvareymusic]

Agreed with this list! I have to say FF10 took me by surprise… I loved it, amazing imagination, gameplay, and many poignant moving moments. I was surprised to see this low in the top 10, but that’s the beauty of different perspectives!!

[@retrobrandon]

Well, like I said, I wouldn’t bat an eye to see this higher on anybody’s list! Thanks for watching!

[@joeproovers4954]

Retro Brandon, I’ve enjoyed every minute of this 1,5 hour sit back nostalgia video. And after hearing you played maplestory and love nobuo’s music - I knew I wanted to let you know that your video really made my day. Thanks so much

[@retrobrandon]

Man, it's comments like this that make it all worth it. Thanks for watching and thanks for making MY day!

[@partyinn3040]

I appreciate the FFXI shoutout. best MMO ever! 9, 10 and 11 was the sweet spot of the series for me

[@retrobrandon]

I couldn't pass it even if I haven't played it. I still dream of getting to it one day...

[@partyinn3040]

@@retrobrandon I hear you bro! I also wasn't lucky enough to play back in the day. I highly suggest the mammoth private server HorizonXI if you want that classic MMO experience.

[@lookhowshegobbledthat]

Final Fantasy 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 raised me.

[@retrobrandon]

... So which parent do you most reflect? 😎

[@lookhowshegobbledthat]

​@@retrobrandon 9 with 7 a close second. 8 a close third because that was my first daddy too! The nostalgia for that one really hits, the y2k futurism vibes, the bright serene atmosphere in the beginning, the Erik Satie esque music, the familiar locations, the card game...

[@Kingofsoulsss]

11 got left out

[@lookhowshegobbledthat]

@@Kingofsoulsss Never played the online ones.

[@joeljoyagami8368]

Final Fantasy VI and VII are my favorites, equally, nice video keep it up !

[@retrobrandon]

Thank you! Those are some classics for sure!

[@seabicuit7247]

As someone who generally puts VI around the 6 or 7 spot, I’m usually waiting for the bomb to go from the fan base. Especially when they hear IV, V, VII, and VIII are above it. Solid list. Mine differs a bit but always nice to hear differing opinions on entries I don’t hold as high.

[@retrobrandon]

Haha I'm not sure there is a list that would be good with the whole fanbase, so I'm always just excited to talk about the series and absolutely respect differing opinions on this one. Thanks for watching!

[@caityelizabethjoy]

An amazing list! 9 is my favourite game of all time, so nice to see it celebrated! I agree with your thoughts on a remake - please don’t touch the story, square! Voice acting would be amazing though!

[@christianliteratus]

FF9 is my all time favorite too!!! I hope the remake won't go too far from the original.

[@GosetsuDaito]

Final Fantasy 6 is placed #5. Saved you ~90 minutes of your lifetime. You're welcome.

[@nathandrake8451]

Final Fantasy IX is my favourite FF too!!!!

[@retrobrandon]

Ahhhh yeah!

[@duyle557]

The problem with these rankings-or any other rankings from any media-is that you are judging them by 2024 standards and not by the impact they had when they were released which I feel is more important. It is easy to replay an old game now and dismiss it due to graphics or story rather than how they defined the genre. Anyone watching Jurassic Park for the first time will say it’s a nice dinosaur movie in 2024, but if you were alive and watched it back in 1993 then your response would be holy S***!

[@osmaniesquijarosa4308]

Well, I think both perspectives warrant merit. How well a piece of media holds up is also a testament to it's quality and impact. Using Jurassic Park here was a bad comparison as pretty much all dinosaur movies ever released have been Jurassic Park or World which takes place in the same continuity, a better example would be Tolkien's work, but for a more acute comparison the Peter Jackson films, those hold up extremely well, even the CGI, and up to this day no other Fantasy film or show has even come close to dethroning it or challenging it.

[@Vayne_Solidor]

Easily my favorite franchise. My favorite is XII Zodiac Age, for the world and all the side content that adds to the freedom aspect. I also love XV. It has some flaws but the roadtrip feeling made it so addicting, I played it almost as much. VII is great, I prefer VIII though. From the Pixel Remasters, my favorite is V, easily. X is great and it was my entry into the series. XIII I really don't like, however its sequel XIII-2 is amazing. Currently in XVI, ha4d to rank for me, but it's definitely a lot of fun.

[@wmen48]

Wasn't gonna comment BUT... this man is telling it like it is.

[@BlueTomorrows]

This is a really great video! And I know it's a really great video because I disagree with most of your rankings but still liked it! You do a good job of explaining why certain games work so well for you

[@retrobrandon]

Thank you! I put a lot into this one, so comments like these are great to see!

[@theadamsapple5909]

Great video! I recently played through all the games for the first time. Mostly agree with you on everything. VI, XII, and VIII were the ones that really stuck with me

[@retrobrandon]

I love that VIII is one of those that stick with you! Thanks for watching :)

[@TheSteelers4190]

The remake trilogy is NOT a sequel to AC. It's connecting the story of OG to better fit the compilation works while creating context to why things are the way they are in AC. Good grief.

[@ElAxel123]

Thanks for this awesome video ❤

[@LizzyLoves91]

I’m slowly making my way through the series, thanks to the Pixel Remasters. I have loved FFX since I was a kid (it’s my favorite game of all time), but only now am I truly loving the series as a whole! I’m going through chronologically and I’m currently on V, so I’m excited to watch the series as it progressed through time. I’m particularly excited to play the PS1 era games, all of which I’ve only played a bit of.

[@retrobrandon]

Love it! Have fun, it's such a great series! It's going to be so cool to see the evolution chronologically!

[@LizzyLoves91]

@@retrobrandon I’m excited, for sure! I’m particularly interested to play VII after just finishing Rebirth. I had played most of VII probably about 15 or so years ago and never finished, so I don’t remember much. The remake has given me a deeper appreciation for the story and especially the characters, so I’m interested to go back and see how the whole thing started! Just gotta get through V and VI first!

[@retrobrandon]

@@LizzyLoves91 Love it! You'll have to let me know how it goes somehow! Maybe ping me on Twitter/X or something, I'm genuinely interested!

[@nicksmith128]

I was nervous seeing your ranking and having 16 up there. Then my heart melted when you put 9 on the top!!! It got me started on FF, and the story is unparalleled. I always go back to it.

[@retrobrandon]

Hahaha yeah, 16 being higher is my hot take. That and 10, apparently. But 9 is so so good. Thanks for watching!

[@michaelkarlsson5966]

Thank you for this! :) I had a similar waking up to rpgs as you. I did play and finish Faxanadu (on the Nes) but I never understood what that genre was called and so I never had the chance to look for other games like it. Fast forward to the end of the 90s. A great friend of mine was a real gamer and he played Final Fantasy and loved it. I didn't really understand what it was but he urged me to go and find one of the games at the game shop store where we lived and really invest time in it certainly I would like it. I went and found FF VIII at a low price sale, bought it, played it and loved it. FF VIII is the magic that I compare all other FF and rpgs against and I have since played all FF games (not finishing all of them though) with the exception of XI and XIV (and XVI yet). I deeply thank my friend for urging me into that door back in 1999 (?), I've had so many joyful times because of it :)

[@retrobrandon]

I love this! Thanks for your story!

[@OrbitGametv]

my first introduction to final fantasy was ff7 I was so young when I saw it and was fascinated by it. never got to finish the ff7 classic but got it on the ps4 and just finished it I'm inlove with it I got to get rebirth and crisis core

[@emjaydesu]

Final Fantasy IX is not only my favourite FF game, but it's also my favourite video game of all times. I LOVE THIS GAME! I have it on every platform now :D

[@retrobrandon]

Me too! I bought it any chance I got! Oh, I guess except Steam. But that’s because I only have the deck and I already have it everywhere else. Though, now I’m tempted… 😂 Anyway, my madness aside, thanks for watching!

[@emjaydesu]

@@retrobrandon I forget about Steam... So I don't have it on Steam as well 😁 I have it on every console I have then. I saw on KZbin this Moguri mod for IX and it looks amazing and for this mod alone it is tempting to get it 😅

[@retrobrandon]

@@emjaydesu Yeah, I was just thinking about the mods. That DOES make it tempting... 😂

[@Buluen]

Great video Brandon! I never did finish FF9

[@retrobrandon]

Sounds like you need to get too it, my man! 😉 Thanks for watching, brother!

[@gabetafoya3936]

Very interesting takes! I really appreciate that your list is very different from most that I’ve seen. Also, thanks for putting the actual best final fantasy at the top. 9 will ALWAYS be my favorite!

[@retrobrandon]

Haha there are SO many takes on this series, I'm just one of the many. But thanks for watching! Love the 9 love!

[@johnfeng477]

FF11 indeed forged bonds but its style would not work in our era of MMO. I have played the since the release of the PC version for a few years. it emphasis strongly on teamwork and it is one of the most time consuming and memorable MMO I have played. I had a lot of fun, made many friends which I even met in real life. One couple I knew met and got married through the game. FF11 till date is still my fav MMORPG

[@retrobrandon]

I love to see this!

[@kevmang7339]

Great video - love the detail you put in!

[@retrobrandon]

Thank you! This one was a massive project!

[@LN-Lifer]

Edit- after I posted this and you said something else as well- "I refuse to call him Teedus" 💯 Every FF video you make you say at least one thing that literally makes blurt out loud "ME TOO" In this video that line is "I love grinding"

[@retrobrandon]

Haha glad you could connect with those! I recently started to revisit Rogue Galaxy and I'm enjoying some grinding in the beginning too. It's a problem that I'll own 😂

[@taylorlowder8935]

Man. That ranking was like if you spun a roulette wheel to determine placement. Mind boggling.

[@thesoffen48]

I love FF1 and have played it a ton of times. I think it was awesome that the Black Belt is so much stronger unarmed than with a weapon. FFT is also an amazing game that I have played multiple times.

[@linceed]

XI is the one I've played the most. 20 years in, still coming back to it. Try the EdenXI private server a go!

[@retrobrandon]

Yeah, I've heard great things!

[@SaberRexZealot]

Wow, this is the first list I’ve seen ranking 12 and 14 so high and rightfully so.

[@pizzatime1901]

Based XIV placement that’s my favorite FF shadowbringers and endwalker made me cry

[@retrobrandon]

Cried like a baby. 100%

[@Geallach83]

FFXIV may not be for everyone for a variety of reasons, but for those with the time and sub money to spare, they will experience one of the best stories in the entire FRANCHISE of Final Fantasy. It also has the advantage of standing on the shoulders of giants in the FF series and applying their strengths to the game. Also, controller gang #1!

[@retrobrandon]

Heck yeah!

[@FF-tp7qs]

If you want to save money, I would recommend starting with the free trial and completing as much as possible of the main story and and side content that the trial provides access to which is everything up to the last patch before Shadowbringers and level 70. Then when you reach the roadblock you can get a free month of subscription time when you upgrade to the complete edition and make the most of it

[@riggedgame1189]

@@FF-tp7qsI second this. I joined in 5.3ish when the free trial was initially expanded. I spent 280 hours on the free trial alone, and that was before it included Stormblood. By the time I finished stormblood, I had 400 hours in the game- and I wasn’t even scratching the surface when it came to side content.

[@FF-tp7qs]

@@riggedgame1189 it also helps if you can rope in a friend who is already subscribed so they can invite you into parties as a way around the limitations if the free trial.

[@noflyzone2307]

FF10 at number 8 is crazy. I get it's your opinion. I dont think I've ever seen it that low, but i respect it. FF7 is most definitely the heart and soul of the franchise and I call it the GOAT bc of what it has done for the franchise. SNES FF3(FF6) was my all time favorite up until the release of 10, but I do strongly believe that FF6 is the best FF game in the franchise. For me 9 is a bit overrated, but from a nonbias perspective I have it at 6 and would even put it at 5. My ranking would look like this (not including mmo or FF16). 1)FF6 - Unsung hero 2)FF10- Personal favorite 3)FF7- The G.O A.T 4)FF8- Underdog 5)FF4 6)FF9 7)FF12 8)FF 9)FF5 10)FF15 11)FF3 12)FF13 13)FF2

[@thomascamburn6915]

i spent waaaaay too much time on blitzball. i failed to beat the game on 3 separate occasions because i got to blitzball and never moved on. i did eventually beat X though.

[@retrobrandon]

I'm glad SOMEONE liked it! 😂

[@Anayoth]

X is in a weird spot where the original creator was no longer involved, so fans ended up loving it or hating it with a passion.

[@retrobrandon]

@@Anayoth haha oh I loved the game, but I did not like blitzball 😅

[@Enharmony1625]

Yeah, you need to get to Vagrant Story, man!! It's amazing! One of the most unique games Square has made. That being said, it has some rough edges, mostly around the interface and how tedious it can get to swap weapons and manage inventory for crafting. A good remaster/remake would do this masterpiece wonders! Also, you will notice many references to Vagrant Story in FFXVI, as several of those devs also worked on it (and FFT). Not only that, Yoshi-P is a huge Matsuno fan.

[@retrobrandon]

Ah man, thanks for the insight here, I love it! I still need to track down the physical copy because I’m nuts, but I do have it on my Vita and just haven’t got to it. So it’s on the list! I’ll bump it up from this recommendation, though, thanks!

[@Enharmony1625]

@@retrobrandon Nice! Just be ready for a challenge. It's notoriously difficult. :)

[@Paiste2002Fan]

The only changes I want to 9 would be fully orchestrated soundtrack, remastered visuals and cut the load times before battles.

[@OoogaBoog]

Moguri Mod. you're welcome :)

[@SubduedRadical]

Interesting list. Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars was my first ever RPG (my folks weren't big on D&D/magic/fantasy type stuff, to put it mildly), FF7 was my second. The first time I played it, my cousin had it on PC and we had a controller plugged in, so we decided who would control the characters as we unlocked them, and we'd each control our characters in battle. When I got home from the visit, I saved up money, bought myself a PS1 and FF7, and the rest is history. I loved 7, 8, and 9 (I was a fan of 9 before it was cool - at the time people hated it). X I always felt meh on. I didn't DISlike it, but I was pretty neutral on it. 12 I didn't like very much, because I hate mission based games (hunts) which feels like busiwork and padding to me (felt the same in games like Crisis Core, too), and kind of lazy design in the sense you're just going to places you already went. THAT SAID: To this day I remember the Sand Sea. It was such a wild thing conceptually to me, and FF12 has always reminded me of Star Wars. Balthier, Fran, Basch, and Ashe as Han, Chewie (complete with life debt), Obi-Wan, and Leia. The only characters that felt really out of place (and ANNOYING to me) were Vaan and Penello. In an alternate reality where Rex (Vaan's brother) lived and was the main character, or Basch, I might have really liked the game's narrative. It was also kind of hard to follow, even though I did beat it. FF7 was the first I ever beat, and my first game in the series, and 9 was the first I mastered, doing MOST of the bonus content (Ozma and Excalibur 2 aside). I...still haven't beaten 8, but I did play my cousin's copy a lot and bought it on Steam not long ago. The dungeons feel so much shorter to me 25 years older, lol. But I really do plan to. FF14 is my jam right now and my "get home from work or veg on weekends" game that keeps giving. I love the cyber/steampunk games, so 7, 9, and parts of 14 I like a lot (and 14 more generally because...well, you see where it is on your own list, so yeah! Enjoying Dawntrail, btw?) FF9 to me to this day is the most "fun romp around the world" entry in the series. It's just...fun. And while mostly lighthearted does have some good life lessons (some crazy stuff there involving death and loss as well as celebrating love and life), and it's one of only two that I think were natively two player - FF9 and FF6 in the menus you can set a controller for the different characters, either controller 1 or 2, so you can play with a friend where you control the different characters in battle WITHOUT having to swap the controller back and forth. And I know it was groundbreaking, but 10 was always kinda meh to me. Again, didn't DISlike, but was neutral on. I think Tidus kind of annoyed me as a teenager on the cusp of being an adult playing it. Felt so whiny and both Yuna and Auron were more compelling characters. That said, I did dodge 200 lightning bolts (I chuckled at the DT reference to that, btw. "I once knew a guy who thought you could dodge lightning bolts if you jumped right after seeing the flash..." from DT Zone 5), but I think the only other ultimate weapon I got was Tidus' (and maybe Auron's?) and the only damage cap I broke was his (from the first Summon, I think it was, though I genuinely don't remember much from that game). I also didn't hate 13 as much as most people did. Come to think of it, my views on 9, 10, 12, and 13 were different than the "mainstream" Final Fantasy fans of the time...) I do think 6 was a fantastic game, and it's definitely in my top 5, but I came to that one MUCH later than most. I really did like 4, but again, much later. Indeed, in a vacuum, I might be tempted to say 4 is the best of the games of the entire series specifically because it holds up extremely well even against much more modern entries, if you can set aside the death fake-outs. Cecil is one of the more compelling protagonists in the entire series, and the game's message is pretty upbeat, as well as the interesting and diverse cast and "guest star of the week" way of rolling through them. I think my own personal list would probably be something like 7, 14, 4, 9, 6 (all close enough it's more an ~= than a > between them, though I'd probably rank them in that order if pressed), my second tier is probably 8, 15, 13, 10, 12, in roughly that order, and the rest (1, 2 other than a brief bit at a friend's house with the PS1 version, 3, 5 other than a brief bit on an emulator, 11 other than trying out the free trial about two years ago [there's something wrong about an Old School MMO that has more or less stripped out all the Old School MMO elements - Trust and "Level to cap then come and talk to us" doesn't work in a game clearly designed around camping and grinding while meeting and chatting with new people in a living world; I bet the game was amazing in its prime, though, and from the people I've talked to who played it then, they agree with that sentiment], and 16) I have not yet played at the present time. Probably won't ever play the exclusive/timed exclusive titles (I can't dodge spoilers for literal irl years - I just watch a KZbin lets play, lol), but who knows.

[@retrobrandon]

I freakin love this comment. Thanks for all your thought put into this! I'm considering doing individual videos for each of these and revisiting them sometime in the future because there's so much I missed. Even your mention of 4. I don't think I mentioned it here, but I was so into the Dark Knight -> Paladin shift for Cecil that I was writing stories in middle school based on the concept. The one thing I hope comes across clearly in this video is the ranking is simply a video structure. I freakin love these games and saying one piece of gold glimmers slightly more than another doesn't mean we're not talking about gold! Thanks for watching!

[@F1rstWorldNomaD]

Congratulations. You are correct. FF9 is THE undisputed GOAT of Final Fantasy. I havnt played any FF beyond 12 but it dorsnt matter, FF9 is perfect and you cabt beat perfect

[@paulhenri5902]

You talked so much about how much you love grinding, I was almost sure XII would be in the top 3 XII is my favorite especially because of the battle system and the ''drop system'', every area has enemies with amazing gear from the start, also it has my favorite cast of characters and story, and the best world of course. Yeah the pay-off is a letdown, but still a 10/10 game for me.

[@retrobrandon]

Top 4 is close enough! 😅 but yeah, absolutely love the game and can’t help but come back to it. I get that XII itch.

[@Asagga03]

Wow…. Its the first time that youtuber put twelve above x and 8 and im agree with it, cause for me this is my first ff game and i love it so much, nice content btw

[@retrobrandon]

Thank you! Yeah, I know it's a hot take and the comments speak to the love for X. And don't get me wrong, I LOVE X. I just find myself going back to XII more and I really do think it's super fun to play

[@BrendanStuart]

13 is SERIOUSLY underrated

[@whiterabbit77]

Love the way you present your opinions, love the details behind the making of these games! Annnnd love this channel :D Would love to see a video about Square vs Enix and their merging X)

[@retrobrandon]

Thank you so much! Excited to keep it going! I do love that idea... I'm thinking I could do a specialty series on some of those unique industry events among RPG companies. Not sure yet, but love the idea! Thanks for watching!

[@servantofchaos9635]

great video. 11 is also the only one i havent played. our top 3 is similiar, except id probably put 10 up there instead of 7. subscribed

[@retrobrandon]

I appreciate the sub!

[@VariantNYC]

original ff11 was the ultimate mmorpg that had absolutely zero respect for your time 😂 the tradeoff was that any progression you made had such massive weight to it. It may be a dead idea currently, but needing a proper party to do literally anything is the truest form of an mmorpg. unpopular opinion but as im playing ff14 right now, i prefer both the menu-style combat and the levelling style of original ff11. id rather grind difficult regular mobs with a full party in the open world then grind instanced levelling roulette dungeons 😅

[@retrobrandon]

Hey, happy to hear the hot take! That’s one of the best things about this franchise and its fans! To be fair, in XIV, you can always go chase some hunts as well, but I hear you!

[@LN-Lifer]

10 is literally the only videogame in history that I mastered 100%

[@BronsonPiercey]

Me too oddly enough. I platinumed the psvita version and it was a task

[@cesarmaluco769]

I love your list! Very interesting and informative especially for me who wants to explore other FF games after finishing OG 7, the first one I played was 13 then I played 6 and 7 and now I think I’ll play 1-6 first. Since I wanna play through all of those before playing 9 which is an homage to them apparently and your list helped figure out which version for game I’ll play, I think for 3 I’ll probably play the psp version for example

[@retrobrandon]

Thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it! I know lists can be controversial for storied series like this, but I hope I made it clear that this entire series is worth it, even if I personally prefer some over the others

[@fatenabu1]

Also the 2D PSP version is the best version of 4 in my opinion, it comes with one of the few ways to play FF4-2 in 2d.

[@DashingDavid]

Damn good video, man. My list would be different (as would most people’s) but I can’t argue with the number 1 spot.

[@retrobrandon]

Haha yeah, that's the beautiful thing about these rankings. Thanks for the watch, appreciate it! :)

[@TheMusicfan189]

A well earned sub from me! Incredibly well structured video and amazing analysis of a series that I am very very late to the party for. I probably started in completely the wrong place with the 7 remake, not long finished FFVII Rebirth, and I’m now a couple hours into FFVXI, I realise I’m only a novice, but I’ve already purchased FFX and FFIX ready to go for when I complete XVI!! 26 and only just deep diving into the entire series!

[@retrobrandon]

This is awesome! Enjoy it all!

[@FolsomC]

Yes! Someone who appreciates XII!

[@IllTickleYouAgain]

I think 12 is pretty universally appreciated...

[@uppernimbus]

Uh oh, you won't like it that I've never played a Final Fantasy game either 😅 Your editing, humour, and intelligence is SOLID my man, what a fantastic video! 🎉

[@retrobrandon]

Well now you have a video to reference for when you DO decided to play, right?? ... Right? Haha thanks, brother!

[@uppernimbus]

@@retrobrandon Oh yeah, I'll be coming back here for sure 😉

[@Bevtone]

1. Totally agree about the preference for the old XII licance board vs zodiac age, although the job's system does bring balance to the overall party dynamics! 2. Thanks for not dumping on VIII 3. Should we start adding tactics to the conversation or does that open up Pandoras box? Great video and good work trying to be as balanced as possible throughout! Not easy to do when it comes this of all series.

[@retrobrandon]

Haha I'd love to talk about Tactics, but that'll be another video. I think 16 is enough to go through for one video 😉

[@Mindistortt]

it's hard to rate ff11 nowadays, since it's now soloable and you'll never get the same experience that was given back in the day, unless you play horizon XI, but it's classic ff11 75cap era, meaning you will take FOREVER to do simple stuff. I played it 10 years between 2005 and 2015. I gotta say the story is BRILLIANT specially on 2nd expansion and onwards

[@Billyboy2288]

awesome video man i hope you get more subscribers!

[@retrobrandon]

Thank you!

[@justintaylor6988]

I feel like everyone underestimates ff1, I love it and it's not extremely long so it's fun to replay

[@retrobrandon]

Haha hey man, I've said it before and I'll say it again. Saying one piece of gold glimmers slightly more than another doesn't mean we're no longer talking about gold. I love this entire series and even at a lower rank, I enjoy going back to those! FF1 is still unexpectedly good considering it's age! Still totally holds up

[@gregtroyan]

I was going to give you grief about calling this the "ultimate" mainline ranking despite excluding one of the mainline games, but your segment on XI at the beginning was good enough where I'll give it a pass, hahaha. If I'm ranking base XI, it's towards the bottom of the mainline games. If I'm ranking all of FFXI, it's towards the top. I made a 2 hour overview of all of XI's expansions you might want to check out, as it's a good overview of the whole story without major spoilers. I played XI for the first time 2 years ago so I'm not a veteran of the game, just a fan of the series like yourself. I did 10 hours of video essays ranking the games, but long story short, my top tier games are VII, IX, IV, X and XI (if we include all expansions). I like the controversial games (II, VIII, XIII, XV). I'm mixed on VI. XIV and XII are my least favorite of the mainline games, though I've only beaten ARR up to this point, whereas I beat all of XI.

[@retrobrandon]

I'll definitely check it out! Yeah, if you love XI after the expansions, you have to give XIV expansions a go. Heavensward, the first one up, is one of my favorites, but everything from then on is amazing! Thanks for watching and I appreciate deciding against the grief! haha

[@RickClops]

This is a pretty good list. It's hard to take people seriously if they put one of the first three over any other game since they didn't have much character development or plot yet. I've beaten 1-4, 6, 7, 9, 10. FF5 has a fun battle system and very little plot. FF8 has a cool story and a bad battle system where you waste time drawing magic. MMOs can't compare to a single player RPG for plot and character development. (Maybe WoW is the exception) I've heard 12 is good, but I can't get drawn in by Vaan or Penelo. Also, the plot is really confusing, they name drop so many people and locations.

[@jo-e-type-s8203]

So gels of your Players Guides' in the video. Also big love for the FF 1&2, IV, V, and VI releases on GBA! I love em' too. Still have my copy of IV!

[@Metro4466]

15 lower than 13?? Oh wooow! Didn’t expect this

[@retrobrandon]

I got some HOT takes! 😂

[@unbothered5240]

I find it based. 13 has actual story, despite it being a hallway. 15 isn't even a hallway. It's like really a glorified room... with conflicting lore... and a pretty pointless "story". 13 just has polarizing issues with it being a bit convoluted . But it's because it was altered last minute from Vanille being the main character... to Lightning.. which heavily ruined the story telling and the player perspective. 15... 15 is just...a mess.😂

[@Metro4466]

@@unbothered5240 I'm biased, the room was one of my favorites and I hated the corridor.

[@unbothered5240]

@tonigrondahl4465 A lot of people liked the systems in 15 compared to 13 and the ability to explore the large "room" trumped the long hall that was 13. But I do think in overall quality 13 just... kinda destroys 15 in content. Though personally they're my least 2 favorite xD

[@jchempiano]

As someone who loves trying to platinum games on the playstation i cant bring myself to do the lightning in 10 or the jump rope in 9 again after doing them as a kid. Still always willing to replay the games but never again will i atempt to 100%

[@retrobrandon]

Haha I don't blame you!

[@xxpotatolord69xx23]

Ff6 is easily either the best or second best in the entire series

[@bigtatsu]

I looooove Final Fantasy XII. The gambit system was so ahead of its time. I hope Final Fantasy XVII gets the gambit system again. Such a fun game. The replay value is so high.

[@chochopopstv3468]

Great video man! i enjoyed watching it all, but not including the FF7 Remake/Rebirth as seperate games from the OG FF7 is crazy man, especially FF7 Rebirth is propably one of the best games of all time, let alone one of the best FF standalone games.

[@retrobrandon]

Thanks! Trust me, there's more Final Fantasy content to come. I won't be able to help myself. I just wanted to focus on the main numbered entries and talk about the Remake series separately at some point :)

[@ETHomerin]

There's so many good things about all these games. Like a lot of people VII and X were my favorites, but I'd put XII and XV up with them if XII had had less dialogue scenes cut, and if XV had been in all one piece between it's DLC and anime shorts. But development was shaky in the decade after the company merge, so it happens. IX has the most of that FF element. That journey went everywhere and it had perfect swan song effort from Sakaguchi. What a way to capstone PS1!

[@retrobrandon]

Agreed! Thanks for watching, I appreciate it :)

[@ETHomerin]

@@retrobrandon always happy to enjoy FF! More power to ya!

[@whitecloud2002]

Something a lot of people don't know about Final Fantasy 3 (6) for the SNES version, it was the first and only 2 player none MMO final Fantasy game, Yes you could actually play with another player , each player would control two characters during combat scenes, unfortunately that was it, but holy cow the fact you could do it was amazing for me and my cousin!

[@SubduedRadical]

First, but not only: FF9 has that same feature. :D

[@retrobrandon]

My initial intro to 6 was doing multiplayer with a friend!

[@ZellierArtist]

I'm currently playing FFXI and it's really being an adventure, I'm really enjoying it and after having completed the second expansion yesterday, I think it could sneak into my top 5 favorite FFs if things get better

[@retrobrandon]

Ooooooh, you have me even MORE intrigued with at. I'll need to find the time at some point!

[@ZellierArtist]

@@retrobrandon Maybe it's because of FFXIV and its upcoming Vana'diel-inspired raid or maybe it's always been like this, but the game is full of people (not as crowded as FFXIV) (at least on the Bahamut server) the linkshell I'm in is always full of messages. Playing FFXI feels like playing a mix of FFI, FFII, FFV, FFXII and FFXIV FFI: Talk to the NPCs to find out how to continue the story or how to find a certain object or place. FFII: skills of weapons or magic types are leveled independently when used in combat. FFV: you have a main job and a secondary job that you can mix to create very crazy hybrid classes. FFXII:You can see enemies swarming around the map, the combat system occurs in the open world, without transition to a battle scenario. FFXIV: Many of the monsters and creatures from FFXIV share designs with those from FFXI, so you'll see familiar faces. FFXI maps are open areas similar to what we can see in FFXIV

[@jbgames1437]

Hey Brandon, I really enjoy your videos including this one. I always look forward to you uploading! I wanted to ask, is there a reason why your game journey through 2023 video was taken down? I really enjoyed it and re-watched a couple times. Hope you’re doing well and I look forward to the next video!

[@retrobrandon]

Hey! It’s still up, I just changed the title and thumbnail to see if it would get some traction again! Sorry for the confusion! But thank you!

[@jbgames1437]

@@retrobrandon thanks man! Yup just found it haha. Hope you have a great day!

[@LeonardoRodrigues-uj1sm]

FFV is the most important game in this franchise gameplay wise

[@retrobrandon]

I can totally see that, actually. I love going back to 5 for the gameplay! That Job system is so addicting!

[@LolwutStevie]

Brilliant video, really enjoyed it ecen if our opinions don't always align (almost lile people can like different things) Just wanted to praise the polish and time spent making this! Im just one dude but youve got my sub. Ps. FF7 is #1 ;)

[@retrobrandon]

Thanks so much! Hahaha can't argue with 7 at top for some people. I'm here to spread some love for the series, so happy to see deviating lists!

[@rocketrebelracerstudios9816]

The Remake Trilogy Is Not A Sequel To Advent Children, Its Is Its Own Reboot Series/Universe, Its Just That Square Enix Made Some Bad Story Decisions That Confuses Audiences, Because They Are Trying To Get It Made To Capatalize On The Success Of The Original Game. This Is Not A Hate Comment It Just Bothers Me That People Put Out False Information Like This Out On The Internet, Both With Big Things And Small, But That's Modern Day Internet For You.

[@Ukaran]

This video is just more proof that the most underrated mainline game in the franchise, is FFXI.

[@CucasNerdyCorner]

That's was a very interesting way to pronounce Zidane lol 😂

[@retrobrandon]

I refuse to give up my childhood pronunciation 😂

[@ThePantafernando]

FFXI is the best game I played IN MY LIFE

[@retrobrandon]

Sounds like the title of an epic video! 😂

[@curtsmats5727]

I've only played 3, 7 & 10. I've only beaten 3, so that's my fav.

[@lerrysorroche]

I disagree with a few things, especially 10 and 6, but overall, great list. A curiosity: When I played 12 during its release, I absolutely hated the game and never finished it. I only got back to the game when the zodiac remaster came out in the Ps4. I loved it, even got the platinum, and now it's in my top 5 as well. I think it's a complex game that hits different when you're a kid and just don't understand how the game really works.

[@bardockshiny]

lol yeah. You really shouldn't trust your opinion as a kid on anything xD

[@SubduedRadical]

@@bardockshiny I dunno about that. I really liked Chrono Cross/Trigger, Mario RPG Legend of the Seven Stars, and FF9. Pretty sure kid me was right on the money, even if I appreciate those EVEN MORE now. : )

[@bardockshiny]

@@SubduedRadical sure you can like those games, but as a kid you didn't perceived half the qualities those games had. Replaying as an adult you'll get them, that was my point

[@yuvalmagal9891]

I love seeing this list because its so personalized, I am so used to seeing the classic 3)X 2)VII 1)VI so this is a nice change of pace

[@retrobrandon]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@nezkeys79]

FF13 and the other two games are all S-tier combat tbh Also if you read the datalog everytime there is an update to it, it's impossible to not know what is going on

[@diegoarmando5489]

FF7 is one of my favourite games but doesn't need a remaster. We already have Echo-S, Remake, and good ports of the OG on like every platform. You can even mod the Hell out of the current PC version. Xenogears needs a remaster due to the jank and QoL issues that disrespect your time and make navigation obnoxious. The core gameplay, the story and characters, and the music are magnificent, but the game needs indicators and in-game maps, more places to save, and platforming that doesn't crap the bed when battles are loading. Phantasy Star 3 needs a remake because it's a bad, frustratingly empty game with decent music and a phenomenonal concept. FF14 will not get an offline version because it's a victim of its own success and (deservedly) makes bank for Square-Enix. I'd play the fuck out of one though.

[@retrobrandon]

No, I totally agree. I don't think they should spend more time/effort on it with all we have. Just super bummed what we got was the freakin mobile game! Haha thanks for watching!

[@xdanielol4835]

Wow! What a great movie, haha, IX’s also my favorite and yeah, my personal favorite scene in all of gaming is Not Alone.

[@retrobrandon]

Hahaha it is a movie, isn't it. I didn't set out to make it this long... I just couldn't shut up 😂

[@greek1237]

2 for life.

[@brentarnold_piano]

I think what people prefer is generational. I grew up on Final Fantasy IV, VI, VII and VIII. IX came out right around the time I began college. My main problem with it was Tetra Master and Jumping Rope. The former had no purpose and the latter is just painful. And if you ever saw the Prima Strategy Guide for that game that came out around the time, it was unbelievably bad. It was a lot of pictures and then URL's to actually get the information. Awful guide design. I think Final Fantasy IV, VI and X are my favorites. I also liked III and V a lot (played III pixel remaster about a year and a half ago for the first time, and was surprised at how good it was). I agree with your assessment of XV. I didn't play the Royal Edition, but played all of the other DLC. A lot of that content needed to be in the base game. Episode Gladiolus and Prompto were not great, but Ignis and Arden were much better. I have not played XII or XIV, the latter because I can't handle MMO's. Playing in moderation is not a thing for me. My sister loves it though.

[@retrobrandon]

Absolutely, and that’s true for me as well. Thanks for watching!

[@lukegedeon3559]

16 is absolutely incredible. Game of the year last year for me by far

[@retrobrandon]

I really think it gets too much hate!

[@Trainrot]

Either you love Vivi, or you're wrong.

[@retrobrandon]

You're not wrong!

[@SomeRPGFan]

Yeah, how could you not love adorable little Vivi?

[@TeemoTemosson]

FFVII has had too many iterations throughout the years. It's time to give that level of love to another in the series. Like VI for example.

[@retrobrandon]

You're not wrong. For me it's a matter of being bummed at what we did get with the mobile game, but I don't REALLY think they should spend more time and money fixing their decisions for now. For real, VI, IV, Tactics, I'm down for them to move on. Thanks for watching!

[@hotcoldman77]

FF13 story is so simple and straightforward LITERALLY lol. I'll never understand people saying it's complex... like are some people slow or what? Smh

[@Duckman8213]

Man did FF4 dirty with that placement

[@Shanghai_cola]

bro nice video, you are an inspiration because you have similiar hairline to mine but still managed to push through and become successful. Keep it up