Which Final Fantasy Game Should You Play First? | Final Fantasy Starter Guide

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Final Fantasy is such a huge franchise, housing literally hundreds of different games. For those who're already ingrained with the franchise and how it all fits together, that's fine, but for those who've yet to dip their toes in the water, there are countless games that could serve as the entry point.
It makes the question of "which Final Fantasy should you play first?" or "what should your first Final Fantasy be?" quite difficult to answer, but within this video we're going to try our best!
►KEY POINTS WITHIN THIS VIDEO
1. Which Final Fantasy to start with
2. Starting with Final Fantasy X
3. Starting with Final Fantasy XIV
4. Starting with the original Final Fantasy
5. Starting with Final Fantasy IV
***
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Thanks for watching!

[@FinalFantasyUnion]

Kupo!! Now that we have your attention, we're looking to expand the Final Fantasy Union team so that we can continue to provide the best content we can! If you're a video editor and are interested in working with us, please head here for more information: bit.ly/38V1OFK

[@Davethawave1999]

@@aweigh1010 It can be when implemented bad. Skies of Arcadia was terrible with its random encounters. Imagine this gen trying to play a game like that now? Back in the 90s/early 2000s random encounters were fine. And every now and then I still play Jrpgs with them, but honestly who has the time/patience for all that now

[@lysanderxx1664]

@@aweigh1010 I agree with thelastchrono. Who has the time? And it's not that random encounters are bad, they just aren't preferred by most gamers these days. It's also interesting you intentionally expressed your displeasure via a response to the channel's announcement of expansion and looking for an editor.

[@jadecrystal2486]

@@aweigh1010 wow. I mean there good but they have to have the right balance like I'm currently playing a game where the encounter rate feels like every 5 steps = monsters. But if it is like 50 steps = monsters then it feels really tedious and levels hopefully aren't important. But to thumb him down based on that really?

[@carlcreasy1983]

Bring back turn base battles which some of us grew up to FF7 remake took that away and i loved that game the original

[@jadecrystal2486]

@@carlcreasy1983 true turn based has been dead since ff3 :o they brought turn based back for ten but 4-9 were atb based my dude same with 12 and 13. 15 was kinda a hack and slash maybe, question Mark.

[@XenosbioZ]

I say V But if you have daddy issues, play X If you have sibling issues, play IX If you have relationship issues, play VIII If you have mommy issues, play VII If you have identity issues, play IV If you have issues, play VI

[@Imozart0341I]

Funny, 7 falls into identity also

[@rhoell2050]

Ff6 is all about loss, and how the characters overcome it

[@powerofk]

@@rhoell2050 Except the main character for 6 is the villain. Who is like the Joker on steroids - and my favorite FF villain of all time. Oh, sure, you never play as the villain, but he sure does drive the narrative.

[@seandobbins2231]

@@Imozart0341I true, but VII took a fair amount from IV if you take a hard look at both games so it makes sense similar issues would pop up.

[@La-hora-del-terror]

V is a little hard to understand if you are a rookie and his difficulty is hard specially if you don't know what are you doing. I think X is the best choice to start, the game with it tutorial explain too well how to play it

[@DJMaddzzz]

I started with the first one. I don’t know if that’s the best starting point, but it was for me because it got me hooked.

[@FNSSEIOS]

3!

[@SpaceCat1111]

I started with the 1st game as well, way back at 6 years old. Still have a soft spot for it, even if I would always grind levels for way too long for money and fear of the monsters being too strong in the next area because I was mortified if one of my characters died...

[@DJMaddzzz]

@@SpaceCat1111 I remember when I played when I was really young, maybe around six or seven, and I COULDNT beat garland because I was SO BAD so I couldn’t even get through the very very beginning of the game

[@SpaceCat1111]

@@DJMaddzzz To be fair I had an older uncle who was I think 15 at the time who explained the game as best he could to me... 😅 So no shame there, I would've been terrible without the help too.

[@DJMaddzzz]

@@SpaceCat1111 hahaha I didn’t understand rpgs at all back then

[@jiroalba5093]

For beginners, FFX never fails. I would highly recommned FFX for those who are starting into the series.

[@jiroalba5093]

Well, it does depend on the player. I won't disagree on that. I respect that. It does feel overrated to some. I can also see where you're coming from. ^_^

[@BOSIE321]

X is not my favorite (however it is in my top 5 FF games) but it is by far the one I would recommend to FF newbies because it balances an old school FF feel (turn based combat especially) with voice acting, crisp graphics and a more linear path that's associated with later entries. I'd worry about more modern gamers being put off by the limited graphical quality of the PS1 era or the poorer quality of newer offline installments such as 13 and 15. 10 just seems a nice starting point to move backwards or forwards.

[@BOSIE321]

@paula To be honest I agree with you on the graphics but a kid who is going from PS4/5 era to FF6 on the SNES is going to have a bit of a jolt in terms of what they are used to, especially if someone said to them play 6 first. I feel X is a great bridge to go backwards and forwards. It's modern(ish) but classic.

[@drewmotl4663]

As a story driven player, I’d never recommend 10, but I get its merits

[@Dhalin]

The problem with FFX, is that it is so different than the rest of the franchise. Up until X, every other JRPG used the ATB system (that X-2 uses a modified version of). It, instead, uses Turn Priority like Shadow Hearts 2/3. Given that FFs 3 through 9 all used the ATB system, it would be rather odd to try to introduce someone to FF using X, because it is Turn Priority and because the maps are so small and restrictive and there's no overworld (something else that was a staple through all of them from 1 to 9). In General, I feel that FF has lost its way starting with FFX, is when FF started to forget what it was supposed to be about. First, we ditched overworld maps and ATB and then we wound up making all the paths linear (13 and its sequels), and then we went full on Kingdom Hearts-type gameplay with FF15 and FF7R. Some people like A-RPG, and I've even played a few, but I do wish we could go back to the non-ARPG style, I wish we could go back to what FF really was back in the day. Like FF9 for example.

[@DizzNutt93]

I played FF7, 8, and 9 for about 5 minutes when I was a kid (around 8 yrs old) and never got into them. Recently, after coming across videos from this channel and various others, I have decided to actually give them a try. I'm playing FFXV and FFIX right now and will play 7 when I'm done with 9, and I'm not very far into either one but I'm extremely happy I decided to give them another chance. They are excellent games! Thanks for the great vids, add my name to the roster of official Final Fantasy Fans haha

[@NWHSBL]

9 is my favorite. 6, 7, 8, and 10 are also all worth a shot. I can't speak for any of the others, these are the only ones I played.

[@Dhalin]

FF7's graphics turn a lot of people off, BUT the Steam Version can easily be modded to look way better. FF9 also has a mod, but it's got a few bugs and kinks yet, but I never had any issues with FF7's modding.

[@FlowWolf7]

IX is definitely worth playing. Word of advice, play Tetra master. You have to beat a tournament to progress in game

[@Dhalin]

@@FlowWolf7 Do you have to actually win that tournament? I was pretty sure you didn't. But even if not, you get enough cards from the various enemies and bosses in the game that you can usually just wing it, just save your game between games, and really for the most part, it's all down to sheer dumb luck because TM has no real actual rules and the "card battles" are all random. The numbers kinda-sorta mean something, but it's randomized and with enough attempts you'll eventually win. **looks up a walkthrough** It sounds like you don't have to actually win, though the Rebirth Ring is some pretty strong motivation to keep save-scumming the last game until you get lucky.

[@mfaizl1810]

Trust me after finished FF IX, Vivi will become one of your favourite character in the whole FF franchise.

[@wilddragonchase]

i like that tolerance is discussed as a factor. for anyone with higher tolerance i always suggest FF4 (and let people decide if they want 2D or 3D), otherwise i do agree that FF10 is the best modern place to start

[@Official_KC]

It's hard for me. Because I think if you have ZERO experience in the genre. FFX is definitely the best of both worlds. Although I think FF7 Remake might truly be the best place to start at this point. Say you play it, you love it. Now what? You'll probably go play the original to finish the story. Then you might branch off to 8 or another from there. I think FF7 Remake is the best starting point as of now. The english translation and voice acting is also very good, with modern gameplay. And no need to know anything about the franchise at all.

[@alexmorpheus6762]

I've completed FFIV Advance

[@chrisgentry6201]

Oh boy well on being someone who has grew up with the final fantasy series and has seen it grow throughout the years I'd definitely have to say that FF9 is my choice of the go to starter which has everything you need to get you started/introduced into the series as a whole...

[@ingonyama70]

FF9 is probably the most "Final Fantasy" of the FF games released. The setting, the characters, the job classes, it's all there.

[@666Kaca]

@paula There literally are? Zidane is a thief, steiner is a knight, vivi is a black mage, garnet is a summoner, freya is a dragoon, quina is a blue mage, eiko is a white mage and amaranth is a monk. Honorable mention to beatrix who is a paladin. Their classes are set in stone from the moment you obtain them which makes characters unique unlike 2 3 5 6 7 8 10 12 where every character is a carbon copy of eachother.

[@Kaze02se]

I agree, FF9 is a great place to start if you want to know what final fantasy was all about

[@christophersholes1377]

@@666Kaca They definitely aren't exact copies. Most of those games have stat variances that are focused on certain builds, but it varies greatly between all those games you mentioned. FFVI has unique skills per character that put them into specific roles, and also have stats that start focused on those roles. You can change it up by focusing espers to change their builds around some, but it isn't practical in most cases. FFX has specific roles in mind unless you use one of the modern versions that allow them to build in any direction. FFXII also had you shoehorned into a specific role for the most part, until the new versions of the game that gave you job freedom.

[@666Kaca]

@@christophersholes1377 Lol no did you even play the games. FFX had the EXACT SAME SPHERE GRID FOR EVERY CHARACTER. The only difference was their overdrive. FFXII ALSO HAD THE EXACT SAME LICENSE BOARD FOR EVERYONE. Carbon copies literally. Same thing happens in 6 when you give people espers, 7 with materia and 8 with junctions. Also the job version of XII isnt new, it came out in 2006 or so, i played it on my ps2, its called ff12 international zodiac job system, way better version of ff12 where characters could become unique.

[@msarranges]

Thanks for using my rendition of the theme to start off! Its pretty insane to see my work incorporated in a channel like this! Thank you!

[@IanArizpeArroyo]

congratz

[@japanesehercules]

I’d say IV is the best place to start. Followed by VI and VII.

[@ryusoulger9127]

I agree, IV is a very very good starting point.

[@CloudWithoutASky]

But no V. Which is criminally underrated. Just proves how little people know about V. Just jump past V. Lol

[@ryusoulger9127]

@@CloudWithoutASky I wish I could recommend it as a start but with what that game does, nah lol. Don't worry, it's my favorite Final Fantasy and one of my favorite RPGs period.

[@japanesehercules]

@@CloudWithoutASky I love V. As a starting point? No.

[@kevinclancy1573]

@@CloudWithoutASky V has the best job system in the series and phenomenal music

[@faidou9954]

From my experience, I'd say either play FF7, 9, or 10 first, and play the others later on.

[@victoriahole144]

I started with 4 and 6, but that's because my mom also played. And we didn't have a PlayStation until I was slightly older.

[@arvc-5224]

Ff7 is probably the best starting point

[@666Kaca]

4 9 or International zodiac job system if you ask me. Characters having set classes instead of everyone being a carbon copy of eachother makes it easier to get into the game and appreciate the characters for what they do.

[@faidou9954]

@@666Kaca Does 12 even have a story?

[@666Kaca]

@@faidou9954 You havent played it? Give it a try. The story isnt the classic "we are saving the world from an evil god/superpowerful character who becomes a god", its much more political and mature, one of the reasons i liked it when it came out. Wish they would make a prequel where you play as the dynast king. edit: the voice acting is sublime, balthier's voice actor is INCREDIBLE and judge zargabath is voiced by none other than the legendary simon templeman(kain from legacy of kain franchise and teryn loghain from dragon age origins)

[@RossAndr3w]

I normally suggest IX. It's got a decent battle system and still has the classic high fantasy setting which I like to pretend is what FF is still all about :)

[@AuthorLeepoy]

The beginning is very very slow, so new players would get bored and stop playing immediately.

[@Beavetowski]

I agree with this. I thought they said that IX was the closest the came to what they thought FF was supposed to be.

[@juanmanuelcoresorge7579]

@@AuthorLeepoy Even I, that I have play most of them find it boring, I don't think is the best option to start.

[@seandobbins2231]

@@AuthorLeepoy it is a rather slow in the beginning, but whether or not that would turn someone new to FF off to it is dependent on the person so it still could work for some and it doesn't take that long for the game to speed up anyway.

[@Davethawave1999]

@@seandobbins2231 Which is FF VII was many peoples first Final Fantasy. It started fast and grabbed your attention

[@cringyguy1302]

I started with 7 remake. It has the excitement of a real time system like in later games but also has the strategy of a turn based system like an older games.

[@j0nnyism]

Yeah it’s def a good place to start. It’s purified final fantasy if u kno what I mean

[@jacealbine]

It looks better and plays better than the original and has the best main character in the series. It's the best place to start imo.

[@ZEPPELIN198]

I would have to go with IV. You gain spells as your party's characters level up, and characters are automatically switched out in your party automatically in accordance to where you are in the story. It has the least amount of customization by far. This makes it perfect for beginners.

[@adagium__]

This is going to sound crazy but 15 was the one that got me hooked and I started playing backwards, 13 trilogy, 12, 10 and 10-2, then by that time the 7 remake came out The story of Ardyn Lucis Caelum was one of the most captivating ever

[@StephenSquarepants]

It's not a bad game (I too love my 15 and 12), but like the video said, you need read/watch the supporting story to get the full picture and story, and it was worth it (especially the novel, they did Ardyn justice there).

[@mattewc14]

Not crazy at all I started at ff13 2 fell in love with it and then saw pretty much everyone detested it 😂😂 the game you fell in love with Is just that no one else can tell you what to like or not like

[@ericstaples7220]

@@mattewc14 The problem with the fanbase is they can't stand to see the series evolve past what it was like when they first started it. That's partly why 13 is hated.

[@WilloWly.Beloved]

Same here! i started With Ff15 the same Month I got FF7r and Loved both

[@emeryltekutsu4357]

I was already an FF fan, but as a kid I never got the original Playstations. PS4 was my first Playstation, and I got it because I was specifically interested in getting back into FF. So though it wasn't my first game, FFXV definitely drew me back in. I wasn't sure going in if I would like it, and it definitely had a ton of issues, but I loved the boys. And I liked the main character, too. Also, something funny I saw was that when voting for favorite FF characters, Ardyn ranks WAY higher with the English fans than the JP fans. I was wondering why for a minute before I realized - he has such an incredible VA. They found such a great English cast for the characters, and I'm happy to live in a time where they make the effort to make the dubs so high quality now that I wasn't even interested in watching it in JP. (I might just for studying Japanese, but otherwise I'm completely satisfied with the dubbing).

[@czar3940]

I started with 7R, now I’ve played 15, 13, and I’m gonna get the rest of the 13 trilogy, 14, 12 and 10

[@rvfiasco]

Enjoy! You have tons of gameplay ahead!!

[@dimitriosgladio059]

12 and XIV are awesome! I hope you like them

[@ChaseFace]

Skip XIV. It’s a really unrewarding game with dwindlingly limited end-game content and an extremely defensive fan base that refuses to concede that their favorite catgirl MMO isn’t completely perfect. Miserable community.

[@dimitriosgladio059]

@@ChaseFace I hope your joking

[@dimitriosgladio059]

@@ChaseFace you seem to be a troll, just stop, nobody cares that you hate FFXIV. You seem to have salt for some reason. Dwindling endgame?? What games are you playing?

[@paperluigi6132]

Started playing FFVII today as my intro to the series.

[@BigManTate7364]

original or remake?

[@pop3stealth97]

@@BigManTate7364 which is better

[@BigManTate7364]

@@pop3stealth97 I have not played the remake but they are very different games even if they share the same basic story. The original is good if you enjoy old-school PS1 RPGs but it might feel really outdated if you never played it back then. Look up gameplay to see which style you prefer. Both are good.

[@DarttheLegend]

You CANNOT just hit me with a montage set to the FF theme bro I'm crying!

[@iammaxhailme]

10 is where I started (when it was new!) and I'm still an FF fan to this day. I haven't played every single mainline game, but I have beaten about 75% of them and love almost everything I've played.

[@clayblondin8239]

I’ve played them all multiple times except 15. X is probably the best for a totally new person. IX is also possibly the best, and it sticks to the core FF experience better IMO. VI and VII are definitely the best story wise. V is definitely the best battle system wise. You can’t go wrong with most of them. This video was pretty accurate but should have hyped up VI more as it’s peak story telling and should have hyped up IX more as it’s a good mix of being a more modern game but having the classic FF elements. Also, despite being routinely crapped on, VIII is an amazing game. Would not recommend as someone’s first, but it’s super underrated

[@JDphones17]

IX's story is way better than VII's

[@toledochristianmatthew9919]

To me i would start with IV first before VI because it will make the earlier games look no as good. To me IV and X are best to start because of how IV is where FF's started to truly shone when it comes to narrative, specific job characters with their own personality, and the active time battle system later games would use in the classic Final Fantasy games. X would be also great since it is the most friendly and the sphere grid allows great customization.

[@madlaz9575]

I feel like they wanted to be relatively neutral, so they didn't hype up any particular entry, specially since because of the diversity in the series not every game is gonna click with everyone so hyping up way too much a certain entry can create unrealistic expectations, specially since the "best games" can be pretty subjective, V personally resonated with me a lot more than VI (I enjoy all entries so don't take that as an attack on VI) per example

[@mattewc14]

My first ff game was ff13 2 I saw a cool lady in armour on the front and thought finally a game where I can play as a girl. Little did I know the wild journey I would go on falling in love with the characters, the soundtrack and the locations I went on to wait eagerly for the next game and loved lighting returns just as much!

[@Road_to_Dawn]

13-2 is so good! I really enjoyed the first 13, but 13-2 was even better in so many ways. Also, Lightning is one of my favorite characters in the series!

[@l3ossTharatep]

For me, FFIX was my gateway to the franchise and I would recommend it to anyone who want to start playing final fantasy games.

[@efrenarevalo2025]

FFIX imo is the best in the series but younger folks might not appreciate it. It's better to hook them with something flashy like FF7R, FFX or even FFXV and then let them play the classics afterwards.

[@GremDisaster]

Depends on what kind of person you are. Many won’t go back to older games because of the graphics or gameplay. If that’s how you are the I suggest you start with the old ones and work your way up. If that doesn’t matter then maybe start with the most popular? Idk. I really love the final fantasy mainline games - 5 6 7 8 9 10 and 12 are all must plays for me personally. 3 and 4 are good too. At that point you might as well play 1 and 2 for completionists sake. They’re okay, give credit where it’s due for the birth of this amazing franchise. 13 is good but super linear and some characters really grind my gears, but I’ve played and beat it three times- got all trophies AND achievements for it too. it’s rather polarizing though. Didn’t like 15s combat to be honest, and never got very far into it. I do want to give it another shot though someday. And for side games in the series - Crisis Core (emulate it and get the mods) is lots of fun if you really enjoyed 7. And Tactics is amazing! Also Dissida fighting games are cool (I only played the psp ones) oh and 7 remake is super duper fun and cool, just sucks the full story won’t be told until god knows when! Never played 11, an mmo. Never played 4 the after years. Never played tactics advance 1 or 2. Never played the Crystal Chronicles. Never played that 12 ds game.. only played the rhythm game for a few hours at a friends place. And never played any others that I’m forgetting. BUT BOY HOWDY HAVE I PLAYED 14. This year 2020 is the first year since its 2013 PS3 release that I’ve taken a break for most of the year, coming back for one month each major patch/side patch to do the new stuff and events. But before this year I’ve put 11k+ hours into Eorzea... Anyway. I’m on a long car ride and have nothing better to do! I hope you enjoyed my ted talk and ily if you cared to read all this! ;D now to actually watch this vid lol, and back to trying to get a time of 0.0.0 in FFX Choco Racing mini game -_-

[@eltoncdb]

You didn't miss much, 11 was great at the time if you have play any pre-WoW mmo like Everquest, but its very dated now.

[@sammybh7788]

FFVI and FFIX are really good games to start with because they both have simple systems and moderate difficulty. FFIV DS is way too difficult for a beginner, but FFIV PSP would be a good starting point as well.

[@federicosavorani6320]

I'm playing ff7 now and it's quite easy too (not using cheats, obviously)

[@sammybh7788]

@@federicosavorani6320 7 kind of expanded on 6’s magicite system. The only reason I don’t recommend it for beginners as I recommend 6 or 9 is because the abilities stay with the materia not the character. It’s not that hard of a game though.

[@kvzxn4131]

what i like about IV is the theme of love music :)

[@Takudayo]

As someone who started and only played IX i agree to the point where i dont wanna touch other FF games so my love for FF series doesnt change if i touch a game not interesting tome lol, still looking for another FF game that can rival 9.

[@ramudon2428]

​@@TakudayoHaven't played XVI yet, but outside of that none are as good as IX. Though if you like IX, VI might be the closest. VII is also a solid bet.

[@gogauze]

X is absolutely the right answer. I said as much when the video started.

[@efrenarevalo2025]

I kind of agree. It perfectly melds the old FF feels without it being to "old". The lack of an overworld is the only downside to that game that most new players will miss imo.

[@siriustoast]

Final fantasy 4 was where I started as a child. It blew my mind

[@frankyi8206]

In general, I'd recommend starting with IV, VI, VII, IX, or X, and then narrow down based on some of the preferences mentioned above.

[@alternatelevi2099]

Started with XIII. Probably why I enjoyed it so much. I didn't have anything to compare it to.

[@TrvisXXIII]

Great answer, this is why the game would’ve succeeded but sadly it didn’t

[@smiler6326]

@@TrvisXXIII you say that in terms of previous title I guess it didn’t but it’s the only one to have not one but two sequels and I actually enjoyed them tbh maybe because of how starved I was for a final fantasy game as didn’t play one from X2 😂 as didn’t think have online then for Xl and didn’t have my console for when 12 came out

[@SpaceCat1111]

Best. Final. Fantasy. Well... trilogy, technically. And I've played 1-13 (sans 11). I'm glad you enjoyed it and appreciate it as much as a longtime fan as me is able to as well.

[@juanmanuelcoresorge7579]

The last 3 FF games I finished are the XIII trilogy and I played most of them except for 3 (8, 10 and 15) and guess what, they are my favorites and I had some FF to compare it. If you enjoyed the game is because you liked it back in the day, the rest is only excuses.

[@SillyGooseGamer]

I played the FF series in order, and still really enjoyed XIII despite playing the debatably better entries in the series. I’m excited to get into FFXIII-2!

[@PatrickOchoa8a]

I think the first FF game I ever played was 10. But mostly I just watched my siblings play it. Then I really got into Crystal Chronicles and eventually 14. I've played Kingdom Hearts and World of Final Fantasy so I'm kind of aware of a lot of the characters and enemies of the franchise without actually knowing any specifics. But it's always fun watching the "evolution of..." videos on this channel cause I get to see enemies in older games and be like "Hey! That thing is in the newer games!" So it's kind of fun to see references from any angle.

[@J0IJ0IJ0I]

FFX embodies a lot of the series. I definitely recommend that one first. It was my first FF game too!

[@BreaB15]

Mine too. I definitely recommend starting with X, and then from there, as someone else mentioned, you could go forwards or backwards in titles

[@carlcreasy1983]

Im old school been playing Final Fantasy since the NES and SNES however 10 has one of the best story plots besides 7 and the last of the true Final Fatansy games

[@geraltvonriva9873]

I also started with FFX but I truly think FFIX is the best.

[@rainyatsu4588]

I feel like a lot of millennials first final fantasy game was X. It was the first final fantasy on the PlayStation 2, first FF to have voice acting, really tried to go all in on the CGI cutscenes, and A lot of people and gaming websites tend to agree that it has the best love story of the series. Titus being a guy thrown into a new land with no knowledge of where he is was a great way to ease in newcomers to the franchise, and justify why everyone had to explain all the details about the world to the character instead of having the player just figure things out for themselves. Also the fact that it was the first game in the franchise to get a direct sequel is a testament to how successful it was. There’s so much to love about it and is definitely the perfect entry to start with.

[@justingates4985]

It was the last great game in the series...everything after it, just didn't live up to the hype for me. I never even bothered to finish the original version of XII; I quit about 30 hours into it...I only finished it after the Zodiac edition came out, and fixed some, but not all, of the issues I had with the gambit system.

[@Imozart0341I]

FF6 the must play, if you want to get in to Square RPGs or RPGs in general Chrono Trigger.

[@Charles.Wright]

I just finished it - apparently for the first time - last week. It was VERY frustrating after a certain point in WoR, which resulted in me giving up at least twice in the past. Too much sandbox/personal/optional quests. I need some rails.

[@SpaceCat1111]

@@Charles.Wright As much as I love 6 (2nd fav overall) I can agree with this sentiment. The last time I played through it was helping my sister play it last year, and I was starting to notice the issues in WoR as well. It's very difficult to gauge where you should go next sometimes as some areas have very steep difficulty spikes. And without grinding (which I always did way too much of when I was younger) I began to see where this could be a problem for inexperienced players. It really made me appreciate status effect magic a lot more... 😅

[@Imozart0341I]

Charles Wright I guess that’s pretty true,WoR for a new player doing the back tracking to put the team back together. Honestly it was one of my favorite parts.

[@mikeymondavi]

That History of Chrono Trigger topic is looking delicious though.

[@daze8410]

Chrono Trigger was my first true RPG. I was so new at RPG's that I didn't know you could change your equipment until I got to the mechanical dragon/dinosaur when you are escaping after being framed for kidnapping the princess. I later played the game and got to that point wondering how I ever made it that far with a wooden sword.

[@mikeymondavi]

@@daze8410 CT still remains in my top 10 of all time, if not the top 5. I was a couple of weeks away from 19 when it released and i dumped insane amounts of time into it for all of the endings. I have no idea why this series is neglected by Square.

[@daze8410]

@@mikeymondavi I was 4 when it released lol. But my aunt is your age and she was our babysitter. I got to play some of the best classics growing up and I'm grateful for that. Chrono Trigger and even Cross is in my top 3.... Myst, which I beat when I was 7, is also in my top 3. Indigo Prophecy is my favorite game of all time.

[@daze8410]

I directly blame Chrono Trigger for my appeal in multi or open ended games.

[@daze8410]

The game I played the most growing up was Heroes of Might and Magic 2 though lol and then Final Fantasy Tactics was released and I had that backlit gameboy SP, I was balling lol.

[@TianaSidhe]

I always recommend newcomers to start with FFIV. Fairly basic but still dynamic storyline, clear jobs and roles for the cast, plus it includes easily understandable tropes such as Chosen One, longlost sibling turned evil, brainwashed best friend, love interest in danger, and vengeance.

[@theazureknight9399]

@Tom Ffrench Right now pixel remaster is the way to go for beginners

[@alexmorpheus6762]

Completed FFIV Advance.

[@foosbooze263]

I never played any of these as a kid. Didn’t beat one til I was almost 30. My first was 9 and I don’t regret it. I’ve since played 10 and 7. Any of these 3 would’ve been good for me personally to have started with. I think I’d continue to play more no matter what I chose to start with. A great series. Especially 4-10 it seems. I’ve dabbled in 12 and liked what I played.

[@TdogEN]

I actually started with FF 13

[@Soshiaircon91]

Start with FF9 for true "fantasy" I love a thief with tail, a pretty princess with a super ugly mom, a kid with a wizard large hat. A overly serious knight but often turn out funny, weird frog eating food critic friend etc etc. It also include alot of classic FF style mini games and world lore either monster or well known FF mascot moogle/chocobos.

[@malekk4012]

100% this.

[@Walamonga1313]

Thief with a tail 🤮 Everyone else tho 😎 especially Vivi, Steiner and Beatrix

[@DHLpersonal]

7 if you don't care about that true fantasy stuff especially since it's one of the better ff games

[@matthagen67]

I'd say either IV or VI. Unless you want a 3D experience - then go straight to VII, IX or X. The thing about the FF series is that the vast majority of them are not good but GREAT games, so whatever game you choose, there's 85-90% chance you won't regret it!

[@VarynDEE33t]

IV was my first! Now FF is one of my favorite game franchises. Still have yet to play VI all the way through

[@AuthorLeepoy]

IX is not a good start for beginners, it has a very very slow beginning that the new gamers would decide to stop playing.

[@matthagen67]

@@VarynDEE33t IV was also my first... or at least the first one I've beaten and the one that made me LOVE this series (I'm not 100% sure because it was quite some time ago but I MAY have played FFI earlier, but I was instantly uninterested as I didn't know English and didn't know how to play RPGs). VI is my favourite Final Fantasy, and man you NEED to play it. You won't regret it, especially if you played and loved the other SNES FFs.

[@matthagen67]

@@AuthorLeepoy You might have a point there. Personally, if I had to choose just one title, I'd point at FFIV.

[@AuthorLeepoy]

@@matthagen67 I also preferred IV and also X

[@deity752]

I'd say start with Final Fantasy VII. Personally, I'd say it's the best entry point for the franchise because the story is familiar enough to anyone who has played games, while the gameplay perfectly captures the experience of every FF game up to X. VI is also a good entry point. It's what I started with and what made me fall in love with the franchise.

[@slick6227]

Im really tempted to play the first one, the cover art on the early games are so stunning with a eery feel to it, and also from a version Guide i found out that the nes version have a very interesting magic combat that looked kinda fun

[@riotoews7853]

I played VI first or III I guess in North America with Terra Branford. It got me to love Final Fantasy because I enjoyed the storytelling.

[@rogueprince1341]

I started with 6 as well and it got me so hooked that when FF7 came out on ps1 I had to one for Christmas that year so I could play FF7. Still the best Christmas gift ever.

[@2dat115]

I'd say 7 8 or 9.

[@Dhalin]

Eh, not 8 because of that stupid junction system I'm glad they never re-used. It's just so whack, pretty sure whoever came up with that was on something. I'm not saying the game is bad, but I sure wouldn't recommend it for beginners.

[@jamesgaiser8509]

Without even watching I'm going to say 10 all the way

[@j0nnyism]

Good choice it’s a great way to get into the series👍

[@richlor92]

Final Fantasy 10 is probably the first FF game you should play.

[@Lunarwingluna]

I definitely agree that FFX is the best place to start. Specifically, I'm glad you guys mentioned tolerance. That's incredibly important. I read people's recommendations on Reddit all the time, but I feel like long time fans forget that not everyone is interested in playing something from 1997. I'm 27, so I grew up playing games in the SNES era, but I'm not really fond of going back to play those games now. The world of gaming has evolved exponentially, and while I genuinely wish that I could tolerate the styles of older games, I find it very challenging to get into them. I played FFVI, for example, about 6 years ago, and i honestly didn't enjoy it. Objectively, I could appreciate that it was a good game for its time, and I thought the story was interesting, but I just could not have fun with it. Honestly it made me feel really guilty, but then i remembered that I'm not obligated to enjoy the same things as everyone else, and that there is nothing wrong with having a preference for newer games. So, again, I think FFX is definitely the best place to start if you don't need your games to be action style combat, but still want good graphics and voice acting.

[@ozzydior]

@Tom Ffrench you really don't need to play the ff in order, you can play ffviii without having played any other ff, and you'd still understand the story. The ff games aren't connected (with some exceptions ofc) but yea no, you do not need to play the old ff unless you want to grow a deep appreciation for the series.

[@indexical1897]

Definitely IV for me. Short, breezy and a great (if a little trite) story. Best pick up and play game in the series.

[@ralynedin]

I started playing 7 when I visited my cousin's house. I loved the whole concept of JRPGs and when I when to Best Buy i was looking for Final Fantasy and didn't know at the time there were multiple, so I picked up 9 and fell in love with that game. When I finished I went on to 8, 7, 10 and then the rest.

[@tinyblackmage]

FFX hands down. It feels “Final Fantasy”, with graphics and gameplay that is still decent in this age

[@carlcreasy1983]

Yes sir

[@lysanderxx1664]

My first was IV. I was probably 7 or 8 when I played the 1st time. I wasn't into RPGs as a kid because I wasn't into reading, but my brothers let me play 2 player with them on IV which was fun, and I eventually played it all on my own. Some years, after my brothers played VI, I finally played that one on my own as well (I loved playing 2 player, controlling Setzer a ton, but didn't care to actually play myself for a while). They helped me grow to love RPGs. There were still many I didn't get into like my brothers growing up, and I still don't like any NES RPGs, but FF IV and VI and others are still some of the best games that I go back to play every noe and then :) Very interesting video! And hey, FF VII Remake is nominated for a ton of video game awards this year! So cool.

[@cerisedaemon]

I started with XIV almost 6 years ago, which made me then play X and love it. I'm looking forward to play IV and VI. :)

[@kvzxn4131]

hi there! i've never played final fantasy before and want too start playing but don't know where to start. theres so many games from the series and just don't know which one is best too start with. is xiv a good start?

[@cerisedaemon]

@@kvzxn4131 You can start with XIV, there is no issue in there! The development team always mentions that FFXIV is a Final Fantasy game first and then a MMO game, because it's heavily focused on the lore and story. Regarding the other FF titles, it all depends on what you prefer regarding battle style. If you like turn-based, I do recommend FFX and FFIV, I really had a blast playing them.

[@kvzxn4131]

@@cerisedaemon i think i'll start with the x then thanks! :) xiv will be next

[@CMOJoker]

"there is no wrong answer...." except 2, we all know that's the wrong answer.

[@ingonyama70]

AFAIK, II is only available in the US as part of Dawn of Souls, and that's got FF1 on it as well. The likelihood of someone picking 2 to start is...low. Hopefully.

[@CMOJoker]

@@ingonyama70 all of the games are on phones (and steam I think?)

[@Caterfree10]

LMAO. Only sadists would suggest 2 first. No one deserves that battle system as their first Final Fantasy, lol.

[@arhernan2008]

2 is good if you give it a fair chance. The level up system they use is weird but for a game that came out in 1988 it’s pretty dang good. It was a huge step up in mechanics and ideas from the first one

[@Road_to_Dawn]

My first game was FFTA, followed by 7 and 10, but the first two games in the series I actually beat were 1 and 2 on Dawn of Souls. I loved them both, but especially 2. I dug the uniqueness of the character progression system, and actually really enjoyed the characters and storyline. I feel like 2 gets a lot of undue hate.

[@jertlemiah]

My immediate response to reading the title was the casual playthrough of FFX, I just think it's stood up so well and it remains my favorite and it made me smile to see you say the same :) But for a completionist then I recommend to avoid that game like the plague, since grinding through it all will easily take 5 times as long as it took to beat the game normally, from winning 100 games of Blitz, getting perfect scores on all the minigames, dodging 100 consecutive lightning bolts, and filling EVERY NODE on the sphere grid FOR EVERY CHARACTER, the pain and time cost is just not worth it

[@BreaB15]

Yes, if you’re all about completion the side quests and aiming for all celestial weapons will drive you over the edge... HOWEVER it gives the game excellent replay value. There are so many options to explore with the sphere grid and customizing character’s abilities. Now I’m ready to go play it again, lol.

[@arkane9b]

I'm gonna make it simple: 6, 9 or 10 are the best starting points for newcomers. Start with 10, if you don't have much experience with RPGs, then 9, 6, 4, 7, 5, 8, 12, 15, 13. Start with 6, if you don't mind 16-bit sprite graphics, then 9, 7, 4, 8 or 10, 12, 5, 15, 13. Start with 9, if you dislike 16-bit sprite graphics, then 7 or 10, 8, 12, 15, 13. Start with 7R if you don't like turn-based combat, then 15 and probably 16 whenever that comes out.

[@jessilyngray1223]

10 was my first and I have been hooked ever since

[@faithssims6159]

My first game was FF7R. Now I need another one to hold me over until we get part 2!

[@ZBatt1]

X

[@mrmilkyway5431]

Try ff4 that's the one I started with it has a great story

[@rayzink4097]

Go for FFX without hesitation !

[@ramudon2428]

Now, years later; did you end up trying FFX? Or some other one?

[@faithssims6159]

@@ramudon2428 wow 3 years ago! And no I have not had the chance to expand to other games yet. I need that PS5. 😭

[@Righteous1ist]

I started on 10 and was hooked

[@martineast6127]

Final Fantasy 8 was my first ever game of the franchise on psone, back in 1999 lol. Still love it now

[@Yussnan84.]

I'd say start with IX, X or XIII. I started with XIII, no regrets.

[@COREcasual]

I played tactics when it first came out, and now I play it on mobile. I love that when I just need to kill some time, I can pull out one of my favorite Games of all time from my pocket and work on getting some job points

[@marvelouswater9504]

You guys always impress me with your product quality keep up the Amazing work

[@araulen4820]

My friend introduced me to FF just recently. He played FFX a lot as a child and convinced me to start playing it just a few weeks ago. I'm glad he did, because I'm really enjoying the experience!

[@Kaze02se]

Nice! Welcome to the world of Final Fantasy :)

[@kevinstreetgaming]

"Betta dead than al bhed, ya?"

[@DigitalIP]

XIII had great graphics as well, i was amazed when i got it on PS3.

[@Road_to_Dawn]

@ My friend showed me how they enhanced the graphics on his Xbox Series X and WOW it looks amazing.

[@TheCrimsonCat89]

FF8 was my first. I was in 3rd grade and it got me to like school lol

[@makoto5851]

I bet you felt like squall

[@TheCrimsonCat89]

@@makoto5851 I related to Zell the most :) I did relate to Squall in certain aspects though but I did find him to be hella cool from a 3rd grader's perspective. The story wasn't hard for me to comprehend, either. I remember being on message boards giving my input and these 18+ nerds reacted in a way that made me laugh hysterically because a 3rd grader understood it better than they did 😂

[@mitchellmcginn5488]

I recently started with ff6 and it’s amazing

[@AKSandstorm007]

While I've grown up watching FFVIII being played by my big brother, then I got stuck in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, but decided to explore into the FF realm... and my first true Final Fantasy game was one of the spinoffs- World of Final Fantasy :D I haven't beaten through it, but I love the balances, the Mirages, the characters, everything! (and I pray for a sequel!) Then I got into Dissidia Opera Omnia (which is a GREAT gatcha game btw!) And after I got my Switch, I decided to get the remaster version of FFVIII, and while I love it, one particular mission was so frustrating I wanted to tear my hair out (that train puzzle... gah!) And also decided to get into the Theaterythm games and got FFIV for the DS :D Really hoping for a port for the previous Dissidia games to come to the Switch... and maybe a port for Crisis Core as well

[@jamesestelle7260]

For a game called Final Fantasy there is never an end to the games! Best series of games ever!

[@dimitriosgladio059]

I started with XV, it was my first rpg ever. It gave me a transition from action adventure games to jrpgs, now jrpgs are the only games I really play.

[@onegloba2425]

*laughs in mario and luigi series* nah joking, im really looking forward to play XV then X !

[@dimitriosgladio059]

@@onegloba2425 both are great games! I enjoyed them for different reasons tho.

[@charlesblack9959]

@@onegloba2425 Despite it's hot garbage of a development, XV Royal Edition is one of the deepest games in FF history, both characters and content wise. If you've got the guts you can go 200-400hrs deep in XV if you enjoy it enough. OG version was great as well though but Royal is a must-have.

[@theazureknight9399]

@@charlesblack9959 I love XV and it was my first game too but I don't know about it being the deepest. The combat is pretty much attack - warp - item - attack and then rince and repeat. The unlimited item usage also trivializes the difficulty and eliminates any need for strategy. Story in the first half of the game was good but it became a rushfest after the crew got to Altissia. Also you gotta watch a movie and an anime series to understand parts of the story, and even with all of this the ending still leaves you with more questions tham answers. Also not quite a great place to start with. As far as JRPGs go XV is quite outlier, even if you only take into consideration other FF games. Ssme goes for VII remake. If you're a total newbie then it won't be easy to go from an action rpg/hack n slash hybrid to the slow turn based/atb combat of I through 10 or even XIII's paradigm system.

[@paolocostaimori]

My first one was Tactics, Love the story, characters, etc. But i was 8, and it was hard, specially on 2nd language. I think 15 is very similar to other modern games, and can be a good bridge between these and the FF games. 7R is also like that. I would recomend 9 as the first one. Great charaters and battle system, good learning curve, good sidequests, memorable story.

[@n1fffan]

whenever I suggest a first Final Fantasy, I tend to go with 1, 4, 6, 7, 9, or 10 depending on what they are looking for, 1 of course because it's the first one, but 4 and 6 are genuinely great places for anyone to start if they like sprite based rpgs, 7 and 9 are for the great story and wonderful characters, and 10... well... 10 just has the best ease of access

[@TheeIronDuck]

I always recommend 6 and 10 to play first. And you hit the nail on the head with your tolerance discussion. Great vid.

[@martindavis5959]

7,9,10 best

[@Dawson370]

All I can say is you can’t go wrong where you start in the FF series since each game is a standalone in itself but some later games do reference to older ones as mentioned in the video. My advice is start with whichever you choose and stick with it. Some stories progress slower than others but get better and better as you play further!

[@drinkmorecareless]

FFX is the correct answer. Only downside is that one scene that makes everyone wince.

[@jamessweebe373]

HAHAHAHAHA

[@Jigen32]

@@jamessweebe373 HAHAHAHAHA

[@PomPomNomi]

@@Jigen32 HAHAHAHAHA

[@cole_r]

It’s too bad that scene’s gets 💩on. It’s actually really good. ........... HAHAHAHAHA

[@arthuraraujo313]

Link ?

[@debreas6207]

I wanna join patreon just to vote for a mystic quest commentary. If it would be worth a remake? I love the game and the storyline despite playing Final fantasy from 1-11. Played multiple RPGs over the years where Lufia and fortress of doom is on my top list for remakes needed. I personally don’t get the hate mystic quest since it’s perfect for beginners and wanting to play an RPG yet take a break from the immense grinding needed. The storyline is very well done and easily able to battle a lot with different play styles throughout.

[@henriqueoliveira6060]

Tactics was my first. It's still the one that I like the most.

[@hersh1138]

I like to watch tactics but I don't like to play tactics lol

[@coralreeves4276]

Dude that into was such a nostalgia trip... Great vid! In my opinion, if anyone wants to start this series I say just dive into FF4. The story there was what got me hooked into playing the older FF games. 😁

[@Beryllahawk]

Fourteen! Definitely try Fourteen - if not the first Final Fantasy you try, make it the second one! I am willing to make a complete fool of myself over Final Fantasy Fourteen of course, haha, so my vote is obviously very biased. A very balanced way of looking at this question and a very, VERY good way of answering. Thank you so much for working so hard and so thoughtfully on these kinds of questions. The kinds of things you dive into and the details you unearth to share with us are always so great, even games I thought I knew everything about you've managed to surprise me on!

[@viralium104]

I've noticed that tolerance is often overlooked when people recommend older games, so I appreciate that it was discussed here. From everything that was said, I think I'll give FFX a try first.

[@Caterfree10]

Tbh, X is always my go to for a first Final Fantasy for newcomers, too. It’s just a nice medium between the classic and modern FFs, and allows one to learn common mechanics of FF in general to start. It’s just great. :3

[@jakielou1884]

I started on 12 around the same time I started playing kh1 around 07'. My cousin only that one at the time but always preached 7's good word and it was my 2nd. I'm almost 23 now and I have played every single FF including many of squares other games. This franchise was and always will be epic despite what people may say about the games individually.

[@07citychamp]

FF10 was my first and to this day still the best I've played (aside from the MMOs)

[@nathanwhiting5475]

I agree with this statement (aside from the parentheses)

[@fidelulloa3207]

Agree

[@07citychamp]

The MMOs I had really good luck in the community as well as in the game. Was a highly valued crafter in 11 and one of the better tanks on fflogs in 14, so good memories.

[@danielwolf6477]

have to disagree... while i like 10, a fav of mine was always 7, then 15 (not so much story as it was gameplay and views ect... jus mesmerising to drive in the car to those locations, uff...) and now im on 7 part 1 again with those sexy graphics and amazing battlesystem... But well, opinions are like assholes, everyone got one... so yeeah, i respect yours!

[@ramudon2428]

That's so weird. To me, it's the worst FF I've played. Outside of... Maybe the first two games, I never really got into those. It's probably because it was your first.

[@bananerna2601]

I’m almost thirty. Wanted to play at least one of these games for 15 years. Never did it though, it’s so overwhelming.

[@ramudon2428]

Did you end up playing one?

[@UltimaLestat]

I feel like X is a good answer. It's a really nice compromise between the general style of the earlier games and the experiments of it's successors. If you especially want to experience the traditional Final Fantasy style though, I have to suggest IX. It's like a victory tour of what made the older games great, with the more modern polish of the PlayStation era and beyond. (Plus, y'know, it's my favourite so I'm biased) I started with VIII myself, and while I can't necessarily recommend it to someone who specifically wants to enter the Final Fantasy universe, I do feel like the fact that it was so different mechanically from its predecessors served me well. Since it was so unique it allowed me to view each title separately on their own merits rather than constantly comparing each entry to each other, and I think it's made me much more tolerant of all the changes that have been tried since.

[@admfitz3480]

Started with 7 recently, adored it and now playing the remake. Gonna play 15 and 16 and see from there

[@bmonthatipkul]

In term of story, 7 and then 7 remake then the original FF.

[@K4sut0]

It's a real good video, I tried numerous times in the past to get in to the franchise but it didn't worked out that well for me until I got asked to play ff14 with a friend and it clicked with the guidance I received, a few thousands hours later I nearly beat all the content that’s available. I would start again with 14, and yes shadowbringer is the best add on/dlc I've played in since witcher blood and wine Side note: 14 is the only one that i completed so take my statement with a grain of salt

[@3plecheeseburger]

"there are also plenty of people who watch our videos and enjoy learning about the franchise but have yet to-" Me: Subscribe? "play for themselves." Me: Oh, phew. I thought he was gonna call me out..

[@mamayareborn]

My personal recommendation is XIV. It's a hub game in many more ways than one and it's a brilliant springboard into other games in the franchise. Loads of my FC mates went on to experience many FF games for the first time, when they would've never played them by their own accord before that. And seeing where a lot of the references come from originally really adds a satisfying layer to the playthrough. It's also a phenomenal way to find Final Fantasy fan groups ingame and to play them parallel to XIV. For a while, we had a night when our resident newcomer to the franchise would discuss her progress with everybody and we'd all share our memories about that situation.

[@flo-su6vp]

I started with FF10 ( FFX ). it was the best one that I played. It got me into final Fantasy.

[@GCJACK83]

I gave my nephews my copies of Dawn of Souls, Breath of Fire 2, and Chrono Trigger. They each were told to take their time clearing all three. They did, and they enjoyed the experience.

[@AdamOusley]

I'm definitely a little bias, but FFX is what I almost always suggest. The game still looks good enough, it's not too hard outside of a few bosses, and turn based combat is a little more beginner friendly than atb. I think the story and voice acting are good for the most part, but some people will disagree with that.

[@arhernan2008]

I usually recommend either 9, 10, 12, or 7 remake depending on the person

[@MGlBlaze]

I'd say that the 'best' answer would be "whichever mainline numbered entry is the most convenient for you to get" - I started with 7 because it was the recent release at that time. Maybe I got lucky in that regard because I'm not sure I'd like the series quite as much if I started with 8. Trying out a recent release is probably the best idea as well since that would give you a feel for how the near-future games in the series might be. If someone started with 6 or 7 and then played 15 expecting it to be somewhat similar, they'd be pretty surprised. 14 is a pretty good choice too, if someone likes MMORPGs. It definitely feels like Final Fantasy and you can play quite a lot of it for free.

[@ChuckFukingNorris]

Agree with X, right balance between old and new and still one of the best stories IMO

[@chumiminn]

I played 1,2 and 3 years ago as a kid while not really understanding anything, it's only now getting hooked to XIV I've started appreciating nods and all the references the game has to the series as a whole. I feel like XIV is the most comprehensive amalgamation of what Final Fantasy is about, but it is a rather huge investment, and an MMO to boot.

[@TrvisXXIII]

Long overdue video. Personally, I started with X-2 and onwards. Never played any of the online games or anything before X. Edit: XII to me is a personal favorite since I replayed it on the switch. Was never able to finish it when I owned the metal tin copy on the PS2, and gave up while trying to hunt the zodiac spear. Now I wish it were even longer after sinking 110 hrs into it. Flawless RPG in my opinion.

[@stevenmorton2059]

You tried to hunt the Zodiac Spear on the original PS2 Final Fantasy 12? You poor, naive soul... (It's incredibly easy to screw yourself over hunting for the Spear in the original version.)

[@TrvisXXIII]

@@stevenmorton2059 😂😂😂 I know, at the time I found a walkthrough on a blog and wanted it so bad. I got so frustrated that I gave up playing it altogether. I sucked back then anyway lol I even remember before that on the PS2 being pounded by some optional boss in X-2 that had what felt like unlimited HP. I equipped some over kill item that dealt 9999 damage on the trigger happy attack and went crazy. I still lost 😂 that made me quit as well.

[@stevenmorton2059]

@@TrvisXXIII That sounds like Trema, He's tough even with the Cat Nip + Trigger Happy exploit. Guess what? That exploit was removed in the remastered version...

[@TrvisXXIII]

@@stevenmorton2059 it was??? Wow, didn’t get that far into the switch version because I was trying to 100% it with a walkthrough and put it off. That’s unfortunate, thanks for the refresher on some old memories man lol

[@TrvisXXIII]

@@stevenmorton2059 man, talking about it though sounds so much fun. Feel like going back and finishing the play through now lol off topic, but I was kinda holding off on playing anything until Age of Calamity dropped this Friday

[@ThePointBlank87]

I started with VIII when it was first released, got hooked on it instantly. Midway through VIII i decided to try out VII and got hooked on it too. I made the decision to focus on completeing VIII first b4 going back to VII. The experience was awesome. From there, I played 9, 10, 12 and so on. Out of all the FFs, I can never shake off that nostalgic feeling of playing VII and VIII. So in my personal opinion, start with either VII or VIII first.

[@cole_r]

I see X as the gateway Final Fantasy. Great story, voice acting, more modern-like graphics than any of the other golden age entries while still remaining close to its roots. Edit: so these things make it the easier for modern gamers to ease into the series. That’s my take :) I don’t like 13 or 15, so I don’t recommend them and 12 deviates a lot from the FF norm imo, so it isn’t the best at setting the FF tone.

[@cole_r]

@ I get you but since the topic was about which game should be played first, I ruled those out since they aren’t very representative of the mainline series as a whole and therefore aren’t as good for establishing expectations and the ‘traditional’ Final Fantasy experience. Those are more like side entries anyways. The online games were likely made main entry numbers for cash grab purposes while unfortunately, and imo, I think the Square Enix higher ups wanted 12 to bring series regulars to the online games (hence its battle system). So I think 12 is a cash grab as well. the higher ups even made them add in Vaan and Penelo last second during development, so they kind of ruin 12 as being a legit mainline title for me. Plus Sakaguchi’s departure (during or soon after 9 and 10?) pretty much marks the end of the golden age of FF and Square Enix has been having troubles/controversies with every mainline title since. So most people consider X and before to be the most representative FF experiences.

[@cole_r]

@ Sorry I didn’t mean that the game was a cash grab, just that giving the online games a main number was a cash grab-y move. I know the second 14 is a good mmo. :) I’m not into mmos but I plan on watching the shadowbringers story at some point. Heard it is really good.

[@timothywhitney6307]

I started with final fantasy 7 not knowing what it was and it had been in America a long time when I bought it for the computer. It was an amazing game that instantly got me hooked to all the others! Needless to say final fantasy tactics is my favorite of all time but seven was my entry point and I have a lot of nostalgia for seven and eight

[@cygnetseven]

I'm just as confused after watching this and reading the comments as I was before. LOL

[@rvfiasco]

Just pick one and roll with it. lol

[@makoto5851]

I recommend FF8 personally. Very unorthodox game however. And don't expect a good story, but the main characters are pretty interesting, situations are very unique, combat and builds are also very unique, great OST and it's overflowing with charm.

[@makoto5851]

@ true

[@calendarfactory8566]

XV is a highly underrated gem and is a great entry for the franchise and was my first game, I say it's the best way to ease yourself into the series. Starting with something modern and then slowly going back and experiencing 6-10

[@comparethemiaKAT]

Agreed, I also think it's underrated. It was the first FF I truly completed 100% because I loved it that much, and continued to play end game stuff because there was so much more to do! A nice, easy first FF for a beginner.