Every Final Fantasy game, ranked
All 29 Final Fantasy games we hold, spanning 1987 to 2023: 16 ranked by the GamingPickz Score and plotted below, the rest listed in release order so nothing in the series is missing. Together they carry 356,637 Steam reviews.
Where to start
- For the best-reviewed: FINAL FANTASY IX (GamingPickz Score 8.1), the highest-rated entry we can score.
- For canon order: begin with Final Fantasy (1987) and follow the release-order timeline below.
- For the money: Final Fantasy VIII gives the most score per dollar right now.
The Final Fantasy games on the grid
Compare the whole catalogueThe same 16 games, plotted rather than listed. The two axes below are the ones the ranking is built from, so a game sitting high and right is a game the formula placed near the top. Change either axis to see the field a different way. Where we hold a publisher wordmark, the game is drawn as its mark rather than a dot.
16 games have both
Axes are fitted to these 16 games rather than the full 0 to 100 scale, because a filtered list shares a narrow band and would otherwise sit in one corner. End values are marked. A point on the left edge is the lowest of thesegames, not a low score.
Players. The share of Steam reviews marked positive, pulled toward the catalogue average in proportion to how few reviews stand behind it. A game with 200 reviews moves a long way toward the average; one with 200,000 barely moves at all. Without this a title sitting at 100 percent on nine reviews outranks Half-Life 2 at 98 percent on 278,000.
Popularity. A blend of two things that are not the same. Audience is how many people wrote a Steam review, which is a floor on how many played it. Reach is how many language editions of Wikipedia document the game, which is cultural footprint rather than sales. A game can score high on one and low on the other: a huge free-to-play title has audience without reach, and a landmark console exclusive has reach without a Steam audience at all. Where both exist they are averaged; where only one does, that one carries it.
- Mobile
- Nintendo
- PC
- PlayStation
Every point links to that game's entry. The value map and the reception map are fixed views of the same data.
How positions are decided
No paid placement, no favouritism, live third-party data
- Placed by the published method, not by us. Every coordinate is computed from the axis definitions and weights printed on this site. Nobody moves a point. See the axes.
- Nothing here is paid for. No sponsored placements, no promoted slots, no arrangement of any kind affects a position. If that ever changes it will be labelled and sit outside the ranking.
- No favouritism, including our own. The 16 games we have written full reviews of are scored by exactly the same formula as the other 1,510, from the same third-party inputs, and they land where it puts them. Our own opinion of a game does not enter its coordinates.
- A position is not an endorsement. It says how a game was received and what it costs, not that we recommend it. Where we do recommend something, it carries a written review with a name on it.
- Fetched from live third-party data. Player sentiment from Steam, critic aggregates as published on store pages, prices checked hourly, attention from Wikipedia. Each figure carries its source and the date it was read, and we do not adjust any of them.
Every game by critic score
The grid above is built from Steam data, so it can only place the Final Fantasy games that were on Steam. This one uses the Metacritic critic aggregate, which the older console-only entries have too, so the whole series lands on a single chart: critic score against release year.
On Steam (also has a GamingPickz Score) Console-only (Metacritic only)
16 best Final Fantasy games, ranked
Ordered by GamingPickz Score. Every figure links back to the source that produced it.
- 1
FINAL FANTASY IX
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.1GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceFINAL FANTASY IX at a glance Released 2016 Studio Square Enix Player sentiment 95% positive of 14,266 Critics 84/100 Price $20.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 7 GB Accessibility 3 declared features Raw 95% shrinks to 94.7 on 14,266 reviews, then blends with the 84 critic aggregate, giving 8.1.
What the data supports- Small install at 7 GB.
- 2
FINAL FANTASY VII
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
8.0GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFINAL FANTASY VII at a glance Released Not recorded Studio Square Enix Player sentiment 93% positive of 30,359 Critics No aggregate Price Not listed Steam Deck playable Install size Not stated Accessibility 1 declared feature Raw 93% shrinks to 92.9 on 30,359 reviews, giving 8.0. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
- 3
FINAL FANTASY XIV Online
Best for: Playing through with a friend online
7.9GamingPickz Scorehigh confidenceFINAL FANTASY XIV Online at a glance Released 2014 Studio Square Enix Player sentiment 87% positive of 85,571 Critics 83/100 Price $19.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 140 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 87% shrinks to 87.0 on 85,571 reviews, then blends with the 83 critic aggregate, giving 7.9.
- 4
FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
Best for: Sinking a long time into one world
7.7GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE at a glance Released 2022 Studio Square Enix Player sentiment 87% positive of 51,905 Critics No aggregate Price $39.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 100 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 87% shrinks to 87.0 on 51,905 reviews, giving 7.7. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- 5
FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
7.6GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster at a glance Released 2016 Studio Square Enix Player sentiment 88% positive of 23,525 Critics No aggregate Price $29.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 37 GB Accessibility 4 declared features Raw 88% shrinks to 87.9 on 23,525 reviews, giving 7.6. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
- 6
Final Fantasy VI
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
7.6GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFinal Fantasy VI at a glance Released 1994 Studio Square Player sentiment 92% positive of 4,975 Critics No aggregate Price $17.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 1 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 92% shrinks to 91.4 on 4,975 reviews, giving 7.6. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Small install at 1 GB.
Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemiOSAndroidiPadAndroid TabletPlayStation Portable
- 7
FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION
Best for: Players who need accessibility options that actually exist
7.5GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION at a glance Released 2018 Studio Square Enix Player sentiment 83% positive of 57,999 Critics No aggregate Price $34.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 100 GB Accessibility 9 declared features Raw 83% shrinks to 83.0 on 57,999 reviews, giving 7.5. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 9 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
- 8
FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
7.5GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE at a glance Released 2018 Studio Square Enix Player sentiment 89% positive of 10,211 Critics No aggregate Price $49.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 50 GB Accessibility 8 declared features Raw 89% shrinks to 88.8 on 10,211 reviews, giving 7.5. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Declares 8 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
- 9
Final Fantasy VIII
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
7.5GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFinal Fantasy VIII at a glance Released 1999 Studio Square Player sentiment 88% positive of 9,497 Critics No aggregate Price $11.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 4 GB Accessibility 2 declared features Raw 88% shrinks to 87.8 on 9,497 reviews, giving 7.5. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Small install at 4 GB.
- 10
Final Fantasy IV
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
7.5GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFinal Fantasy IV at a glance Released 1991 Studio Square Player sentiment 92% positive of 3,028 Critics No aggregate Price $17.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 1 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 92% shrinks to 91.0 on 3,028 reviews, giving 7.5. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 1 GB.
Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemiOSAndroidiPadAndroid TabletPlayStation Portable
- 11
Final Fantasy III
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
7.5GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFinal Fantasy III at a glance Released 1990 Studio Square Player sentiment 93% positive of 2,841 Critics No aggregate Price $17.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 1 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 93% shrinks to 91.9 on 2,841 reviews, giving 7.5. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 1 GB.
- 12
Final Fantasy V
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
7.3GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFinal Fantasy V at a glance Released 1992 Studio Square Player sentiment 90% positive of 2,493 Critics No aggregate Price $17.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 1 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 90% shrinks to 89.1 on 2,493 reviews, giving 7.3. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Small install at 1 GB.
Super Nintendo Entertainment SystemiOSAndroidiPadAndroid TabletPlayStation Portable
- 13
Final Fantasy II
Best for: Handheld play, small install and Deck verified
6.9GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFinal Fantasy II at a glance Released 1988 Studio Square Player sentiment 82% positive of 3,501 Critics No aggregate Price $11.99 Steam Deck verified Install size 1 GB Accessibility 6 declared features Raw 82% shrinks to 82.2 on 3,501 reviews, giving 6.9. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Valve has tested it and rates it Verified on the Steam Deck.
- Small install at 1 GB.
Nintendo Entertainment SystemiOSAndroidiPadAndroid TabletPlayStation Portable
- 14
Final Fantasy XIII
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
6.7GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFinal Fantasy XIII at a glance Released 2009 Studio Square Enix Player sentiment 75% positive of 19,914 Critics No aggregate Price $15.99 Steam Deck playable Install size 60 GB Accessibility 5 declared features Raw 75% shrinks to 75.2 on 19,914 reviews, giving 6.7. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
- 15
Final Fantasy XVI
Best for: Sinking a long time into one world
6.6GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFinal Fantasy XVI at a glance Released 2023 Studio Square Enix Player sentiment 78% positive of 33,368 Critics No aggregate Price $49.99 Steam Deck unsupported Install size 170 GB Accessibility 7 declared features Raw 78% shrinks to 78.1 on 33,368 reviews, giving 6.6. No critics data, so that weight was redistributed across the rest rather than counted as zero.
What the data supports- Declares 7 accessibility features, well above the catalogue norm.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- Valve rates it Unsupported on the Steam Deck.
- 16
Final Fantasy Type-0
Best for: A consistently well-received pick in this category
5.9GamingPickz Scoremedium confidenceFinal Fantasy Type-0 at a glance Released 2011 Studio Square Enix Player sentiment 63% positive of 3,184 Critics 69/100 Price $29.99 Steam Deck unsupported Install size 30 GB Accessibility 5 declared features Raw 63% shrinks to 65.3 on 3,184 reviews, then blends with the 69 critic aggregate, giving 5.9.
Worth checking first- Flagged for mature content on its store page.
- Valve rates it Unsupported on the Steam Deck.
Only the 16 Final Fantasy games with Steam review data can be scored and ranked. The complete series, scored or not, is charted in order below.
Best and worst entry
The best-received Final Fantasy game we can score is FINAL FANTASY IX at 8.1. The lowest is Final Fantasy Type-0 at 5.9, a 2.2-point spread across the series. The GamingPickz Score is a composite of player sentiment, critics and popularity, computed the same way for every game.
How the series scored over time
GamingPickz Score against release year, 1988 to 2023. It has held roughly steady across the years.
Cheapest way in, and best value
- Cheapest right now: Final Fantasy II at $11.99. Prices are read live from Steam and move.
- Best value: Final Fantasy VIII, the most GamingPickz Score per dollar in the series at its current price.
On a Steam Deck
Valve's own Deck compatibility rating for the Final Fantasy entries on Steam:
- Verified: Final Fantasy II, Final Fantasy III, Final Fantasy IV, FINAL FANTASY XV WINDOWS EDITION, FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE, FINAL FANTASY VII REMAKE INTERGRADE
- Playable: Final Fantasy V, Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VIII, Final Fantasy XIII, FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster, FINAL FANTASY IX, FINAL FANTASY VII
- Unsupported: Final Fantasy Type-0, Final Fantasy XVI
Platforms across the series
Where the 29 Final Fantasy games have landed, counting every entry we hold:
| Platform family | Entries |
|---|---|
| PC | 21 of 29 |
| PlayStation | 16 of 29 |
| Xbox | 6 of 29 |
| Nintendo | 6 of 29 |
| Mobile | 8 of 29 |
The Final Fantasy series, game by game
Every Final Fantasy game we hold, in release order. Each description is the game's own, from Steam where it has a listing and Wikipedia for the older entries, never ours.
- 1987
Final Fantasy
Metacritic 67Final Fantasy is a 1987 role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the first game in Square's Final Fantasy series, created by Hironobu Sakaguchi. The story follows four youths called the Warriors of Light, who each carry one of their world's four elemental… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting Final Fantasy takes place in a fantasy world with three large continents. The elemental powers of this world are determined by the state of four crystals, each governing one of the four classical elements : earth, fire, water, and wind. The world of Final Fantasy is inhabited by numerous races, including humans, elves, dwarves, mermaids, dragons, and robots. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Final Fantasy has been well received by critics and commercially successful; the original Famicom (NES) version shipped 520,000 copies in Japan, grossing more than ¥3 billion or $21,000,000 (equivalent to $60,000,000 in 2025) at retail. According to Square's publicity department in 1994, the game had sold 600,000 copies in Japan. The NES release was more successful in North America, where it sold 700,000 copies, adding up to 1. (Wikipedia)
- 1988
The original FINAL FANTASY II comes to life with completely new graphics and audio! A remodeled 2D take on the second game in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics. (Steam)
Plot
Setting and characters Yoshitaka Amano 's artwork of the main characters Leon, Firion, Maria, and Guy Final Fantasy II is set in a fantasy world divided between multiple nations, including the Palamecian Empire and the kingdom of Fynn. During the game's events, the Palamecian Empire has begun a ruthless expansion, conquering or destroying its neighbours including the kingdom of Kashuan and the dragoon homeland of Deist. A rebellion is formed to fight… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception According to Square, the original Famicom release sold 800,000 copies. As of March 2003, the game, including all re-releases at the time, had shipped 1. 28 million copies worldwide, with 1. (Wikipedia)
- 1990
The original FINAL FANTASY III comes to life with completely new graphics and audio! A remodeled 2D take on the third game in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics. (Steam)
Plot
Setting and characters Final Fantasy III is set in an unnamed fantasy world protected by four elemental crystals. A millennium in the world's past, an ancient civilization based on a network of floating continents overused the power of light and triggered a disaster by upsetting the balance between light and darkness. This imbalance summoned the Cloud of Darkness, an entity which would return the world to nothingness. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Within its first week on sale, Final Fantasy III reportedly sold 500,000 copies. As of March 2003, the original Famicom game had shipped 1. 4 million copies in Japan, outselling the domestic releases of the previous two Final Fantasy games. (Wikipedia)
- 1990
Final Fantasy Legend II
not scoredFinal Fantasy Legend II, known in Japan as SaGa 2: Hihou Densetsu, is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Game Boy. The second entry in the SaGa series, it was released in 1990 in Japan, and in 1991 in North America. A remake for the Nintendo DS was released in 2009 by Square Enix,… (Wikipedia)
Plot
In a search for their missing father, the player-created protagonist seeks out the 77 MAGI stones formed when the statue of the goddess Isis was smashed. Teaming up with three other adventurers, the protagonist collects the MAGI from across a series of worlds connected by the Pillar of Sky. The protagonist's father is revealed to have belonged to a group called the Guardians, who fear bringing together all the MAGI will bring about catastrophe. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception As of 2002, the game had sold 850,000 copies, making it the second best-selling title of the Game Boy SaGa releases. During its first two weeks on sale, the DS remake entered the top ten best-selling games, and sold 124,000 units. By the end of the year, the remake had sold nearly 156,000 units, becoming the 84th best-selling game of 2009 in Japan. (Wikipedia)
- 1991
The original FINAL FANTASY IV comes to life with completely new graphics and audio! A remodeled 2D take on the fourth game in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics. (Steam)
Plot
Setting Most of Final Fantasy IV takes place on Earth, also known as the Blue Planet, which consists of a surface world (or Overworld ), inhabited by humans, and an underground world (or Underworld), inhabited by the Dwarves . An artificial moon orbits the planet, upon which the Lunarians live. The Lunarians are a race of beings originally from a world which was destroyed, becoming the asteroid belt surrounding the Blue Planet, and are identified by a… (Wikipedia)
Characters
Main article: Characters of the Final Fantasy IV series Final Fantasy IV offers twelve playable characters, each with a unique, unchangeable character class . During the game, the player can have a total of five, or fewer, characters in the party at any given time. The main character, Cecil Harvey , is a dark knight and the captain of the Red Wings, an elite air force unit of the kingdom of Baron. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception The game received positive reviews upon release. Famitsu s panel of four reviewers gave it ratings of 9, 9, 10, and 8, adding up to an overall score of 36 out of 40, one of the highest scores it awarded to any game in 1991, second only to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past . In its November 1991 issue, Nintendo Power proclaimed it set a "new standard of excellence" for role-playing games. (Wikipedia)
- 1991
Final Fantasy Adventure
not scoredFinal Fantasy Adventure, known in Japan as Seiken Densetsu: Final Fantasy Gaiden or simply Seiken Densetsu, and later released in Europe as Mystic Quest, is a 1991 action role-playing game developed and published by Square for the Game Boy. It is a spin-off of the Final Fantasy series and the first game in the Mana… (Wikipedia)
Plot
The Hero (named by the player, officially called Sumo) is a prisoner of the Dark Lord. One day, the Hero's friend informs him of the Dark Lord's goals, and he urges him to seek a Knight named Bogard. As the Hero escapes imprisonment, he learns that the Dark Lord is seeking a key to the Mana Sanctuary in order to control the Mana Tree, an energy source that sustains life. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception According to Square's publicity department, the game sold 700,000 units worldwide, with 500,000 of these sold in Japan. Final Fantasy Adventure was featured in Nintendo Power when it was re-released in the United States. IGN praised the Game Boy re-release version noting its strong story, graphics, and music. (Wikipedia)
- 1991
Final Fantasy Legend III
Metacritic 70Final Fantasy Legend III, known in Japan as SaGa 3: Jikuu no Hasha, is a role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Game Boy. The third entry in the SaGa series, it was released in Japan in 1991 and in North America in 1993. A remake for the Nintendo DS was released in 2011 by Square Enix,… (Wikipedia)
Plot
In the world of SaGa 3 , a non-sentient being called the Water Entity is engulfing the world in a great flood. The Water Entity also summons monsters onto the land and low lying cities are abandoned. As a party of four warriors sets out to confront the entity, several youths from the future arrive to help, and it is realized that the Entity's destruction is occurring across all time periods. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Sales In Japan, SaGa 3 topped the Famitsu sales charts from December 1991 to January 1992 . As of 2002, the game had sold 650,000 units, making it the third best-selling title of the Game Boy SaGa releases, and the lowest-selling original SaGa title as of that time. The DS remake debuted in eighth place in Japanese sales charts, with opening sales of over 27,300 units. (Wikipedia)
- 1992
The original FINAL FANTASY V comes to life with completely new graphics and audio as a 2D pixel remaster! A remodeled take on the fifth game in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics. (Steam)
Plot
Setting The backstory of Final Fantasy V is revealed in phases through cutscenes and interactions with non-playable characters . One millennium before the events of the main story, a powerful mage named Enuo imperiled the world using the power of an evil entity called the "Void". The people retaliated by using twelve legendary weapons to vanquish Enuo, but the Void itself could not be destroyed. (Wikipedia)
Characters
Concept art of the playable characters of Final Fantasy V by Yoshitaka Amano; from left, Bartz, Krile, Lenna, and Faris. Main article: Final Fantasy character classes Final Fantasy V features five player characters , though only up to four are playable at any given time: Bartz Klauser - A adventurer who travels the world with his Chocobo companion, Boko. Bartz becomes involved in the main conflict when he investigates the site of a meteorite and… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Sales Within a day of its release in Japan, Final Fantasy V sold about 900,000 cartridges for ¥8. 8 billion ( $69 million at the time, or $158 million adjusted for inflation), selling about 4. 5 times as many copies as what Final Fantasy IV (1991) sold on its first day and close to the 1. (Wikipedia)
- 1992
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
not scoredFinal Fantasy Mystic Quest, released as Mystic Quest Legend in PAL regions and as Final Fantasy USA: Mystic Quest in Japan, is a 1992 role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is a spin-off of the broader Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy Mystic Quest… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting Final Fantasy Mystic Quest takes place on a single continent of an unnamed world, which is divided into four distinct regions: Foresta, Aquaria, Fireburg, and Windia. The welfare of each region is determined by the state of one of four shining crystals: earth, water, fire, and wind, respectively. For centuries the Focus Tower had stood at the heart of the world. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception According to Square's publicity department, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest sold a total of 800,000 units, with roughly half of these sold in Japan. The game did not generate much excitement in either America or Japan, although it is thought to have appealed to younger fans. The game ultimately failed in its bid to bring mainstream North American popularity to console RPGs, and simultaneously alienated fans of the series anticipating another epic… (Wikipedia)
- 1994
The original FINAL FANTASY VI comes to life with completely new graphics and audio! A remodeled 2D take on the sixth game in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics. (Steam)
Plot
Setting Instead of the strictly medieval fantasy settings featured in previous Final Fantasy titles, Final Fantasy VI is set in a world with deliberately more industrial and mechanical design elements; developers described a setting where machinery and magic coexist. Opera and the fine arts serve as recurring motifs—most notably the opera sequence—documented in developer interviews and later remaster materials. During the first half of the game, the… (Wikipedia)
Characters
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy VI Final Fantasy VI features fourteen permanent playable characters , the most of any game in the main series, as well as several secondary characters who are only briefly controlled by the player. The starting character, Terra Branford , is a reserved half-human, half-esper girl who spent most of her life as a slave to the Empire, thanks to a mind-controlling device, and is unfamiliar with love. Other primary… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Initial Reception Final Fantasy VI received critical acclaim and was commercially successful in Japan upon release. In mid-1994, Square's publicity department reported that the game had sold 2. 55 million copies in Japan, where it became the best-selling video game of 1994 . (Wikipedia)
- 1999
It is a time of war. Galbadia, a Global Superpower, has declared war on Dollet, a country whose training academy is home to two personalities: the hot-headed Seifer and the 'lone wolf', Squall Leonhart. Both are equally at conflict with each other as their country is with Galbadia; to others, Squall appears lacking in team spirit, while... (Steam)
Plot
Setting and characters Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy VIII Most of Final Fantasy VIII is set on an unnamed fantasy world. The setting is highly European in design and features a blend of modern and futuristic locales. The planet contains five major landmasses, with Esthar, the largest, covering most of the eastern portion of the map. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Final Fantasy VIII received critical acclaim. In general, the game was compared favorably to its predecessors. Though questioning the game's lack of voice overs for its characters, Game Revolution praised its storyline and ending. (Wikipedia)
- 2001
Final Fantasy X
Metacritic 92Final Fantasy X is a 2001 role-playing video game developed and published by Square for PlayStation 2. The tenth main installment in the Final Fantasy series, it is the first game in the series to feature fully three-dimensional areas, and voice acting. Final Fantasy X replaces the Active Time Battle (ATB) system with… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting and characters Main articles: Spira (Final Fantasy) and Characters of Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 Final Fantasy X is set in the fictional world of Spira, consisting of one large landmass divided into three subcontinents, surrounded by small tropical islands. It features diverse climates, ranging from the tropical Besaid and Kilika islands, to the temperate Mi'ihen region, to the frigid Macalania and Mt. Gagazet areas. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Final Fantasy X received critical acclaim from video game critics. The Japanese video game magazine Famitsu and Famitsu PS2 awarded the game a near-perfect 39/40 score. Another Japanese gaming magazine, The Play Station , gave the game a score of 29/30. (Wikipedia)
- 2002
Final Fantasy XI
not scoredFinal Fantasy XI, also known as Final Fantasy XI Online, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG), originally developed and published by Square and then published by Square Enix as the eleventh main installment of the Final Fantasy series. Designed and produced by Hiromichi Tanaka, it was released… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting The setting of Final Fantasy XI is the world of Vana'diel, a rich world with diverse climates, ranging from northern glaciers and southern deserts, to ethereal realms and sky landmasses. Vana'diel is divided into a number of regions, which are subdivided into areas known as "zones". These zones are available for exploration and consist of outdoor areas, dungeons, cities, and towns. (Wikipedia)
Characters
Final Fantasy XI features five playable races known as the "Enlightened Races": The playable races in Final Fantasy XI . From left to right: Galka, Mithra, Hume, Elvaan, and Tarutaru. Elvaan A race of proud warriors, the Elvaan's home city is the Kingdom of San d'Oria. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Critical reception Reception Final Fantasy XI received positive reviews from critics. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the PlayStation 2 version 85% based on 57 reviews and 85/100 based on 49 reviews, the PC version 82% based on 44 reviews and 85/100 based on 25 reviews the Xbox 360 version 69% based on 32 reviews and 66/100 based on 25 reviews. Famitsu rated the game 38 out of 40. (Wikipedia)
- 2003
Final Fantasy X-2
Metacritic 85Final Fantasy X-2 is a 2003 role-playing video game developed and published by Square for the PlayStation 2. Unlike most Final Fantasy games, which use self-contained stories and characters, X-2 continues the story of Final Fantasy X (2001). The story follows Yuna as she searches for Tidus, the main character of the… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting and characters Main articles: Spira (Final Fantasy) and Characters of Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2 Final Fantasy X-2 takes place two years after Final Fantasy X and is set in the fictional world of Spira, which consists of one large landmass divided into three subcontinents, surrounded by small tropical islands. It features diverse climates, ranging from the tropical Besaid and Kilika islands, to the temperate Mi'ihen region, to the… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Critical response See also: Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster § Reception Reception According to review aggregator Metacritic , reviews for Final Fantasy X-2 were "generally favorable". In 2006, readers of Japanese video game magazine Famitsu ranked Final Fantasy X-2 as number 32 in a poll on the best video games of all time. The Academy of Interactive Arts Sciences awarded the character Rikku, performed vocally by Tara Strong , with " Outstanding… (Wikipedia)
- 2003
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Metacritic 80Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is an action role-playing video game developed by The Game Designers Studio for the GameCube. It was released in 2003 in Japan and 2004 in North America, Europe and Australia. A remastered version for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Android, and iOS was released in August 2020. A… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Crystal Chronicles takes place in an unnamed fantasy world inhabited by four races. The player takes control of a caravan hailing from the village of Tipa, in which members of the world's four races come together to help its mission. One thousand years before the game's events, the world's sustaining Great Crystal was shattered by a meteorite carrying an alien lifeform called the Meteor Parasite. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu praised the game's fairytale aesthetic and unconventional treatment of the RPG genre; journalists Shane Bettenhausen, Jennifer Tsao and Kevin Gifford Electronic Gaming Monthly each gave the game high praise for its innovation in gameplay and graphical style. Eurogamer s Rob Fahey gave the game a near-perfect score, noting the clear production values and calling it "one of the best action RPGs" he played; his only… (Wikipedia)
- 2006
Final Fantasy XII
not scoredFinal Fantasy XII is a 2006 role-playing video game developed and published by Square Enix for the PlayStation 2 in March 2006. It added elements including an open world; a seamless battle system; a controllable camera; a customizable "gambit" system, which lets the player control the artificial intelligence of… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting Main article: Ivalice Final Fantasy XII is set within the land of Ivalice during an age when "magic was commonplace" and "airships plied the skies, crowding out the heavens". At this time, magicite, a magic-rich mineral, is commonly used in magic spells and in powering airships—a popular form of transportation in Ivalice. Ivalice is divided into three continents: Ordalia, Valendia, and Kerwon. (Wikipedia)
Characters
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy XII The six main playable characters in Final Fantasy XII are Vaan ( Bobby Edner / Kouhei Takeda ), an energetic orphan of Rabanastre who dreams of becoming a sky pirate ; Ashe ( Kari Wahlgren / Mie Sonozaki ), a determined princess of Dalmasca who lost her father and her husband in the Archadian invasion; Basch ( Keith Ferguson / Rikiya Koyama ), a disgraced knight of Dalmasca charged with treason for slaying the… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Final Fantasy XII received "universal acclaim" according to review aggregator Metacritic . It was the sixth game to receive a perfect score from the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu . It was also the second Yasumi Matsuno game to garner a perfect score, after Vagrant Story (2000). (Wikipedia)
- 2009
Final Fantasy XIII is a fantasy RPG in which a band of brave humans struggle against fate in the utopian sky city of Cocoon and the primeval world of Pulse. Follow stylish heroine Lightning's fast paced battles and high adventure in a mysterious new world. (Steam)
Plot
Setting Final Fantasy XIII is set on the futuristic world of Gran Pulse (often simply called Pulse). Central to the story is Cocoon, a massive artificial sphere that floats above Pulse's surface and is ruled by the Sanctum, a theocratic government. The two worlds are controlled by fal'Cie / f æ l ˈ s iː / , mechanical beings with godlike power. (Wikipedia)
Characters
Main article: Characters of the Final Fantasy XIII series The six main playable characters of Final Fantasy XIII are Lightning ( Ali Hillis / Maaya Sakamoto ), the main protagonist of the game, a former soldier and older sister to Serah; Snow Villiers ( Troy Baker / Daisuke Ono ), Serah's fiancé and leader of NORA, a paramilitary group; Oerba Dia Vanille (Georgia van Cuylenburg/ Yukari Fukui ), the game's narrator and an exile who is later revealed to be a… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Final Fantasy XIII received generally positive reviews. Review aggregator website Metacritic gave the PlayStation 3 version 83/100 based on 83 reviews, the Xbox 360 version 82/100 based on 54 reviews, and the Windows version 65/100 based on 6 reviews. It was rated 39 out of 40 by the Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu . (Wikipedia)
- 2010
Final Fantasy XIV
Metacritic 49Final Fantasy XIV was a 2010 massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) for Windows, developed and published by Square Enix. It was the original version of the fourteenth entry in the main Final Fantasy series and the second MMORPG in the series after Final Fantasy XI. Set in the fantasy realm of Eorzea,… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting and characters The story of Final Fantasy XIV takes place in a high fantasy setting. The main location is Eorzea, a geopolitical region on the larger planet Hydaelyn: this contrasts Final Fantasy XI which uses one name to refer to the entire world and its regions. Eorzea is broken up into three main powers: the forest nation of Gridania; the desert-based Ul'dah sultanate; and the thalassocracy of Limsa Lominsa, Eorzea's dominant maritime power. (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception During its debut week in Japan, the Collector's Edition reached #2 in the PC games charts behind Civilization 5 and ahead of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty . In the UK charts, the game debuted at #10 behind multiple other games including F1 2010 (#1), Halo: Reach (#2), Civilization 5 (#4) and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (#7). By November 2010, the game had sold 603,000 copies worldwide. (Wikipedia)
- 2011
FINAL FANTASY TYPE-0 HD brings an immersive world, memorable characters and the production value known of the series, together with high quality gameplay and storytelling truly worthy of the FINAL FANTASY name. (Steam)
Plot
Note: The plot of Type-0 is the same in its original version and the high-definition remaster Final Fantasy Type-0 HD , so the terms and quotes used in the text are from the localization of the high-definition remaster rather than unofficial translations . Setting Final Fantasy Type-0 is set within Orience, a land divided between four nations or "Crystal States". Each nation has crystals of power based on the Four Symbols , which are in turn their… (Wikipedia)
Characters
Main article: Characters of the Final Fantasy Type-0 universe The main characters of Final Fantasy Type-0 are Class Zero, an elite group of 14 students from the Vermillion Peristylium. The first 12 are card wielder Ace , flute wielder Deuce , the archer Trey , magic-gun wielder Cater , the mace-wielding Cinque , scythe wielder Sice , whip wielder Seven , martial artist Eight , spearman Nine , katana wielding Jack , swordswoman Queen and dual pistol… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception In the first week on sale, Final Fantasy Type-0 sold 472,253 units, topping Japanese sales charts and selling through 79. 08% of its initial shipments. As of January 2012, the game had sold 746,203 copies in Japan. (Wikipedia)
- 2013
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Metacritic 83Final Fantasy XIV is a subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Square Enix. Directed and produced by Naoki Yoshida and released worldwide for PlayStation 3 and Windows in August 2013, it replaced the failed 2010 version, with subsequent support for… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting See also: Final Fantasy XIV (2010 video game) § Synopsis Final Fantasy XIV is set on Hydaelyn, a fictional world of diverse environments across multiple continents, focused on the region of Eorzea. Eorzea features four prominent city-states : Gridania, in the heavily forested Black Shroud; Ul'dah, a trade-centric sultanate in arid Thanalan; Limsa Lominsa, a thalassocracy on the island of Vylbrand; and Ishgard, an isolationist theocracy in snowy,… (Wikipedia)
Characters
The player character is an Eorzean adventurer during the Seventh Umbral Era who joins one of the Grand Companies: Gridania's Order of the Twin Adder, under Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna; Ul'dah's Immortal Flames, under Flame General Raubahn Aldynn; and the Maelstrom of Limsa Lominsa under Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn. Their allies include Minfilia and her Scions of the Seventh Dawn, a rebuilt Sixth Astral Era organization uniting Louisoix's Circle of Knowing… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception In contrast to the original version, Final Fantasy XIV has earned a generally positive reception and robust sales numbers. Prior to release, both the game's press and fans were surprised by its quality and level of polish. IGN s Charles Onyett cited many specific improvements over aspects of the initial game and recognized that "it seems like Square's doing the right things to fix the many mistakes made with Final Fantasy XIV' s original… (Wikipedia)
- 2014
Join over 30 million adventurers worldwide and take part in an epic and ever-changing FINAL FANTASY. Experience an unforgettable story, exhilarating battles, and a myriad of captivating environments to explore. (Steam)
- 2016
FINAL FANTASY X/X-2 HD Remaster celebrates two of the most cherished and beloved entries to the world-renowned franchise, completely remastered in gorgeous High Definition & now available on PC / Windows! (Steam)
- 2016
Selling over five million copies since its release in 2000, FINAL FANTASY IX proudly returns on Steam! Now you can relive the adventures of Zidane and his crew on PC ! (Steam)
- 2016
Final Fantasy XV
Metacritic 85Final Fantasy XV is a 2016 action role-playing game developed and published by Square Enix. The fifteenth main installment of the Final Fantasy series, it was released for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in November 2016, Windows in March 2018, and as a launch title for Stadia in November 2019. The game features an open… (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting Final Fantasy XV takes place on the Earth -like world of Eos, which is divided between four nations: Lucis, Accordo, Tenebrae and Niflheim. Lucis, occupying a whole landmass, possesses a magical artifact known as the Crystal, gifted to the reigning Caelum dynasty by the world's deities in antiquity and accessed through the hereditary Ring of the Lucii. Accordo, located in the southern part of Eos, is an island nation formed through a union of… (Wikipedia)
Characters
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy XV Promotional artwork featuring the core and supporting cast of Final Fantasy XV and its expanded media The game's protagonist is Noctis Lucis Caelum ( Ray Chase / Tatsuhisa Suzuki ), the Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Lucis, who loses his father in the Niflheim invasion. Noctis is accompanied on his journey throughout the world of Eos by his three friends: Gladiolus Amicitia ( Chris Parson / Kenta Miyake ), the… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Final Fantasy XV has received "generally favorable" reviews from critics for all versions, according to review aggregator Metacritic . Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu gave both versions of the game a score of 38 points out of 40. Various game designers stated Final Fantasy XV was their favorite game of 2016, including Final Fantasy series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi , Atlus ' Shigeo Komori, Koei Tecmo 's Takashi Morinaka, and Sony Interactive… (Wikipedia)
- 2018
Take the journey, now in ultimate quality. Boasting a wealth of bonus content and supporting ultra high-resolution graphical options and HDR 10, you can now enjoy the beautiful and carefully-crafted experience of FINAL FANTASY XV like never before. (Steam)
- 2018
FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE - This revered classic returns, now fully remastered for the first time for PC, featuring all new and enhanced gameplay. (Steam)
- 2022
Cloud Strife, an ex-SOLDIER operative, descends on the mako-powered city of Midgar. The world of the timeless classic FINAL FANTASY VII is reborn, using cutting-edge graphics technology, a new battle system and an additional adventure featuring Yuffie Kisaragi. (Steam)
- 2023
An epic dark fantasy where fates are decided by mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them. This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a tragic warrior who swears revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that leaves naught but calamity in its wake. (Steam)
Plot
Setting Final Fantasy XVI is set in the fictional world of Valisthea. Scattered throughout the two continents of Ash and Storm are colossal magical crystals, known as the Mothercrystals, which provide aether energy to the various populations and drive civilization with shards mined for commercial use. There are also humans that can use magic without crystals known as Bearers who are subject to prejudice and slavery, their overuse causing them to… (Wikipedia)
Characters
Main article: Characters of Final Fantasy XVI The game's protagonist is Clive Rosfield, firstborn son of Rosaria's ruling family who is passed over as successor when his younger brother Joshua becomes the Dominant of Phoenix; Clive can acquire and wield the power of multiple Eikons. A future companion of Clive's is his childhood friend Jill Warrick, the eventual Dominant of Shiva who spends much of her life as a political hostage. During his travels… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception Critical reception Final Fantasy XVI received "generally favorable" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator website Metacritic . According to OpenCritic , 91% of 205 critics recommend the game. Regarding the story, Michael Higham of GameSpot praised the writing for its handling of darker themes and found the cast enjoyable, and IGN s Mitchell Saltzman was highly positive about the story and characters, and lauded the lead… (Wikipedia)
- —
The RPG classic FINAL FANTASY VII returns to PC, now with brand new online features! (Steam)
Final Fantasy, head to head
Two entries side by side on score, price, specs and reception:
Final Fantasy vs other series
How Final Fantasy stacks up against other series in the same genre, as a whole:
Also: Final Fantasy vs Mass Effect, Final Fantasy vs Monster Hunter, Final Fantasy vs Mount & Blade, Final Fantasy vs Yakuza, Final Fantasy vs ARK, Final Fantasy vs Risen, Final Fantasy vs State of Decay, Final Fantasy vs The Witcher, Final Fantasy vs Torchlight, Final Fantasy vs Watch, Final Fantasy vs ArcheAge, Final Fantasy vs Divinity, Final Fantasy vs Dragon's Dogma, Final Fantasy vs Dungeon Siege, Final Fantasy vs ELDEN RING, Final Fantasy vs EverQuest, Final Fantasy vs Gothic, Final Fantasy vs Kingdom Come, Final Fantasy vs Kingdoms of Amalur, Final Fantasy vs Marvel’s Spider-Man, Final Fantasy vs Middle-earth, Final Fantasy vs Might & Magic, Final Fantasy vs Mirror, Final Fantasy vs NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, Final Fantasy vs Nioh, Final Fantasy vs One Piece, Final Fantasy vs Pathfinder, Final Fantasy vs Prototype, Final Fantasy vs South Park, Final Fantasy vs The Lord of the Rings, Final Fantasy vs The Surge, Final Fantasy vs Tom Clancy’s The Division, Final Fantasy vs Two Worlds, Final Fantasy vs Wasteland
Common questions
How many Final Fantasy games are there?
We hold 29 Final Fantasy games in the catalogue, released between 1987 and 2023. 16 of them carry enough Steam data to rank; the rest are listed in release order below, including console-only entries with no Steam listing.
Which Final Fantasy game is best?
By the GamingPickz Score, FINAL FANTASY IX rates highest at 8.1. That is a composite of player sentiment, the critic aggregate and popularity, computed the same way for every game, not our opinion. The full ranking is above.
What order should I play the Final Fantasy games in?
Release order is listed below, from 1987 to 2023. For most series that is also story order, but we list dates rather than telling you a canon; the timeline is read from Wikidata.
More franchises
Browse every game franchise ranked the same way, or head to the full grid.