Which Final Fantasy Game Should You Play First?
If you’re new to the Final Fantasy franchise, we recommend starting with Final Fantasy VII. It’s a great entry point for newcomers due to its accessible gameplay and memorable characters, like Cloud, Tifa, Aerith, Barret, and Sephiroth. The game’s popularity led to the creation of Kingdom Hearts, where some of its characters interact with Disney characters.
Final Fantasy VII also has a feature-length CGI movie and a full-blown remake, Final Fantasy VII Remake. The remake has prettier graphics but retains the original story with themes of environmentalism, identity, and coping with loss.
For PS5 Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade
For Switch Final Fantasy VII Remastered
How to Play Final Fantasy Games in Chronological Order
For a deep dive into the franchise, playing the games in chronological order offers a rich experience. While most main numbered games can be enjoyed in any order, the following list outlines the chronological order of the entire franchise:
1. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
This prequel takes place in the kingdom of Cornelia, a dark fantasy world setting of the original Final Fantasy. Jack Garland and his companions, the Warriors of Light, embark on a quest to defeat Chaos and restore light to the world.
The game features a dynamic job system and a unique combat style where Jack has a decisive finishing move to shatter enemies.
2. Final Fantasy
Set centuries after Stranger of Paradise, Final Fantasy introduces four new Warriors of Light who must restore balance to the world by defeating the Elemental Fiends.
Final Fantasy was a significant game for Square Enix as it saved the company from bankruptcy. It introduced several staples that would become series trademarks, like chocobos and Cid, the recurring inventor.
3. Final Fantasy II
This game follows the story of Firion, Guy, Maria, and Leon, orphans seeking revenge against the Palamecian Empire for their parents’ death. They join the Wild Rose Rebellion and fight to stop Emperor Mateus from taking over the world.
Unlike the first game, Final Fantasy II lacked a character creation or job system, focusing instead on story. It also introduced chocobos and Cid, further establishing these elements as series staples.
4. Final Fantasy III
Four orphaned teens, Arc, Refia, Luneth, and Ingus, are granted powers by a crystal of light, embarking on a quest to restore balance to the world.
Final Fantasy III introduced the job-change system, allowing players to change character classes. The 2006 Nintendo DS remake modernized the game while retaining the original’s core elements.
5. Final Fantasy IV
This game centers on Cecil Harvey, a Red Wings captain who questions his king’s motives. He sets out on a quest to stop the sorcerer Golbez from seizing the crystals and saving the world from his tyranny.
Final Fantasy IV introduced the Active Time Battle (ATB) system, which allows characters to perform moves based on their gauge. It also expanded the party size to five characters, allowing for more diverse team compositions.
6. Final Fantasy V
Adventurer Bartz Klauser and his companions embark on a journey to stop Exdeath, a powerful entity seeking to plunge the world into darkness.
Final Fantasy V expanded on the job system, with over 21 jobs to choose from. The game allowed players to combine skills learned from different jobs, creating unique and powerful character builds.
7. Final Fantasy VI
Set in a steampunk-style world, Final Fantasy VI follows the Returners, a rebel faction fighting the Gesthalian Empire. The story focuses on Terra Branford, a former imperial soldier, and her quest to free the world from the empire’s tyranny.
Final Fantasy VI introduced the series’ largest cast, with 14 playable characters. The game delved into mature themes such as dictatorship, chemical warfare, and personal redemption. It was also the first game in the series not directed by Hironobu Sakaguchi.
8. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII
Set seven years before the events of Final Fantasy VII, this prequel follows Zack Fair, a SOLDIER who investigates the mysterious disappearance of Genesis Rhapsodos.
This game offers insight into Sephiroth’s backstory and explores Cloud’s earlier life as a SOLDIER. It was originally a PSP exclusive but received a remaster, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion, in honor of Final Fantasy VII’s 25th anniversary.
9. Final Fantasy VII
The iconic Final Fantasy VII tells the story of Cloud Strife, a former SOLDIER turned mercenary, who joins Avalanche to stop Shinra Electric Power Company from draining the planet’s energy resources.
Final Fantasy VII introduced Materia, a system that allows characters to customize their abilities, and further cemented the ATB system’s popularity. The game’s success spawned numerous spin-offs, including a CGI movie and a full-blown remake.
10. Final Fantasy VIII
This game follows Squall Leonhart, a member of the SeeD, as he fights to stop Sorceress Edea from destroying time itself.
Final Fantasy VIII introduced a unique junction system, allowing characters to combine magic and abilities. It also featured the first vocal theme song in the series, “Eyes On Me” by Faye Wong.
11. Final Fantasy IX
The story revolves around Zidane Tribal, a thief who kidnaps Princess Garnet Til Alexandros XVII.
Despite its release in 2000, during the transition from 2D to 3D graphics, Final Fantasy IX maintained a retro-style aesthetic while using CGI for characters and environments.
12. Final Fantasy X
This beloved PS2 game tells the story of Tidus, a blitzball player who travels to Spira, a world inspired by South Pacific cultures.
Final Fantasy X replaced the ATB system with a Conditional Turn-Based Battle system and introduced a new leveling system called the Sphere Grid, offering more strategic and customizable gameplay.
13. Final Fantasy X-2
This sequel follows Yuna, now a sphere hunter, as she searches for Tidus and becomes entangled in a political conflict threatening to plunge Spira into war.
Final Fantasy X-2 features an all-female cast and introduced dresspheres and the Garment Grid, adding more variety to character builds and gameplay.
14. Final Fantasy XI
Final Fantasy XI is an MMORPG where players customize their characters, choosing from various races and embarking on quests to defeat the Shadow Lord.
The game’s original versions for PS2 and Xbox 360 are no longer supported, but PC players can still enjoy this long-running online experience.
15. Final Fantasy XII
Set in the kingdom of Ivalice, Final Fantasy XII follows Princess Ashe as she leads a resistance movement against the Archadian Empire.
This game received numerous Game of the Year awards and features a unique gambit system, allowing players to automate character actions for a more strategic approach to combat.
16. Final Fantasy XIII
Lightning, the first female protagonist since Yuna, seeks her missing sister Serah while fighting against the Sanctum, a tyrannical government controlling the world of Cocoon.
Final Fantasy XIII introduced the Command Synergy Battle and Paradigm Shift systems, but it was criticized for its linear design and confusing combat mechanics.
17. Final Fantasy XIII-2
Three years after the events of the previous game, Serah and Noel Kreiss travel through time and space to find Lightning while facing a new threat to their world.
The game retains the Command Synergy Battle system while introducing the Mog Clock, adding a timed element to combat.
18. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII
Lightning awakens after 500 years to discover the world will end in 13 days. She is chosen to save the world, but must unravel a conspiracy that threatens everything.
This game featured a ticking clock mechanic, adding urgency to gameplay. The Command Synergy Battle system was modified to include more real-time elements, offering a more dynamic combat experience.
19. Final Fantasy XIV
This MMORPG follows the player character as they travel to Eorzea, a land ravaged by the primal dragon Bahamut. They embark on a journey to rebuild the world and face the threat of the Garlean Empire.
The game initially struggled due to its unfinished state, but the 2013 reboot, A Realm Reborn, revitalized the game, with several expansions following.
20. Final Fantasy XV
This game centers on Noctis, a prince from the kingdom of Lucis, who must rescue the Crystal and save the world of Eos from darkness.
Final Fantasy XV features stunning visuals, open-world exploration, and a unique Active Cross Battle system, allowing for more dynamic and collaborative combat.
21. Final Fantasy 16
The latest installment in the franchise, Final Fantasy 16, offers a redefined experience with a third-person action combat system.
While the gameplay deviates from previous entries, the characters and story remain true to the core Final Fantasy spirit.
How To Play The Final Fantasy Games By Release Date
Here’s a list of all the games in the order of their original release dates:
- Final Fantasy – December 18, 1987 (JP) / May 1990 (NA) – Famicom/NES
- Final Fantasy II – December 17, 1988 (JP) / April 8, 2003 (NA) – Famicom, PlayStation
- Final Fantasy III – April 27, 1990 (JP) / August 24, 2006 (NA) – Famicom, Nintendo DS (remake)
- Final Fantasy IV – July 19, 1991 (JP) / November 23, 1991 (NA) – Super NES
- Final Fantasy V – December 6, 1992 (JP) / October 5, 1999 (NA) – Super Famicom, PlayStation
- Final Fantasy VI – April 2, 1994 (JP) / October 11, 1994 (NA) – Super NES
- Final Fantasy VII – January 31, 1997 (JP) / September 7, 1997 (NA) – PlayStation
- Final Fantasy VIII – February 11, 1999 (JP) / September 7, 1999 (NA) – PlayStation
- Final Fantasy IX – July 7, 2000 (JP) / November 14, 2000 (NA) – PlayStation
- Final Fantasy X – July 19, 2001 (JP) / December 18, 2001 (NA) – PS2
- Final Fantasy XI – May 16, 2002 (JP) / March 23, 2004 (NA) – PS2
- Final Fantasy X-2 – March 13, 2003 (JP) / November 18, 2003 (NA) – PS2
- Final Fantasy XII – March 16, 2006 (JP) / October 31, 2006 (NA) – PS2
- Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII – September 13, 2007 (JP) / March 28, 2008 (NA) – PSP
- Final Fantasy XIII – December 17, 2009 (JP) / March 9, 2010 (NA) – PS3, Xbox 360, PC
- Final Fantasy XIII-2 – December 15, 2011 (JP) / January 31, 2012 (NA) – PS3, Xbox 360, PC
- Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII – November 21, 2013 (JP) / February 11, 2014 (NA) – PS3, Xbox 360, PC
- Final Fantasy XIV – August 27, 2013 – PS3, PS4, PS5, PC
- Final Fantasy XV – November 29, 2016 – PS4, Xbox One, PC
- Final Fantasy VII Remake – April 7, 2020 (PS4) / June 10, 2021 (PS5)
- Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion – December 13, 2022 – PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC
- Final Fantasy XVI – June 22, 2023 – PS5
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth – February 29, 2024 – PS5
Upcoming Final Fantasy Games
While we eagerly await Final Fantasy XVII, Square Enix is actively pursuing a multiplatform strategy, suggesting more remakes and new entries in the franchise.
Final Fantasy XIV continues to thrive with its fifth expansion, Dawntrail, released in July 2024. This expansion marks a significant milestone for the MMORPG, which has been enjoyed by players for over a decade.
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