Best Of
10 Best Final Fantasy Games to Play
Choose your next Final Fantasy adventure with ten RPG recommendations, edition guidance, official trailers, and clear starting-point advice.
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Final Fantasy is unusually welcoming for such a large series because most numbered entries begin in a new world with a new cast. The difficult part is choosing a style: turn-based battles, fast action, sprawling online adventures, and intimate party stories all belong here. This list names the edition where that distinction matters. It also includes both older and newer games, because a modern release does not automatically replace a classic. Choose the battle system and story scale that interest you, then check the version available on your platform.
For adventures beyond this series, our Best JRPGs on PC guide compares a wider range of role-playing games.
10. Final Fantasy XV
XV builds much of its identity around traveling with Noctis and his three companions. Driving, stopping for meals, and taking on side activities give the journey a relaxed rhythm between its larger dramatic turns. The action-oriented combat makes it a useful option for someone less interested in traditional menu-based battles. Edition choice matters, however: the Royal and Windows packages include material that changes what you receive compared with the original base release. Look at the included episodes and content rather than assuming every purchase tells the story in exactly the same way.
FINAL FANTASY XV – “Ride Together” Launch Trailer | PS4 — PlayStation. Watch on YouTube.
9. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
The Zodiac Age gives XII’s political fantasy and large connected areas a refined home, with a job system that helps you shape each party member’s role. Its Gambits let you set conditional actions, turning preparation into a satisfying part of combat. It is a particularly good fit if you enjoy planning how a group behaves rather than selecting every basic action manually. The pace and structure feel different from both the older turn-based games and the newer action entries. Give the systems time to open up before deciding whether the approach is for you.
FINAL FANTASY XII THE ZODIAC AGE – Launch Trailer | PS4 — PlayStation. Watch on YouTube.
8. Final Fantasy IV — Pixel Remaster
IV is a compact route into the series’ classic storytelling, with a changing cast and clearly defined character roles keeping the adventure moving. Cecil’s journey gives the story a straightforward emotional center, while the Active Time Battle system asks you to consider timing alongside command choices. The Pixel Remaster is the edition recommended here; the 3D remake and The After Years are different products. That distinction also matters for trailers and store searches. Choose it if you want an older Final Fantasy without starting with the longest or most complicated entry.
FINAL FANTASY IV pixel remaster | Launch Trailer — FINAL FANTASY. Watch on YouTube.
7. Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster
The collection’s main recommendation is X, a focused journey through Spira with a battle system that gives you space to think through a turn. Switching party members and developing them through the Sphere Grid make the group feel adaptable without requiring an action-game skill set. The story’s central pilgrimage also gives the adventure a clear sense of direction. X-2 is included as a separate sequel with a different tone and combat approach. It is better treated as an optional next step than as part of one uninterrupted campaign.
FINAL FANTASY X|X-2 HD Remaster | Launch Trailer — FINAL FANTASY. Watch on YouTube.
6. Final Fantasy XVI
XVI puts real-time combat and a darker political fantasy at the center of its identity. Clive’s abilities give fights a different rhythm from the series’ traditional party-based command systems, while its large confrontations emphasize spectacle. Choose it if you want an action-led RPG rather than expecting a direct continuation of older numbered entries. Its mature themes also make it a different audience fit from some of the lighter adventures here. Check the available demo and platform requirements where offered, especially if you are unsure whether its combat style matches your preferences.
Final Fantasy XVI – ‘Salvation’ Launch Trailer | PS5 Games — PlayStation. Watch on YouTube.
5. Final Fantasy VI — Pixel Remaster
VI makes room for a large cast without losing the personal reasons each character has for joining the struggle. That ensemble approach helps its world feel bigger than a single hero’s story, while character-specific abilities give the battles variety. The Pixel Remaster provides a modern way to access the 2D game with updated presentation options. It is a strong choice if your interest lies in memorable party stories and classic RPG structure. Players expecting a fully voiced cinematic remake should recognize that this is a refreshed version of the original style.
【FF PIXEL REMASTER】『FINAL FANTASY VI』Promotion Trailer — スクウェア・エニックス. Watch on YouTube.
4. Final Fantasy XIV Online
XIV is the online exception in this list, offering a long-form story inside an MMO rather than a self-contained single-player package. Changing jobs on one character gives you room to explore different roles without starting your identity over each time. Its scale can be appealing, but it also requires a different commitment from the shorter adventures here. Check the current free-trial restrictions, account rules, subscription requirements, and expansion contents before buying. A free trial and a purchased service account are not simply two names for the same access.
FINAL FANTASY XIV: DAWNTRAIL Launch Trailer — FINAL FANTASY XIV. Watch on YouTube.
3. Final Fantasy IX
IX brings a storybook fantasy world and an expressive cast together in a game that balances warmth with surprisingly serious questions. Its distinct party roles make it easy to understand what each companion contributes, while learning abilities from equipment rewards attention to your loadout. It is an inviting choice if you want the feeling of a classic party adventure rather than a systems-heavy online world. The older pacing and presentation are part of the package, even in modern ports. Give the opening room to establish its cast before rushing toward the next plot turn.
FINAL FANTASY IX – Launch Trailer | PS4 — PlayStation. Watch on YouTube.
2. Final Fantasy VII — Original
The original VII remains worth playing for its own story structure, party choices, and Materia system. Building useful combinations changes how a character contributes without tying every role permanently to one person. Its older presentation asks for some adjustment, but it offers a complete version of the original journey in one game. This recommendation is separate from Remake and Rebirth, which reinterpret and expand that material across different releases. If you want to understand the foundation of the franchise’s most familiar setting, the original remains a meaningful route.
Final Fantasy VII – Launch Trailer – Nintendo Switch — Nintendo of America. Watch on YouTube.
1. Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Rebirth expands the journey beyond Midgar into large regions filled with party interactions, discoveries, and side activities. Its combat combines real-time movement with tactical ability choices, so both preparation and active decision-making matter. It is a strong pick if you want a modern, expansive Final Fantasy with a prominent ensemble cast. It is also the second game in the remake project, so playing VII Remake first provides useful story context. Check your chosen platform’s current performance and edition information rather than assuming all versions have the same options.
FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH – Launch Trailer — FINAL FANTASY. Watch on YouTube.
Which Game Should You Start With?
For a classic command-based adventure, start with X, VI, or IV. XVI is the clearest action-first choice, while XIV is for players who want an ongoing online world. Rebirth is a modern showcase, but Remake is the more natural beginning to that particular storyline.
