How to Play the Final Fantasy Games in Order

The first Final Fantasy games sets down a lot of the foundations of the series, with Warriors of Light fighting fiends and rescuing princesses from the evil Garland. These terms would repeat in many subsequent games, so it’s a great start point for your Final Fantasy journey.

The second Final Fantasy game cemented the traditional battle system, but also added two of the most iconic elements of the series: Chocobos and having an inventor/pilot character called Cid.

Like Final Fantasy II before it, III focused on orphans, and orphaned characters would become a staple of the series. This is also the first Final Fantasy to focus on elements of the Crystal of Light, a recurring visual in the series.

The first game with the Active Time Battle system that would define the Final Fantasy series for decades to come, this game also created the most traditional ideal of the Dragoon job that would feature heavily in future Final Fantasy games.

Often seen as a forgotten Final Fantasy title due to being overshadowed by many of its sequels, Final Fantasy V is also the first game to feature the recurring miniboss Gilgamesh, who has become a FF staple character and antagonist.

The final 2D pixel Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy VI was also the last to appear on Nintendo Consoles for many years, as the increased hardware requirements made subsequent games incompatible for cartridges. However, this is still a long, ambitious game that’s definitely worth playing.

Perhaps most well-known and beloved in the series, Final Fantasy VII is the first 3d entry into the series, and made many iconic characters that are still remembered today. It spawned multiple spin-offs and recently a series of remakes.

Following Final Fantasy VII is no easy feat, but FFVIII managed to have a different tone and a unique setting that pushed it apart from its iconic predecessor. However, with some mechanical eccentricities, this title can be difficult even for experience FF players to enjoy.

A return to a more cutesy art style didn’t stop Final Fantasy IX from dealing with deep philosophical topics like the nature of existence. This is definitely a must-play if you love Final Fantasy, and want a cross between traditional 2D and 3D advances.

The best-selling Final Fantasy of all time, Final Fantasy X plays host to a campy love story, some complex and bizarre lore, and cheesy voice acting (as well as being the first FF game to feature voice acting). Still it’s a delightful story that must be experienced.

The sequel to Final Fantasy X capitalized on its predecessor’s popularity with a bold new direction. The shift in tone was jarring for many, but arguably this kind of game would have been much more popular if released today, with the bold decision to focus on female characters and Japanese Idol culture allegories.

The first mainline game to dive into the world of Ivalice, Final Fantasy 12 is a love letter to the PS2, pushing it to its absolute limits in this beautiful game.

The sequel and expansion to Final Fantasy XII, Revenant Wings adds new characters and expands the world of Ivalice even further.

A prequel to VII focusing on Zack, the game gives a lot of context for the original Final Fantasy VII story, while also being a solid action role-playing game. In many ways, this would be the testing ground for modern Final Fantasy games.

A stylish and groundbreaking Final Fantasy game, and the first mainline non-MMO title on the PS3, Final Fantasy XIII is fondly remembered due to its incredible graphics. However, its story is sometimes criticized as lacking focus.

The direct sequel to Final Fantasy XIII, this game allowed you to capture monsters and use them in battles in the future.

The final entry into the Final Fantasy XIII brings Lightning’s story to a close as she navigates a world reborn.

A huge leap forward in graphical fidelity and quality, FInal Fantasy XV’s focus is the free-roam gameplay and road-trip aesthetic.

A retelling of the first portion of the Final Fantasy VII story with an action RPG spin that upgrades the graphics and dives deeper into the characters.

A prequel to the very first Final Fantasy game, Stranger of Paradise is a campy exploration of Garland’s rise to villain-hood.

A remaster of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII for those who missed the PSP exclusive, this title allows you to explore more of the world of FFVII.

A dive into a dark fantasy world where humans are attacked by Eikons who threaten to destroy the world of Valisthea.

The second entry into the remake series of Final Fantasy VII, this entry focuses more on a dramatic open world and the growing bond between the characters.