Which Final Fantasy Game Should You Play First? A Beginner’s Guide!

It’s going to be up to you to play them and find out where you personally stand. I started with FF1 and FF3 (US) and skipped until 10, 12, and then went back to 7 and 8 which made them all make a lot more sense than if I just started with 7 or 8. You can customize your character in terms of race, gender, facial features, class, and even name it.

There’s also a guild system called Free Companies where the guilds are run by players. It came out for Playstation initially, and eventually, you were able to play it on platforms like Windows, iOS, PS4, Android, Nintendo Switch, and more. The game is set in a second industrial revolution where there’s a lot of technology in the world. In its release, it was known as Final Fantasy III because of the discrepancy with the Japanese games. The game plot takes place on a version of Earth that has the Overworld where people live and an underworld where dwarves live. There were a large number of different settings for the game including forests, towers, caves, and even on skyships.

However, playing them in order can help you appreciate the series’ progression and see how it has changed over time. Final Fantasy X is one of the most beloved games in the series next to Final Fantasy VII — and we’re not just saying that because it’s the first Final Fantasy game for the PS2. He joins summoner Yuna and her guardians on a quest to defeat Sin and bring about the Calm after learning its true identity is Tidus’ missing father Jecht. Final Fantasy VIII still incorporates ATB as part of its gameplay, but it overhauled the character leveling system. As far as spell-casting goes, the game threw out the Magic Points-based system, making characters collect, draw, and create magic from items to power themselves up using the junction system instead. This is also the first game to incorporate a vocal theme into its soundtrack with “Eyes On Me” by Hong Kong pop star Faye Wong.

Game Guide Series: From Overwatch to Final Fantasy

Therefore, it is difficult to define which are the best games, or the most famous in the series. Finally, there are games that take place in the same world or universe, but in distant periods. Final Fantasy XII and Final Fantasy Tactics take place on a continent called Ivalice, with around 1200 years of difference between one title and the other. There are theories that Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy VII also share the same universe, but on different planets and the passage of time between them is uncertain. Most of the games are great for fans of the series as a whole, HOWEVER, you also have to be the fan of the type of game it is to. For instance, My Life as King is not a traditional RPG and it’s a WiiWare game.

I want to know the classics: Final Fantasy V

As Lightning searches for her sister, she’s joined by a band of allies to rally against Sanctum for authorizing a purge on citizens who also came into contact with Pulse, leaving the fate of the world at risk. The group becomes Warriors of Light and focuses their attention on defeating Exdeath and stopping the Void’s energies from plunging their world into darkness. Final Fantasy IV centers on Red Wings captain Cecil Harvey, who questions the King of Baron’s motives after he and his knights steal the Water Crystal in a raid on Mysidia. Centuries after the events of Stranger of Paradise, Final Fantasy introduces four new young Warriors of Light, each of them carrying an orb representing the four elements that have been darkened by the four Elemental Fiends.

Final Fantasy XIV (

Final Fantasy X is one of the best titles for those looking for a plot with engaging romance. Tidus and Yuna form an excellent couple, while their role in the plot places them in a central position in Spira's conflicts. FFX's story also deals with other notable topics, such as the influence of religious dogmas on people's lifestyle and self-sacrifice. It suffers from some typical 2000s romance clichés, but it makes up for it with a plot that goes far beyond being just a romance. The title is the best gateway for those who want to discover the essence of the franchise in a concise story, with all the elements of a classic RPG.

What’s the best order to play the Final Fantasy games in?

Final Fantasy XIII-2 retained the Command Synergy Battle and Paradigm Shift systems, but they were improved upon to make battles flow better. Mog Clock was added to the mix, which prompts players to attack monsters on the field before time runs out to gain the upper hand in battle. Square Enix took a page out of World of Warcraft and made Final Fantasy XI an MMORPG instead of a regular console game. Players could customize their characters and make it into one of many races of being roaming the land of Vana’diel — Humes, Elvaan, overwatch guide Tarutaru, Mithra, Galka, etc.

The plot focuses on four young people who had their parents killed by an empire called Palamecia. Although they are not considered part of the main line of games, those looking to jump into the Final Fantasy franchise should also pay special attention to Final Fantasy Tactics. Such conversations highlight the communal spirit prevalent within the gaming community. Many users were more than willing to share their preferences and stories without judgment, fostering a sense of camaraderie among fans of the franchise.

This is instead of using a pool of magic points to determine what you can cast, like in previous games. Like other FF games, there are many permanent characters to choose from throughout the game. He finds a meteorite on the ground, along with characters who warn about the Four Crystals that have power over the world’s elements. This game was called Final Fantasy II when it was released in the United States. This happened because there were extra Japanese games not released in the U.S.

Combined with the best graphics that the PlayStation 5 has to offer today and one of the best storylines in the series in a long time, the game becomes an excellent gateway to Final Fantasy in modern times. Each title has its own world, characters and story with a beginning and end. What they have in common is the presence of certain elements, such as Chocobos, Crystals, Eidolons/Eikons, Magic, Moogles, among others.

The plot involves crystals like in the first Final Fantasy, and the need to create a balance to avoid the same fate as a previous ruined civilization. Or you can try the Star Wars movie method, which means playing from FF7 to FF16 and then from Origin to FF6. The next game in the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy XVI (alternatively Final Fantasy 16), will release on 22 June later this year.

These games don’t have any glaring problems, simple and easy to understand stories and don’t require you to be a huge fan of the series to really enjoy. They’re relaxing too, for the most part and draw you in with the character cast. The love that many fans have from these two are not because they’re insanely good, it’s because they were good at the time they were released. If you’re playing any title, try to find the modern versions that have quality of life features like built in cheats, no encounters and fast forwarding. There are a lot of games with the Final Fantasy moniker slapped onto them. Another change for this game is that you have a party system where you can team up with other players in the game like in traditional MMORPG systems.

Keep an eye out for collections to get the most value out of your money. Others suggest beginning with FF IV for a definitive introduction to the franchise, praising its narrative depth and character development. Additionally, following the chronological order offers a holistic view of Final Fantasy’s evolution, showcasing the series’ transformative journey over the years. Final Fantasy XIV has several storylines, but the main one involves the player character traveling five years into the future to escape the destruction of Eorzea at the hands of the primal dragon Bahamut. They enter Eorzea in the Age of Calm and work to rebuild the land, but must deal with the threat of invasion by the Garlean Empire.