The Best Order to Play the Final Fantasy Series

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Summary

  • Start with Final Fantasy 6 or 7, then 4 and 5 for storytelling and job system.
  • Introduce the first three games moderately to understand series’ foundations.
  • Proceed in order from Final Fantasy 12, ending with Final Fantasy 16 to experience the series’ evolution.

Square Enix’s Final Fantasy series may be nearing its fourth decade of life, but that doesn’t mean gamers have had the chance to experience all or even one of its games. In light of that, such players might want to know what the best order is for playing through the Final Fantasy series, as that is key to maintaining their interest and to them getting the most out of the beloved franchise.

Any “best order” list is always going to be subjective, especially with a franchise that has the dedicated fan base that Final Fantasy does. That being said, there is a reasonable way to approach establishing that order, and that involves a thorough examination of Final Fantasy‘s successes and failures, as well as how its storytelling and gameplay have evolved over time, to ensure strategic placement of each entry in that order.

The Best Order to Play the Mainline Final Fantasy Series

How to Determine the Best Order for Playing the Final Fantasy Series

When it comes to determining what the best order is for playing through the mainline Final Fantasy series, there are a few things that must be considered. Firstly, such an order needs to be based on what would be best for newcomers to the series, not veterans. As such, beginning with what are widely considered the franchise’s best entries is essential, as these would not only introduce newcomers to Final Fantasy but also ensure they stick around for longer than one installment.

Something else to consider when determining the best order for playing through the mainline Final Fantasy games is effectively balancing the visuals, gameplay, and stories of today’s Final Fantasy games with those of the franchise’s early days. For example, introducing a new Final Fantasy player to the series’ modern games first might have an adverse effect on their ability to appreciate its earliest entries, while introducing them to the very first Final Fantasy games ever made might also immediately drive them away.

The Best Order to Play the Mainline Final Fantasy Series

As it turns out, the two Final Fantasy games that are considered the best entries in the series are somewhat in the middle of its history. This means that new players can not only be welcomed to the Final Fantasy series at what is arguably the peak of its storytelling and gameplay, but they are also less likely to be disappointed by hyper-dated visuals and gameplay, and they simultaneously won’t be spoiled by the increased quality of today’s installments.

Final Fantasy‘s two online MMOs, Final Fantasy 11 and Final Fantasy 14, are not included in this list, as they generally appeal to a different demographic and are too open-ended in comparison to the others.

  1. Final Fantasy 6
  2. Final Fantasy 7
  3. Final Fantasy 4
  4. Final Fantasy 5
  5. Final Fantasy 8
  6. Final Fantasy 1
  7. Final Fantasy 9
  8. Final Fantasy 2
  9. Final Fantasy 10
  10. Final Fantasy 3
  11. Final Fantasy 12
  12. Final Fantasy 13
  13. Final Fantasy 15
  14. Final Fantasy 16

The best way to introduce a new player to the Final Fantasy series is to start them off with either Final Fantasy 6 or Final Fantasy 7. Final Fantasy 6 has long been recognized as the peak of the series’ storytelling, while Final Fantasy 7 has proven to be the franchise’s most influential entry to date. In light of that, there’s really no going wrong with new players starting their journey with either of those. After that, Final Fantasy 4 and Final Fantasy 5 would be great next steps, which are known for their storytelling and expanded job system, respectively.

Despite being the games that started it all, the first three Final Fantasy games are sprinkled into this list as an opportunity for new players to experience the series’ foundations in moderation. In fact, experiencing these games in moderation is especially key here, as not only are they all extremely dated at this point, but Final Fantasy 2 is considered one of the most frustrating games in the series to play. Putting these right in the middle of Final Fantasy 8 through Final Fantasy 12 would ensure players can bear witness to the series’ history while still slowly introducing themselves to its more modern installments.

The best way to introduce a new player to the Final Fantasy series is to start them off with either Final Fantasy 6 or Final Fantasy 7.

Once players arrive at Final Fantasy 12, it would make sense to just go in order from there, eventually ending with the most recent installment, Final Fantasy 16. This would ensure they are adequately prepared for Final Fantasy 17, whenever it may come, as there is a chance that it could adopt its predecessor’s approach to story and/or gameplay. Considering Final Fantasy 16 broke a number of series traditions, it’s probably best saved for last.

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2025-03-18 01:12