Summary
Square Enix’sFinal Fantasyseries 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 theFinal Fantasyseries, 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 thatFinal Fantasydoes. That being said, there is a reasonable way to approach establishing that order, and that involves a thorough examination ofFinal Fantasy’s successesand 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 mainlineFinal Fantasyseries, 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 onlyintroduce newcomers toFinal Fantasybut also ensure they stick around for longer than one installment.
Something else to consider when determining the best order for playing through themainlineFinal Fantasygamesis effectively balancing the visuals, gameplay, and stories of today’sFinal Fantasygames with those of the franchise’s early days. For example, introducing a newFinal Fantasyplayer 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 firstFinal Fantasygames ever made might also immediately drive them away.
As it turns out, the twoFinal Fantasygames 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 theFinalFantasyseries at what is arguably the peak of itsstorytelling 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 11andFinal 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.
The best way tointroduce a new player to theFinal Fantasyseriesis to start them off with eitherFinal Fantasy 6orFinal Fantasy 7.Final Fantasy 6has long been recognized as the peak of the series' storytelling, whileFinal Fantasy 7has 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 4andFinal Fantasy 5would 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 threeFinal Fantasygames 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, butFinal Fantasy 2is considered one of themost frustrating gamesin the series to play. Putting these right in the middle ofFinal Fantasy 8throughFinal Fantasy 12would 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 theFinal Fantasyseries is to start them off with eitherFinal Fantasy 6orFinal Fantasy 7.
Once players arrive atFinal 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 forFinal Fantasy 17, whenever it may come, as there is a chance that it could adopt its predecessor’s approach to story and/or gameplay. ConsideringFinal Fantasy 16broke a number of series traditions, it’s probably best saved for last.
