After 35 years, the Final Fantasy franchise remains a sprawling universe of standalone stories set across distinct worlds. Each numbered entry introduces fresh characters, new settings, and self-contained narratives built around a familiar theme: young heroes banding together to defeat an overwhelming evil while navigating personal conflict and growth.
The good news for newcomers is that Final Fantasy games don't require playing in any particular order. Each title stands on its own, though the sheer volume of entries, remakes, and spinoffs can intimidate prospective players. Between the 16 numbered mainline games, direct sequels, prequels, and remasters across multiple generations of hardware, the path forward isn't always clear.
For someone jumping in for the first time, Final Fantasy VII remains the safest entry point. The 1997 PlayStation classic revolutionized RPGs with its accessible combat system, memorable cast including Cloud and Aerith, and the Limit Break mechanic that made battles feel dynamic and rewarding. Its influence on the industry proved so substantial that Square Enix is now remaking it across three separate titles, with the first installment already available and a third entry planned for 2027. The original is also readily available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and most modern consoles.
If you're committed to exploring the full franchise history in chronological order, the journey begins with Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. This dark fantasy prequel precedes even the original game, following Jack Garland and his Warriors of Light as they hunt Chaos to restore light to the kingdom of Cornelia. The game lets players swap jobs and abilities on the fly, creating varied combat approaches across a grim retelling of Final Fantasy's foundational mythology.
The original Final Fantasy, released in 1987 on the NES, follows four young Warriors of Light carrying darkened orbs representing the elements. They start with a simple rescue mission for Princess Sarah but expand their quest to defeat the four Elemental Fiends and save the world. The game's success was genuinely consequential: series creator Hironobu Sakaguchi had threatened to leave the industry if it failed, and Square Enix was facing potential bankruptcy. The game sold over 1.3 million copies and grossed more than $21 million, saving both the company and Sakaguchi's career.
Final Fantasy II shifts the narrative focus to Firion and three companions who become orphans when the Palamecian Empire destroys their home. Unlike its predecessor, this sequel abandoned character creation to prioritize story over mechanics. It introduced two elements that became franchise staples: chocobos and the recurring inventor character Cid.
Final Fantasy III introduced the job-change system, allowing players to switch character classes during gameplay rather than committing to a single role. Four orphaned teens discover a crystal that grants them power and tasks them with restoring balance to the world. The 2006 Nintendo DS remake retained this mechanic while giving characters deeper personalities.
By Final Fantasy IV, the series had evolved significantly. The game introduced the Active Time Battle system, where character moves trigger when a gauge fills, creating a more dynamic rhythm than turn-based combat. The party size also expanded from four to five members. The story follows Red Wings captain Cecil Harvey as he questions his king's motives and sets out to stop the sorcerer Golbez from collecting magical crystals.
Final Fantasy V expanded the job system to over 21 options and introduced the ability to combine skills from different jobs, letting players experiment with hybrid builds. Bartz Klauser and three strangers become Warriors of Light, tasked with preventing the entity Exdeath from unleashing the destructive power of the Void.
Final Fantasy VI stands apart with its steampunk aesthetic and 14 playable characters, the largest cast in the series at that time. Set in a world inspired by the Industrial Revolution, the story follows a rebel faction fighting against an empire that weaponized magical creatures. The game tackled mature themes like military dictatorship and chemical weapons in warfare. It was also the first mainline entry not directed by Sakaguchi, with Yoshinori Kitase taking over the helm.
Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII serves as a prequel to the franchise's most iconic entry, set seven years earlier in the city of Midgar. It explores the SOLDIER program and Sephiroth's tragic backstory before his descent into madness. Originally exclusive to PSP, the remaster arrived in 2022 across modern platforms.
The journey through Final Fantasy offers something different with each installment. Some prioritize gameplay innovation; others emphasize character arcs or world-building. None demands completion of previous entries to be understood. Starting with Final Fantasy VII provides a strong foundation in the franchise's appeal, while chronological playthroughs reveal how the series' mechanics, storytelling, and themes evolved across decades.
Author Emily Chen: "Final Fantasy's strength has always been its refusal to repeat itself, and that's exactly why picking an entry point doesn't require agonizing debate."
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