Today marks 35th anniversary Final Fantasy franchise, with the original game launching in Japan on December 18, 1987. That’s just one day after Capcom launched the Mega Man series as well — a pretty epic one-two punch for Famicom gamers heading into that late 80s weekend, no ?
Celebrating 35 years of epic RPG-ing, we are republishing this ranked list of the best games in the series (available on Nintendo consoles).
Remember: This list is dynamic and based on user ratings of each game in the Nintendo Life game database — as such, it is subject to fluctuation even now. If you haven’t rated your favorite Final Fantasies yet, feel free to scroll down, assign a rating, and confirm your influence on the order below. To enjoy!
With three decades worth of titles, this long-running and celebrated RPG franchise has a title that will get a Simpsons lawyer Lionel Hutz hot under the collar. The Final Fantasy series has 15 main entries to its name (numbered XVI in the works, of course), plus a bewildering array of spin-offs, side stories, sequels, crossovers, remakes, and more that make up one of gaming’s greatest franchises. Nope, no ‘finale’ in sight at all with this one.
We asked Nintendo Life readers for help rating them all the main line games that appeared on Nintendo consoles. That’s no small task, that’s for sure, with 12 of the 15 major games currently available to play on Nintendo’s consoles (okay, 11 and a half
The influx of Switch ports of later 3D games means Nintendo gamers can now enjoy most series, just with XIIIMMORPG games XI and XIVand XV (in its full form) absent from the main line-up. We discuss the different versions of each title in the list below — they’re expensive to buy these days, but who can put a price on this incredible series?
Don’t forget that the order below is updated in real-time according to each game’s respective user rating. Therefore, it is entirely possible to influence the order even as you read this. Simply click on the ‘star’ of the game you want to rate and assign a score.
It is time. Get ready for some confusing regional numbering in our list of the best (mainstream) Final Fantasy games on Nintendo systems as ranked by readers…
Publisher: Square Enix / Programmer: Square Enix
Final Fantasy XV Pocket Edition HD isn’t a bad game, but it feels redundant — it’s hard to imagine the audience being served here. While it captures the spirit of the entire game well enough, it’s arguably an inferior version of an entry in a series that wasn’t the most celebrated to begin with. It has its fans, of course, but die-hard Final Fantasy enthusiasts won’t be satisfied playing through this lighter mobile version as a substitute for the ‘real’ experience, there’s little reason to dive in if you’ve already played Originaland there are better options for the curious casual looking to dip their toes into the Final Fantasy pool.
Publisher: Square / Programmer: Square
This is a lot not Final Fantasy II that the West got on the Super NES. While work on the translation of this Famicom game apparently began, Square ultimately decided to skip it and go 16-bit Instead, Final Fantasy IV on the SNES (which was branded as ‘Final Fantasy II’ overseas).
Final Fantasy II — the correct 8-bit — was a Japan-only release until 2004 when Nintendo players worldwide could play it as half of Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls on the GBA. That version added a bonus section after you completed the game and remains arguably the best way to officially play for Nintendo players, although there are ways and means play the game elsewhere too, including PlayStation and PSP ports.
Publisher: Square Enix / Programmer: Squaresoft
Where it all began. The name of Square’s original Final fantasy from 1987 stemmed in part from the team’s belief that this was their last attempt at making a successful game. They may have hoped for it, but few could have predicted how successful the series would become.
Looking back, you might not guess that either; by modern standards, this is a very stripped down vintage RPG. The kernel is still there, though, so while new players will definitely need to wash this down with a strong glass of historical context, fans of the series will find it worth exploring or revisiting. It is available in various forms and is one of the titles on the NES Classic Mini.
Publisher: Square Enix / Programmer: Square Enix
The remastered DS version of this was the first we saw in the West — the RPG that came out here as Final Fantasy III was #6 in Japan. A piece of the puzzle that’s been missing for overseas fans for so long, Final Fantasy III is certainly a solid entry, though probably not one that casual gamers or those curious about the series should start with. It’s a tough cookie in terms of difficulty, but this is still a very enjoyable (not so final) fantasy.
Publisher: Square Enix
Final Fantasy VIII it tended to divide opinion when it was published more than two decades ago. Some new ideas were in place, while others failed, and the story is definitely love or hate. The HD presentation and useful quality-of-life updates introduced in the Remastered version on Switch make it more appealing than ever, but if you pushed us, we’d say it’s probably the simplest of the main Final Fantasy games on Switch. Still, its availability to Nintendo players is cause for celebration, and there are those who consider this their favorite in the series. Different shots, people!
Publisher: Square Enix / Programmer: Square Enix
Remastered Final Fantasy XII: Age of the Zodiac on Switch is a great version of a great game; the Gambit-focused combat system is still a triumph and while the visuals are showing their age a bit these days and the story doesn’t knock it out of the park like some other entries in the series, this remains Nice fantasy in our book.
See what we did there? It’s a very good Final Fantasy, so we combine… Hi?