8 best Final Fantasy games for beginners | GAME3A
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8 best Final Fantasy games for beginners

Final Fantasy is one of the largest JRPG series in the world, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that most of you have at least heard of one o...

Austin Wood Jul 21, 2023
8 best Final Fantasy games for beginners

Final Fantasy is one of the largest JRPG series in the world, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that most of you have at least heard of one of these Square Enix games. However, the series has been around for so long that it can be intimidating for newcomers to get started.

Excluding spin-offs and sequels, there are fifteen separate games with their own plots. Outsiders have difficulty figuring out where to start. However, this does not mean that the games are completely inaccessible to beginners. There are numerous games that serve as excellent entry points to delve into one of the most popular JRPG series of all time.

8 Final Fantasy 15

8 Best Final Fantasy Games For Beginners

At the beginning, Final Fantasy 15 proclaims itself to be a game for both fans and first-time players. Is it successful in this regard? Well, it has sold over ten million copies - a feat that even seems to surpass the lofty heights of the Final Fantasy 7 Remake. Does that make it an ideal starting point?

Yes and no. The full four-person group of FF15 is introduced from the beginning, but annoyingly, what should have been the opening act is limited to a CG prologue film. There is a patchwork nature to the story, even with all the improvements in the Royal Edition, which could give newcomers the false impression that Final Fantasy tends to tell incomplete stories, when that is almost never the case.

However, when FF15 works, it really works. The combat is enjoyable, the camaraderie between friends is delightful, and there is plenty to do in its often beautiful open world.

7 Theatrhythm Final Bar Line

8 Best Final Fantasy Games For

One of the best parts of the Final Fantasy games is the music. Regardless of which game one immerses themselves in, the melodies are a delight to the ears, whether it be "One-Winged Angel" or "Man with the Machine Gun." Theatrhythm Final Bar Line is a sprawling symphony of 500 fantastic tracks.

If your gaming preference is attuned to the audio quality of the overall experience, Final Bar Line does an outstanding job of demonstrating to you why millions of fans swear allegiance to the soundtracks of Nobuo Uematsu, Masayoshi Soken, and the others. You may even come to rely on the melodies to decide which main game in the Final Fantasy series you should try first.

6 Final Fantasy 14

8 Best Final Fantasy Games

If you've never played Final Fantasy, but have a group of friends with whom you play regularly, there is no better entry point than Final Fantasy 14. This is an MMO that has become so popular that Square Enix had to temporarily halt sales of copies to keep up with the influx of new players.

Final Fantasy 14 feels like a constant love letter to Final Fantasy in general, bringing Square Enix's fascinating storytelling, diverse classes, and excellent monster design into a new world. The only limitation is that you have to pay a monthly fee to play.

5 Final Fantasy 6

8 Best Final Fantasy

While Final Fantasy 7 brought the series into the limelight, Final Fantasy 6 remains one of Square Enix's most popular and celebrated games in their repertoire. The storytelling is superb, presenting a world that has forsaken magic and relies on machines. What happens when magic once again infiltrates this world? The pursuit of power soon plagues the planet, and it's up to the Returners to set things right.

FF6 may contain the best villain in the series. If you are a novice who is eager to understand what all the Final Fantasy fuss is about, and if you have a fondness for 2D 16-bit vibes, then the sixth installment of the main series is the coolest place to start. The pixel remaster is now available not only on PCs and smart devices, but also on PS4 and Switch.

4 Final Fantasy 9

8 Best Final

Final Fantasy 9 not only serves as a nostalgic throwback to older Final Fantasy games, but also remains one of the best in the series. It incorporates all the iconography of previous titles and gives them new twists. It is a testament to how quickly these games were produced in the past that FF9, the celebration of "Old-School Final Fantasy", was released in 2000 - just 13 years after the series' first game was published.

So here we are, more than 20 years later. Perhaps it's time for a title in the style of "FF9 Throwback"? But back to Final Fantasy 9; even if you've never played a Final Fantasy game, you'll still be delighted by the beautifully hand-painted locations, strongly written characters, and one of the best progression systems in a JRPG to date.

3 Final Fantasy 7 Remake

8 Best

Although the story in Final Fantasy 7 Remake can be a bit confusing at times if you haven't played the original, it still remains one of the easier games to get into. Instead of a number-based, complex JRPG, the remake is more of an action game where you have direct control over Cloud, Tifa, Barret, and Aerith as they make their way through Midgar.

As the game is a complete redesign, it is quite distinct, even though veterans will recognize that it has greater connections to what came before than it appears. It is also the first installment of a planned three-part series, which means it serves as a good introduction to an ongoing modern project.

The FF7 Remake boasts an impressive orchestral soundtrack, superb graphics and animations (particularly on the PS5, where some blurry textures have been largely rectified), as well as a combat system that is party-based but controlled by a single character. We are excited to see what FF7 Rebirth will add to the mix.

2 Final Fantasy 10

8

Final Fantasy 10 marked Square Enix's major transition to the PlayStation 2. The graphical leap from the PS1 was astronomical, resulting in a game that looked, sounded, and played great. Final Fantasy 10 was a groundbreaking experience in its time, without sacrificing its story or gameplay. Although it is no longer groundbreaking by today's standards, the HD remaster versions have preserved much of its beauty well into the 2020s. (However, it's best to remain silent on the strange reimagining of Tidus' face.)

It is also a much more traditional RPG, as it is completely turn-based. This means that newcomers will have plenty of time to familiarize themselves with the outstanding combat system. Like Final Fantasy 7, FF10 is one of the important "gateway" titles for the franchise across generations. If you want something more beautiful than the old FF7 and don't want to start with the Remake, the story of Spira is an inspiring starting point.

1 Final Fantasy 7

The epic journey of Final Fantasy 7 is easy to lose track of. Cloud's rivalry with Sephiroth and certain revelations towards the end of the game have stood the test of time, and yes, a character dies, but even if you know it beforehand, it can still hit you like a blow.

The graphics haven't aged particularly well, but the soundtrack, gameplay, and overall structure are just as captivating as they were in 1997. Final Fantasy 7 was a fresh and groundbreaking phase, being the first 3D game in the series as well as the first international blockbuster JRPG. It is highly regarded for its unforgettable cast and profound themes, making it a fair entry point into your own Final Fantasy story.

Fairer than the FF7 Remake? We've said what we've said! The Remake is the better choice if you really can't get past the graphics of the original title, which is understandable. But in doing so, you will gain an even deeper appreciation for the new game and also be able to see some of the rough outlines of where the Remake trilogy might be headed.