Let’s be real for a second. If you’re looking for all FF games in order, you aren't just looking for a list of numbers from one to sixteen. You’re trying to navigate a forty-year labyrinth of spin-offs, sequels that aren't actually sequels, and "Remakes" that are secretly sequels. It's a lot. Most people think they can just jump into Final Fantasy I and work their way up, but that’s a one-way ticket to burnout before you even hit the SNES era.
Hironobu Sakaguchi and the team at Square (back when they were just Square, before the Enix marriage) basically reinvented the RPG every few years. They didn't care about continuity. They cared about crystals, angst, and making sure the graphics pushed whatever console they were on to its absolute breaking point.
The Early Days: When 8-Bit Pixels Defined a Genre
The first Final Fantasy (1987) was a "final" effort because the company was literally going broke. It saved them. It’s a basic "four warriors of light" story, but it set the DNA. You get a boat, you get an airship, and you kill a god. Simple.
Then things got weird. Final Fantasy II ditched traditional leveling for a system where you get stronger by getting hit. It was divisive. Actually, it was kind of annoying. But it showed Square wasn't afraid to break their own toys. Final Fantasy III introduced the Job System, which is basically the backbone of the entire franchise now. If you like switching from a White Mage to a Dragoon on the fly, you owe it to the Famicom original.
The Golden Age of 16-Bit Storytelling
When the Super Famicom (SNES) hit, the series exploded. Final Fantasy IV gave us Cecil, a Dark Knight seeking redemption. This was the first time the characters felt like people instead of just stat blocks. It’s also where the "Active Time Battle" system started, making combat feel less like a chess match and more like a frantic scramble.
Final Fantasy V went back to the Job System but perfected it. It’s a bit lighter on the "world-ending trauma" than its predecessor, but the gameplay is arguably the best of the 2D era.
Then came Final Fantasy VI.
Some fans will fight you in a Denny’s parking lot if you say any game is better than this one. It has a massive ensemble cast, a villain (Kefka) who actually succeeds in destroying the world halfway through, and an opera scene that still makes grown adults cry. It’s a masterpiece. Period.
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The PlayStation Era and the Move to 3D
If you’re tracking all FF games in order, 1997 is the year the world changed. Final Fantasy VII didn't just sell games; it sold consoles. Cloud Strife, the buster sword, and Sephiroth became cultural icons. It swapped the medieval castles for a gritty, industrial cyberpunk aesthetic.
Final Fantasy VIII followed it up with a heavy focus on romance and a "Junction" system that still confuses people to this day. You don't buy potions; you "draw" magic from enemies like a vampire. It’s weird, but it looks gorgeous. Then Final Fantasy IX arrived as a love letter to the fans, returning to knights, mages, and high fantasy. It was Sakaguchi’s favorite, and for good reason—it’s pure charm.
The Voice Acting Revolution and the Online Shift
Final Fantasy X was the first on the PS2, bringing voice acting and the "Sphere Grid." It's a linear journey through a world called Spira, and it’s arguably the best entry point for newcomers. But then Square Enix did something crazy.
They made Final Fantasy XI an MMO.
Suddenly, you couldn't play the next "main" game without an internet connection and a monthly subscription. It was a massive departure. Final Fantasy XII followed, feeling more like a single-player MMO with its "Gambit" system that let you program your AI teammates. It’s politically dense and feels a bit like Star Wars set in the world of Ivalice.
The Modern Era: From Hallways to Open Worlds
Final Fantasy XIII is the most controversial. People called it a "hallway simulator" because you basically just walk forward for 30 hours until the world opens up. It’s beautiful, but it felt restrictive.
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Then came the disaster. Final Fantasy XIV launched in 2010 and it was... bad. It was so bad that the developers literally dropped a moon on the world to destroy it and start over. A Realm Reborn (the 2.0 version) saved the company and is now one of the most successful MMOs in history.
Final Fantasy XV spent ten years in development hell. It started as a spin-off and turned into a road trip simulator about four bros in a flying car. It’s messy, and the story feels incomplete in places, but the ending hits like a freight train.
Finally, we have Final Fantasy XVI. It’s basically Game of Thrones meets God of War. It’s a dark, R-rated action game that ditches the turn-based roots entirely for high-octane spectacle.
The "Other" FF Games: Spin-offs and Remakes
You can't talk about all FF games in order without mentioning the stuff that doesn't have a number.
- Final Fantasy Tactics: Many argue this is the best story in the entire franchise. It's a brutal tactical RPG about class warfare.
- The VII Remake Project: This isn't just a prettier version of the 1997 game. Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are actually a sequel/meta-narrative that toys with the players' expectations.
- Stranger of Paradise: A bizarre, meme-worthy, but surprisingly fun action game that serves as a prequel to the very first Final Fantasy.
- Crisis Core: A prequel to VII that explains why Cloud has such a massive identity crisis.
Why Does the Order Even Matter?
Honestly? It doesn't.
Each numbered entry is a completely different world with different rules. You don't need to play I to understand XVI. In fact, if you try to play them chronologically, you might get bored by the NES limitations.
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The real value in seeing the order is watching the evolution of technology and storytelling. You see a series go from 8-bit sprites to hyper-realistic humans crying in 4K. You see a developer shift from "we're going bankrupt" to "we're defining the industry."
How to Actually Tackle the Franchise Now
If you want to dive in today, don't start at the beginning.
Start with Final Fantasy X if you want a classic turn-based experience. Start with Final Fantasy VII Remake if you want modern action. If you’re a masochist who loves 100-hour grinds and incredible music, start Final Fantasy XIV.
The best way to experience the list of all FF games in order is to treat it like a buffet. Pick what looks good. If you hate the flavor of one, the next one will taste completely different. That’s the magic of the series. It never stays the same, and it’s never afraid to fail.
To get started, look for the "Pixel Remasters" on Steam or consoles. They’ve cleaned up the first six games with modern UI and better music, making the 80s and 90s era actually playable for modern humans. If you want the cutting edge, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is the current gold standard for how much content you can cram into a single disc.
Go play Final Fantasy VI first though. Seriously. It’s the one everyone agrees on for a reason. Once you’ve seen a clown become a god, there’s no going back.