Summary
- Final Fantasy's job system defines the series, allowing players to change character abilities on the fly for strategic advantages.
- Not all FF games have job systems; those that do enhance gameplay by allowing more party customization.
- Games like FF3 introduce job systems where characters can upgrade skills to navigate through tough enemies and bosses.
Final Fantasy's job system is a huge part of what makes this series so iconic. Fans love the idea of changing their playable characters' abilities on the fly, allowing them to show off a litany of impressive skills that will aid players against tough enemies and tricky bosses.
7 Final Fantasy Games With The Best Job Systems
The Final Fantasy series helped to define the JRPG genre, with its job system often heralded as one of its strongest and most influential assets.
Not all Final Fantasy games let players change their party members' jobs, which is why the ones that do are all the more notable. Fans love these characters for either showing the grit to switch their combat ideologies or letting players experiment with robust job systems as they assign various roles to optimize their party.
Spoiler Warning: The entries below delve into some major story spoilers for their respective Final Fantasy games.
8 Luneth, Arc, Refia, And Ingus (Final Fantasy 3)
The Heroes From FF3 Get To Mess Around With The Job System
Final Fantasy III
- Released
- April 27, 1990
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix, Tose
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Wii U
Final Fantasy 3 is the first game in the series to introduce a malleable Job System, which naturally means that the integration was a bit rough around the edges. However, fans can still appreciate how this game lets players switch Jobs on the fly.
The main characters are nameless in the original version of the game, but the 3D remake gives them names and personalities. Luneth, Arc, Refia, and Ingus may not be the most iconic protagonists in the series, but watching these heroes overcome major odds to save the world with their specialized Job abilities never ceases to be engaging.
7 Warriors Of Light (Final Fantasy)
The Heroes Can Upgrade Their Jobs After Meeting Bahamut
Final Fantasy (1987)
- Released
- December 18, 1987
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG, Adventure
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Entertainment System, PC, PS1, PS4, PSP, WonderSwan, Nintendo Game Boy Advance, Android, iOS
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
The Warriors of Light from Final Fantasy are four iconic protagonists who made a lasting impression on players even though they never say a single word. Instead, their actions speak for themselves as they embark on a no-nonsense journey to save the world.
Players choose the jobs of their heroes at the start of the game, which are upgraded after meeting Bahamut. This gives players access to powerful late-game skills that will prove to make the difference against the many hard enemies and bosses that stand in their way.
6 Lightning (Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13)
In Lightning Returns, Her Job Changes With Her Garb
Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13
- Released
- November 21, 2013
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Lightning is a protagonist who has received a ton of screen time in the Final Fantasy series. After taking a break following her duties as the protagonist in the first, she comes back with a bang in the final title of this trilogy as the chosen warrior of a mysterious god whose motivations are far from noble.
Final Fantasy Tactics: 15 Best Character Jobs
Final Fantasy Tactics is a deep game with a class system that can be overwhelming. This guide will determine which ones are right for you.
Much like Final Fantasy 10-2, Lightning Returns lets players access a bunch of unique techniques based on the garb that the eponymous protagonist wears. This mechanic must be used strategically to deal with the many foes standing in her way.
5 Faris Scherwiz, AKA Sarisa Scherwil Tycoon (Final Fantasy 5)
A Pirate Who Is Revealed To Be Lenna's Sister
Final Fantasy 5
- Released
- December 6, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Final Fantasy 5 boasts a colorful cast of characters, and most people have a soft spot for Faris courtesy of her interesting personality. She's a pirate who has no recollection of her past, only for it to be revealed that she is Lenna's sister, who was lost at sea and presumed to be dead.
She, like the other playable characters of Final Fantasy 5, can change her Jobs and master them by gaining AP. She can become a powerhouse by the end of the game based on how players build her up.
4 Galuf Halm Baldesion (Final Fantasy 5)
An Amnesiac Hero Who Turns Out To Be The Warrior Of Light From Another World
Final Fantasy 5
- Released
- December 6, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
An old amnesiac with a penchant for being goofy, Galuf had no business being one of the most important party members in Final Fantasy 5. It's not until players travel to a different world that they understand just how important this character is.
Galuf was a member of the previous Warriors of Light who stopped Exdeath in his realm and became the King of Bal. However, during their adventures in Galuf's world, the party is ambushed by the villain. This leads to a heartbreaking sequence of events that ends with Galuf sacrificing his life to ensure her granddaughter's safety, passing the responsibility of his task to her.
3 Balthier (Final Fantasy 12)
Players Will Love Assigning Jobs To This Suave Sky Pirate
Final Fantasy 12
- Released
- October 31, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age lets players assign two jobs to their characters over the course of the game. Balthier is no exception here, and fans will love to give him the Jobs that are perfect for his personality.
This suave sky pirate boasts enough charisma to make up for Vaan's ineffectiveness as a protagonist. His charming personality makes him the best character in Final Fantasy 12 that fans will love to keep in their party against numerous challenging boss fights.
2 Cecil Harvey
An Epiphany Helps Him Transform From A Dark Knight To A Paladin
Final Fantasy 4
- Released
- July 19, 1991
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Cecil starts as a Dark Knight who has second thoughts about the brutality of the orders he's carrying out. Questioning the king who adopted him leads to him being punished as he's tricked into destroying the town of Mist by unleashing bombs upon it.
He's unable to fulfill his duty as a hero without some deep introspection, causing him to head to the very top of Mt. Ordeals to reach this moment of clarity. This culminates in an iconic moment where he sheds his old skin as a Dark Knight to become a righteous Paladin who will save his friends at all costs.
1 Yuna
In FF10's Sequel, She Can Switch Dresspheres To Change Jobs
Final Fantasy X-2
- Released
- November 18, 2003
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Product Development Division 1
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix, Electronic Arts
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
After saving Spira from its cycle of destruction, Yuna took part in another light-hearted adventure to uncover the details of a man who looked like her lost love, Tidus. She teamed up with Paine and Rikku in a sequel that is brimming with charm.
Dresspheres are an integral part of Final Fantasy 10-2's combat, with players having to switch them out on the fly to change the abilities Yuna and her friends have access to. Given how likable this character is in Final Fantasy 10, it's easy to see why fans will sympathize with her goal as they help her master various dresspheres and become extremely strong in the process.
- Creation Year
- 1987
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Creator
- Hironobu Sakaguchi
- Latest Release
- Final Fantasy 16
- Creator(s)
- Hironobu Sakaguchi