Summary
- Biggs & Wedge are legendary recurring characters in Final Fantasy, with a deep bond that fans love to see on-screen.
- Laguna Loire in Final Fantasy 8 is Squall's charismatic father, making their interactions joyous despite Squall never knowing the truth.
- Aranea Highwind in Final Fantasy 15 is an iconic femme fatale with a sudden, impactful presence, joining Noctis' crew in the game.
Final Fantasy is one of the most popular video game series around that is full to the brim with a bevy of memorable characters. The protagonists are easy to remember and iconic in their own right, but it's the supporting cast that deserves its credit from time to time.
From recurring figures to beloved characters who play a major role in the story, there's no shortage of great side characters in Final Fantasy. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that some of these personalities are more lovable than the main character at times.
8 Biggs & Wedge
Recurring Characters Who Are Legendary In The Series
Final Fantasy 6
- Released
- October 11, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
- Multiple Final Fantasy games
Biggs and Wedge are comrades who have appeared in various Final Fantasy games together at some point or another. Notable instances include their partnership as members of AVALANCHE in Final Fantasy 7 and their appearance as the two Imperial troopers accompanying Terra at the start of Final Fantasy 6.
Regardless, it's clear that these two characters share a deep bond in the game. Fans love just how much of a treat it is to witness these characters on-screen whenever they get their time to shine.
7 Laguna Loire (Final Fantasy 8)
Squall's Father Is Quite Charismatic
Final Fantasy 8
- Released
- February 11, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Laguna is one of the most intriguing characters in Final Fantasy 8, who's seen in a series of mysterious flashbacks. It's not until players get more context on the matter that they realize just how important this character is.
The reveal that he's Squall's father is a pleasant one and made their interactions all the more joyous, even if this fact was never acknowledged. In fact, it's likelier that Squall will forever be left in the dark about this fact, although this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
6 Aranea Highwind (Final Fantasy 15)
An Iconic Femme Fatale
Final Fantasy 15
- Released
- November 9, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Femme fatales can be either the best or worst part of their games, depending on how they're presented. In the context of Final Fantasy 15, Aranea's presence may be sudden, but her impact can be felt across multiple chapters in the game.
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Watching her turn into an ally for Noctis and his crew is pretty great, while his side adventures with Prompto make his DLC chapter all the more engaging. While Aranea could've done with more character development, that shouldn't take away from how much fun it is to team up with this character in Final Fantasy 15.
5 Cidolfus "Cid" Telamon (Final Fantasy 16)
A Leader Who Wants To Free Bearers From Their Twisted Fate
Final Fantasy 16
- Released
- June 22, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Cid wastes no time in establishing himself as a charming and daring rogue who is fighting on the side of good. The injustices the Bearers face in Final Fantasy 16 are horrific, and it's nice to see Cid going out of his way to save the helpless people in society.
It's a shame that Cid's character is written off rather quickly in the grand scheme of Final Fantasy 16's story. Players are barely given the opportunity to process his loss before the years skip ahead and Clive takes over his role, instead. His guiding presence continues to be felt throughout the narrative, however, which speaks to his impact not only on the characters, but the players as well.
4 Gilgamesh (Multiple Games)
Became A Legendary Recurring Character Since His Appearance In FF5
Final Fantasy 5
- Released
- December 6, 1992
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
While Gilgamesh was a fearsome boss in Final Fantasy 5, he was also a lovable goofball who took part in some of the series' most iconic moments. Watching him get banished into the Void by Exdeath was hard to digest, but this did lead to a net positive for the Final Fantasy series.
Exdeath's actions served as the perfect excuse to justify Gilgamesh's presence across multiple Final Fantasy games. From replacing Odin in Final Fantasy 8 to becoming a tough and unique hunt in Final Fantasy 12, Gilgamesh's surprise appearances have been a joy to witness across multiple Final Fantasy games.
3 Rydia Of Mist (Final Fantasy 4)
Transformed From A Hapless Girl Into A Powerful Summoner
Final Fantasy 4
- Released
- July 19, 1991
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Rydia appears as a young girl who loses her mother and her village courtesy of Cagnazzo's diabolical plan. She summons Titan for the first time and begrudgingly teams up with Cecil during the adventures at the start of the game.
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She is swept away by a Kraken not long after and spends a ton of time in the Land of the Eidolons, acquiring both knowledge and years at a frenetic pace. By the time Cecil and his friends reunite with her, she's already become a powerful summoner with a penchant for Black Magic.
2 Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy 7)
Cloud's Childhood Friend Who Helps Him See The Light
Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- January 31, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation (Original), PC, iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, PS4
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Tifa is one of the most iconic characters in Final Fantasy history for a number of reasons. Fanservice may be the most obvious point here, but most people forget that she also played a crucial role in helping Cloud regain his memories.
This moment eventually allowed the protagonist to come to terms with his past before rejoining the team once again. If it wasn't for Tifa's support, it's possible that Cloud would've lost himself after Sephiroth's manipulation for good.
1 Vivi Ornitier (Final Fantasy 9)
His Story Will Bring A Tear To The Eyes Of Fans
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
To this day, there's no other Final Fantasy party member who will make anyone cry quite like Vivi. This Black Mage has a heart of gold and is one of the most charming party members that fans will love (not just because he's a powerful Black Mage).
It's not until he meets more people of his kind that Vivi learns the truth. His lifespan is criminally short, and he must accept the reality of his death, to the point where he can't even join his friends in their celebrations after they save the world.
- Creation Year
- 1987
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Creator
- Hironobu Sakaguchi
- Latest Release
- Final Fantasy 16
- Creator(s)
- Hironobu Sakaguchi