Summary
- Final Fantasy games prioritize strong character development to enhance the story-driven experience.
- Characters like Squall and Quistis in FF8 show depth beyond initial impressions.
- FF7's iconic cast, including Cloud, Tifa, and Sephiroth, helped propel the game to mainstream success.
Final Fantasy is one of the most popular video game franchises, with the bulk of these titles focusing on story-driven experiences where a group of heroes put it all on the line to save the world from a devious villain. This makes it easy to see why good character writing is a must-have for these entries.
Final Fantasy: 8 Characters Who Ended Up Being Surprisingly Strong
Not all Final Fantasy characters make great first impressions. Here are some who seem weak initially but turn out to be surprisingly strong later.
Some Final Fantasy games feature a cast so strong that they make up for the other issues in these titles. There are times when the protagonist is outshone by other party members, showing that Square Enix cuts no corners when it comes to making their characters look better than ever.
8 Final Fantasy 8
The Characters Are Great — If Somewhat Paper-Thin
Final Fantasy 8
- Released
- February 11, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Final Fantasy 8's plot has some issues, with the GF-induced memory loss and the random appearance of a true final villain being two of the biggest complaints fans have with this title. While its characters are labeled as cliché by many, the truth is that there's way more depth to these characters than what meets the eye.
Squall is one of the most misunderstood protagonists in video game history and goes through a great character arc that helps him become a natural leader. Along with him, characters like Rinoa and Quistis boast impressive depth and make it clear why fans will love the party members over time, despite an admittedly poor first impression.
7 Final Fantasy 12
The Vaans And Balthiers Of This Game Balance Each Other Out
Final Fantasy 12
- Released
- October 31, 2006
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Final Fantasy games with an ensemble cast tend to boast some of the best characters in the series, and the twelfth mainline entry is no exception. Even with Vaan being shoe-horned as the protagonist, his role in the overall plot is fairly limited.
This allows characters like Balthier, Ashe, and Basch to shine with their compelling stories and personalities. Other side characters lend to the epic storytelling of Final Fantasy 12 and help it stand out as one of the best Final Fantasy games players can get their hands on.
6 Final Fantasy 4
Boasts A Lovable Cast Of Characters Who Embark On A Grand Adventure For The Ages
Final Fantasy 4
- Released
- July 19, 1991
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square
- Publisher(s)
- Square
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
Final Fantasy 4's compelling story is a huge reason why fans rate this experience so highly. However, it wouldn't be a stretch to say that this narrative would've fallen flat had it not been for the game's likable characters.
Final Fantasy: 7 Games That Were Ahead Of Their Time
From fluid roles to killing grind, these Final Fantasy games introduced bold ideas that wouldn’t catch on until years later, changing RPGs forever.
Seeing Cecil transform from a Dark Knight into a Paladin and appreciating Kain for showing his maturity despite his feelings for Rosa are just some of the many ways that the character writing in this brilliant game stands out.
5 Final Fantasy 15
The Main Cast Is Lovable, And Their Friendship Is Palpable
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
Final Fantasy 15 faced a ton of problems in development that can be seen in the final product. However, the bond between the four friends is the beating heart of this experience and makes up for any of the issues that fans would face along the way.
Noctis, Gladio, Prompto, and Ignis are steadfast friends who stick with each other through thick and thin. This strong bond is precisely why fans will cry at the end of Final Fantasy 15 after embarking on a journey for the ages.
4 Final Fantasy 10
Players Will Love To Root For These Characters Who Move Heaven And Earth To Save Spira
Final Fantasy 10
- Released
- December 17, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- Platform(s)
- PS2
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
Final Fantasy 10 is one of the best games in the series, where the gameplay, story, and characters are all in a class of their own. The fact that fans love Tidus despite his overbearing, happy-go-lucky nature is a testament to how infectious his personality is.
Wakka and Rikku manage to settle their differences as the former gets over his prejudices, and Auron silently establishes himself as one of the most selfless and bravest characters in the franchise. Of course, it would be impossible to talk about Final Fantasy 10's best characters without mentioning Yuna, a summoner with a heart of gold who was willing to lay down her life to save Spira.
3 Final Fantasy 9
The Party Members Are Easy To Like, Barring A Few Exceptions
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
A huge part of what makes Final Fantasy 9 special is its main cast. Zidane is a lovable rogue, Dagger transforms into an independent and competent ruler, Steiner gets over his one-dimensional dedication to duty, and Eiko cherishes her friendships after being alone for the longest time.
Final Fantasy: 7 Games With The Best Limit Break Systems, Ranked
Here’s how the best Limit Break systems across Final Fantasy history stack up, ranked by style, impact, and sheer coolness factor.
However, the best Final Fantasy 9 character in the eyes of many is the Black Mage, Vivi Ornitier. This charming boy sports an innocent and childlike personality, which is why learning about his origins can be so heartbreaking.
2 Final Fantasy 6
Boasts A Massive Ensemble Cast Full Of Lovable Characters
Final Fantasy 6
- Released
- October 11, 1994
WHERE TO PLAY
Final Fantasy 6 took a massive gamble with its ensemble cast structure, ensuring that none of the characters stand out as the 'true' protagonist. Sure, an argument can be made that Terra is the main character in the World of Balance, and Celes takes over this role in the World of Ruin, but this takes nothing away from the other characters in this tale.
Sabin and Edgar are brothers with an immense screen presence, Locke is one of the best thieves in the entire series, and Shadow is a riveting character with a mysterious backstory. All of these characters have compelling stories of their own and end up being the best part of their respective games.
1 Final Fantasy 7
This Game Has The Most Iconic Group Of Party Members To Ever Feature In A JRPG
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
Final Fantasy 7 is one of the greatest video games ever made, single-handedly pushing the series into the mainstream. SquareSoft was taking a major risk by investing so much in the game's marketing and needed to ensure that their characters were lovable enough for players to stick with this game for the long haul.
Thankfully, the sheer depth exhibited by characters like Cloud, Barret, Tifa, and Vincent proves why fans love this game's cast of characters. Even the villain, Sephiroth, wows players with his presence and has turned into one of the most fearsome and iconic antagonists in video game history.
- Creation Year
- 1987
- Developer(s)
- Square Enix
- Publisher(s)
- Square Enix
- Creator
- Hironobu Sakaguchi
- Latest Release
- Final Fantasy 16
- Creator(s)
- Hironobu Sakaguchi