This list contains spoilers
Many iconic duos have featured in the immensely popular Final Fantasy franchise, but not as many people seem to talk about the trios that have also been formed throughout the series. While most of the Final Fantasy parties will be made up of a lot more than three characters, it's not uncommon for the individuals who make up these teams to form their own smaller groups where they develop closer bonds with one or two individuals along their journey.
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This has resulted in plenty of fun, lovable, and intriguing character trios teaming up for their own personal sets of reasons, though why exactly these characters decide to come together can differ greatly between each of the groups. With that said, it's time to take a deeper look at some of the most well-known and memorable trios from the Final Fantasy franchise to understand what makes them so compelling and fun to follow.
Lightning, Snow, & Hope
A Troubled Trio Who End Up Becoming Close Friends And Allies
Final Fantasy 13
- Released
- March 9, 2010
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- JRPG
While Lightning and Snow already had a pretty rocky relationship before the events of Final Fantasy 13 kicked off, a young boy named Hope would also be thrown into the equation after he started blaming Snow for his mother's tragic death. As a result, while the Final Fantasy 13 party does contain a few other characters, it's these three who receive most of the focus. They initially start begrudgingly teaming up with one another to figure out their Focus, but the relationship shared between the three begins to develop over time once the stakes begin to rise higher and higher in the story.
While Hope was trained by Lightning to prepare him for killing Snow, once the man himself saved Hope from imminent death, the three of them came to reconcile their differences and started enjoying each other's company. It's honestly pretty emotional seeing just how far these three individuals come throughout the course of the story, and though some fans may not be very fond of these characters on an individual basis, it's still hard not to love them as a trio.
Cloud, Barret, & Tifa
Arguably The Most Iconic Trio In The Franchise Who Share A Complex Relationship
Final Fantasy 7 Remake
- Released
- April 10, 2020
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen due to Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, Violence
- Genre(s)
- Action RPG
Before players can recruit a robotic cat, a talking dog, and a Materia-obsessed ninja to their party in Final Fantasy 7, they are restricted to only using three Avalanche members: Cloud, Tifa, and Barrett. While the three of them get along reasonably well for most of the game, what makes this trio so fascinating is the underlying tension that is always present between them. For example, while Cloud and Tifa may have known each other since they were kids, it's evident that Tifa knows a lot more than she's willing to let on, and in the same vein, Barrett remains highly suspicious of Cloud due to his past affiliations with Shinra.
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By the time the three face off against the Air Buster machine, they all started trusting one another with their lives. Due to how much they had already been through up to that point, they became more or less inseparable from that moment on. Aerith may be one of the most beloved characters in Final Fantasy 7, but before she even enters the story, it's this group of three who take the leading roles, cementing them as the most memorable and iconic trio in the game, and arguably, the franchise as a whole.
Zidane, Garnet, & Vivi
Final Fantasy 9's Main Trio Form An Impenetrable Relationship
Final Fantasy 9
- Released
- July 7, 2000
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Violence, Mild Language
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Much like many of the Final Fantasy games, Final Fantasy 9 allows players to travel with and play as multiple party members throughout the journey, but three cast members in particular are often seen as being the core of the story. While it makes sense that the quirky Zidane would fill this role, considering he's the game's protagonist, Garnet and Vivi are two other individuals who play a vital role in the story.
After Garnet is rescued by Zidane at the very beginning of the game, the two start to form a romantic relationship, though this is only subtly hinted at throughout the game rather than shown directly. As this is going on, Zidane also starts to form a brotherly relationship with Vivi, a Black Mage with a pretty tragic upbringing, to put it lightly. Watching these three grow, mature, and develop throughout the game is one of the shining aspects of Final Fantasy 9, and just one of many reasons why so many players consider it to be one of the best games in the franchise.
Yuna, Rikku, & Paine
After The Events Of FF10, Yuna Formed A Dangerous New Girl Band
Final Fantasy X-2
- Released
- November 18, 2003
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- t
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- JRPG
Yuna may come across as a fairly timid Summoner in Final Fantasy 10, but she almost feels like an entirely different person in the sequel, which does make sense considering everything she went through in her previous adventure with Tidus. In Final Fantasy 10-2, not only is Yuna now a popular singer, but she is also joined by two other dangerous women to help her in the latest adventure, one of whom debuted in the original Final Fantasy 10, and the other who is a newcomer who is showing up for the first time.
Rikku and Paine accompany Yuna through the entire game, and because of their drastically different playstyles, it ensures that none of them ever feel forgettable or useless in battle. This also applies to their personalities. While Yuna and Rikku are a lot more upbeat and joyful, Paine's more serious demeanor helps keep them in check any time they get too carried away. Final Fantasy 10-2 may have cut down the party size from the original game, but it was a genius idea to focus on these three characters specifically, considering how effortlessly they each blend into one lovable unit.
Reno, Rude, & Elena
The Lovable Bad Guys Of Final Fantasy 7
Final Fantasy 7
- Released
- January 31, 1997
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- RPG
While the Turks are technically antagonists in Final Fantasy 7, it's honestly hard to hate these guys, considering how fun they are to be around. The first Turk that Cloud runs into is Reno, a hot-headed agent who certainly knows how to hold his own in battle. Not long after, his partner, Rude, and eventually the spunky Elena, are also added to the story. What makes this group such a great trio is how vastly different they are in their attitudes and personalities, allowing them to come up with all kinds of playfully witty banter anytime they appear on-screen together.
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Rude, for example, is the serious and stoic type who often prefers to let his fists do the talking. Meanwhile, Elena is a young and naive soldier of Shinra who is eager to make a name for herself, though she is a little too reckless for her own good. Reno, on the other hand, is kind of a mix between the two, and while Sephiroth may be a genuinely terrifying villain, these three minor antagonists help to lighten the mood every now and again to prevent the story from ever becoming too bleak.
Laguna, Kiros, & Ward
Three Loyal Soldiers Who Go Through A Hellish Adventure Together
Final Fantasy 8
- Released
- February 11, 1999
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Unlike the majority of trios on this list, Laguna, Kiros, and Ward are not actually party members in Final Fantasy 8; at least not technically. While these three do become playable at a certain part of the game, their stories are largely disconnected from that of Squall and the others, giving players a chance to experience an entirely different scenario from a new point of view. As members of the Galbadian Army, these three warriors always have each other's backs when on the battlefield, and while they know exactly how to cheer one another up anytime the going gets tough, they have still been on a pretty emotional ride together.
During their very last mission as a part of the Galbadian Army, for example, the trio was apprehended by a group of Esthar soldiers, resulting in Ward being severely injured and losing his voice in the process. While these three only appear very briefly in the main game, the emotional core of their story together still makes them an extremely memorable bunch that no Final Fantasy 8 fan will ever forget.
Cecil, Kain, & Rosa
A Classic Love Triangle That Spirals Out Of Control
Final Fantasy 4
- Released
- July 19, 1991
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- ESRB
- e
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- JRPG
Most of the Final Fantasy games contain at least some element of romance in their story, but the amount of focus that will actually be placed on this element can vary between titles. In the case of Final Fantasy 4, the complex relationship shared between Cecil, Kain, and Rosa is an essential aspect of the wider plot, and while it may seem like a fairly standard love triangle on the surface, it soon spirals into something a lot more unique and interesting one's players sink a few hours into the game.
While all three characters know each other from their childhoods, Rosa has long had a crush on Cecil, much to the dismay of Kain, who himself is in love with Rosa. Once Kain becomes possessed by Golbez, the main villain of the game, he starts to take on a much more vicious and violent persona, but despite it all, his affection for Rosa still manages to shine through when he's able to show it. This complicated relationship adds a lot of tension between the characters, which helps make the already incredible story all the more memorable and engaging.
Magus Sisters
Mysterious Beings Who Have Appeared In Several Games
Final Fantasy 10
- Released
- December 17, 2001
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Mild Blood, Mild Suggestive Themes, Violence
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Several creatures and characters have shown up in multiple Final Fantasy games, but while many people's minds will go straight to Gilgamesh or Cid, there is a particular group that often doesn't get spoken about quite as often: the Magus Sisters. These three first made their appearances in Final Fantasy 4, but would go on to show up again as Summons and enemies in many of the future games. While the sisters are known for being immensely powerful, actually obtaining and using them is a lot easier said than done.
For example, in Final Fantasy 10, players need to put in quite the grind to unlock them, but when throwing the sisters out in the middle of a battle, their commands will be entirely different from what players are used to, making it tricky to actually control them. While this already makes them a fascinating trio, there's also a lot to be said about their design, with each of the sisters looking completely different from one another while still having that traditional Final Fantasy aesthetic that defines them as a single group.
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