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[km3k]

1. FF7
2. FF9
3. FF4
4. FF6
5. FF10
6. FF8
7. FF12

FF7 and FF9 are the definition of Final Fantasy to me. I liked FF4 and have only played a little of FF6, but I liked what I played a lot. I really need to play it all the way through someday. FF8 and FF10 seemed great at the time, but in retrospect, they're not as good as my top 4. I wanted to like FF12, but I just couldn't finish it. I kept getting bored. The gambits made me lazy, the characters weren't interesting and the environments were far too brown. I liked the world of Ivalice though. I played FF10-2 too, but it deserves 0 points.

I never played FF1,2,3,5,11,13,14. Of those, I expect I'd like 3 and 5, but I don't think I'd like the rest very much from what I've seen.

 

[TheExodu5]

I think FF8 is utter garbage, so I'm already shocked to see it doing decently well thus far in the voting.

Agreed. I think it's an awful game with very few redeeming qualities. It's the only mainline Final Fantasy that I've played through that consider truly bad.

Spoony's "review" is basically how I view the game at this point.

 

[fuzzyreactor]

deleted

 

[sphinx]

I was thinking, shouldn't the votes of people like me, who have played only a couple of FF games, have less value?? someone who has played all games has far far more knowledge in regards to the series than me and their opinion should be more worth than mine.

why not assign a base value according to number of games submitted?

my votes

1.- FF1
2.- FF3
3.- FF4
4.- FF7

 

[Musiol]

1. FF7
2. FF12
3. FF8
4. FF6
5. FF13
6. FF13-2
7. FF9
8. FF5
9. FF1
10. FF4

 

[Goodacre0081]

1. FF4
2. FF6
3. FF11
4. FF7
5. FF1

 

[BlazingDarkness]

1. FF7
2. FF10
3. FF8
4. FF9
5. FF12

That's my top 5 in order.

 

[Blitzzz]

It'd be interesting if you'd have asked people to '*' their first game in the series. I don't believe 8 would be as high in my list if it wasn't my introduction.

8's enjoyment seems directly tied to how well they understood the battle system. Throwing down a def debuff on a boss then instant limit break was the most fun I've had in an FF fight before 12 came along

 

[ScOULaris]

I was thinking, shouldn't the votes of people like me, who have played only a couple of FF games, have less value?? someone who has played all games has far far more knowledge in regards to the series than me and their opinion should be more worth than mine.

why not assign a base value according to number of games submitted?

Because that makes things much more complicated when tallying everything up in the end, and everyone's votes should be counted equally. The difference in point value between votes is small enough for it to come out in the wash in the end. Once this is finished, the cream will rise to the top with regard to total points.

 

[Android18a]

1) FF7
2) FF10
3) FF9
4) FF6
5) FF5
6) FF8
7) FF4
8) FF12
9) FF13
10) FF1

I'd elaborate, but I'm too tired.

 

[The Praiseworthy]

1. FF7
2. FF9
3. FF8
4. FF10
5. FF13-2
6. FF13
7. FF10-2
8. FF6
9. FF12

 

[TheExodu5]

1. FF7
2. FF9
3. FF8
4. FF10
5. FF13-2
6. FF13
7. FF10-2
8. FF6
9. FF12

This is the weirdest ranking ever.

8's enjoyment seems directly tied to how well they understood the battle system. Throwing down a def debuff on a boss then instant limit break was the most fun I've had in an FF fight before 12 came along

My issue is that there was no intuitive way to play the game. The most efficient way of doing things was to not level up at all, after all.

 

[Jasconius]

1. FF4; first one I played - the game that got me into console gaming
2. FF5; played this one much later but loved it
3. FF7; had to split a psx 4 ways with my friends just to play this - totally worth it though
4. FF12; very enjoyable
5. FF6; never could get into this one as much as some of the others for some reason
6. FF3; played on the DS - was fun but nothing too special for me
7. FF8; really loved this when I played through it in like 3 days when it came out, but doesn't shine as much in retrospect
8. FF13; eh, it was alright, didn't actually bother finishing it

 

[Rpgmonkey]

1. FF5
2. FF12
3. FF10-2
4. FF10
5. FF7
6. FF6
7. FF4
8. FF9
9. FF13
10. FF8

 

[Lulubop]

1.FF9
2.FF6
3.FF7
4.FF12
5.FF5
6.FF8
7.FF4
8.FF10
9.FF3
10.FF1

 

[fuzzyreactor]

1. FF7 - all around masterpiece
2. FF12 - amazing world and the best gameplay in series
3. FF8 - best music, characters and environment
4. FF11 - addiction and universe was fantastic
5. FF5 - dat class system
6. FF6 - charming but overrated
7. FF10 - loved the battle system and decent story but characters ruined it and pretty linear
8. FF4 - not bad but the way the character die made me stop caring
9. FF3 - less good version of FF5
10. FF9 - shit characters, story, art style and slow ass gameplay that puts me to sleep

 

[BocoDragon]

Oh great.... every FF thread turns into a list thread.... ;P

1. Final Fantasy 6
2. Final Fantasy 8
3. Final Fantasy 7
4. Final Fantasy 12
5. Final Fantasy 9
6. Final Fantasy 5
7. Final Fantasy 4
8. Final Fantasy 13
9. Final Fantasy 10
10. Final Fantasy 13-2

 

[onlywei]

1. FF9 - Most awesome ending. Coolest FMVs. Best main character. Vivi's story was great!!
2. FF7 - Really the first FF that I actually owned for myself.
3. FF4 - Rydia!!!
4. FF6
5. FF13
6. FF8
7. FF10 - What? Voice acting? Meh...
8. FF5
9. FF11
10. FF12 - I still don't understand why the last boss was an enemy to the members of my party. I thought he was a decent guy the whole time...

 

[Raiho]

1. FF6
2. FF4
3. FF7
4. FF5
5. FF10
6. FF12
7. FF9
8. FF10-2
9. FF8
10. FF13

I haven't played FF2, 13-2 and I've only played a little bit of FF3 on the DS. I didn't care for 3's slow battle animations, but I still can't judge it properly.

 

[TheJollyCorner]

It'd be interesting if you'd have asked people to '*' their first game in the series. I don't believe 8 would be as high in my list if it wasn't my introduction.

I can understand that.
FF4 (errr... FFII SNES) would probably not be anywhere near as high as it is if I would have played the PS1 version upon its release.

Nostalgia (and just time/place/circumstances in your life) plays a huge role there, as I'm sure it does with most people's choices for their #1's here.
For example, I played FF8 from start to finish with my then girlfriend (now wife) when we were 18. It has a lot of meaning to us and I just think the age and being deeply in love helped heighten the appreciation for the story that was being told. That's one of the main reasons it's my #1.

 

[MattKeil]

1. FF6
2. FF12
3. FF9
4. FF4 (First FF I played)
5. FF13-2
6. FF5
7. FF8
8. FF2
9. FF1
10. FF10

FF7 gets no points from me, thanks. Almost irreparably damaged the genre. I assume by default that everyone who put this at the top of their list was 10-12 in 1997.

 

[FateBreaker]

FF7 gets no points from me, thanks. Almost irreparably damaged the genre. I assume by default that everyone who put this at the top of their list was 10-12 in 1997.

9.

 

[Mattakuevan]

01. FF6; I grew up with this game and it was the first RPG I played. Come years later it still shines as one of the better RPGs I've played due to its simplicity and amazing presentation.
02. FF9; I didn't play this game till 2 years ago and I feel bad because of that. It is easily one of the best games I've ever played.
03. FF11; Played for 7 years, nuff said.
04. FF12; Amazing step forward for the series, hated to see the series take a step back after this.
05. FF13-2; Unpopular decision? Maybe. But I think that 13-2 shows that SE can potentially make games that are on par with the best. This game is pure FUN.
06. FF7
07. FF8
08. FF10
09. FF1
10. FF4

FYI, the only one I haven't played is FF5.

Kinda wish Tactics was on here, but I understand why its not.

 

[ScOULaris]

Oh great.... every FF thread turns into a list thread.... ;P

This is the list thread to end all list threads.

 

[rataven]

FF7 gets no points from me, thanks. Almost irreparably damaged the genre. I assume by default that everyone who put this at the top of their list was 10-12 in 1997.

And yet you rank five games that came out after it in your top 10. Irreparable damage to the genre indeed. smh.

 

[FateBreaker]

And yet you rank five games that came out after it in your top 10. Irreparable damage to the genre indeed. smh.

Haha, I didn't even notice he/she did that. Ironic.

 

[frequency]

And yet you rank five games that came out after it in your top 10. Irreparable damage to the genre indeed. smh.

Well to be fair... s/he did say "almost".

 

[swoon]

1. FF4
2. FF6
3. FF8
4. FF7
5. FF10

6. FF3
7. FF9
8. FF12
9. FF10-2
10. FF13


haven't played FF5, FF11, FF14, FF13-2

 

[Clear]

Hard thing for me to rank these games, a lot of head vs heart conflict... that being said.


1. FF8 ; - I was disappointed by this game the first time I completed it, however I've returned to it more than any other game in the series because once it gets its hooks into you, its a very special game. I love pretty much everything about it.
2. FF10 ; - This game has in my opinion the best ever turn-based battle system, and the strongest story and overall "world" feeling of any FF game.
3. FF7 ; - I feel a bit stingy only ranking FF7 third, when it was the first game in the series that I played and completely blew my mind at the time. While its highpoints are as memorable as anything in the franchise its hasn't aged as gracefully as some.
4. FF10-2 ; - Its hard for me to separate this from FFX in my memory in many ways its such a complimentary experience to its prequel. I'm also ranking this based on my experience playing the expanded International edition, which is by far the most content-rich FF game ever.
5. FF13-2 ; - Much to my surprise this was the recent FF that I've enjoyed the most consistently.
6. FF12 ; - There's a huge amount to admire and enjoy about this game, but its let down by a meandering plot and juvenile leads shoe-horned in to fit a marketing plan. Had Matsuno been allowed to make the game he wanted to make, no doubt I'd be ranking this much higher.
7. FF11 ; - I've spent 6 years playing this game off and on. Some fantastic memories of my time, some truly miserable ones too. Amazing game, but I'd never want to go back to it.
8. FF13 ; - Not the train-wreck is was branded to be, just a seriously flawed attempt at stripping the formula down to its essence. The sheer craftsmanship on display is overwhelmingly impressive, but the muddled exposition and unappealing characters subvert it at every turn.
9. FF9 ; - Not for me. I've played it through 3 times and I still cannot fathom the appeal. Starts out great but its all downhill through to the forgettable final fight.

 

[Flambe]

1. FF6
2. FF5
3. FF10
4. FF7
5. FF8
6. FF10-2
7. FF9
8. FF13
9. FF4
10. FF1

Fuck 12 =P

 

[kodt]

1. FF4
2. FF6
3. FF7
4. FF9
5. FF10
6. FF12
8. FF8
9. FF13
10. FF1

 

[Mattakuevan]

Hard thing for me to rank these games, a lot of head vs heart conflict... that being said.

Use numerical format :O

 

[King of the Potato People]

But what's the point, FF6 will win?
Aw well.

1. FF9: A great lighthearted fairy tale, it perfects all the traditional mechanics.

2. FF7: It's not as elaborate as FF VI, but the cyberpunk style and faster battle system make it close to the top.

3. FF6: We all know about the spectacular mid-game twist, there's a great cast of eccentric characters.

4. FF12: The storytelling and world design are probably the most sophisticated in the series, there's nothing like the Golden Saucer, Chocobo hot and cold or Triple Triad to do at the sideline, instead the game concentrates on hunts and looting. So it may not be the most fun, but easily the most technically impressive.

5. FF10: The linear structure may be disappointing, but the story is interesting about the "Spiral of death". The Sphere Grid is an addictive way to level up, and there's plenty of great secrets in the last third.

6. FF8: The characters are straightforward, but the time-travel narrative is not. However the strength of this game is not within its narrative but within the beautiful design of the world. Even if you're a hater, you can probably still appreciate that.

7. FF4: It seems generic now with a cliched story, but this deserves a lot of respect for setting the template for further games in the series, introducing the job system and the Active Time Battles.

8. FF13: It's easy to hate the linear, episodic levels. However the presentation is the best in the series, the battle system is one of the best if you have the patience to wait for all the systems to unlock, the story is not very accessible and the melodrama is more constant than ever. This is a game that requires much patience and for that there are moments of brilliance.

9. FF10-2: It's a quality game if you prefer J-POP, non-linear missions, energetic female protagonists and silly missions. They say FF games are not for everyone, and certainly not this one.

Well these are the only mainline ones I've finished. I need to play FF 5 more.

 

[Fou-Lu]

1. FF9
2. FF4
3. FF1
4. FF2
5. FF5
6. FF7
7. FF3

I decided to include the FFs I have finished rather than those I have only played to a certain point. I imagine once I finish it VI at least will be ranked somewhere between 1-3. I also REALLY enjoyed FFXII for the time I spent with it.

 

[Chamber]

1. FF10
2. FF8
3. FF13
4. FF11
5. FF9

I'm weird.

 

[cackhyena]

1. FF12
2. FF9.
3. FF4 DS version
4. FF7
5. FF 8

 

[Azriell]

1. FF11; Played it for the better part of 6 years, almost every day (with the exception of a few breaks here and there). Logged over 1,000 hours across two characters. It's an easy first choice for me, although I know this ranking will be unpopular, and really is a waste of my 1 slot.

2. FF12; Loved how it took MMO combat dynamics and made it fit for a 1p experience. It wasn't perfect, but I thought it was a really cool direction, and I wish more games would push in this direction. Art was great as well.

3. FF8; I originally hated this game, for not being FF7. Returning years later, I fell in love. A lot of people site the draw system as flawed and broken, but I enjoyed it thoroughly. Also really liked the idea of GF bonds and stat boosts, making different GFs feel more like a part of the different characters.

4. FF7; This was the first FF I really attempted to tackle (others I rented on SNES, but never got too far in to). Materia was a great system, and I was totally drawn into the story as a 12 year old. Also, totally cried for Aries.

5. FF13; Still haven't finished it, but the combat is enjoyable. I like the way the story is told in flash blacks that are out of chronological order. Some annoying dialogue and characters in this one, but I like a lot of what it does regardless.

6. FF9; I hated this one at first, because it was such a radical departure to the FFs I considered relevant at the time (7, 8). Once I got over that, I found it enjoyable, but far less so than its immediate predecessors. Loses points for Steiner being annoying and wearing eye liner and metal sneakers.

8. FF10-2

7. FF10

8. FF6

9. FF5

10. FF4

5. FF5; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game
6. FF6; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game
7. FF7; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game
8. FF8; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game
9. FF9; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game
10. FF10; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game

 

[I'm an expert]

1. FF6 ; 6 is the only game where I felt the story meant more than the gameplay and was better for it. You don't save the world or get the girl or anything of that sort in FF6. You essentially fail at everything you set out to do and get beaten and scattered. By the end you're simply trying to do the only last thing you can, stop Kefka. It's the greatest FF of all time indeed.
2. FF11 ; I don't think this one will get many votes at all but I feel I have to give it respect for being not only the best MMO I've played over the years, but also having an incredibly good lore and world. Excellent game. edit: Poster before me puts it at number one. There are still people with taste in this world!
3. FF10
4. FF8
5. FF12
6. FF13
7. FF5
8. FF4
9. FF9
10. FF3

Also no FF7 vote from me. Not because it's "cool to hate on the popular" or anything like that. I was there too in 1997, I remember. But I do agree with the previous poster that said it did more bad than good for the series, though by no means irreparably as FF8 essentially fixes everything it did wrong.

 

[we.are.the.armada]

1. FF4 - Remade and released more than any other in the series iirc for good reasons.
2. FF12
3. FF11
4. FF6
5. FF2

 

[revolverjgw]

1. FF6
2. FF8
3. FF7
4. FF12
5. FF4
6. FF10
7. FF9
8. FF13
9. FF10-2
10. FF5

 

[ScOULaris]

5. FF5; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game
6. FF6; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game
7. FF7; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game
8. FF8; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game
9. FF9; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game
10. FF10; Optional elaboration as to why you chose this game

Please delete this from your post.

 

[iKeepPlaying]

But what's the point, FF6 will win?

7 will win. OP should've added Tactics to make things more interesting.

 

[StuBurns]

7 will win. OP should've added Tactics to make things more interesting.

Tactics really is a very different thing. If you go that root, you could add all sorts of games. I like that it's concise. Technically I think 4 The After Years should be on there, but no one would vote for it anyway.

 

[I'm an expert]

7 will win. OP should've added Tactics to make things more interesting.

Have to agree. I'd rank it above 6 as well. Tactics really has no equal from that era.

 

[Sadist]

1. FF 9; My favourite Final Fantasy of all time. You know why? Because it's serious and lighthearted at the same time. As much as I like the other Playstation FF games, at times I would just roll my eyes because of Cloud or Squall. Yes, brooding handsome guys who have a lot on their mind and feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders are kind of cool, but the formula got old. That's when Zidane enters. Yes, he is a typical pretty boy but he is so delightfully different from other FF maincharacters. He is cocky, funny, a womanizer and more importantly: he's much more likable. In the end he's still an idealistic guy with a serious side, but his personality is a major upgrade from FF VII and VIII. But it's not just Zidane, the whole cast of IX is amazing. The little Black Mage Vivi might be one of the best chacracters ever created in the FF universe. The way how he talks and thinks about the subject of life and death is fantastic. It might not be the happiest subject, but IX doesn't turn it into a cliché. Other characters like Steiner who questions the way he lives, Freya who runs away from her home and Garnet/Dagger doubts of becoming a great Queen are equally enjoyable.

And honestly, it's not just about the story or the characters. The many locations of Gaia are fantastic. Vivi's adventure in Alexandria. Every time when I arrive for the first time at Lindblum makes me smile. Burmecia and the beautiful music while walking around. The destruction of Cleyra. Treno. Black Mage Village. Ah, so awesome. Plus, the battle system is simple and easy to use. To bad the loading times were pretty long.

And oh, it has the best FF minigame EVER: Chocobo Hot & Cold. I've spent hours digging up stuff with Choco the Chocobo. Looking for treasure, raising high scores and the best: finding stuff with the Dead Peppers. And before I sign off, it has one of the best soundtracks produced by Uematsu. Final Fantasy IX, the best Final Fantasy.

2. FF 6
3. FF 7
4. FF 12
5. FF 8
6. FF 10

 

[BocoDragon]

7 will win. OP should've added Tactics to make things more interesting.

Well then you'd have to let in all the other Tactics games... and we all know A2 would run away with all the votes!

 

[laika09]

1. FF9 ; The best game of all time.
2. FF10 ; The standard for modern RPGs to live up to.
3. FF13-2 ; Very few faults.
4. FF7 ; Nothing that hasn't been said here.
5. FF4 ; My favorite classic RPG.
6. FF13 ; Gets way too much shit for people wanting it to be something it never purported to be.
7. FF6 ; Overrated, but an interesting and endearing cast and some really good storytelling.
8. FF12 ; I would have liked to see Matsuno's original vision. Good nonetheless, although the story falls apart.
9. FF8 ; Eh.
10. FF10-2 ; I've tried and tried and no matter how much effort I put into it, I can never play more than a few hours.

 

[rukland]

1. FFT - oh yeah thats right can't vote for that


1. FF8
2. FF10
3. FF6
4. FF12
5. FF7
6. FF9

Thats all that I have played (yeah bad gamer I know). And to be honest I really should not even list 9 I hated everything about that game by the time I finished it, hell I can not even finish 7 and I still hate 9 more.

 

[timetokill]

1. FF6; Great intro, fun and diverse cast, cool twist, battle abilities made sense with the characters overall. The most solid entry overall.
2. FF7; Can't deny its impact, and it has one of the best and most memorable intros in all of videogames. Fantastic soundtrack, and one of the last games where Square was still making games in the classic style. The deformed characters were silly but charming. Basically, Square just doesn't make 'em like this anymore. Here's hoping they never remake this game. I could see a 3DS version with basically the same assets, but hopefully nothing like the "PS3 Test" conversion ever happens. There's no way it could possibly work and retain the feeling of the original.
3. FF12; A breath of fresh air for the series; the gambit system was fantastic and was a great innovation on top of FF's typically boring battle system. Everyone other than Vaan and Penelo were some of the best characters in the entire series, with a more interesting backstory and intrigue to go along with it. A huge shame that this game wasn't more impactful on the overall direction of the series. It's like the series swerved away from FF12 and then proceeded to fall off a cliff.
4. FF5; Loved the job system.
5. FF4; Another solid entry, this was the game that made Final Fantasy "fun" for me. The earlier ones simply couldn't hold my attention at all.
6. FF8; I enjoy it for its attempts to do some new things, and this was really the game of Square at the apex of its ambition, if you ask me. That said, the story twist was atrocious, and the final boss even worse. I literally fell asleep during the final boss fight, that's how bad it was. Deserves a mention if for no other reason than having Triple Triad, perhaps the best minigame in a FF game.



The rest of the games that I've played aren't worth giving any points to. FF11 was a boring grindfest that made every simple action seem like a chore. FF10 has some of the most annoying characters in the entire series, with Tidus being completely unlikeable. Not to mention stupid things like the lightning canyon and the worst minigame of all time, Blitzball. Also, "HA HA HA HA HA." Definitely kept me from looking at FF10-2.

FF13 is a total joke, nothing to say beyond that. Naturally I didn't bother with FF13-2, and obviously avoided the train wreck that is FF14.

I didn't play FF9 though, I guess I might enjoy that.

 

[flyover]

1. FF7 -- Tier 1
2. FF12 -- Tier 1
3. FF6 -- Tier 1. Big gap between this and...
4. FF10 -- Tier 2
5. FF8 -- Tier 2
6. FF10-2 -- Tier 2
7. FF4 -- Tier 2
8. FF13 -- Tier 3
9. FF9 -- Tier 3

Truth is, I've enjoyed all of the games, for some reason or another. A few have been disappointing, but I haven't hated any of them. The top three were easy, but others within each tier are all very close, if not interchangeable, depending on the day and mood.

Hard thing for me to rank these games, a lot of head vs heart conflict... that being said.

I like your rankings and reasoning, even if they're different from mine. I totally understand how you feel about FF8. I think it's a flawed mess -- a real letdown the first time I played it. Spoony's review is right on all counts. And yet I can't help but love it a little more, each time I go through it.