This topic often sparks lively debates among Final Fantasy fans, and I’m curious to hear your opinions! Recently, I read an article claiming that FF12 has the best story, which surprised me because it ranks as my least favorite in the series. I’ve played several entries including 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 16, and I find the best stories belong to 10 and 16 (I can’t choose between them!). On the flip side, I think 12 has the most lackluster narrative—but I realize that’s subjective. I’d love for you all to share your favorites too. What FF games have you played, and what would you say has the best and worst story? Feel free to express your disagreements respectfully!
5 Answers
For me, Final Fantasy Tactics reigns supreme in storytelling. The political intrigue and deep themes tackled are so compelling. But I’d have to say FF XII has pretty underwhelming storytelling. The setup is great, but it doesn’t feel fully realized.
When it comes to the best, I’d say Final Fantasy VI. The narrative is rich and complex, plus Kefka’s story is chillingly memorable. As for the worst, I’d lean towards XIII—it felt like I was wandering through a lore encyclopedia more than experiencing a story. Never finished it because it took ages to get interesting!
I would put FF VII at the top of my list for its narrative brilliance, while XIII definitely takes the bottom spot. FF VII’s world-building is fantastic and just feels so cohesive. XIII’s storyline, on the other hand, felt like it was all over the place for me.
Oh man, I feel you on that! VII really brought everything together beautifully. XIII was just so disjointed; I almost forgot why they were doing half of what they were doing!
Best story? Definitely a tie between FF X and XIV for me. They handle their protagonists and villains so well, plus the themes are super deep. Worst? FF I or XV—neither is terrible, but FF I is a bit too simple and XV had so much potential that just didn’t pan out, especially with the character arcs feeling incomplete.
I see what you mean about MMOs. XIV’s early sections were a slog for me too, but trust me, once you hit the good material, it’s worth the wait!
I gotta say, for me, Final Fantasy X has the best story! It’s got that coherent narrative that holds up without collapsing into a confusing mess at the end. It even manages to tug at your heartstrings. As for the worst? I’d say FF III. The storyline feels pretty basic, even with the DS remake trying to spice things up a bit.
Right? X really nails its emotional beats. I do feel like some characters could’ve had better arcs though, like Wakka and Lulu. But overall, I totally agree!
I totally agree about VI! It has such a diverse cast and the narrative is just phenomenal. XIII did take forever to get to the good stuff.