When I was 15 or so I was told I had a brain tumor , had to go for like 3 surgeries high chance to not make it, my dad got me a ps1 and I remember playing all through ff7 during those times .so ff7 has a special place in my heart .
Hell yeah brotha!!! You and cloud are savages! You got the sob Genova outta your head and are thriving. Love the story man, I’m glad you get to relive this story in this spectacular fashion
Final fantasy 7 was the only big, complex game I ever played with my father. I was only 6 when it came out, and he actually used it as an opportunity to help me learn to read. I can’t say I understood too much about what was happening at that age, but it holds a special place for me because of the time spent playing it with the old man. Really good memories.
@@frankbrodie5168 when my dad didn’t understand the dialogue we were reading or we came up to weird mistakes in the English version, he’d just shrug and say “lost in translation.”
Had the same experience too with my dad around that age but with final fantasy 9. I remember all my imaginary friends at the time being characters from the game lmao
FFX is always my answer. Its the first one that feels like the modern age of FF but gives you an idea of what it might be like to go back to the earlier games.
@@nathank2289I think that’s a bit of a moot point. Protagonist is subjective, there’s many a guide out for minigames (and they’re optional, you don’t have to even win the first blitzball game) and… random encounters are just part of RPGs? Like, everything prior to X has them as well, and imo X’s battle/progression system makes it way more interactive and interesting than some earlier titles. It was my first one, and I really enjoyed it. :)
@@g.u.959 I agree. I found X to be a easy way to understand the battle system when I was younger that helped me go back to older games. The rest of your points are subjective. I love Tidas and Yuna and the ending is inevitable, which to me makes it a great ending. Plus X-2 expands on the world and the ending in so many ways that you could just recommend them play both back to back if they wanted to avoid a sad ending.
@@g.u.959Also i kinda like the difficulty curve. FF X starts off really easy and then you get a difficulty spike from Mt Gagazet on with Seymour Flux and Yunalesca and of course Jetch can destroy you if you are not prepared. But with so many options in this game, there is always a way and it gives you enough time to figure it out.
To me, there is no better entry point than X. It might not have the best characters, the best story, or the best magic/ability mechanics, but the battle system is about as relaxed as it gets. Its presentation has aged incredibly well so there isn't a generational disconnect, and nothing about it is so convoluted as to make it unapproachable.
@@StewNWT Eh, the bones of IV's story are really strong, but by modern standards its delivery is really bland. The gear and leveling systems are also really straightforward and unengaging. I like IV and I think everyone should play it, but I don't think it is the game to sell the series to newcomers.
@@phillystevesteak6982 Oh, I think they are strong, particularly in regard to how status effects were implemented. But I do feel like enemy encounter design really reminds players that they are playing a video game with the super basic way that enemy typing works i.e. flyers=Wakka, heavies=Auron, quickies=Tidus etc. There is generally very little encounter variation which makes all the cool combat abilities feel predetermined.
@@scissors0009 Yeah it's pretty much like Pokémon at first... But when you start expanding your characters's sphere grid, it becomes much more robust and free form. Or you could just start with the "expert grid".
I started with FF15. It gets a bad rap but even when you open the game, every time, it says “A Final Fantasy for fans and newcomers” and I think they nailed that. After that I ended up beating 7 and 16.
My first that I started was X and I fell in love. I then started going numerically and finished 1 and 2 before X, but I’ve been working my way through and it’s been fascinating so far. Just started FF4 on GBA and I’ve been loving it! (100%ing 3 on DS was… a very long process. Pixel Remaster is the way to go there, oi vey.) Great video, I think a lot of good points were hit on! Will probably give 16 a shot once I finish 4, I’m very intrigued with how it’s going to be!
You really should play 8 9 and X. All those side series ff7 over milked fluff ain’t it man. I’m glad you dig it! But you’ll really dig the real FF. 6 7 8 9 X and tactics.
I’ve never played a FF, I didn’t understand why was it such a known name, heck I didn’t even knew what is was about but it speaks volumes that you know something exists and is famous even when you have ZERO idea what it is about. I’m a big single player game experience enjoyer, I love the stories this games carry, so much passion, it’s like reading and experiencing a really good book, a great movie, an an awesome game at the same time. So I decided that my first FF would be FFXVI and my god.. what an amazing game, loved EVERYTHING about it. I’m currently on FFVII Remake but I’m definitely hooked. THIS!! Is what I want to experience in a game, great characters, a great story, and most importantly something that I can enjoy.
I got my start with Final Fantasy with 6 all the way back on the SNES in the 90s, and have pretty much never stopped playing FF ever since. Played all of them, and I'm totally looking forward to 16!
I started with 7, played 4-6 a few years after, and played everything except MMO's until 13 came out... That was when I decided this series is no longer for me. Some people like 13, but to me 13 was a borderline scam and fraud. It was not only terrible, it was terrible by design, design that's been part of the series ever since from what I've seen. I did play enough 15 to know they continued that path, and I actually played 7 remake fully. It was about what I expected. 13 done better, but the fundamental structure of "narrow corridor with very cheaply made busywork to distract player and make them spend more time to bloat playtime" is still there. 7Remake does improve the formula and for whatever reason, 90% of the time they nailed the character work, so it's
@@gJoniiI'm with you 100%. Been playing final fantasy since mid 90s. 13 felt like betrayel. Honestly even 12 felt nothing like final fantasy in tone, story, characters, and music - but at least 12 was still a fantastic jrpg.
@@phillystevesteak6982 I always say, VII is my favorite Final Fantasy, IX is the best Final Fantasy(though many would say VI instead), and XII is the best game in FF series. I really was hoping to get more of XII. It was such an awesome game. Not really a Final Fantasy title perhaps, tho? To me IX nailed the FF formula, the archeotypical FF game, with the formula perfected. XII didn't compete with that, it went its own brilliant way, and I loved every moment of it.
I really appreciate how you break down the “story first” vs “gameplay first” type suggestions. As someone who has a fair bit of experience with jrpgs from other companies, I consider myself very much a gameplay focused person. So V looks like a great place for me to start, after initially not loving my limited tries to the series in the past. Great video!
This is true. Story was always 1st for me. And it’s pretty contentious as to which one wins that one. But interesting gameplay is probably 5. Ease of gameplay is 7. Meaningful exploration is 6 imo. Mini games totally rebirth. Most relatable villain 9. Most iconic villain 6,7. Best cast is actually tough for me…
@@Postumeartist im always a gameplay first. but, there are cases when the story is bad enough to turn me off completely of the game. like for example, the deponia series(point and click), or, and it might make people question me, the first mass effect game. i just could not get into the game because i hated the first half of the cast you have access to up to the citadel, and that place takes too long walking around doing bullshite to progress(and then i discovered it was a WESTERN rpg, with western rpg logic that limits the amount of xp you get, so you are forced to play ng+)
My first Final Fantasy was VIII. I know it has it's problems, but as a kid it was the last gift I received from my grandmother when she passed away that Christmas.
i played it when i was 10 or so and it blow me away :D the summons the story the fight system and everything you could find on the map beside the story .... and the cutscnes *_* and quall ulti damn
I’ve played them all. Since ‘90 when the first one released in US. And I’ll still say just start from the actual beginning. So you can appreciate their evolution.
I started with FFVII and FFXIII, but what made me love the franchise was FF Dissidia. It introduced me to the rest of the series into one game. It fleshed out the main concept of FF games while giving people like me to know what else is in store. The order to play Dissidia may be through personal preference though, to play all the FF games then playing Dissidia would give major nostalgia and go wild on appreciating every character appearing as you remember them. Or the opposite like what I did, when I play Dissidia first over most of the series. Where you can have a heads-up on which character gives you the most vibes with. For me it was Squall and Firion
My Intro to final fantasy was one Christmas time instead of a Pokémon game my dad got me Final Fantasy 3, at first it was hard for me to play so I didn't like it as much, but my older brother started playing it and taught me how. After that I loved it soo much and we even each beat the game, and I've went back recently to play it again and it was great. Would recommend this one as a good first from my experience.
Awesome, thank you for this video! I have played 1 and 15 and was looking to get back into the series. I will probably play 16 next and then 4 as per your recommendation. Thank you!
Tbh my first FF was III. I was playing this on my Samsung Galaxy SIII and I loved it. I know most of the fans hate it, but I really like it. After that I sinked in FF world and I can't get enough of it
no joke, im currently playing it right now. (just killed garuda). and i even mentioned in my post that 3 remake might be a good choice, the issue is, and you will notice it ALOT if you check the forums from gamefaqs, it has some really make it or break it fights. you will find ALOT of people stuck. and the game forces the player into some very inconvenient gameplay styles that will piss off alot of people as well, like the caves that can only be accessed in mini state. which basically makes every melee class borderline useless. also, contrary to 5, the last jobs is given ABSURDLY late, WHICH will piss alot of people off, hell, even the second set takes so long to get. you almost feel like you dont even have time to use the 4th tier jobs when you get them, since they require you to kinda grind so much to make them competitive.
@@marcosdhelenoFf3 was my first FF back when it just released on the ds. I’m french canadien and my mom bought the English version, so I went online to find a guide. I completed it pretty easily that way. That garuda fight was HARD af. I change every character to the dragoon job and leveled up my character to level 30 I think. And still, I won the fight with 2 characters remaining
@@84coti yep, garuda is probably the hardest boss outside of the secret boss in the game. its such a jump in dificulty. i played mostly as a group of monks, before turning everyone into knights, to max hp gain. since i only used those classes, i did not have much dificulty throughout the entire game, even some of the other fights, were absurdly easy for a 4 monk with job 99(which doesnt take that long). but garuda was diferent. it was my first death in the game. cant remember the team, but i did manage to win with everyone alive.
@@pogethedoge he said DS and garuda. that means the 3 remake. not to be confused with the snes american release of 6. i dont think 6 has a ds release, i think most it got was a gba version.
X and XII are weird ones, because neither play like any other game in the series. However, I’d say those are the best entry point because they don’t feel incredibly dated and are so good you’ll want to go back and play through the series history. You can also play X or XII and then go back to something like VI and tell it’s the same series. Not sure you can really say that from XIII onward.
i would argue that X is the most streamlined combat in the series. its closer to the classics like 1-3, but giving the player the knowledge of when they(and the enemy) will be able to act. there's a reason why so many games copied that system. and that's not me saying it was the first to come up with it, i know for example, that the combat in X had massive influence from grandia. but, i feel like X pulled it off better.
Those were actually both my entry FF games! I got XII brand new for Xmas, and can't remember if I got X first before Xmas that same year or after Xmas early the following year. I can't remember which of the 2 I started with because I feel like I played them close together, like only a few months apart. And yeah I agree I think both are good starting ones for different reasons. I loved the story in both but X definitely had a more poignant and emotionally impactful story. But I found XII more straightforward in moving through the main storyline. Iirc, X was much more open world and that slowed me down quite a bit because I'm always tempted to fully explore open worlds just to see the sights, even if there's no hidden prizes. Open world also tempts me to look for Easter eggs and sections where you can go OOB. So X took me a lot longer to finish, but the story stayed with me more.
Started on FF1 but haven't been able to finish it for like a year, the character levelling/grinding started getting to me xD been wanting to get into FF and see what all the hype is about so this video was very helpful! Good to know that the games aren't connected at all cus that's what's kinda put me off the franchise, just so many games and was afraid i would miss something if i didn't play all of them. So now i have the knowledge start my FF journey a new! Thank you for making this video
The 3D remake of 4 is also the hardest version in a number of ways, where they added even more mechanics to counter your counters. Like using lightning on a water elemental boss to break his defense and prevent a devastating attack, well in the 3D remake, I think it's a silence counter attack he uses to punish you for doing the exact thing you're supposed to do to beat the boss. That's the one real drawback I'd say to that version when considering what's going to be the first to play. I personally had to play that one 3 times to get past Dr. Lugae boss, which was constantly on a hair trigger to do the wrong move at the wrong time, and the whole fight would collapse into failure.
@@mrsmith1938 You gotta find the spots after Cecil becomes a Paladin, where you can stack levels on Rosa, Rydia, Kane and edge and get their levels up, the dungeon with the doors that come alive is a good spot, and the moon is a total XP farm.
I put in countless hours as a wee lad into one of the pre-3D games and it was amazing, as an adult my dive back into the series was 13. Still was as amazing as the earlier ones
Personally, I think the best starting point will be FF7 Remake once Part III comes out, and they're all collected into one package a few years later for a large discount. However, I think currently at this point in time, FFX seems to be the best starting point, you can easily buy it on pretty much every platform, so its really accessible.
I think Final fantasy 15 is very similar to the gameplay of 16 as a single player action-rpg. Took 10 years of development planned to release on ps2, then ps3 but went through multiple engine changes and name change from final fantasy versus 13 and finally released on ps4 as Final fantasy 15 with a completely different story to what Nomura worked so hard towards. Big rabbit hole of how upset most of us are to probably the most anticipated story that Nomura developed. The main protagonist and Kingdom hearts protagonist are the exact opposites of each other too (Sora and Nocits, Translated to Sky and Night Sky) there is other things connecting the two series and protagonists as well. Especially in KH3. Still FF 15 is a beautiful and breathtaking game that if you take your time with and not rush the story quests with an already rushed story, and play the DLC especially Ardyn, it really is a masterpiece in its own way, the comradery and character dev of the main chars is unquestionably top tier.
FF XV was my first real Final Fantasy experience and I loved the game, always surprised to see how much hate it gets. But maybe that's because I didn't have any preconceived ideas about development or what the game should be. I love the world, the characters and the story.
Yeah, I absolutely think X is the perfect entry point. It was my first one so maybe I’m biased but it just hits that sweet spot between new and old that makes it timeless. Love the video! 😊
I’ve only played ff14, and while that game is quiet right now between expansions I decided I wanted to check out the rest of the franchise. I was not expecting you to include 14 as a place to start! Anyway, thanks for the video! I was overwhelmed by choice and feel like I can see a couple paths forward.
I'm pretty confident that 14 will crawl up the list significantly once I've played past "A Realm Reborn" and into the following expansions. But for now, as I don't have a ton of experience with the game, it's gotta be lower than the ones that I do have experience with
14 might be a "best place to start" for people who want to play a mmo, but not a final fantasy. BUT if you want a FINAL FANTASY to be your first, i feel like its a cop out, since you wont really get the experience of a "traditional"/single player FF with it,
god imagine if final fantasy games were all connected and you HAD to play through all of 11 and 14 to understand all the games... it would be one of the hardest franchises to get into lol
@@InterYamah Didn't seem that way when I played it. Zidane makes jokes the whole time unlike every other FF protagonist except maybe Bartz from FFV. Every FF deals with the end of the world so that's nothing new
Can't remember if IV or Mystic Quest was the first Final Fantasy I played but I know that VI is the best. I used to sit with my mom when she would play games like Shining Force, Sword of Vermillion, Phantasy Star and such. We would draw maps on graph paper. I would always remind her what to do since I was watching the whole time. When she passed away ten years ago I took her PS3 and her copy of XIII and I finished her file and got the platinum.
I unfortunately started with ff7 remake (i love it) but later on I got the pace on other FF and to be honest I love what square has been doing lately. Feels like neon genesis Evangelion in some way, they always give fresh air to breathe in this franchise
My first final fantasy, and rpg in general was final fantasy 4 on the snes. It definitely shows its age, but I still love it to this day. The psp ff4 collection is my favorite way to play it. 6 is imo the best overall final fantasy, and if you're into rom hacks, try ff6 brave new world. It rebalances the game so that all of the stats work, physical attacks are actually worth using, and only certain characters are able to learn certain spells, so you can't just break the game with Ultima on everyone. Definitely my favorite way to play.
Any Final Fantasy is a great entry to start with. But What I did with my nephews was starting them with this order: 3,4,6,7,9,10,12, and 15. 14 is a great mmo to start with,if only you're okay with realm reborn and how long it takes. I also told them to play tactics advanced as way for them to be introduce to TRPGs.
9 is the one I tend to say to play first. It came out during Final Fantasy's peak and so it has the same features the other most popular games have, it's ATB (which isn't turn-based btw), it's fixed camera, it has the world map and has the fast paced story. The reason I think 9 over 7 or 8 is a good place to start is it's easier and the character setup is simple, so you don't have to learn the materia system or junction system. 9 is also my 3rd fav Final Fantasy, so I am confident it won't put people off play the others when they are finished.
i started off with ff6 literally coming in not knowing anything other than it was really good. i remember i was trying to find ff7 on my emulator but i could only find ff1-6 so i was like okay i guessss ill start it. and it was soooo amazing it was crazy, i loved it so much. it really kick started my love for final fantasy. so far i’ve played 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10. currently playing crisis core. i’m hoping i play a lot more
I remember when i was 9 my dad wanted to introduce me to final fantasy so he got me 7 many years later we still talk about the game as well as the others. I have no played 1,2,4,6,7,8,9,10, the 13 trilogy, 14,15, and 16
My favorite is 7, as it's my first which i think is one of the best options, but i think 6 is the best entry point. The story is incredible, the gameplay is deep but not overly complicated like other entries, it's not super grindy or difficult (i like the difficulty tweaking features in the remaster) and the game is very compelling. Would still recommend 7 to friends, but 6 pixel remaster is objectively the best one
i agree that 6 is a great entry way, but, i still defend that both X and 9 do a better job for beginners. also 4(remaster and the 3d version), work incredibly well, even though being a static job with no real variation can get old fast.
@@marcosdhelenoI just replayed 9 and... Holy crap... It's peak... It's actually peak. I still don't think I can recommend it over 6 cuz the battle system is kinda slow, but my God, that game is incredible. It's definitely my favorite final fantasy now. I don't think I appreciated the story when I played it the first time. I think x is the best entry point if you don't like 2d games tho
@@pogethedoge combat wise, i feel like 7 is 6, but better in pretty much every way, as it took what made 6 fall later on, which was the espers, and brought them to the fore front as a main mechanic. i genuinely feel like the remake and rebirth managed to make it even better, as you can feel the diference between the characters even more. but when it comes to turn based. lets be honest, the best FF game is chrono trigger. which is basically a final fantasy game, but perfected, lol. as a side note, 5 is my favorite alongside tactics due to the job system.
@@marcosdheleno I see what you mean. Rebirth definitely has my favorite combat system in the series cuz it took everything that made 7 and 16 great and combined them. Also yeah you're right, Chrono trigger is the best turn based final fantasy lol. I'm yet to play tactics cuz I don't have a physical copy, but 5 is a banger for sure. Definitely the second best turn based ff. Story wise I think 9 is the pinnacle of the series which is why it's my favorite.
I just recently got into Final Fantasy with the FF XVI. And I have to say, It was the best game I played in 2023!! Haven't played any since but would love to play a few of them.
Over the past year since May 2023 I have played and platinumed Ff1-10, 10-2, 12, 13, 7 Remake/Rebirth, Crisis Core and 16. Currently working on 13-2 then Lightning Returns and 15.
FFX was the first game I truly fell in love with. My older brothers beat it and I’d play with their save files and said one day I’m gonna grind my own save file until I was theoretically strong enough to beat his saves party. Recently picked back up and I’ve put 100+ hours into it again. It’s so laid back and easy to get lost in
I’d probably recommend 10, 12, or 15 (haven’t played 13) 10 has graphics that I think are acceptable to the modern gamer and linear story/gameplay 12 has my favorite battle system and tons of depth and customization 15 open world, the newest game (other than 16 now) and is more of an action game
im pretty confident, that if you ask the FF fanbase, the majority will put 10 as the best place to start. it was clearly designed for beginners, and it holds your hand just enough, while offering a journey, and amazing story beats at a good pacing. i mean, its pretty hard to not get impressed the first time you see sin's devastation followed by yuna's sending.
I didn't beat it until the remaster. It makes it so much better when you can speed up the combat and draw magic really quick. Definitely go back and beat it. I used to hate that game and now I think it has one of the best stories out of all the FF games
I respect these reasons for leaving FFIX until after you’ve played some of the earlier games, but I started with IX a few years ago and I loved it despite being new to the series. It’s still one of my favourites, and gameplay-wise I think it’s a good entry point. I imagine most people who feel like starting with one of the PS1 entries start with VII, but I found the gameplay in IX to be more refined and less frustrating overall. Loved em both though
Final Fantasy IV is my first Final Fantasy game for the PlayStation One. I've been a gamer since about 33 years of my life. Grayson checking system requirements... 1 hundred and s--!!! Wow... I'm going to need a dedicated SSD for storing my games. I have a 4TB drive for my Linux home partition. And yes, I can play single-player games using Steam's Proton. But I got to try the demo first. Can I imagine games taking more than 250GB in size over the next 5 years?
I started with FFIV and my vote goes for that game, too, but thats just coincidence. The reasion is clear why this should be the start(for the classic ones, anyways). Its the first Final Fantasy with an actually really good plot and characters, great event scripting to keep you on track, and has packed some of the iconic stuff, like many of the summons, like odin, ifreet bahamut, chocobos and cid. It even got a fat big chocobo as bank store. The story is one of the best in the entire series, especially the first half of the plot with cecil as dark knight -(i like anti heroes asking a lot of questions and facing their past) and the game is much shorter than the later games such as 6 and 7, which are very good, but takes longer to complete. This easily holds up even by replaying the game today. With my only complain its shorter than the other games coming after it, which does not matter as a newcomer, there are the after years, but i am not sure its on par with the original game never played it and saw some harsh critics about it. :D
You don't know what an mmo is then. FFXIV is by far a very weak mmo and the only reason it's alive is because of mods. There ain't jack shit in endgame either
@@villaniousmustache4898 okay what was the purpose of this comment? I’m enjoying playing through this particular mmo are you suggesting I try something else? 😂
@villaniousmustache4898 It's clear you have a stigma for the game. You're saying mods is the only reason it's one of the most alive MMOs on the market? Don't be a petty cry baby. You probably visit those player run lewd lalafel "venues."
@josephkim5525 Don't listen to that salty whiner. I play FFXIV and there is SO much to do in the game, not to mention endgame. I've been playing it since launch, and I scoured the internet for MMOs to play since World of Warcraft, and absolutely nothing on this planet besides FFXIV scratched my itch. It's the 2nd most played MMO on the planet, and for good reason. That guy is clearly grasping at straws.
@@villaniousmustache4898 >the only reason it's alive is because of something less than 1% of the playerbase use Wild. The endgame is dope af too, some of the best fight designs in the genre (not to mention ultimates being the most difficult mmo fights out there)
I’ve not played a single FF game. Every now and then, I search, “WTH is final fantasy?”, I watch a video similar to this, and after getting overwhelmed, I leave it alone until I get curious again. 😅
I played ffiv first and enjoyed it, then I started ffvi but as much as I liked it it almost seemed a bit much and I guess it didn't really keep me engaged. I found a copy of chocobo dungeon for the Wii and I really enjoyed that one so much that it made me want to get back into playing the series again. I finally finished ffvi but overall I didn't love it 😕 (but I still enjoyed it so I am not counting that as a loss). I plan to start the original ffvii soon but I also have fftactics so I am it sure which one I will work on first, I might play kingdom hearts first lol
Ff9 or 8 dmshould be were you start your ff journey since their the best 2 in existence, ff8 is the first I ever played when it came out on playstation in the 90s
My first one was actually FF4, and I'm 19. My dad had a super nintendo and 4 was one of the few ones he had. I played it for about 6 hours before not being able to finish it. Then I played FFX lol.
Depends on the person. For most though I'd say X or XII. While Tidus and Vaan are pretty annoying at times the core aspects are there with solid stories and characters. Just good bridges to the rest of the series without being too old or too modern.
I only started recently and I'm starting from the beginning (sort of) with the PSP remake of FFI. Might as well see firsthand how the franchise evolved over time.
I started with 5 on the gba and I think it has a pretty simple system for a newcomer to start with and you don't really need major preparation for the final boss fight.
thanks a lot for this video! I’m a giant FF14 fan, and am looking into more “traditional” FF games to experience more of the Final Fantasy “spirit”. Your guide really helped me to get my bearings and not be intimidated by such an expansive series.
personally i would say ff7 remake bc as much i think the original is a masterpiece i believe the remake is a good start for getting ppl engaged into the series. great video
I disagree, the game is great but only because you already know the original story. Brand new players are just frustrated by the random cameos and cliff hanger ending.
I have to respectfully disagree about FF7 Remake. It's a sequel, not a remake, and while it is a really great game, it isn't meant to be a full FF experience.
I disagree also. Its a sequel to FF7 but also playing a brand new game and going back to play older ones is very jarring for alot of people. Id personally say 7 or 9 to start with.
Nah that's the worst entry to date. You're better off enjoying 10 or pixel remasters. 16 by far has a shallow dmc combat and horrible cast you'll forget exists
@villaniousmustache4898 I disagree with that. It had great characters, good writing, dialogue between characters were rather good. As for combat, it was good, popping off between summons was gave a lot of gameplay variety that many other action games outside of dmc do not give.
@@villaniousmustache4898you mean an incredible cast, one of the best main characters in all of gaming, the best opening act I’ve played in a game in maybe all my years playing, really fun combat and possibly the most cinematic and epic boss fights in a single player game. Incredible sound track. I cried for 3 hours straight after the ending:
My first was 15 and i love it then went on to do 7, 8 took a break did 1 and 2 of the pixel remasters and after another break am currently in the middle of 9. Other pixel remasters, 7 remake, rebirth, crisis core 10 remaster, 12 13 and 16 are all in backlog. Apparently 9 is getting remade so add that to the list
I tried to get back into 9 today but had no idea where I was or what to do, I wish there was an actual marker where to go next, now I’m pretty much just stuck not knowing where to go unless I restart the entire game
I used to be with you that starting with 7 Remake is a bad place to start, but with Rebirth and really just the quality of both Remake games, I think starting with 7 Remake is actually a solid idea if you are interested in the characters and world of FF7, but you're just a newer player who doesn't have the patience for PS1-era games. The story elements added might go over a new player's head but you don't need to understand them on first playthrough to have a great time.
As a kid my first ff game was 7 and is what made me fall in love with the series and proceed to play basically every single mainline game and even many of the spin offs. I personally think it's a bit of a case by case basis on what people like or dont like from a game and it's story, but for me i'd say 7 and 10 are probably the best universal starting points despite 8 and 9 being my favorites. 10 for me is the most baseline you can get for a ff game, it's not my very favorite, but theres literally nothing i hate about it and generally it seems like no one really has any complains about it, and 7 is well... 7, not much to explain there, i know people who dont like any other ff game BUT 7. I also think that ff has a very clear 'split' in styles, that being the classic Squaresoft era (1-11) and the Square Enix era (12-16); even if you're a fan of games like 13 or 16 you might not end up liking 7 or 8 because they feel quite different, not just in gameplay but in presentation and story as well.
People always cut out Final Fantasy I- III on their “where to start” lists because of those games’ simple stories and quality of life gameplay issues. In reality, most modern gamers would probably bounce right off anything pre-PS2, unless they are really dedicated to experiencing the franchise. For a new fan I’d say play IV, VI, or VII first, with occasional help from an online guide, gameplay accelerators, and random encounter blockers built into the recent rereleases. or play X or XVI first if you can’t stomach retro gameplay.
Great video man! I tried downloading final fantasy 15, but the download time was 8 hours. So Im trying to attempt to download it today becaus of you! Thanks!
years ago i tried FF7 and stopped it after 20 mins cause i hate the round based fightsystem. today i tried it again with the FF7 Remake...and...I LOVE IT!!! ❤
I've never played a final fantasy game before but I've seen others play through them. I wanted to be able to have my own experience and chose 8 as my start. I knew absolutely nothing about it so I went in blind as if it were 1999. 8 didn't make this list, but as a first time player to the series, I've been enjoying my experience so far. I have 7 and 9 also ready to play on my switch and am excited to dive into both titles as soon as I finish 8. Thank you for the other recommendations. I'm very interested to maybe go back and start at the beginning now that I've dipped my toes into the Final Fantasy franchise
The starting points I gave my daughter 6->7->8->10. Playing 1-5 for young players is like homework. Those games just aren't fun without nostalgia pushing you through the random battles. 6,7,8 have the best stories, best music, and most complicated gameplay for backseat players to help with. 9 doesn't really work unless you are really into High Fantasy settings and have already played the others, 12, 13, and 15 are just lacking compared to the golden years. 14 isn't single player.
I agree except for 9. It was maybe my second ever FF game and though I'm sure some Easter Eggs went over my head, it's still my favorite. Music, characters, story and gameplay were much better than 8, IMO. 12 is a bit underrated too, but 6,7,9,10 are the essential titles for anyone not looking to play them ALL.
14 technically is single player friendly now, considering they allow you to play the entire main story scenario with party AI instead of players. So it can really be played a single player experience with an option for friends to tag along for the ride.
I agree with this, although, the game still requires a constant internet connection to play, and (outside of the free trial) it has a monthly fee. For someone like myself, with 2 kids and working 3 jobs, I'm not always going to get my money's worth every month. I've tried before, and I always find myself wasting more money than playing the game due to life situations. This is the primary reason I don't play MMO's. If the channel got big enough to where I could profit from playing the game, then I would 100% put it higher on my gaming priority list. Bit until then, I have to be very pickey-choosey with my gaming time, and I know there are tons of others out there in a similar bind
@@overleveledgames Oh i think between the sub money and the game being MASSIVELY long is a different argument all together, this game is pretty much like 5 full fledged RPGs back to back and i can understand how even if it wasn't an online game, it'd be still a huge investment to get there.
@@invisibleBDK In my experience 8 and 9 are polar opposites. Players either like one or the other but never both. I was really disappointed in 9 after playing 8 and now when I try to replay it I fall asleep.
I am gonna say FFX. It's accessible and while it js definitely a Final Fantasy game, the story is relatively easy to follow while still being quite emotional. And it isn't too much of a time commitment
FF9 was my first Final Fantasy game and to this day it's still my favorite video game of all time!! I know I'm probably blinded by nostalgia and with it being my first it does hold a special place in my heart but I think it's more behind the game itself besides it being my first FF game it definitely wasn't my first video game and wasn't the first to leave a massive impact on me as far as gaming goes but it is my favorite over all!! Been playing the other FF games currently working on 5 and 6 and I'm loving them!! For FF9 being my first and playing through the other games and watching everything unfold FF9 is definitely a big love letter to the first 8 games!! Pays homage and even gives a shout out to FF10 on Rag Timers arm!! I also liked your FF2 video I agree it's not that bad of a game but I can see why it's the black sheep!! However my least favorite is FF3 idk just something about FF3 didn't really draw me in!! I played Pixel Remastered I'm aware the 3D remake is on PSP and PC maybe I'll play that version someday just not anytime soon!!
@@overleveledgames ya welcome :D Also, I'd say FFIX for the soul and weight of what FF truly is, FFVII for the 'gist' of cool and story stuff, FFVIII for teen drama coming of age stuff, FFX for playing a movie, and FFXII if you're kinda looking for a political star wars/GoT kinda deal thats underrated :D
FF6 will always be the greatest one for me. It was my first and I have some fond memories of it and my best friend playing it together. Fun Fact; Final Fantasy 5 and 6 on SNES were actually multiplayer. Most didn't know you could actually pick controllers in the options to play together back then.
Final fantasy 4 is what I would consider to be the epitome of the series as a whole, but with most people as of recent not being as open to turn based combat, I would likely recommend 15, 16, or the 7 remake series due to the more modern pure action combat. I couldn't get into the series beforehand due to me not being very into traditional turn based combat at first, but trying 15 as my first allowed me a more understandable entrance into the series where I was able to get over my relative scorn of turn based combat just so I could further explore the storytelling, characters, and art design in the series that I fell in love with
I think all around X might have just about everything someone new to turn based rpgs could need. its got a Turn based battle system without an ATB gauge system rushing you into quick decision making, and has a readable turn manager for allowing you to better plan out your moves. its got a very visually helpful and very flexible leveling system that allows you to either lock in characters' canon classes for a simple escalation of power, or grants you a more complex approach that allows you to customize characters how you want them to be. it has a solid story with a cast of easily digestable characters but not entirely lacking in depth. theres a few odd minigames that could turn a player off from it but its not like X is the first time youve had odd minigames in a final fantasy game
![Destroy, Rebuild, Live Anew | FFVI Retrospective [Playing Every Final Fantasy, Kinda]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/gIC2mJhUvuk/mqdefault.jpg)
When I was 15 or so I was told I had a brain tumor , had to go for like 3 surgeries high chance to not make it, my dad got me a ps1 and I remember playing all through ff7 during those times .so ff7 has a special place in my heart .
That's a great story! Glad you're still with us man!
That's incredible. How was your recovery from that?
Hell yeah brotha!!! You and cloud are savages! You got the sob Genova outta your head and are thriving. Love the story man, I’m glad you get to relive this story in this spectacular fashion
Did you survive? Did you feel like you were wasting your potentially last moments of life waiting on turn based gameplay?
@@Mister_Phafanapolis look at what your life has become, this is just sad and poor taste.
Final fantasy 7 was the only big, complex game I ever played with my father. I was only 6 when it came out, and he actually used it as an opportunity to help me learn to read. I can’t say I understood too much about what was happening at that age, but it holds a special place for me because of the time spent playing it with the old man. Really good memories.
I now have visions of you visiting a male relative in hospital at that time. And blurting out "This guy are sick!"
@@frankbrodie5168 when my dad didn’t understand the dialogue we were reading or we came up to weird mistakes in the English version, he’d just shrug and say “lost in translation.”
Had the same experience too with my dad around that age but with final fantasy 9. I remember all my imaginary friends at the time being characters from the game lmao
@@callsignfatbeard2637 accurate
FFX is always my answer. Its the first one that feels like the modern age of FF but gives you an idea of what it might be like to go back to the earlier games.
It's an excellent blend of old and new-school FF!
The overactive random battles, terrible broken minigames, annoying protagonist and downer ending stop me from recommending it to newcomers.
@@nathank2289I think that’s a bit of a moot point. Protagonist is subjective, there’s many a guide out for minigames (and they’re optional, you don’t have to even win the first blitzball game) and… random encounters are just part of RPGs?
Like, everything prior to X has them as well, and imo X’s battle/progression system makes it way more interactive and interesting than some earlier titles.
It was my first one, and I really enjoyed it. :)
@@g.u.959 I agree. I found X to be a easy way to understand the battle system when I was younger that helped me go back to older games.
The rest of your points are subjective. I love Tidas and Yuna and the ending is inevitable, which to me makes it a great ending. Plus X-2 expands on the world and the ending in so many ways that you could just recommend them play both back to back if they wanted to avoid a sad ending.
@@g.u.959Also i kinda like the difficulty curve. FF X starts off really easy and then you get a difficulty spike from Mt Gagazet on with Seymour Flux and Yunalesca and of course Jetch can destroy you if you are not prepared. But with so many options in this game, there is always a way and it gives you enough time to figure it out.
To me, there is no better entry point than X. It might not have the best characters, the best story, or the best magic/ability mechanics, but the battle system is about as relaxed as it gets. Its presentation has aged incredibly well so there isn't a generational disconnect, and nothing about it is so convoluted as to make it unapproachable.
I think the magic ability mechanics are actually really strong. Stronger than most FFs. I'm surprised you didn't feel that way.
oh god no. Incorrect dude. FF IV is the only right answer to starting.
@@StewNWT Eh, the bones of IV's story are really strong, but by modern standards its delivery is really bland. The gear and leveling systems are also really straightforward and unengaging. I like IV and I think everyone should play it, but I don't think it is the game to sell the series to newcomers.
@@phillystevesteak6982 Oh, I think they are strong, particularly in regard to how status effects were implemented. But I do feel like enemy encounter design really reminds players that they are playing a video game with the super basic way that enemy typing works i.e. flyers=Wakka, heavies=Auron, quickies=Tidus etc. There is generally very little encounter variation which makes all the cool combat abilities feel predetermined.
@@scissors0009 Yeah it's pretty much like Pokémon at first... But when you start expanding your characters's sphere grid, it becomes much more robust and free form. Or you could just start with the "expert grid".
I started with FF15. It gets a bad rap but even when you open the game, every time, it says “A Final Fantasy for fans and newcomers” and I think they nailed that. After that I ended up beating 7 and 16.
My first that I started was X and I fell in love. I then started going numerically and finished 1 and 2 before X, but I’ve been working my way through and it’s been fascinating so far. Just started FF4 on GBA and I’ve been loving it! (100%ing 3 on DS was… a very long process. Pixel Remaster is the way to go there, oi vey.)
Great video, I think a lot of good points were hit on! Will probably give 16 a shot once I finish 4, I’m very intrigued with how it’s going to be!
My first FF game was FF7 Remake. Now I become a fan of the series. Looking forward to playing the original FF7, FF7 Rebirth, and Crisis Core FF7
you´re a stupid lil kid then. fk off
You really should play 8 9 and X. All those side series ff7 over milked fluff ain’t it man. I’m glad you dig it! But you’ll really dig the real FF. 6 7 8 9 X and tactics.
@@derekgregg9009 thank god somebody said it
pro tip: try ff6. better story as all of them together.
@@Yadlina not a great place to start tho. 6 is goated
I’ve never played a FF, I didn’t understand why was it such a known name, heck I didn’t even knew what is was about but it speaks volumes that you know something exists and is famous even when you have ZERO idea what it is about. I’m a big single player game experience enjoyer, I love the stories this games carry, so much passion, it’s like reading and experiencing a really good book, a great movie, an an awesome game at the same time. So I decided that my first FF would be FFXVI and my god.. what an amazing game, loved EVERYTHING about it. I’m currently on FFVII Remake but I’m definitely hooked. THIS!! Is what I want to experience in a game, great characters, a great story, and most importantly something that I can enjoy.
I got my start with Final Fantasy with 6 all the way back on the SNES in the 90s, and have pretty much never stopped playing FF ever since. Played all of them, and I'm totally looking forward to 16!
I started with 7, played 4-6 a few years after, and played everything except MMO's until 13 came out...
That was when I decided this series is no longer for me. Some people like 13, but to me 13 was a borderline scam and fraud. It was not only terrible, it was terrible by design, design that's been part of the series ever since from what I've seen.
I did play enough 15 to know they continued that path, and I actually played 7 remake fully. It was about what I expected. 13 done better, but the fundamental structure of "narrow corridor with very cheaply made busywork to distract player and make them spend more time to bloat playtime" is still there. 7Remake does improve the formula and for whatever reason, 90% of the time they nailed the character work, so it's
@@gJonii no one asked bro, 13 is the best one 👍
@@elleeVeedelusional
@@gJoniiI'm with you 100%. Been playing final fantasy since mid 90s. 13 felt like betrayel. Honestly even 12 felt nothing like final fantasy in tone, story, characters, and music - but at least 12 was still a fantastic jrpg.
@@phillystevesteak6982 I always say, VII is my favorite Final Fantasy, IX is the best Final Fantasy(though many would say VI instead), and XII is the best game in FF series.
I really was hoping to get more of XII. It was such an awesome game. Not really a Final Fantasy title perhaps, tho? To me IX nailed the FF formula, the archeotypical FF game, with the formula perfected. XII didn't compete with that, it went its own brilliant way, and I loved every moment of it.
I really appreciate how you break down the “story first” vs “gameplay first” type suggestions. As someone who has a fair bit of experience with jrpgs from other companies, I consider myself very much a gameplay focused person. So V looks like a great place for me to start, after initially not loving my limited tries to the series in the past.
Great video!
This is true. Story was always 1st for me. And it’s pretty contentious as to which one wins that one. But interesting gameplay is probably 5. Ease of gameplay is 7. Meaningful exploration is 6 imo. Mini games totally rebirth. Most relatable villain 9. Most iconic villain 6,7. Best cast is actually tough for me…
That was very helpful indeed.
I'm a story person so I'l start with iv
@@Postumeartist im always a gameplay first. but, there are cases when the story is bad enough to turn me off completely of the game. like for example, the deponia series(point and click), or, and it might make people question me, the first mass effect game. i just could not get into the game because i hated the first half of the cast you have access to up to the citadel, and that place takes too long walking around doing bullshite to progress(and then i discovered it was a WESTERN rpg, with western rpg logic that limits the amount of xp you get, so you are forced to play ng+)
Kronk's Voice: "Start by watching Final Fantasy: The Spirit's Within, got it"
My first Final Fantasy was VIII. I know it has it's problems, but as a kid it was the last gift I received from my grandmother when she passed away that Christmas.
i played it when i was 10 or so and it blow me away :D the summons the story the fight system and everything you could find on the map beside the story .... and the cutscnes *_* and quall ulti damn
my first final fantasy was 13-2. I was very confused but I thoroughly enjoyed it
How did that end up as your first one? 😅
Mine was 10-2 and same situation
I’ve played them all. Since ‘90 when the first one released in US. And I’ll still say just start from the actual beginning. So you can appreciate their evolution.
I started with FFVII and FFXIII, but what made me love the franchise was FF Dissidia. It introduced me to the rest of the series into one game. It fleshed out the main concept of FF games while giving people like me to know what else is in store.
The order to play Dissidia may be through personal preference though,
to play all the FF games then playing Dissidia would give major nostalgia and go wild on appreciating every character appearing as you remember them.
Or the opposite like what I did, when I play Dissidia first over most of the series. Where you can have a heads-up on which character gives you the most vibes with. For me it was Squall and Firion
My Intro to final fantasy was one Christmas time instead of a Pokémon game my dad got me Final Fantasy 3, at first it was hard for me to play so I didn't like it as much, but my older brother started playing it and taught me how. After that I loved it soo much and we even each beat the game, and I've went back recently to play it again and it was great. Would recommend this one as a good first from my experience.
I just started Final Fantasy 16 and just completed the prologue… I am hooked
Update?
I loved Final Fantasy 8. It was my first real introduction to the franchise as it was the firat one i played solo as a child
Ff8 is my All time favorite, I honestly wish we could have got a remake of that instead of 7 tbh!
Awesome, thank you for this video! I have played 1 and 15 and was looking to get back into the series. I will probably play 16 next and then 4 as per your recommendation. Thank you!
Tbh my first FF was III. I was playing this on my Samsung Galaxy SIII and I loved it. I know most of the fans hate it, but I really like it. After that I sinked in FF world and I can't get enough of it
no joke, im currently playing it right now. (just killed garuda). and i even mentioned in my post that 3 remake might be a good choice, the issue is, and you will notice it ALOT if you check the forums from gamefaqs, it has some really make it or break it fights.
you will find ALOT of people stuck. and the game forces the player into some very inconvenient gameplay styles that will piss off alot of people as well, like the caves that can only be accessed in mini state. which basically makes every melee class borderline useless.
also, contrary to 5, the last jobs is given ABSURDLY late, WHICH will piss alot of people off, hell, even the second set takes so long to get. you almost feel like you dont even have time to use the 4th tier jobs when you get them, since they require you to kinda grind so much to make them competitive.
@@marcosdhelenoFf3 was my first FF back when it just released on the ds. I’m french canadien and my mom bought the English version, so I went online to find a guide. I completed it pretty easily that way. That garuda fight was HARD af. I change every character to the dragoon job and leveled up my character to level 30 I think. And still, I won the fight with 2 characters remaining
@@84coti yep, garuda is probably the hardest boss outside of the secret boss in the game.
its such a jump in dificulty.
i played mostly as a group of monks, before turning everyone into knights, to max hp gain. since i only used those classes, i did not have much dificulty throughout the entire game, even some of the other fights, were absurdly easy for a 4 monk with job 99(which doesnt take that long).
but garuda was diferent. it was my first death in the game.
cant remember the team, but i did manage to win with everyone alive.
Do you mean ff3 or the ff6?
@@pogethedoge he said DS and garuda. that means the 3 remake. not to be confused with the snes american release of 6.
i dont think 6 has a ds release, i think most it got was a gba version.
My first was FFVIII . I still love that game.
FFVIII is AMAZING!
7 was my first but 8 took everything 7 did great, and did it even better. Still in my top 5 games of all time list.
X and XII are weird ones, because neither play like any other game in the series. However, I’d say those are the best entry point because they don’t feel incredibly dated and are so good you’ll want to go back and play through the series history. You can also play X or XII and then go back to something like VI and tell it’s the same series. Not sure you can really say that from XIII onward.
12 belongs with FF Tactics. It's the same vein, just in 3D real time.
i would argue that X is the most streamlined combat in the series. its closer to the classics like 1-3, but giving the player the knowledge of when they(and the enemy) will be able to act.
there's a reason why so many games copied that system. and that's not me saying it was the first to come up with it, i know for example, that the combat in X had massive influence from grandia. but, i feel like X pulled it off better.
XII was my first and still is my favorite
Those were actually both my entry FF games! I got XII brand new for Xmas, and can't remember if I got X first before Xmas that same year or after Xmas early the following year. I can't remember which of the 2 I started with because I feel like I played them close together, like only a few months apart. And yeah I agree I think both are good starting ones for different reasons. I loved the story in both but X definitely had a more poignant and emotionally impactful story. But I found XII more straightforward in moving through the main storyline. Iirc, X was much more open world and that slowed me down quite a bit because I'm always tempted to fully explore open worlds just to see the sights, even if there's no hidden prizes. Open world also tempts me to look for Easter eggs and sections where you can go OOB.
So X took me a lot longer to finish, but the story stayed with me more.
Great video, super informative. As an FF fan since 7, it always good to get perspective on which one to play to fill in my gaps of FF
Glad you enjoyed it man!
Started on FF1 but haven't been able to finish it for like a year, the character levelling/grinding started getting to me xD been wanting to get into FF and see what all the hype is about so this video was very helpful! Good to know that the games aren't connected at all cus that's what's kinda put me off the franchise, just so many games and was afraid i would miss something if i didn't play all of them. So now i have the knowledge start my FF journey a new! Thank you for making this video
So glad you found it useful!
FF Tactics was my first, and became one of my favorite games of all time.
Final fantasy 13 was my first ever final fantasy, it eventually got me into the whole franchise and i love it (i started with ff13-2 not 13-1lol)
I've been a gamer for 30 years, never played FF but lately I got interested to play some.
This video is very informative, thank you!
Start with FF IV and play the original SNES version or a rom please.
@@StewNWTis there anything wrong with the pixel remasters in particular?
@@arkelole I don't like the pixel art changes and more pastel colour scheme
The 3D remake of 4 is also the hardest version in a number of ways, where they added even more mechanics to counter your counters. Like using lightning on a water elemental boss to break his defense and prevent a devastating attack, well in the 3D remake, I think it's a silence counter attack he uses to punish you for doing the exact thing you're supposed to do to beat the boss. That's the one real drawback I'd say to that version when considering what's going to be the first to play. I personally had to play that one 3 times to get past Dr. Lugae boss, which was constantly on a hair trigger to do the wrong move at the wrong time, and the whole fight would collapse into failure.
Final Fantasy 4 is the perfect first entry for someone who wants to get into Final Fantasy
Ty
True!
😂😂😂😂😂ok bud
I started with 4 on the DS and I never picked up a FF game up again. It was too brutal
@@mrsmith1938 You gotta find the spots after Cecil becomes a Paladin, where you can stack levels on Rosa, Rydia, Kane and edge and get their levels up, the dungeon with the doors that come alive is a good spot, and the moon is a total XP farm.
I put in countless hours as a wee lad into one of the pre-3D games and it was amazing, as an adult my dive back into the series was 13. Still was as amazing as the earlier ones
FFX is hands down my favorite FF. Beat it multiple times since the first time I played it as a kid.
Personally, I think the best starting point will be FF7 Remake once Part III comes out, and they're all collected into one package a few years later for a large discount. However, I think currently at this point in time, FFX seems to be the best starting point, you can easily buy it on pretty much every platform, so its really accessible.
I think Final fantasy 15 is very similar to the gameplay of 16 as a single player action-rpg.
Took 10 years of development planned to release on ps2, then ps3 but went through multiple engine changes and name change from final fantasy versus 13 and finally released on ps4 as Final fantasy 15 with a completely different story to what Nomura worked so hard towards.
Big rabbit hole of how upset most of us are to probably the most anticipated story that Nomura developed.
The main protagonist and Kingdom hearts protagonist are the exact opposites of each other too (Sora and Nocits, Translated to Sky and Night Sky) there is other things connecting the two series and protagonists as well. Especially in KH3.
Still FF 15 is a beautiful and breathtaking game that if you take your time with and not rush the story quests with an already rushed story, and play the DLC especially Ardyn, it really is a masterpiece in its own way, the comradery and character dev of the main chars is unquestionably top tier.
FF XV was my first real Final Fantasy experience and I loved the game, always surprised to see how much hate it gets.
But maybe that's because I didn't have any preconceived ideas about development or what the game should be.
I love the world, the characters and the story.
Yeah, I absolutely think X is the perfect entry point. It was my first one so maybe I’m biased but it just hits that sweet spot between new and old that makes it timeless. Love the video! 😊
I’ve only played ff14, and while that game is quiet right now between expansions I decided I wanted to check out the rest of the franchise. I was not expecting you to include 14 as a place to start! Anyway, thanks for the video! I was overwhelmed by choice and feel like I can see a couple paths forward.
I'm pretty confident that 14 will crawl up the list significantly once I've played past "A Realm Reborn" and into the following expansions. But for now, as I don't have a ton of experience with the game, it's gotta be lower than the ones that I do have experience with
@@overleveledgames totally fair! Hopefully one day you’ll have a free 300 hours to make it through.
14 might be a "best place to start" for people who want to play a mmo, but not a final fantasy. BUT if you want a FINAL FANTASY to be your first, i feel like its a cop out, since you wont really get the experience of a "traditional"/single player FF with it,
I would say FF14 is best to play late, a huge chunk of the game is just references from the older games.
god imagine if final fantasy games were all connected and you HAD to play through all of 11 and 14 to understand all the games... it would be one of the hardest franchises to get into lol
Final fantasy 9 is a masterpiece.
Love 9. 8 is my fav for gettin OP quick, 6 though is special. Ive not finished 7 ever in the last 25 years.
I would recommend that people start with FF9. It's light hearted and everything is pretty straight forward
@@omegaweapon116FF9 has one of the darkest stories in the entire series 😂
@@InterYamah Didn't seem that way when I played it. Zidane makes jokes the whole time unlike every other FF protagonist except maybe Bartz from FFV. Every FF deals with the end of the world so that's nothing new
@@omegaweapon116 and depression, suicide, limited lifespans death itself etc etc.
8 was my first when I was a teenager and absolutely fell in love with the series
Can't remember if IV or Mystic Quest was the first Final Fantasy I played but I know that VI is the best. I used to sit with my mom when she would play games like Shining Force, Sword of Vermillion, Phantasy Star and such. We would draw maps on graph paper. I would always remind her what to do since I was watching the whole time. When she passed away ten years ago I took her PS3 and her copy of XIII and I finished her file and got the platinum.
Beautiful, thank you for sharing!
This is correct. My first was IV, then MQ, then VI. And yes, VI is the best FF of all time.
I unfortunately started with ff7 remake (i love it) but later on I got the pace on other FF and to be honest I love what square has been doing lately. Feels like neon genesis Evangelion in some way, they always give fresh air to breathe in this franchise
My first final fantasy, and rpg in general was final fantasy 4 on the snes. It definitely shows its age, but I still love it to this day. The psp ff4 collection is my favorite way to play it.
6 is imo the best overall final fantasy, and if you're into rom hacks, try ff6 brave new world. It rebalances the game so that all of the stats work, physical attacks are actually worth using, and only certain characters are able to learn certain spells, so you can't just break the game with Ultima on everyone. Definitely my favorite way to play.
Or you could just play the pixel remakes
I started 14 recently. im actually in the post heavensward point now and I am loving the game so far.
Any Final Fantasy is a great entry to start with. But What I did with my nephews was starting them with this order:
3,4,6,7,9,10,12, and 15.
14 is a great mmo to start with,if only you're okay with realm reborn and how long it takes.
I also told them to play tactics advanced as way for them to be introduce to TRPGs.
3 felt like it was made for those arcade play throughs you'd sometimes see in big arcades. It was so campy and simple.
I'd easily replace 3 with 5. Especially since they are mechanically similar but 5 is a massive improvement gameplay-wise in every conceivable way.
If I played 3 first, I never would have played any other games in the series.
Yea I would've skipped 3 and 4 and spent that time playing 8
9 is the one I tend to say to play first. It came out during Final Fantasy's peak and so it has the same features the other most popular games have, it's ATB (which isn't turn-based btw), it's fixed camera, it has the world map and has the fast paced story. The reason I think 9 over 7 or 8 is a good place to start is it's easier and the character setup is simple, so you don't have to learn the materia system or junction system. 9 is also my 3rd fav Final Fantasy, so I am confident it won't put people off play the others when they are finished.
i started off with ff6 literally coming in not knowing anything other than it was really good.
i remember i was trying to find ff7 on my emulator but i could only find ff1-6 so i was like okay i guessss ill start it. and it was soooo amazing it was crazy, i loved it so much. it really kick started my love for final fantasy.
so far i’ve played 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10. currently playing crisis core. i’m hoping i play a lot more
Whyd you skip 9?
Yet you skipped 5 and 9? Those are literally the two best ones lol.
I remember when i was 9 my dad wanted to introduce me to final fantasy so he got me 7 many years later we still talk about the game as well as the others. I have no played 1,2,4,6,7,8,9,10, the 13 trilogy, 14,15, and 16
My favorite is 7, as it's my first which i think is one of the best options, but i think 6 is the best entry point. The story is incredible, the gameplay is deep but not overly complicated like other entries, it's not super grindy or difficult (i like the difficulty tweaking features in the remaster) and the game is very compelling. Would still recommend 7 to friends, but 6 pixel remaster is objectively the best one
i agree that 6 is a great entry way, but, i still defend that both X and 9 do a better job for beginners. also 4(remaster and the 3d version), work incredibly well, even though being a static job with no real variation can get old fast.
@@marcosdhelenoI just replayed 9 and... Holy crap... It's peak... It's actually peak. I still don't think I can recommend it over 6 cuz the battle system is kinda slow, but my God, that game is incredible. It's definitely my favorite final fantasy now. I don't think I appreciated the story when I played it the first time. I think x is the best entry point if you don't like 2d games tho
@@pogethedoge combat wise, i feel like 7 is 6, but better in pretty much every way, as it took what made 6 fall later on, which was the espers, and brought them to the fore front as a main mechanic.
i genuinely feel like the remake and rebirth managed to make it even better, as you can feel the diference between the characters even more.
but when it comes to turn based. lets be honest, the best FF game is chrono trigger. which is basically a final fantasy game, but perfected, lol.
as a side note, 5 is my favorite alongside tactics due to the job system.
@@marcosdheleno I see what you mean. Rebirth definitely has my favorite combat system in the series cuz it took everything that made 7 and 16 great and combined them. Also yeah you're right, Chrono trigger is the best turn based final fantasy lol. I'm yet to play tactics cuz I don't have a physical copy, but 5 is a banger for sure. Definitely the second best turn based ff. Story wise I think 9 is the pinnacle of the series which is why it's my favorite.
I just recently got into Final Fantasy with the FF XVI. And I have to say, It was the best game I played in 2023!! Haven't played any since but would love to play a few of them.
Over the past year since May 2023 I have played and platinumed Ff1-10, 10-2, 12, 13, 7 Remake/Rebirth, Crisis Core and 16.
Currently working on 13-2 then Lightning Returns and 15.
ff10-2 is surprisingly deep, gameplay wise. its also a completionist hell.
@@marcosdheleno I got platinum just last night in 70 hours. FF13 took me 100.
"Platinum ff9 it's a great trophy hunt" - 👹👹👹👹 (fantastic game but some of the trophies are miserable)
@@pogethedoge I have platinumed every FF mainline game
FFX was the first game I truly fell in love with. My older brothers beat it and I’d play with their save files and said one day I’m gonna grind my own save file until I was theoretically strong enough to beat his saves party. Recently picked back up and I’ve put 100+ hours into it again. It’s so laid back and easy to get lost in
I’d probably recommend 10, 12, or 15 (haven’t played 13)
10 has graphics that I think are acceptable to the modern gamer and linear story/gameplay
12 has my favorite battle system and tons of depth and customization
15 open world, the newest game (other than 16 now) and is more of an action game
im pretty confident, that if you ask the FF fanbase, the majority will put 10 as the best place to start. it was clearly designed for beginners, and it holds your hand just enough, while offering a journey, and amazing story beats at a good pacing. i mean, its pretty hard to not get impressed the first time you see sin's devastation followed by yuna's sending.
i'm falling into a deep jrpg hole and this video has saved me a lot of trouble. tysm for making it!
I'm so glad you found it helpful!
I want to start at 8, I always wanted to beat that one since I was a kid and never did
I didn't beat it until the remaster. It makes it so much better when you can speed up the combat and draw magic really quick. Definitely go back and beat it. I used to hate that game and now I think it has one of the best stories out of all the FF games
I respect these reasons for leaving FFIX until after you’ve played some of the earlier games, but I started with IX a few years ago and I loved it despite being new to the series. It’s still one of my favourites, and gameplay-wise I think it’s a good entry point. I imagine most people who feel like starting with one of the PS1 entries start with VII, but I found the gameplay in IX to be more refined and less frustrating overall. Loved em both though
FFXII is for people who want an offline single player MMORPG
Play cross code. Basically the same thing.
Final Fantasy IV is my first Final Fantasy game for the PlayStation One. I've been a gamer since about 33 years of my life.
Grayson checking system requirements... 1 hundred and s--!!! Wow... I'm going to need a dedicated SSD for storing my games. I have a 4TB drive for my Linux home partition. And yes, I can play single-player games using Steam's Proton. But I got to try the demo first.
Can I imagine games taking more than 250GB in size over the next 5 years?
I started with FFIV and my vote goes for that game, too, but thats just
coincidence.
The reasion is clear why this should be the start(for the classic ones, anyways).
Its the first Final Fantasy with an actually really good plot and characters, great event scripting to keep you on track, and has packed some of the iconic stuff, like many of the summons, like odin, ifreet bahamut, chocobos and cid. It even got a fat big chocobo as bank store.
The story is one of the best in the entire series, especially the first half of the plot with cecil as dark knight -(i like anti heroes asking a lot of questions and facing their past) and the game is much shorter than the later games such as 6 and 7, which are very good, but takes longer to complete.
This easily holds up even by replaying the game today.
With my only complain its shorter than the other games coming after it, which does not matter as a newcomer, there are the after years, but i am not sure its on par with the original game never played it and saw some harsh critics about it. :D
this is the correct answer
its only shorter because its so easy, if it was more challenging it would be longer
You weren't alive when the first one came out young man!!! Absolutely start with THE FIRST ONE. Continue in order.
Started with 6,played 7 8 10 15 16, I just started playing 14 a week ago, and already I know it’s my favorite ,this game made me realize I love mmos
You don't know what an mmo is then. FFXIV is by far a very weak mmo and the only reason it's alive is because of mods. There ain't jack shit in endgame either
@@villaniousmustache4898 okay what was the purpose of this comment? I’m enjoying playing through this particular mmo are you suggesting I try something else? 😂
@villaniousmustache4898 It's clear you have a stigma for the game. You're saying mods is the only reason it's one of the most alive MMOs on the market? Don't be a petty cry baby. You probably visit those player run lewd lalafel "venues."
@josephkim5525 Don't listen to that salty whiner. I play FFXIV and there is SO much to do in the game, not to mention endgame. I've been playing it since launch, and I scoured the internet for MMOs to play since World of Warcraft, and absolutely nothing on this planet besides FFXIV scratched my itch. It's the 2nd most played MMO on the planet, and for good reason. That guy is clearly grasping at straws.
@@villaniousmustache4898
>the only reason it's alive is because of something less than 1% of the playerbase use
Wild.
The endgame is dope af too, some of the best fight designs in the genre (not to mention ultimates being the most difficult mmo fights out there)
I’ve not played a single FF game.
Every now and then, I search, “WTH is final fantasy?”, I watch a video similar to this, and after getting overwhelmed, I leave it alone until I get curious again. 😅
Well, I hope this video wasn't too overwhelming!
I played ffiv first and enjoyed it, then I started ffvi but as much as I liked it it almost seemed a bit much and I guess it didn't really keep me engaged. I found a copy of chocobo dungeon for the Wii and I really enjoyed that one so much that it made me want to get back into playing the series again. I finally finished ffvi but overall I didn't love it 😕 (but I still enjoyed it so I am not counting that as a loss). I plan to start the original ffvii soon but I also have fftactics so I am it sure which one I will work on first, I might play kingdom hearts first lol
15 was the first I played all the way through. The MMO 14, I’ve put 800+ hours in since Xbox release in February. Love it
Ff9 or 8 dmshould be were you start your ff journey since their the best 2 in existence, ff8 is the first I ever played when it came out on playstation in the 90s
My first one was actually FF4, and I'm 19. My dad had a super nintendo and 4 was one of the few ones he had. I played it for about 6 hours before not being able to finish it. Then I played FFX lol.
Depends on the person. For most though I'd say X or XII. While Tidus and Vaan are pretty annoying at times the core aspects are there with solid stories and characters. Just good bridges to the rest of the series without being too old or too modern.
I only started recently and I'm starting from the beginning (sort of) with the PSP remake of FFI. Might as well see firsthand how the franchise evolved over time.
4, 7, 10, or 16.
Though my wife started with FF14 and me telling her about all the references got her really curious about the rest of the series lol.
16 is horrific. Steer clear of that steaming pile.
@@OriginalDrGonzo nah
I started with 5 on the gba and I think it has a pretty simple system for a newcomer to start with and you don't really need major preparation for the final boss fight.
Welp, I started with Final Fantasy 15 due to Noctis. Goodluck to me.
thanks a lot for this video! I’m a giant FF14 fan, and am looking into more “traditional” FF games to experience more of the Final Fantasy “spirit”. Your guide really helped me to get my bearings and not be intimidated by such an expansive series.
I'm so happy that this video was helpful!
Ff1 - meh
Ff2 - meh and confusing
Ff3 - okay
Ff4 - good
Ff5 - great
Ff6 - fantastic
Ff7 - fantastic
Ff8 - fantastic
Ff9 - fantastic
Ff10 - good
Ff10-2 - shit
Ff11 - mmo doesnt count
Ff12 - meh
Ff13 - shit
Ff13-2 - okay
Ff13-3 - shit
Ff14 - mmo doesnt count
Ff15 - shit
Ff16 - good
This is the official ranking, no discussion
10 was my first and got the credit it deserved 👏👏
personally i would say ff7 remake bc as much i think the original is a masterpiece i believe the remake is a good start for getting ppl engaged into the series. great video
Fantastic game! I know a few people who are now life long FF fans because they started with 7Remake!
I disagree, the game is great but only because you already know the original story. Brand new players are just frustrated by the random cameos and cliff hanger ending.
I have to respectfully disagree about FF7 Remake. It's a sequel, not a remake, and while it is a really great game, it isn't meant to be a full FF experience.
I disagree also. Its a sequel to FF7 but also playing a brand new game and going back to play older ones is very jarring for alot of people. Id personally say 7 or 9 to start with.
I disagree. I think that you need to play the old ff7 first before remake and rebirth.
In the mid 90s FF4 was my introduction and I still play it every couple years.
For most people, it’s about to be 16.
Nah that's the worst entry to date. You're better off enjoying 10 or pixel remasters. 16 by far has a shallow dmc combat and horrible cast you'll forget exists
@villaniousmustache4898 I disagree with that. It had great characters, good writing, dialogue between characters were rather good. As for combat, it was good, popping off between summons was gave a lot of gameplay variety that many other action games outside of dmc do not give.
@@villaniousmustache4898you haven't even played the demo probably.
@@villaniousmustache4898you never played dmc I see.
@@villaniousmustache4898you mean an incredible cast, one of the best main characters in all of gaming, the best opening act I’ve played in a game in maybe all my years playing, really fun combat and possibly the most cinematic and epic boss fights in a single player game. Incredible sound track.
I cried for 3 hours straight after the ending:
Personally, I started with 13, so it will always hold a place in my heart as my favorite
My first was 15 and i love it then went on to do 7, 8 took a break did 1 and 2 of the pixel remasters and after another break am currently in the middle of 9. Other pixel remasters, 7 remake, rebirth, crisis core 10 remaster, 12 13 and 16 are all in backlog. Apparently 9 is getting remade so add that to the list
I tried to get back into 9 today but had no idea where I was or what to do, I wish there was an actual marker where to go next, now I’m pretty much just stuck not knowing where to go unless I restart the entire game
I used to be with you that starting with 7 Remake is a bad place to start, but with Rebirth and really just the quality of both Remake games, I think starting with 7 Remake is actually a solid idea if you are interested in the characters and world of FF7, but you're just a newer player who doesn't have the patience for PS1-era games. The story elements added might go over a new player's head but you don't need to understand them on first playthrough to have a great time.
As a kid my first ff game was 7 and is what made me fall in love with the series and proceed to play basically every single mainline game and even many of the spin offs. I personally think it's a bit of a case by case basis on what people like or dont like from a game and it's story, but for me i'd say 7 and 10 are probably the best universal starting points despite 8 and 9 being my favorites. 10 for me is the most baseline you can get for a ff game, it's not my very favorite, but theres literally nothing i hate about it and generally it seems like no one really has any complains about it, and 7 is well... 7, not much to explain there, i know people who dont like any other ff game BUT 7.
I also think that ff has a very clear 'split' in styles, that being the classic Squaresoft era (1-11) and the Square Enix era (12-16); even if you're a fan of games like 13 or 16 you might not end up liking 7 or 8 because they feel quite different, not just in gameplay but in presentation and story as well.
For me FF 8 is best.
The hardest question ever posed, which FF as a starter, man that's tough.
People always cut out Final Fantasy I- III on their “where to start” lists because of those games’ simple stories and quality of life gameplay issues. In reality, most modern gamers would probably bounce right off anything pre-PS2, unless they are really dedicated to experiencing the franchise.
For a new fan I’d say play IV, VI, or VII first, with occasional help from an online guide, gameplay accelerators, and random encounter blockers built into the recent rereleases.
or play X or XVI first if you can’t stomach retro gameplay.
Great video man! I tried downloading final fantasy 15, but the download time was 8 hours. So Im trying to attempt to download it today becaus of you! Thanks!
I'm glad you found it helpful!
years ago i tried FF7 and stopped it after 20 mins cause i hate the round based fightsystem. today i tried it again with the FF7 Remake...and...I LOVE IT!!! ❤
I've never played a final fantasy game before but I've seen others play through them. I wanted to be able to have my own experience and chose 8 as my start. I knew absolutely nothing about it so I went in blind as if it were 1999. 8 didn't make this list, but as a first time player to the series, I've been enjoying my experience so far. I have 7 and 9 also ready to play on my switch and am excited to dive into both titles as soon as I finish 8.
Thank you for the other recommendations. I'm very interested to maybe go back and start at the beginning now that I've dipped my toes into the Final Fantasy franchise
I'm an 8 lover myself! Glad you liked the video!
The starting points I gave my daughter 6->7->8->10. Playing 1-5 for young players is like homework. Those games just aren't fun without nostalgia pushing you through the random battles. 6,7,8 have the best stories, best music, and most complicated gameplay for backseat players to help with. 9 doesn't really work unless you are really into High Fantasy settings and have already played the others, 12, 13, and 15 are just lacking compared to the golden years. 14 isn't single player.
I agree except for 9. It was maybe my second ever FF game and though I'm sure some Easter Eggs went over my head, it's still my favorite. Music, characters, story and gameplay were much better than 8, IMO. 12 is a bit underrated too, but 6,7,9,10 are the essential titles for anyone not looking to play them ALL.
14 technically is single player friendly now, considering they allow you to play the entire main story scenario with party AI instead of players. So it can really be played a single player experience with an option for friends to tag along for the ride.
I agree with this, although, the game still requires a constant internet connection to play, and (outside of the free trial) it has a monthly fee. For someone like myself, with 2 kids and working 3 jobs, I'm not always going to get my money's worth every month. I've tried before, and I always find myself wasting more money than playing the game due to life situations. This is the primary reason I don't play MMO's. If the channel got big enough to where I could profit from playing the game, then I would 100% put it higher on my gaming priority list. Bit until then, I have to be very pickey-choosey with my gaming time, and I know there are tons of others out there in a similar bind
@@overleveledgames Oh i think between the sub money and the game being MASSIVELY long is a different argument all together, this game is pretty much like 5 full fledged RPGs back to back and i can understand how even if it wasn't an online game, it'd be still a huge investment to get there.
@@invisibleBDK In my experience 8 and 9 are polar opposites. Players either like one or the other but never both. I was really disappointed in 9 after playing 8 and now when I try to replay it I fall asleep.
FF4 Complete Collection is probably MY best way to play FF4. It has that hi-def pixel art that can't be beat.
I am gonna say FFX. It's accessible and while it js definitely a Final Fantasy game, the story is relatively easy to follow while still being quite emotional. And it isn't too much of a time commitment
ill start from 10, thank you
Chrono Trigger
Factual
im kind of new to the series but i gotta say that Final Fantasy XIII and Final Fantasy XV where really fun
Why so many people overlook the epicness of FF XVI?
@@josephh6697 it's not though
It's very good. I love 16.
ikr the game goes so incredibly hard
There's an accessory that makes the combat very easy and is available from the start of the game. @@earthsbacon7409
FF9 was my first Final Fantasy game and to this day it's still my favorite video game of all time!! I know I'm probably blinded by nostalgia and with it being my first it does hold a special place in my heart but I think it's more behind the game itself besides it being my first FF game it definitely wasn't my first video game and wasn't the first to leave a massive impact on me as far as gaming goes but it is my favorite over all!! Been playing the other FF games currently working on 5 and 6 and I'm loving them!! For FF9 being my first and playing through the other games and watching everything unfold FF9 is definitely a big love letter to the first 8 games!! Pays homage and even gives a shout out to FF10 on Rag Timers arm!! I also liked your FF2 video I agree it's not that bad of a game but I can see why it's the black sheep!! However my least favorite is FF3 idk just something about FF3 didn't really draw me in!! I played Pixel Remastered I'm aware the 3D remake is on PSP and PC maybe I'll play that version someday just not anytime soon!!
clicked because you hella cute :D
Haha, thank you!
@@overleveledgames ya welcome :D
Also, I'd say FFIX for the soul and weight of what FF truly is, FFVII for the 'gist' of cool and story stuff, FFVIII for teen drama coming of age stuff, FFX for playing a movie, and FFXII if you're kinda looking for a political star wars/GoT kinda deal thats underrated :D
FF6 will always be the greatest one for me. It was my first and I have some fond memories of it and my best friend playing it together.
Fun Fact; Final Fantasy 5 and 6 on SNES were actually multiplayer. Most didn't know you could actually pick controllers in the options to play together back then.
A turn based final fantasy and never touch the shit after 13
🙏
13 is abysmal in my opinion. It is funny bad though, so I’d recommend it to people looking for a story laugh. The combat is a snooze fest, though.
Final fantasy 4 is what I would consider to be the epitome of the series as a whole, but with most people as of recent not being as open to turn based combat, I would likely recommend 15, 16, or the 7 remake series due to the more modern pure action combat. I couldn't get into the series beforehand due to me not being very into traditional turn based combat at first, but trying 15 as my first allowed me a more understandable entrance into the series where I was able to get over my relative scorn of turn based combat just so I could further explore the storytelling, characters, and art design in the series that I fell in love with
I know nobody will feel this but 15 was my first and I’ve loved the series since!😅
I think all around X might have just about everything someone new to turn based rpgs could need. its got a Turn based battle system without an ATB gauge system rushing you into quick decision making, and has a readable turn manager for allowing you to better plan out your moves. its got a very visually helpful and very flexible leveling system that allows you to either lock in characters' canon classes for a simple escalation of power, or grants you a more complex approach that allows you to customize characters how you want them to be. it has a solid story with a cast of easily digestable characters but not entirely lacking in depth. theres a few odd minigames that could turn a player off from it but its not like X is the first time youve had odd minigames in a final fantasy game