THE Final Fantasy The franchise is huge. The main series has just had 16 entries, not counting the sequels. In addition to the main games, there are tons and tons of spin-offs, some of which are good enough to stand alongside the main games. There are many games that share the same name. Final Fantasy name, which can make it difficult to sort through all of these items to find the right ones.

Some of these spin-offs precede or follow some of the numbered titles, while others take place in worlds of their own. Some of these titles have even launched their own sub-series. One has even branched out to create an entirely new franchise. From crossovers to cameos, each of these titles has Final Fantasy The DNA in them that makes them special.

10 The 012 in Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy is pronounced Duodecim

PlayStation Portable (2011)

Dissension East Final Fantasy‘s foray into fighting games, allowing players to take their favorite heroes and villains from across the series and smash them together like action figures. These 3D brawlers have more depth than many might think, with normal attacks stacking up a number that represents the actual damage a fighter will deal with a heavy attack. There are RPG elements too, with equipment, summons, and even levels. 012 may be action-oriented, but it’s still a Final Fantasy game from start to finish.

While NT Dissensions – a game originally designed for Japanese arcades – moved to a 3v3 team format, 012 is a purely individual action. 012 also has a decent story mode. The game starts out as a prequel to the first game, but includes the full story of the original once players have completed 012‘s, making the original version somewhat redundant. Even without the story, the game is a real treat. Whether you’re playing in arcade mode, against other players, or just in an NPC match, 012 never gets old.

9 Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin had players killing chaos before it was cool

PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S (2022)

There are main lines Final Fantasy sequels, but what about prequels? Without spoiling anything, The Stranger from Paradise sets up the story of the original Final Fantasy on the NES. As Jack Garland, players team up with other Warriors of Light to bring peace to the world, remember their past, and, of course, slay Chaos. Stranger of Paradise is a Souls-like action RPG from the team that brought fans NiohSo it’s very fast and very satisfying. The game also features one of the best and most iconic Final Fantasy mechanics: the mission system.

Players have access to a plethora of classic jobs like Red Mage, Ninja, Dragon, and more are unlocked as they progress through the story. Jack can switch between jobs at any time, so it’s important to branch out. Combat is certainly a draw of the game, but the story is surprisingly good for its edgy, cheesy side. While it’s primarily focused on FF1, each stage recreates a location from another mainline game, such as Sastasha from Final Fantasy XIVIt’s like crossing a Final Fantasy theme park, ending with a spectacular explosion of FF love. To coax has issues, sure, like giving players way too much gear to sort through, but he has that FF charm.

8 Final Fantasy Tactics is one of the best FF stories out there.

PlayStation (1997/1998), PlayStation Portable (2007)

Any conversation about strategy RPGs will end up with Final Fantasy Tactics finally, and there is a good reason for that. Tactical tells an incredible story of war, class and friendship. Even 27 years later, His memorable characters and lines give Tactical some of the best writing in a game, period. Tactical It’s not only a good story, and it has incredibly deep strategic gameplay both in battles and in the setup.

The game features FF’s iconic job system, allowing the player to fully customize their army however they want. Other games from Tactical The series may share these mechanics, but not the reputation of the first game. However, that doesn’t mean they’re bad. They may not have the same depth of gameplay or story, but they’re still interesting games nonetheless. Still, if any game deserves a spot on this list, it’s Final Fantasy TacticsThere’s a reason it’s so beloved, and that’s because it’s simply a great game.

7 Vagrant Story is a dungeon crawling game that is a delight to explore.

PlayStation (2000)

Although it is not a spin-off in terms of name, Wandering story always takes place in Ivalice – the setting of Final Fantasy Tactics and FF12. This PlayStation classic is one of the most beautiful games on the system, thanks to masterful texture work and cinematic delivery. The game itself is difficult to understand due to its unconventional combat system, lack of tutorials, and general age, but once you get the hang of it, it’s one of the most unique and fun RPG experiences out there.

The story is also incredible, following Ashley Riot as he hunts down a mysterious man who can’t die. The camerawork in the cutscenes is worth playing the game alone. if fans want to see the limits of the PlayStation. This dungeon crawler may not be for everyone, but it easily stands alongside the greats of Final Fantasy. It has the style, the complexity of the RPG, the character-driven story, it only lacks the name.

6 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers is a diamond in the rough

Wii (2009/2010)

THE Crystal Chronicles The sub-series is odd, with only two out of six games having any similarities. The Crystal Bearers is the closest thing the Final Fantasy series has to a Zelda-likein which players use the protagonist’s gravitational powers to defeat enemies, solve puzzles, and have fun with physics. It’s a bit of a crude game, but charming and fun enough to not be stuck on the Wii. Maybe it’ll get a remaster someday.

Set 1000 years after the original Crystal ChroniclesPlayers take on the role of Layle, a Clavat with a crystal embedded in his cheek that gives him power over gravity, as he discovers why the Yuke tribe disappeared. Crystal bearers are shunned by society, however, so he’s mostly alone in this adventure. The plot isn’t exactly interesting here, especially with the poor voice acting, but exploring the world and just playing around with Layle’s powers is a lot of fun.

5 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles has the best soundtrack in the franchise

GameCube (2003/2004), Switch, PlayStation 4, Android, iOS (2020)

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles It may have been Square Enix’s apology game to Nintendo for its move to PlayStation, but that doesn’t mean it’s not awesome. Crystal Chronicles is a multiplayer focused dungeon crawler with an incredible atmosphere. The atmosphere is absolutely perfect thanks to the narration that accompanies each dungeon and the incredible soundtrack using medieval instruments. The game is worth playing simply to immerse yourself in its universe.

The gameplay can be divisive, requiring players to stay within the aura of the portable chalice or slowly lose health, but it’s not that cumbersome once players get used to it. In single-player, the caravan has a moogle companion who can also carry it for them. There are a ton of secrets to discover on the protagonists’ annual journey for myrrh, like moogle homes, new weapon and armor forging materials, side quests and events, and even the final boss is somewhat hidden. This is a fantastic title that’s too often overlooked.

4 Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King – Another Crystal Chronicle for the Road

Wii (2008)

THE Crystal Chronicles The series is incredibly diverse, so My life as a king is less of an RPG and more of a city-building game. The player, named a young king, owns his own kingdom on the ruins of his father’s and discovers that he has the ability to construct buildings practically from scratch, allowing players to wander around their kingdom as they build it. The game allows players to immerse themselves in the daily lives of its citizens, making it easier for them to notice when problems arise, such as the bakery being too far from the houses.

Although city building is the focus, it is still Final FantasySome of the king’s citizens will become adventurers, and he may send them on quests to gather materials or defeat dangerous monsters. This is largely hands-off, but players must make sure they have a place to return to where they can rest and prepare for their next adventureThese adventures are essential for progressing through the main story as well as unlocking new buildings and recruiting new citizens.

3 The world of Final Fantasy has crossovers big and small

PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita (2016), Windows (2017), Switch, Xbox One (2018)

Another crossover title, World of Final Fantasy plays a bit like Pokémon. Players can capture Final Fantasy monsters and add them to their party, stacking them adorably on the protagonists’ heads. Each stack acts as a character in battle, being much stronger than each of them individually. Enemies can do this as well, leading to interesting encounters where the protagonists attempt to topple the enemy stack while maintaining their own stability.

Although the setting is a FF theme park, the story is entirely original. Lann and Reynn are two siblings living in Nine Wood Hills completely alone. They vaguely remember their mother, but she disappeared a long time ago, like everyone else. When they discover a portal to another world, they see an opportunity to find their mother and get their memories back. It’s not the most original plot, but It’s fun and doesn’t take itself too seriously..

2 Final Fantasy Dimensions was a mobile exclusive Final Fantasy

FOMA 903i, au (2010), iOS, Android (2012)

Final Fantasy Dimensions This is the game that many people have wanted for a decade, a classic Final Fantasy using the active real-time combat system rendered in beautiful pixel art. The catch? It’s only available on mobile devices. The game was also released in episodes only in Japan, with new jobs unlocked after completing an episode. This is essentially a project in its own right. Final Fantasy gamejust on the phone.

The game follows both the Warriors of Light and the Warriors of Darkness after the world is split in two. Both groups collect crystals, fight monsters, and do other typical things in a Final FantasyIt’s a decent plot, but the best part of the game is playing with the job system to gain abilities that players can then use on other jobs.

1 The Mana series is already halfway between Final Fantasy

Game Boy, SNES, PlayStation, etc. (1991 – present)

Everyone knows that the Mana The series is Final Fantasy in all but name. It features Moogles, Chocobos, and similar mechanics – the first title in the series was renamed Final Fantasy Adventure here in the west. Final Fantasy Adventurelater remade for the Game Boy Advance under the title Mana Sword and then again for the PlayStation Vita like The Adventures of Manais an action/adventure game heavily inspired by the Zelda series. The original game featured a ton of Final Fantasy items that were changed in later versions.

Crystal Chronicles It may be experimental, but it’s nothing compared to Mana. While The Secret of Manathe first Mana game that everyone thinks of, is a pretty standard action RPG, other games in the series have complexities that would make Final Fantasy VIII blush. Mana Trials allows players to choose their protagonist from several characters at the start of the game, Dawn of Mana is primarily a physics simulator, Heroes of Mana is an RTS, and Legend of Mana allows players to build their own world map while creating their own main story. They’re weird games, but Final Fantasy could use more weirdness.