Best game ever.

FF X didn't have much greatness.. Check out The Legend of Dragoon for epicness

well if you're not a weeaboo than the witcher 2 and 3 elder scrolls 3 and 4 and 5 mass effect 1 and 2 and 3

i'm also one of those who loved FF XIII. :)

tried playing FF X haven't finished it yet though but i have XIII higher than X. 

I never finished FF X either. I just got bored of it around when you could do that sports minigame. I didn't connect with any of the characters.

It was how linear FF XIII was that really turned me off from it. At least some people enjoyed the game and it wasn't a total waste. 

LMAO! Skyrim is one of the worst rpg's I've ever played. Terrible combat, bland environments, boring quests. The only great western rpg is Mass Effect 1. 2 and 3 are not rpgs, they're shooters.

This is one of those Threads where you starring about 5 minutes at the Headline. You feel kind of intrigued by it's title but you know, klicking on the Thread won't do you any good. And it happened. I really regretted clicking the Headline. Because you really can't await a serious discussion when your're talking about an legendary Franchise with 14 numbered Titles, several Sequels and even more Spin-Off's.

But there is one funny note which is making this Topic a bit more valuable. People are bitchin all the time when it comes to the linearity of XIII, but I think most people have forgotten, X is even more linear compared to XIII. As much as I really like X (it's in my Final Fantasy Top 5), you have about zero freedom when it comes to exploration.

Ok, leaving this Thread with a controverse quote: XIII-2 is in my Top 3. I won't tell you my Final Fantasy Top 3, but consider XIII-2 as a part of this list :D

As fun and engaging FFX was, I would have to say Suikoden II is the best RPG I've ever played. Though from your list the only difference would be the atmosphere, I just love everything from this game.

what is this the only rpg you played or something?

agree on the linear part, as most of the negative feedback of the game that it is too linear. i think it is due to the story on FF XIII and which it only have the open-world in chapter 10 i believe when they reach that level with too many monsters to grind and quests. they tried to fix it by having FF XIII-2, then other fans doesn't like it. then they (SE) pushed to have a different combat system on LR but other fans doesn't like it either especially the time thing.

so each fan has its on pros and cons feeling on each FF series. some became hits and prefer other version. like FF VII - some would say it is their best FF game but some would say VIII.  Others would even debate that VII isn't great compared to VI. so on and so forth.

now we are comparing FF against other RPGs.  Tales, Xeno, DQ, and other great franchise, i'm sure it boils down to being subjective and each gamers own favorite.

i guess the general consensus would be, can we know which RPG goes the best rating. or even RPG of the year and compare those to other years. there could be years that there would be several RPG gems and there would be years that only a few or only above average is the RPG GOTY.