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Forums - Gaming - Most underrated Final Fantasy game?

Zkuq on 04 July 2026
haxxiy said:
Zkuq said:

I've missed a ton of them, but based on VI, probably not IV or V. I'll go with XIII, mainly because it has great lore and a good story that are supported by great, diverse visuals. I haven't played XVI yet, but XV has a pretty boring world and visual style, and the same goes for XII. I can't speak for XI or XIV, but as far as I've seen, XIII is the last time the series had such a great world, lore, and visuals (I really appreciate the colourful, diverse look of X and XIII). XIII is definitely a flawed game, but I don't think it gets enough credit for the things it did right, and even the criticized parts aren't as bad as people tend to claim (although gameplay is really boring for the first 20-30 hours - that's just inexcusable).

13 has an amazing story and setting that they couldn't fully convey due to development issues during the HD transition. Alongside 15 (and the whole Fabula Nova Crystallis thing, really), it definitely has the trophy for biggest wasted potential in the series.

Oh yeah, definitely! I think wasted potential in general has become an increasingly common occurrence in games, but I guess the whole Fabula Nova Crystallis was a lot of wasted potential - but XIII in particular, I think. In XV, I don't think you see so many great elements begging for an even better game - the game just is what it is - but in XIII, there's absolute greatness embedded in a flawed package. I think in XV's case, it seems kind of the same as with XVI: great highlights that make for great marketing material and give a lot of promise to players as well, but perhaps it all didn't make for a great game in the end. I liked XV and will probably like XVI as well once I get around to playing it, but I have no difficulty seeing why they're usually not considered even nearly the best Final Fantasy games.



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Kyuu 1 day ago

The main reason FF5 isn't frequently mentioned is because it wasn't officially released in the west until many years later as part of the PS1 Anthology package which not many bought. By that time, FF5 was outdated, and the PS1 version was slow (long wait times before and after battles).

FF4 (originally known as FF2 in NA) and FF6 (known as FF3 in NA) have the nostalgia and "not outdated" factors. As someone who played and finished FF4,5 and 6 in the late 2000's, I think they're all fantastic games. I prefer 4 and 6 due to the story, but FF5 isn't far behind overall.



UnderwaterFunktown 13 hours ago

7. Fight me.

Spoiler!
My honest answer is actually 7 Remake, way ahead of Rebirth in my book.


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-Adonis- 11 hours ago

FF XII



shavenferret 2 hours ago

What do y'all think about the MMO? I think it's FF14 or whatever.



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Kyuu 1 hour ago
shavenferret said:

What do y'all think about the MMO? I think it's FF14 or whatever.

FF11 and 14 are critically acclaimed and widely considered among the best Final Fantasy games by those who played them (and the expansions).

I marathoned FF14 A Realm Reborn, Heavenward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers. Awesome game. Not a typical FF in how it plays, but it still feels like one in many ways.



SanAndreasX 41 minutes ago

FF12. Part of it is that I am a huge fan of the Ivalice setting and stories, but 12 was just an absolutely complete experience for me. Not only is it better than any of the games that came after, but I also think it is better than 10. It felt more like a living, breathing world. I even liked Vaan better than I did Tidus.