IV, VI or X for me. If i had to choose one, it'd be IV though.

Final Fantasy 6>>> Final Fantasy 10 >>> Final fantasy 12 > Final fantasy 7 >>>>>>>>Final Fantasy 4 >>>>>>>>>>>>Final Fantasy 9 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Final Fantasy 8

I'm giving the nod to Final Fantasy XII for breaking away from the established characterization and plot development formula that caused the series to stagnate so rapidly after Final Fantasy VI. Though it's still the best on its own merits, too.

I like FF1 the best. PSP remake is the best version of this. I suspect that FF4 is the best FF though.

@khuutra

thats why I liked FF12 so much

I hope FF13 joins the upper end of the list

@darthdevidem01

Damn right, my man. Damn right. Though part of my affection for it may be related to the fact that it's kind of a sequel to Ogre Battle 64 in terms of mechanics and plot - the political plotline, heavily centralized royal characters, unclear line between good and evil, even the Gambit system was all an extension of things set down in the Ogre Battle series.

My first FF was actually IV, which was awesome, but I knew as soon as I was about halfway through VI that it was probably the better game, and it took a long time for me to accept that XII was better than that.

 Well and Lans Tartae and Lans Hamilton were in the damn game.  Though neither of them showed up in Ogre Battle 64.  Just the other two Ogre Battles.  You can tell Tactics Ogre still weighed heavily on his mind.

 Gasp! An Ogre Battle/Tactics Ogre fan! That makes us special friends.

....Wait, they were? Where!?

Top 3

FFIV
FFVI
FFX

Bottom 3

FFVII
FFVIII
FFX-2

FF IV for me closely followed by Tactics and VII.