Worst Final Fantasy Games For Newcomers, Ranked

While the Final Fantasy series has become one of the most popular video game franchises of all time, it can be easy for a newcomer to bounce off the games entirely if their first entry is a little too difficult or awkward for them to enjoy. The truth is, considering how drastically different all the Final Fantasy games are in their core gameplay mechanics, it certainly means not all of them end up being very accessible.

Related

8 Final Fantasy Games With The Best Summon Animations, Ranked

Summons are a core aspect of Final Fantasy. These games did the best job of making their animations look fantastic.

This isn’t to say that these games are bad entries, but they are definitely games players will want to get to later down the line to appreciate how experimental and challenging they are. While there may be plenty of Final Fantasy games designed with beginners in mind, these entries below ought to be avoided by anyone looking to dive into this long-running series for the very first time.

8

Final Fantasy 8

The Junction System Is A Tricky Mechanic Which Isn’t Representative Of The Rest Of The Series

Final Fantasy 8’s magic system works quite a bit differently from the rest of the series. Instead of armor, players will be equipping themselves with magic to enhance some of their stats, while also granting abilities, meaning magic can be used for more than just casting. However, this is just the tip of the iceberg of how far this mechanic actually goes, and since the game does a pretty poor job of explaining it, it can be easy for newcomers to become overwhelmed when it shows up in the first hour of the game.

Another unique system in Final Fantasy 8 is how enemies will always scale their level alongside the player, meaning that grinding out enemies for EXP is more or less impossible, omitting one of the core elements of the series’ gameplay loop. Because of how much Final Fantasy 8 tinkers with the traditional formula, it’s a game that’s better enjoyed after playing a few other entries first.

7

Final Fantasy 10-2

This Experimental Direct Sequel To Final Fantasy 10 Can Intimidate Newcomers In Its Bizarre First Few Hours

While there are only a few direct sequels in the Final Fantasy series, some of them are actually fairly easy to get into as a newcomer, with Final Fantasy 13-2 being a prime example. However, unlike that game, Final Fantasy 10-2 can be quite a tricky first sell, especially due to how unforgiving it is in terms of gameplay. The game is action-packed from beginning to end and is noticeably a lot lighter in its story compared to other mainline games.

Related

5 Final Fantasy Games Were Your Decisions Matter The Most

Despite being more linear for the most part, these Final Fantasy titles have some important decisions for the player to make.

This game would also only feature three total party members, which is more restrictive compared to what fans are used to. These sorts of alterations do make sense though, since 10-2 is often seen as being a more experimental title where the developers could have a ton of fun making changes to the gameplay formula seen in the original Final Fantasy 10, but it does end up resulting in a vastly different overall experience.

6

Final Fantasy 2

Final Fantasy 2 Can Feel A Little Underwhelming For Those Who Are Hyped For Diving Into The Series

While Final Fantasy 2 is shorter than the first game in overall length, it’s also very grind-heavy, which can end up making it quite difficult. Additionally, Final Fantasy 2 is a little less creative with its environments, especially the dungeons where every room looks virtually identical, making them all feel like a giant maze. The leveling system can also feel a little tedious for weapon spells, which can come across as uninteresting to newcomers.

Final Fantasy veterans will often return to the second game simply to experience one of the classics, but it can certainly be a hard sell as the very first game in the series. However, there’s still a decent set of characters here, along with iconic music and challenging battles, so it’s still well worth trying out.

5

Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin

This ‘Remake’ Of The First Game Ditches A Lot Of The Series’ Traditions For A Different Experience Entirely

Systems

Released

March 18, 2022

OpenCritic Rating

Fair

The name of this spin-off game can be a little deceiving. While it is true that this spin-off explores the ‘origins’ of Garland, the final villain of the very first Final Fantasy game, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a good place to start. Stranger of Paradise leans much more heavily into the hack-and-slash genre than most games, and while Final Fantasy 16 is also action-oriented, that game is also much more forgiving in its combat.

In contrast, Stranger of Paradise becomes brutally difficult only a few stages in, especially if players don’t focus on utilizing the expansive Job system. Speaking of the stages, each of the 16 levels is based on areas from previous games, such as a Mako Reactor and the Flying Fortress. Needless to say, these homages can only really work for those who have journeyed through those previous games before getting to this one.

4

Final Fantasy 15

Though Still A Great Game, Final Fantasy 15’s Sluggish Pace And Messy Story Can Make It A Difficult Starting Point

The troubled development of Final Fantasy 15 is well known by fans of the series, with the game going through what many would call ‘development hell’ for over an entire decade. While the game still managed to come out in a solid state and has amassed a large fanbase, it’s clear that the story especially was chopped up and moved around a lot before the game officially dropped.

Related

8 Best Final Lines In Final Fantasy Games

The Final Fantasy games sure know how to end off their stories with one final impactful line, with these being among the most effective.

As a result, the overall narrative of Final Fantasy 15 can feel a bit messy and disjointed, requiring players to check out the extra anime series and movie to piece together many of the game’s crucial plot points. This can cause newcomers to immediately bounce off the series, so it can be a much better idea to enjoy some of the story-rich entries first, before then getting to 15, which many fans agree is somewhat of a required taste.

3

Final Fantasy 12

Final Fantasy 12’s ADB Combat Can Take A While To Get The Hang Of

The combat systems in Final Fantasy games have evolved drastically over time, growing into a more action-oriented real-time system in more modern games, but it feels especially different in the twelfth mainline entry which uses a unique ADB (Active Dimension Battle) formula. The way this works is, that players can do-battle with monsters in the overworld without having to trigger a battle screen. Each character will then have lines that show where an ally is directing their attacks, which they will perform automatically.

However, players are also able to control certain actions and abilities of their comrades while in the middle of combat, ensuring at least some of the traditional turn-based DNA is still intact. While very unique, the ADB system can be tricky to get the hang of, even for longtime veterans of the series.

2

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13

Lightning Returns Features A Unique Time System And Plenty Of Recurring Characters

Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13

Systems

Released

November 21, 2013

OpenCritic Rating

Weak

Lightning Returns is the third and final game in the Final Fantasy 13 trilogy. Final Fantasy 13-2, surprisingly, is fairly easy to get into thanks to the time-traveling hijinks and new characters, but Lightning Returns can be a much harder act to follow for those unfamiliar with its predecessors. Lightning Returns gets right into the story without any introductions, and instead, thrusts players immediately into the gameplay where they take control of Lightning who is tasked with preventing the world from being destroyed in thirteen days.

Fans of the 13 trilogy will be able to jump right in, but newcomers will surely have questions cropping up right from the get-go, such as why Lightning is the one sent to rescue the world, and why she seemingly tries to kill Snow in the first few moments. Lightning Returns also includes an in-game countdown system, similar to that seen in Majora’s Mask, which is the only time the gimmick is ever seen in the series.

1

Dirge Of Cerberus: Final Fantasy 7

Dirge Of Cerberus Is Essentially In An Entirely Different Genre From The Rest Of The Series

Third-Person Shooter

Action RPG

Systems

Released

August 15, 2006

Developer(s)

Square Enix

Final Fantasy 7 has plenty of external material outside of the original entry, but when it comes to the games, while Advent Children is a decent starting point, this doesn’t exactly apply to Dirge of Cerberus. Considering the game follows Vincent Valentine, a character who is already established in the original game as an optional party member, the narrative is much more meaningful for those who are already aware of Vincent’s actions and motives from the original game since this spin-off is set three years later.

Additionally, the third-person arcade shooter gameplay loop is a huge departure from the traditional turn-based and RPG-heavy focus of the mainline entries. It’s a fun game to jump into for fans of the original Final Fantasy 7, but it might be a little jarring for those stepping into the series for the very first time.

More

Final Fantasy: 8 Games With The Most Over-The-Top Stories, Ranked

It’s hard to deny that some Final Fantasy stories can be pretty ridiculous. Here are the most over-the-top narratives featured throughout the series.