What Final Fantasy Game Should I Play First? (From Someone Who’s Played... A Lot)

Okay so—real talk—I overheard this kid at GameStop the other day (yeah, I still go to GameStop sometimes, don’t judge me) asking the cashier, “What Final Fantasy should I start with?” And the poor guy just stared at him like he’d been handed a live chocobo. I wanted to jump in but I was holding like four used PS5 games and also kinda eavesdropping. So instead, here’s this post.

Final Fantasy Is... A Lot (But In a Good Way?)

Look, the Final Fantasy series is like this massive buffet that’s been running since the '80s. It’s overwhelming. There’s, like, 16 main entries? And a bunch of spin-offs? And sequels to sequels? And remakes of sequels of prequels? It’s nuts.

I started with Final Fantasy VII, because of course I did. I was in middle school. I saw Cloud’s sword on the cover and was like, “Yup, I need that in my life.” I didn’t even understand half the plot the first time around. But I was hooked. The turn-based battles, the weird materia system, Aerith (yes, Aerith)—all of it.

But if you’re asking “What Final Fantasy game should I play first?”... I’m not gonna say FF7. Not yet.

My Honest Pick for Beginners? Final Fantasy X

Yup. Not FF7. Not the remake. FFX. Hear me out.

FF10 was the first game in the series with full voice acting (which was... a choice, especially Tidus' laugh, you know the one). But mechanically? It’s clean. The turn-based combat system is super readable—none of that ATB “wait I thought it was my turn???” chaos.

And the story? Oh my god. I cried. Like, ugly cried. I still remember sitting in front of my chunky CRT TV, controller in my lap, just staring at the screen for, I dunno, 20 minutes? The ending messed me up.

Also: no open world. I know that sounds like a downside, but if you’re new? It’s a blessing. It funnels you through the story in a way that feels like a long anime movie, but with battles and sphere grids and giant water sports (don’t ask, just play).

But What About FF7?

Yeah, yeah. It’s iconic. Cloud, Sephiroth, Midgar, buster sword, One-Winged Angel playing in your head 24/7...

Honestly? I think it’s overrated. Not bad. Just... overhyped. (please don’t cancel me)

It was revolutionary back in 1997 (wait no... yeah 1997, not 96), but today it feels clunky unless you’re into retro stuff. The writing’s weird in places. The original translation? A disaster. Barrett’s lines make me cringe now.

If you really want FF7, go with the Remake (well, Part 1 of it), but be warned—it’s more action-heavy than old-school FF games. And it only covers, like, 15% of the original’s story. It’s gorgeous, though. Like stupid pretty. Midgar never looked so alive.

Other Good Starting Points (Depending on Your Vibe)

• Final Fantasy VI: If you love SNES-era 2D pixel RPGs and ensemble casts. This one’s a masterpiece, and the villain, Kefka? Way more terrifying than Sephiroth, tbh.
• Final Fantasy XIV: Okay. Hear me out. If you’re already into MMOs, this is legit one of the best stories in the series. I know it’s an online game, but if you treat it like a single-player experience with friends occasionally waving at you in the background? Incredible. Just skip the base game fetch quests, please.
• Final Fantasy XIII: (this is my hot take) People clown on this one for being a hallway simulator, but I lowkey loved it. The battle system gets wild once it opens up, and Lightning is, like, underrated cool. Just... yeah, be patient with it.

Stuff You Should Know Before You Dive In

Look, these games aren’t short. Most of them are 40+ hours, and that’s just for the story. If you’re the kind of person who wants to 100% stuff? Buckle up.

Also, the tone varies a lot between games. Some are super serious and philosophical (hi, FF10). Others are wild and goofy (like FF9, which is amazing btw but a weird entry point). And the combat goes from turn-based to real-time action hybrid chaos depending on the title.

You’re probably gonna get confused. That’s okay. We all got wrecked by a boss because we didn’t understand the battle system. I spent, like, five hours grinding in FF12 before I realized I had the wrong gambits set up. (still mad about that)

Oh, and pro tip: save often. These games love throwing a surprise boss at you just when you’re comfy.

TL;DR – My Personal Rec

If you want something emotional, polished, and beginner-friendly? Start with Final Fantasy X. Seriously. It holds up. Looks good on modern consoles. Feels satisfying to play. Will emotionally destroy you in the best way.

But hey—if you’re still totally stuck and don’t want to stress about it, I found this random Final Fantasy game picker tool online (I think it’s on some indie site, super neat). It’s kinda fun to let fate decide. That’s how I ended up finally playing FF8... which I used to hate and now weirdly love? (Don’t ask. It’s Squall.)

Anyway. Go play. And if you do pick FF10... message me when you hit the ending. I’ll be over here crying again.