Sure, Square Enix has made plenty of sequels and spinoffs over the years in addition to the mainline 16 games. But you might not realize there’s been more than 100 Final Fantasy games since the series got its start on the NES back in 1987. Even if you’re a series superfan, odds are you haven’t played most Final Fantasy games.
Within that substantial number, there are some forgettable spinoffs and flash-in-the-pan mobile games you can no longer play. Those aren’t the focus here. Instead, we’re highlighting the hidden gems, fascinating experiments, and woefully underrated entries that deserve way more love than they’ve gotten over the years.
Here are our picks for the series' most underappreciated games. While major blockbusters like FF7 might inspire a slate of spinoffs, relatively few Final Fantasy games ever get direct sequels. Released in 2003, Final Fantasy 10-2 follows Yuna as she searches for Tidus, the now-missing protagonist of 2001's Final Fantasy 10.
FF10-2 was the first — and only! — game in the series to feature an all-female main cast. It's also one of the few entries in the series to have multiple endings. Where FF10 was somber and serious, FF10-2 is unabashedly feminine and lighthearted.
The world has been saved, but Yuna and her friends have unfinished business to attend to. The game's story and art style drew from the magical girl and idol subgenres of anime and manga from the late '90s and early 2000s, as well as western pop culture icons like the 2000 Charlie's Angels reboot starring Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu, and Cameron Diaz. FF10-2's riff on the series' job system is the Dressphere, which can dramatically change a party member's fighting style.
Several Dresspheres are familiar RPG fare, like black mage and thief. Others are wholly unique, with hilarious costumes and abilities, like the Lady Luck and mascot classes. FF10-2's deep customization, challenging combat, and immaculate Y2K vibes proved Final Fantasy doesn't always have to be so darn serious all the time. —Jen Glennon Where to play: Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PS4, Windows PC, and Xbox One Just like the Star Wars saga, Final Fantasy wouldn't be where it is today without its incredible music.
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