Summary
If any franchise can lay claim to an exhaustive list of beloved characters, it’sFinal Fantasy, as this iconic JRPG series has produced some of the industry’s most cherished heroes and heroines. Born from the minds of Square Enix’s talented writers and artists, including the likes of Yoshitaka Amano and Tetsuya Nomura,Final Fantasy’s most beloved characters have fan bases of their own and are a hub for all sorts of fan fiction, fan art, and simply incredible cosplay.
Whether it’s an amnesiac sword fighter with a murky past, a brave warrior confronting a tyrannical empire, or a quiet healer with powerful abilities,Final Fantasy’s most popular characters come in a wide variety of different archetypes. And due toFinal Fantasy’s ability to reinvent itself for each new generation of fans and console hardware, these characters also have unique cultures and worlds to exist in. These characters have been ranked based on their popularity, fan reception, and longevity.
All the bestFinal Fantasycharacters are ones that come equipped with some sort of emotional core or hook for players to attach themselves to, and Clive Rosfield has that covered in spades. His relationship with his brother Joshua forms the heart of his journey, and did its part to make him one of the most endearing and belovedFinal Fantasyheroes of all time, as the combination of an excellent voice performance by Ben Starr and a compelling character arc has boosted Clive into the upper stratosphere of the series.
Final Fantasy 16continues the franchisetradition of creating layered, multidimensional characters who come through all their hardships and challenges as better people. It’s been a part of every coreFinal Fantasy game, and thanks to Clive’s enduring spirit, charming personality, and unbreakable bond with the community, he has become one of the franchise’s most protected and loved characters. Clive may be the newest hero in the series, but that hasn’t stopped the fanbase from latching onto him, solidifying him as one of the series' most adored.
For the first five entries,Final Fantasyfeatured plenty of fantastic female characters, but none of them were the default leader of the party. Paving the way for characters like Tifa and Lightning, Terra Branford was the first female lead in franchise history and showed that the women ofFinal Fantasywere just as capable as the men. Asthe lead ofFinal Fantasy 6, Terra has become not just one of the franchise’s most sacred characters, but a sign of change in the industry that was starting to showcase more diverse heroes.
Terra broke new ground in multiple ways, both as the first female lead inFFhistory and also in how women were portrayed in video games. Terra’s journey from the occupied streets of Narshe to the final battle with Kefka is truly astounding, and it’s her bravery at each step that has made her one of the most beloved and enduringFinal Fantasyprotagonists. She wasn’t just a damsel waiting to be rescued, she was the leader of the party, the one everyone trusted and believed in. It’s a part of why she has lasted as long as she has, as Terra has appeared in multiple spin-offs, and is still one of the most esteemed figures in franchise history.
Veryearly on inFinal Fantasy 9, players discover that the black mage Vivi is destined to die, a truly heartbreaking sentiment considering that he is only nine years old. But even as he stares down his mortality, Vivi remains full of life and charm, as he is a simply delightful character that has been gleefully embraced by theFinal Fantasyfanbase. His long-lasting popularity has never faltered, as Vivi continues to be one of the most infinitely loved characters in franchise history.
His tragic tale of imminent death plays heavily into the game’s themes, and its focus on the fragility of life and doing good with the time you have. Combined with his adorable design and powerful skills in battle, Vivi is easily one of the best characters inFinal Fantasy 9, and his popularity among theFF-faithful has been incredibly consistent for over twenty-five years. He keeps theFinal Fantasytradition alive in wonderful ways, combining complex character arcs with grounded, human emotion.
Final Fantasy 10is a rich, complexgame built on some pretty heavy themes and concepts, but it can best be described as sacrificing one’s mortality for the safety and freedom of others. A noble act, and one that summoner Yuna takes to heart, as her pilgrimage across the land of Spira to defeat the mammoth force known as Sin. Her quiet and shy outward demeanor is just the surface, as Yuna’s underlying love of people and fear of a world ravaged by Sin drives every aspect of her journey throughFinal Fantasy 10.
Yuna’s compelling evolution from a reserved young girl into an outspoken hero is in no small part thanks to her friends, as she takes a little bit of each one with her on her adventure with Tidus and the crew. It has elevated her to one of the franchise’s most beloved heroines, as she continuously tops Square Enix polls about fan-favorite characters and has crafted an undying legacy that will forever keep her in the hearts ofFinal Fantasyfans.
4Tidus
An Endlessly Charming Fish Out Of Water Protagonist
After a fast and furious Blitzball match is interrupted by a vicious attack from Sin, Tidus finds himself washing up on the shores of Besaid Island, as the story ofFinal Fantasy 10kicks into high gear at this point. And it’s here thatTidus' real arc starts tocome into focus, as this fish-out-of-water story was a major part of what made him so beloved by fans of the franchise, framing him as an outsider who is questioning the world he’s come into. This story of discovery and understanding shaped every part of Tidus and was key to connecting him to the fanbase.
Everyone who playsFinal Fantasy 10feels intimately connected to Tidus, as they too are coming into this world for the first time. His questions are your questions, his victories are your victories, and his tragedies feel far more personal and emotional as a result. Tidus' troubled relationship with his father, Jecht, and ongoing relationship with Yuna also helped to connect him with the fanbase, as his journey was full of hardships and trauma that he was able to overcome. Tidus is still one ofFinal Fantasy’s most cherished heroes and continues to endure over two decades later.
Zack Fair is a fairly mysterious figure in the original version ofFinal Fantasy 7, appearing for a few brief moments but having a major impact on the events of the story and the lives of Cloud Strife and the rest of the party. Seeking to expand his story, Square put a major emphasis on Zack during theCompilation of Final Fantasy 7series, as he would become a huge partof games likeCrisis CoreandRebirth. And it’s this commitment to the character that has led him to where he is today, one ofFinal Fantasy 7’s most captivating and popular figures.
It’s hard to find a more pure-of-heart character inFinal Fantasythan Zack Fair, as his instinctual need to protect people and remain steadfast even in the most dangerous situations is something to be admired greatly. His charismatic flair, compelling love story with Aerith, and tragic sacrifice to help Cloud escape have defined him for decades, and, despite not being the main character, he has potentially had more of an impact on theFinal Fantasy 7universe than any other character. A swell of emotion and grief often crosses the faces of Final Fantasy fans when Zack Fair is mentioned, as his beautiful story arc has made him one of the franchise’s most beloved characters of all time.
Cloud Strife first met gamers in 1997 as “EX-SOLDIER,” when his iconic leap from a Shinra train and into the heart of a mako reactor kept him firmly in the hearts and minds ofFinal Fantasyfans for nearly three decades. His evolution from a simple, low-poly model into one of the industry’s most realized and detailed heroes has only strengthened his bond with the fanbase, as Cloud is simply untouchable in terms of popularity and fan response.
Whether it’s theOGFF7,Crisis Core, or the breathtaking events ofRemakeandRebirth, Cloud Strife has been, and always will be, one of the franchise’s perennial fan favorites. His fascinating evolution from a stoic, emotionally unavailable mercenary into one of the most charismatic, outrageously entertaining heroes is something special. Cloud isn’t just a popular character; he’s a franchise all to himself, having appeared in several spin-off titles, including massively popular favorites likeKingdom HeartsandFinal Fantasy Tactics.
It’s hard to deny that anyFinal Fantasycharacter is as beloved as Aerith Gainsborough, the flower girl from the slums with a powerful destiny, as she has made appearances in spin-off games, movies, and other multimedia projects. Considering just how many hoaxes and reaction videos have been created as a result of her haunting death inFinal Fantasy 7, and the lengths people will go to to revive her, Aerith is more than just a flower girl living in a poor neighborhood.
In many ways, Aerith almost feels like the biggest outsider inFinal Fantasy 7, as her uplifting demeanor and brightly colored outfits clash with the cyberpunk dystopia of the world in the most fascinating ways.
No character’s fate had as much urgency or anticipation during the lead-uptoRebirthas Aerith, as her death in the original game was a landmark moment for video games, and she has been at the core ofFF7’s expanding universe ever since 1997. NoFinal Fantasycharacter creates as much emotion, attachment, or personal trauma as Aerith Gainsborough, as she has inspired a nearly unlimited amount of fan art, cosplay, and pleas to Square Enix to save her life. Her sweet, unbreakable personality and fierce loyalty to her friends and family are topped only by her innate need to stay positive and hopeful, especially in the harsh world ofFF7.
