What defines the greatest Final Fantasy characters? For me, it’s less about who I enjoyed controlling the most or which ones became legendary icons, and more about the strength of their writing and how they elevate the storytelling in these fantastical epics. Some protagonists shine as part of a team but don’t stand out on their own, while certain antagonists are exciting to battle yet lack the emotional or narrative depth to feel truly impactful. Below, I’ve taken on the difficult challenge of sifting through the most beloved entries in the Final Fantasy series to highlight my personal favorites—characters who embody what makes this franchise so enduring.

It wasn’t simple. There were tough omissions—beloved figures like Quina from Final Fantasy 9 or the ever-charming Kid G from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth just missed the mark. I’ll also admit my limitations: despite having well over 1,000 hours across the series, I haven’t fully experienced everything—Final Fantasy 11 remains largely unexplored for me, some titles I’ve replayed extensively, while others I haven’t revisited in years. With the best RPGs relying heavily on memorable characters, narrowing down the true standouts in Final Fantasy has been no small feat.

Here are my picks for the most outstanding Final Fantasy characters, ranging from heroes to villains, with a focus on the mainline entries.

My top Final Fantasy characters, starting with...

15. Jack Garland

To ease my conscience, here are a few more who nearly made the list. When I revisit this ranking in the future—perhaps with a Remake-inspired update—some of these might finally break through the veil of forgotten spirits and rewrite their destiny.

• Faris Scherwiz (Final Fantasy 5)
• Leon (Final Fantasy 2)
• Agrias Oaks (Final Fantasy Tactics)
• Kefka Palazzo (Final Fantasy 6)
• Tifa Lockheart (Final Fantasy 7)
• Princess Garnet Til Alexandros XVII (Final Fantasy 9)
• Mog (Final Fantasy 6)
• Jill Warrick (Final Fantasy 16)
• Rydia (Final Fantasy 4)
• Auron (Final Fantasy 10)

Even 25 years later, Final Fantasy 9’s distinctive art style has allowed it to age gracefully—still enchanting without needing a remake

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