20. Final Fantasy XIII (PS3)

Here it is, the Final Fantasy game that you either love or hate. Or, if you're like us, you think it's just kind of okay, but a bit misguided. Final Fantasy XIII represented a melodramatic new direction for the series, which didn't sit well with everyone. It also had a lot of corridors, and the combat system, while undeniably flashy, lacked any meaningful player agency until much later in the game. In hindsight, it was clearly a troubled project — delayed and internally overhauled god-knows how many times — but it's still a reasonably interesting experience if you can get around the frustrations.

19. Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin (PS5)

Final Fantasy has had a lot of spinoff games over the years, but few are, er, stranger than Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin. This action RPG, primarily developed by Nioh studio Team Ninja, proves to be one hell of a trip, telling an alternate timeline origin story for the first Final Fantasy. If that's not enough to draw your attention, know that player character Jack Garland is one of the most ridiculous leads in franchise history, repeatedly telling chatty NPCs to shut up while listening to nu metal and Frank Sinatra on his...smartphone? Bizarre doesn't even begin to describe this one.

18. Final Fantasy X-2 HD Remaster (PS4)

Another weird Final Fantasy game, Final Fantasy X-2 is a direct sequel to the beloved Final Fantasy X — and that alone is enough to piss off many of its predecessor's biggest fans. At a glance, it's hard not to be annoyed with the way that X-2 treats the world and characters that helped define the first game, and at times, it almost feels like pure fan fiction. But if you can stomach how overbearingly camp and cheesy X-2 can be, there are some fun gameplay systems to mess around with, including a slick job-based battle system. Not for everyone, but perhaps underserving of the hate that's often slung its way.

17. Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster (PS4)

Like the original Final Fantasy, there's a straightforwardness to Final Fantasy III that makes it easy to play and enjoy. Crystals! Dungeons! Four heroes of light! This is an early instalment that's been remastered and remade numerous times, but it still holds up, and the experience is strengthened by an enjoyable job system that lets you customise the party to your liking.

16. Final Fantasy XV (PS4)

We waited for what felt like an eternity for Final Fantasy XV, and when it finally arrived, it was... well, it was good, but certainly not amazing. Some fans like it a lot more than others, and we're of the opinion that it's an entertaining but sometimes deeply flawed game. A very troubled development cycle shows in the finished product, with its disjointed storytelling and often odd quest design, but there's still a certain kind of magic to XV that's hard to explain. It's got an atmospheric open world, and the road trip structure is both unique and engaging. It's also worth noting that XV improved significantly with the Royal Edition — which packed all of the free updates and DLC into one package, making for a much more cohesive experience.

15. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion (PS5)

Crisis Core remains as cheesy and cringy as ever on PS5, but it's a much more approachable game now thanks to this largely fantastic remaster from Square Enix. With a refined combat system and gameplay mechanics, alongside much-updated visuals, the Final Fantasy VII prequel is well worth playing if you're a fan of the series-within-a-series. Just try not to take the storytelling too seriously!

14. Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster (PS4)

Ah, the game where it all began. By today's standards, the original Final Fantasy is incredibly basic, but this is the series' gameplay formula in its purest form. The classic ATB combat still holds up, the old school monster and boss designs are cool, and the game's straightforward structure is honestly quite refreshing. An eternally solid title.

13. Final Fantasy V Pixel Remaster (PS4)

Final Fantasy V is arguably one of the series' most underrated mainline titles. This could be because the fantastic Final Fantasy VI and Final Fantasy VII succeeded it, but V still tells a decent (if predictable) story, and a very in-depth job system makes it a lot of fun to play. Its only real problem lies in its cast of characters, who are all fairly unmemorable — but if you're not too bothered about caring for Bartz and the gang, there's a lot of enjoyment to be found in the rock solid gameplay.

12. Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn (PS5)

Looking at it now, it's genuinely hard to believe that Final Fantasy XIV Online: A Realm Reborn started life as a terribly misguided and badly designed MMO that came close to sinking one of Square Enix's internal development teams. Its rebirth has been one of modern gaming's most extraordinary success stories, and the game is now widely considered to be one of the greatest MMORPGs ever made. Bolstered by multiple extremely well received expansions, A Realm Reborn has gone from strength to strength, and it continues to attract millions of players. Many would even argue that it's the best Final Fantasy game of the last decade — MMO or not.

11. Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age (PS4)

Final Fantasy XII was and still is a divisive game, but despite its PS2 origins, we would argue that it's aged extremely well. XII opts for a more serious story involving political puppeteering and a hefty dose of wartime drama, but it's the sense of adventure that makes the game so endearing. Excellently crafted environments are a joy to explore, and a brilliantly worked job system lets you tweak your party however you like. However, its Gambit system isn't for everyone, as it essentially lets you program your characters so that you don't have to lift a finger during combat. This allows for some impressive technical depth, but, you know, a lot of Final Fantasy fans like pushing buttons every now and then.