The Final Fantasy games are among the greatest role-playing game series of all time. Since the first game was released in 1987 for personal computers, there have been many different mainline entries and spin-offs to get lost in. The series has been known for its heavy emphasis on high-quality presentation and intricate stories, with original characters and worlds that players can connect with. And because of that, the Final Fantasy series has continued to grow even more through the decades across multiple consoles.

But if you're someone who has never played a Final Fantasy game before, what are the ones you should start with? Unlike other long-running video game series, you don't necessarily need to go back to the first Final Fantasy game to get caught up in the franchise from Square Enix. Each new mainline entry and spin-off game of the series is almost always a fresh start, with new characters to meet and locations to explore. Here are the 5 Final Fantasy games that newcomers to the series need to play in order to get started.

5 Final Fantasy XVI

Feels new but respects the old

One of the most recent mainline entries in the series takes a lot of bold steps forward, but still has a reverence for what came before. Final Fantasy XVI is a game that keeps the action in real-time, moving away from the turn-based combat of many previous Final Fantasy releases. The combat is fast-paced and suspenseful, with massive battles against giant enemies or groups of lesser baddies. Although you're not always accompanied by a group in battle like in other Final Fantasy games, that doesn't mean the attacks you unleash are any less potent and powerful. On top of that, it's easy to pick up and play to start devastating the enemies ahead of you.

Final Fantasy XVI also does a great job of keeping the fantasy aspect of the series a big focal point. The story follows a man named Clive Rosfield and his place within a greater conflict in the world of Valisthea, a place where magic is vital to the kingdoms that reside there. Many of the characters you meet and their interactions are inspired by previous Final Fantasy titles, with a lot of similar names and consistent terminology. You may have never played any Final Fantasy game that mentioned Ifrit or Shiva, but their relevance in Final Fantasy XVI is similar enough that you can understand their importance, as well as why they're very cool whenever they show up.

4 Final Fantasy Mystic Quest

A lighter 16-bit fantasy

To many long-time fans of Final Fantasy, Mystic Quest is a sore point of discussion. It may not be the best release of the series, but it was always intended to be an entry point for people. Released on the Super Nintendo in 1992, Final Fantasy Mystic Quest is an oversimplified approach to a classic Final Fantasy game. Everything from the combat, the exploration, and the story was designed with an entry-level player in mind. It's viewed by most fans negatively as one of the easiest Final Fantasy games to play, but that was always the goal for its release.

The story of Mystic Quest follows a young man named Benjamin, who must recover stolen magic crystals to save the world from a great evil. While the story's premise was similar to the rest of the franchise, the gameplay was a lot different. There were no random encounters, traveling the map was guided, and there was hardly any customization for new weapons and equipment. Combat against enemies is a lot easier as well, with the ability to restart battles and have a computer-controlled ally. Many of these aspects made previous Final Fantasy games more complex, but their absence makes Final Fantasy Mystic Quest a lot more newcomer-friendly.

3 Final Fantasy X

A great adventure back to basics

Anyone who wants to play a good entry-level Final Fantasy game, but without too many streamlined aspects, should definitely start with Final Fantasy X. This was the first mainline entry in the series to use voice acting for its cutscenes, but was also the first major Square Enix game released on the PlayStation 2. Most Final Fantasy games up to that point were constantly changing their battle systems and interjecting different gimmicks into parts of the gameplay, despite keeping a high-level visual presentation. Final Fantasy X was a game that went back to basics, even though it still introduced a few new elements to make the game feel fresh for a new generation of consoles.

Combat in Final Fantasy X was turn-based, with the ability to switch party members in and out during battle as needed when taking a turn. Exploring the world of Spira was linear, but it still had random encounters and multiple places to explore for secrets and side quests. The challenge of the game's many battles was often fair, even with a few difficulty spikes along the way, but still challenging enough not to feel as streamlined as Mystic Quest. To bring it all together was a story and characters that fans grew to love, leading to one of the biggest games in the series to be released. Final Fantasy X isn't often placed higher over other entries when ranking the series, but it is a solid adventure that gets back to the most basic and foundational aspects of Final Fantasy in the best way possible.

2 Dissidia Final Fantasy

Action-packed legacy

When it comes to Final Fantasy spin-off releases, Dissidia Final Fantasy is a unique experience that covers the legacy of the series. Dissidia is a fighting game that pits heroes and villains from throughout the Final Fantasy series against each other in battle, with the fate of the cosmos hanging in the balance. The roster includes beloved characters from the biggest releases, as well as some lesser-known characters that had cult followings over the years. While not a traditional role-playing game to fit in line with the rest of the series, Dissidia Final Fantasy celebrates the games that have come to build out a legacy spanning nearly 40 years. The first and second games were released on the PSP in 2009 and 2011, while a third game titled Dissidia NT was released for PlayStation 4 in 2018.

The fighting in Dissidia still manages to incorporate aspects of the combat from Final Fantasy games, including things like damage numbers, status effects, and even big limit break attacks. It's a loose interpretation of the turn-based combat that Final Fantasy is known for, but streamlined into a game that shows a great reverence for all of it. But even better is how the game does well to introduce both the characters and their stories from throughout the entire series. Character bios detailing backstories, dialogue exchanges between characters hinting at their past history, as well as multiple references and returning powers from previous games, can give anyone a basic idea of their relevance. If you want to experience a buffet of the best aspects of the entire Final Fantasy series, Dissidia Final Fantasy is a great entry point that could entice you enough to explore specific games afterward.

1 Final Fantasy VII Remake

The best of both generations

Final Fantasy VII is one of the most beloved role-playing games of all time, and the biggest entry in the Final Fantasy series to date. So when Square Enix decided to do a "remake" of Final Fantasy VII, everyone was very excited to see how it would turn out. While it's not exactly the same game as the PlayStation version in 1997, it does have many of the same characters, plot points, and signature aspects of that iconic game. Only this time, the world of Final Fantasy VII received a complete graphical overhaul, new gameplay changes, and something special that still acknowledged and respected the original and its fans.

Final Fantasy VII Remake is an experience that new fans can become obsessed with, while older fans have something that built upon their experience with the first version of the game. The way the story is delivered keeps what remained iconic about the PlayStation game, but injects new elements that offer more details about the world of Midgar and the characters that reside in it. Newcomers may not have heard of Shinra or Sephiroth, but they'll be quickly brought up to speed with how Final Fantasy VII Remake presents their relevance to the story. While it's still a good idea to play the original game to appreciate all the references and reinterpretations, you don't necessarily need to play the original Final Fantasy VII to become a major fan of the universe and how it's presented in this remake.

Final Fantasy VII Remake switches combat to a real-time battle system, with a few options that nod to the original Active-Time Battle system, and grants players an arsenal of flashy special attacks and moves. At the same time, the materia from Final Fantasy VII is implemented similarly, where you can level up abilities by equipping them for battles, as well as merge and develop new materia. But what brings everything together very well is how the exploration in Final Fantasy VII Remake is the best of both worlds. The game may only take place within the first main area of the original game, but it presents the location in a detailed and open way that allows players to explore and take in everything. As a whole, Final Fantasy VII Remake is the absolute best way for new fans to understand why this entry in the series was so popular, and long-time fans can relive the magic of stepping into the world of this iconic story.

Embarking into fantasy

For fans of role-playing games, Final Fantasy is a cornerstone franchise that continuously reinvents itself with each new release. There are so many complex stories, relatable characters, and beautiful worlds to marvel at. While it may be intimidating for newer players who want to explore a series with well over 100 entries, they don't need to start their journey at the very beginning. Multiple games within the Final Fantasy series have a low barrier of entry for newcomers, while still maintaining a high-quality experience that fans have come to expect from the series. If you're ready to dive into the worlds of Final Fantasy, any one of these games would be a great place to get started.