36. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring Of Fates (DS)

For many, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring Of Fates is one of the best games in the Crystal Chronicles sub-series, in our eyes.

Known for its cutesy charm and surprisingly deep story, Ring of Fates might not be wowing in the gameplay department, but it's still a solid and fun adventure that's easy to get absorbed into. Plus, that action combat seems to have been perfected here. Overall, this is one of the better handheld Final Fantasy spin-offs on the market.

35. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (DS)

Far exceeding its DS and Gamecube ancestors, as well as a huge portion of the DS's catalogue, we think Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time is a superb game for fans of RPGs.

It's the perfect fit for the handheld console, with great touchscreen controls and addictive gameplay. We'd recommend picking up this portable version over the Wii release without a shadow of a doubt.

34. Final Fantasy II (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy II is often one of the hardest games in the mainline series to recommend, and it's pretty divisive even among hardcore series fans. That being said, this is arguably the one that gave us the SaGa series. It's the first entry to give us a truly deep story, and also provides interesting mechanics and ways to level up that truly challenge you.

This is also the game that introduced us to Chocobos. While this wouldn't be at the top of our list of recommendations, if you like SaGa, or you really love the series and want to play them all, this is worth a shot.

33. Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon (Wii)

For people hoping that Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon is at the same standard as the main series, we don't think this one gets particularly close, but we do know it's a fan favourite.

What you get is a very cute and cuddly-looking game that is as tough as nails. Though this experience is recommended for hardcore gamers, newcomers to the Final Fantasy series might be put off by the steep difficulty, with a strong chance that they’ll get frustrated fairly quickly. If you savour a challenge then this is worth the investment.

32. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (WiiWare)

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King is one of the most ambitious WiiWare games. There's never a lack of things to do in this adventure, and while you can't directly jump into combat itself, you'll find that being in charge has its perks and building your kingdom from the ground up can be quite rewarding in this unique simulation-style adventure.

If you can get past any expectations that this game will offer the same type of RPG experience as those found in the regular Final Fantasy games and just appreciate it for what it is, you'll likely find a lot to enjoy about this charming release. That is, if you managed to snag it before WiiWare shut down.

31. Final Fantasy III (DS)

Back when Final Fantasy III on DS launched, this was the first time the West had ever officially received the third NES title. Luckily, this remake is unlikely to disappoint long-time Final Fantasy fans.

FFIII isn’t perfect by any means, but with its deep job system, it’s still eminently enjoyable and will provide hours of entertainment to RPG aficionados. Even with the Pixel Remaster now available, this is still worth picking up for its tough difficulty.

30. Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light (DS)

Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light is certainly an interesting experience when it comes to many of its unique gameplay mechanics, but the game's overflowing sense of charm and hardcore level of challenge make it an irresistible experience for seasoned RPG fans.

Despite a few simplifications, this is a game that's every bit as strategic and challenging as past turn-based RPG offerings. At the very least you'll get to experience one of the most engaging Final Fantasy storylines the series has seen, not to mention one of the most exceptional RPGs available for the system.

Also, without The 4 Heroes of Light, we probably wouldn't have Bravely Default, so that absolutely counts for something.

29. Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings (DS)

The Ivalice Alliance returns to a more tactical affair in Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings, and with pretty solid results. The RTS-style gameplay blends tactics with RPG elements perfectly and gives you plenty of interesting Espers and units to play around with.

It certainly slips up in terms of story and character — particularly concerning the excellent Final Fantasy XII — but gameplay-wise, there are worse ways you can spend multiple hours planning and strategizing.

28. Final Fantasy (Switch eShop)

If you want to play the original Final Fantasy, the Pixel Remaster is a no-brainer. Those updated visuals and rearranged music tracks to wonders for what could be seen as a pretty barebones RPG by today's standards. However, without Final Fantasy, we wouldn't have... well, basically 90% of the RPGs we play today.

Don't forget those lovely QoL features that make a breezy RPG even easier to slip into. It's a classic for a reason.

27. Final Fantasy III (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy III Pixel Remaster at last gives fans a chance to check out the final NES game in the series as it was intended. The quality-of-life features go a long way to making this much more palatable than the DS remake, and the rearranged music is absolutely wonderful and one of the most underrated soundtracks in the franchise.

The job system is also great though it is improved upon in later games. But this is arguably the way to play Final Fantasy III — and it looks great on Switch, too.

26. Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales (DS)

Card-based combat? Check. Cute birds? Check. Charming and lovely visuals and story? Check. Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales is pretty delightful in multiple aspects.

The picture book aesthetic gives it a unique look and feel, and presenting Final Fantasy characters in Aesop-style fables is extremely fun. Throw in some minigames and duels and Chocobo Tales is a hard game not to love.

25. Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles (GCN)

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles is one of the games that marked Final Fantasy's return to Nintendo systems. And, as long as you had friends to play with and multiple GBAs and link cables, the core gameplay itself is fabulous and really helps it stand out from the pack. The gameplay is just as addictive as past titles and the difficult curve is spot-on.

While all these amazing things came at the cost of the story, it still proves to be somewhat decent. Simply put, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles is a spectacular title that'll surely please any newcomers to the franchise.

24. Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- Reunion (Switch)

Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion is everything that we hoped this remake would be. It takes a great game once shackled to handheld-only hardware and gives it a fresh coat of paint.

Though some may be put off by its mission-based gameplay structure or the sometimes ridiculous writing, its excellent combat, gorgeous presentation, and heartfelt narrative combine to make this one that no fan will want to miss out on, especially those who were fans of Final Fantasy VII. Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII Reunion is a fantastic addition to the Switch's library, we’d advise you to give this one a go.