10. Final Fantasy IV (Switch eShop)

Yet another version of Final Fantasy IV, albeit playable on Switch. The Pixel Remaster might be lacking the GBA additions and the DS's difficulty, but this is classic Final Fantasy at its finest, whatever way you play it. Cecil's journey is one of the franchise's best, making him a fantastic main character.

And even though this was the game that introduced the ATB system, it already feels perfect right out of the gate. Final Fantasy IV isn't a super long RPG, but it is an essential one — even if some elements feel a bit outdated today.

9. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (GBA)

Is Final Fantasy Tactics Advance the FFT sequel fans wanted? Probably not. But don't let that dissuade you. This is an excellent strategy RPG that you can play in the palm of your hands. Levelling up your clan, finding the best weapons and trying to out-think the enemy leads to endlessly enjoyable battling with enough variables in location, laws and opponent abilities to prevent things becoming too repetitive.

Even when battles get easy, they remain entertaining. It can be tricky to find what you are looking for amongst the many menu screens, but once you know where to look Final Fantasy Tactics Advance will divert and delight you for a long ol' time.

8. Final Fantasy X | X-2 HD Remaster (Switch)

Final Fantasy X / X-2 HD Remaster is a package of two fantastic games; the 2001 original and its 2003 direct sequel. FFX is probably not the most straightforward introduction for new players, but it presents one of the most engaging worlds in any games in the series and its Conditional Time-Based battle system (which here replaced the standard Active Time Battles of previous entries) spiced things up nicely.

With upgraded visuals and audio and all the content from the 'International' version of the game, Switch is a great place to play X. If you've got dozens of hours to spare, of course.

7. Final Fantasy VII (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy VII's reputation speaks for itself — it's a touchstone of game design that played a large role in setting the standard of RPGs for years to come. The Materia system is addictive, and there's a plethora of optional content and superbosses to dig into. Plus, even with the translation issues, this is one of the best stories in the franchise.

As with many early PS1 games, Final Fantasy VII is a relic of its time, but that doesn’t mean it’s to be respected any less; if you can look past the antiquated elements, the core game here is as brilliant as it ever was. Even with the Remake on Switch 2, the original is worth checking out.

6. Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles - Nintendo Switch 2 Edition (Switch 2)

Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles cuts content from the War of the Lions PSP version, and it's a shame. However, put this one issue aside and you've got a fantastic — and fantastically thoughtful — revamp otherwise. Meaningful quality-of-life changes meld with delicate gameplay nips and tucks, CPU enemy tune-ups, and a smoother-flowing experience overall to deliver a game that's pretty much impossible to knock.

Fans will be fully absorbed into the story all over again, enjoying the new flow of the narrative and experiencing the whole thing so wonderfully well-acted. Newcomers, who're less likely to be bothered by the missing content, well, you can just get busy lapping up one of the all-time great tactical RPGs looking and playing better than ever.

5. Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Switch 2)

Even in its attempts to swing big and do something different, Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade respects where it’s come from. The classic's pro-revolutionary heart is still intact, and it’s never afraid to get a little weird and funny. The Switch 2 version makes impressively few compromises to get this gorgeous-looking game running on the system – even at 30fps, this looks and feels fantastic.

The fact that everything from the PS5 release is preserved in such excellent fashion here is remarkable, and it makes us excited (and anxious) for Rebirth.

4. Final Fantasy IX (Switch eShop)

Final Fantasy IX is a good reminder of why this franchise has remained an RPG institution over the years. Its medieval-style setting makes it a fun nostalgia trip for fans of the older series entries — or players fed up with all the futuristic Final Fantasies — acting as a callback to the classics.

Memorable characters, a wacky story, deep character customisation, and plenty of incredible environments make a strong case for why Final Fantasy IX deserves a spot on your Switch, even if some elements haven't aged particularly well. But with one of the best stories and a wonderful world to explore, Final Fantasy IX should be played by anyone who loves turn-based RPGs.

3. Final Fantasy VI (Switch eShop)

After years of begging for the 16-bit Final Fantasy VI to be playable on Switch, the Pixel Remaster brings us a fantastic version of what might just be one of the best RPGs ever made.

Timeless music has been made even better with the new arrangements, while the visuals have been enhanced in a lovely pixel-perfect manner. And what it might lack in difficulty, Final Fantasy VI makes up for in basically every other aspect — incredible characters, fantastic bosses, an amazing story, and fun gameplay.

An all-timer that barely feels its age.

2. Final Fantasy VI Advance (GBA)

If you missed out on Final Fantasy VI on the SNES (or if you're from Europe) or PlayStation, then for a long time, Final Fantasy VI Advance was the only way to experience an all-time great.

Even for returning fans, this version of the game offered brand-new dungeons and summons for you to experience, and with the small sacrifice of music quality, you could play one of the best games of all time on the go, wherever you want.

Depending on if you want that extra content or not, the handheld debate between this and the Pixel Remaster remains, but you really can't go wrong either way.

1. Final Fantasy III (SNES)

For many, Final Fantasy VI (or III as we in the West used to call it) is the pinnacle of the genre. You can't help but appreciate how epic and enthralling a quest Square was able to cook up for this sixth release in the series, and it still feels as magnificent and relevant today as it did decades ago.

If you've somehow never played Final Fantasy VI in any of its various forms over the years, you truly owe it to yourself to experience one of the best in the series - or any series. This one featured on the SNES classic, but there are various ways to play, including the rather great GBA and Pixel Remaster re-releases.

Final Fantasy II / IV SNES
Image: Zion Grassl / Nintendo Life

That's a lot of 'Finals', isn't it? Is your favourite high up? Disappointed at where some of the spin-offs lie? Share your thoughts in the comments below. And don't forget you can score your favourites (or least-favourites).

Best Final Fantasy Games FAQs

We know, there's a lot of Final Fantasy here. So if you still have questions, read on...

How many mainline Final Fantasy games are on Nintendo Switch 1/2?

Thanks to the Pixel Remasters, you can now play 12 mainline Final Fantasy games on Switch. The only numbered Final Fantasy games that aren't available on the system are the two MMORPGs — Final Fantasy XI and Final Fantasy XIV — Final Fantasy XIII, and Final Fantasy XVI.

Do you need to play the numbered Final Fantasy games in order?

Nope, not at all. Final Fantasy games are sequels in name only and share themes such as elemental crystals and character names like Cid. Oh, and don't forget those recurring creatures like Chocobos, Moogles, etc. Essentially, you can play the mainline Final Fantasy games in any order.

There are a handful of exceptions, however. Final Fantasy X-2 is a direct sequel to Final Fantasy X — fortunately, those are bundled together on Switch. Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings is sort of a sequel to Final Fantasy XII, but the narrative and characterisation feel a bit different from the main game. It's not essential and it plays very differently.

Wait, where's [insert Final Fantasy game here]?

This list focuses on games with an official English release, which means the original Final Fantasy III and Final Fantasy V are excluded here — we didn't get those until the DS remake or GBA port (on Nintendo consoles, anyway).

There are also a handful of games from the '90s that took on the Final Fantasy name in the West for brand recognition: the Final Fantasy Legend series (which are actually SaGa games) and Final Fantasy Adventure (the first Mana game, now often called Adventure of Mana).

Lastly, a series commonly associated with Final Fantasy is the Bravely series from Team Asano; this started life as a sequel to The 4 Heroes of Light, and while it feels like classic FF, it's its own series.

We have, however, kept the many remakes and remasters as part of this list, as each one (like the Advance games, Pixel Remasters, and the DS remakes) brings something new to the table.

Is Final Fantasy XIV available on Switch 2?

Not right now, but never say never. Being an MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV's path to Switch 2 is probably a bit more complicated than other titles. But it absolutely hasn't been ruled out, with director Naoki Yoshida even teasing the game a few times.

In the summer of 2024, Yoshi-P reiterated a few times that he wanted to see the game on Nintendo platforms (that was before the Switch 2!), but as recently as the beginning of 2026, he seems to be directly teasing a port in a blog post, with a "please look forward to it" comment. Hmm!

What are the best Final Fantasy games that aren't on Switch 1/2?

It depends on who you ask, honestly. And while Final Fantasy may have started life as a Nintendo-focused franchise, the series is probably just as well known to PlayStation fans nowadays thanks to the gargantuan success of Final Fantasy VII.

If you're looking for Dissidia Final Fantasy or want to know what people think of Final Fantasy XIV, then thank goodness our friends at Push Square have us covered in their Best Final Fantasy games list:

Can you play Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade without playing the original?

Yes, of course. While Final Final Fantasy VII Remake is more than just a complete from-the-ground-up remake of the 1997 original, it does still contain almost every moment from the Midgar section of the game.

So, essentially, if those blocky PS1 visuals are a bit much for you, don't fret — play the remake on Switch 2.

When is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth coming to Switch 2?

We don't know yet, but soon-ish hopefully! Director and producer Naoki Hamaguchi confirmed way back when Remake was announced for the console, and recently, he's reiterated this in an interview with Nintendo:

"I can reassure players that we’re working on the Nintendo Switch 2 version of Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the second game in the series, and the third game too."

How can I change the ranking in this article?

Like our other series rankings, this Final Fantasy list is not set in stone. The order changes based on each game's User Rating in our game database, and you can change your score whenever you like.

So if you see something you vehemently disagree with, or haven't rated a title yet, you can do so right now. Just click the 'star' of the game you wish to rate, assign a score, and potentially influence the list.

Alternatively, use this box to search for them:

Gathered your crystals and gone through the ranks? Do you agree with the final boss (number one)? Share your favourite Final Fantasy games in the comments, and don't forget, you can rate those games yourself by clicking on the star!