Top 10 Greatest Final Fantasy Characters

Final Fantasy is a science fantasy video game franchise consisting mainly of standalone role-playing video games. Many know Final Fantasy for being one of the best RPG series of all time.

One of the major factors in its prestige is the character design in the games. But who is the greatest?

1. Cloud Strife

   

   Cloud Strife is a fictional character and the main protagonist of Square Enix's 1997 role-playing video game Final Fantasy VII. He has also appeared in numerous sequels, spin-offs, and related media, including Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. Cloud is known for his... read more

   A true hero who is so relatable. With everything he goes through, he still comes out on top!

   People often forget that Cloud has beaten Sephiroth three times, which is a feat no other so-called SOLDIER has ever achieved. He is a fantastic character, and only people who have not played the games or have not understood the story criticize him. They are just a loud-mouthed minority.

   The ultimate hero. A normal boy who overcomes all of the tragic events in his life and still marches on to overcome the villain.

   Best character ever written in a video game.

2. Sephiroth

   

   Sephiroth is a fictional character and the main antagonist in the role-playing video game Final Fantasy VII developed by Square. He is a former SOLDIER operative who becomes mentally unstable and seeks to destroy the world. Sephiroth is considered one of the most iconic villains in video game history... read more

   A proper villain with a proper story arc. The backstory of Sephiroth could make a good game itself.

   Sephiroth is already more iconic than Cloud. He left a mark on the Final Fantasy games so shocking, nothing Cloud ever did could top it!

   Flawless and ever-growing. All hail Sephiroth. Now kneel before your lord.

3. Aerith Gainsborough

   

   Aerith (or Aeris) is a feminine and realistic character you'll enjoy because she's the best female character of all time in Final Fantasy history. She's peaceful, harmonious, angelic, and easy to love. Then suddenly, she perishes by the evil Sephiroth. But that's what made Final Fantasy VII an amazingly marvelous story. So thank you to the creator of Final Fantasy VII for creating Aerith as a character! I'm from New Zealand on Friday, May 17th, 2014!

   Aerith is a strong girl. She doesn't have the best looks (those belong to Tifa), but she has a lovable personality. Just as you start to like her a lot (and as you start to plan her healing usefulness in battle), Sephiroth happens. So not only have you been traumatized, but you've also lost your main healer. What a jerk you are, Sephiroth.

4. Tifa Lockhart

   

   Tifa Lockhart is a fictional character in Square's role-playing video game Final Fantasy VII, released in 1997. She is a martial artist and a member of the group AVALANCHE who fights against the corrupt Shinra Corporation. She also appears in several related titles, including Final Fantasy VII Remake... read more

   The mixture of beauty and her caring personality really appeals to me. She is not as childish, naive, or helpless as other characters in Final Fantasy. Also, she is able to take care of herself without seeming too emotionally reserved or cold. Additionally, she is capable of criticizing her friends and teammates without being aggressive.

   My favorite girl character. I really love Tifa, she is very strong and cute too.

5. Squall Leonhart

   

   Squall Leonhart is a fictional character and the primary protagonist of Final Fantasy VIII, a role-playing video game developed by Square Enix. He is a member of SeeD, an elite mercenary force, and wields a weapon known as the gunblade. Squall is known for his reserved personality and leadership throughout... read more

   He's cool. All that inner moodiness, angst, and uncertainty about things are pretty believable in a 17-year-old. He's just a confused kid trying to make sense of an entire school full of people relying on him the way they do. He doesn't realize that his skill with the Gunblade and his outward stoic appearance make him a figure people like Rinoa want to depend on. I like how he grows into a mature and reliable person through his friends and Rinoa. He's a natural badass. Also, childhood abandonment issues and literally revisiting his own past and seeing the events that will cause Matron to start Garden... wow. Great lead protagonist.

6. Zack Fair

   

   Zack Fair is a fictional character first introduced as a non-player character in the 1997 role-playing video game Final Fantasy VII by Square Enix. He was later developed as the protagonist of Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII, which is part of the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII metaseries. Zack plays... read more

   I really don't get how Cloud is #1, but the man who made Cloud everything he is ranked #5, even below Aerith. Zack is a hero among heroes in the Final Fantasy world. He was easygoing, determined, and kind-hearted. After being kidnapped, he carried Cloud to freedom for 10 months, trying to make it back to Midgar to see Aerith again. He even entrusted his Buster Sword to Cloud and named him his living legacy. I feel like his death was the saddest in any of the games. He fearlessly sacrificed himself for his friends and the people he loved, and Aerith never even knew the lengths he endured to make it back to her. The fact that his honor or legacy is barely ever mentioned again (because Cloud lost his memories of Zack) is tragic and makes him an even more appealing character. I encourage all Final Fantasy fans to play Final Fantasy Crisis Core (which takes place before the events of FF7) and to watch the movie Final Fantasy: Advent Children. You'll really understand why FF7's entire layout depends on Zack's life and his selfless sacrifice.

7. Kefka

   

   Of course, the characters from VII are going to be high on the list due to this being a popularity contest. The fact is, though, Kefka is a far more intriguing villain than Sephiroth. Honestly, I think he's my favorite character in any of the games. So interesting.

   The villain who WINS, destroying the entire world while laughing his ass off.

   10/10 theme/final boss theme and battle

   10/10 cackle

   15/10 wacky chaotic evil character

   What? What is Sephiroth doing in 2nd place? Kefka is the best villain in the FF franchise, and he's at the 17th place! He needs to get higher!

8. Vincent Valentine

   

   Vincent Valentine is a player character in Square's 1997 role-playing video game Final Fantasy VII. Designed by Tetsuya Nomura, he also appears in various titles from the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII, including Dirge of Cerberus and Advent Children. He is portrayed as a former Turk with a dark past... read more

   Vincent Valentine is my favorite fictional character ever. He's such an emo cinnamon roll, and he's adorable and a cutie pie, and by far the hottest.

   He even became the main character of his own game.

   Vincent Valentine should at least be in the top 3!

9. Zidane

   

   Zidane Tribal is the main protagonist of Final Fantasy IX, a role-playing video game developed by Square Enix and released in 2000. He is a skilled thief who is part of a group of bandits known as Tantalus.

   Zidane's story explores themes of identity, belonging, and sacrifice as he uncovers his... read more

   Zidane is just awesome because of his laid-back personality and his heart. He saves his enemies from death. I mean, who does that? Zidane is a true hero in the Final Fantasy worlds.

10. Locke Cole

    

    Scrolling down the list, fearing to see in which undeservedly filthy position everyone's favorite thi---treasure hunter has ranked.

The Newcomers
11. ?

    Prompto Argentum

    

    The fact that I had to scroll all the way down here to find Prompto, only to not find him and have to add him myself, is quite disappointing.

12. ?

    Warrior of Light

    

    Easily the best character in the whole franchise. Come on now, he's the hero from FF1, he started it all.

The Contenders

13. Lightning

    

    Even though she rarely shows an emotional side, she displayed several admirable traits: integrity, strength, level-headedness in a pinch, and determination to do whatever was necessary. Lightning has her flaws, but I always understood her backstory and where she was coming from - her frustrations, realizations, difficulties, and fears. While she wasn't a paragon of moral choice, she was always straightforward and headstrong. This wasn't always great, but it was admirable in some ways as well. (I can't really say the same for Mr. Buster Sword, with the most convoluted background in all of existence.)

    If we're talking about characters who deserved more credit, it's definitely her. I love Final Fantasy X the most out of all the FF games, but when it comes to the character I couldn't get enough of, it's this amazingly powerful woman. And I'm not paying attention to where Square tried to go with FFXIII's story in the two sequels. Like I said, I hate the sequels (fanfics), like the original XIII, and LOVE the character.

14. Yuna

    

    Yuna is a fictional character in Square Enix's Final Fantasy series. She first appeared in the 2001 role-playing game Final Fantasy X as a summoner who embarks on a pilgrimage to defeat the monstrous entity known as Sin. Along her journey, she is joined by several companions, including Tidus, the game's... read more

    She has an amazing character arc. She learns a lot about not just listening to religion. It gives the game a strong meaning.

    A girl who can kick ass and look good doing it.

15. Vivi Ornitier

    

    How can Vivi be behind the generic black mage? He's literally the generic black mage with a personality. Plus, he's amazing, and his story is so sad and touching.

16. Lulu

    

    She is a good character. Why is she not in the top ten?

17. Terra Branford

    

18. Celes Chere

    

19. Biggs

20. Barret

    

21. Tidus

    

    Tidus is the main protagonist of Final Fantasy X, a role-playing video game developed by Square Enix and released in 2001. He is a professional Blitzball player from Zanarkand who is transported to the world of Spira after an attack by a mysterious force called Sin. His journey involves helping the summoner... read more

    Tidus has probably the most depth of any character 1-10. He becomes mature and a man before your eyes. He knows what it means to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the ones he loves and cares for. He becomes a powerful character that starts off weak and inexperienced in battle, and he is the most relatable of any character in the series. His psychological problems are similar to what most of us face, and even though it's a vice to Tidus, he stands his ground and keeps fighting. Tidus never gives up in the face of despair, making him the quintessential character you would want to take into any battle.

    I don't get why Tidus gets hate. I mean, come on! He's my favorite character!

22. Cecil

    

    Cecil, Zack, Noctis, and Clive are super interesting units. They're competitors of Cloud from different worlds, like Mako and Valisthea.

    Final Fantasy XIII is probably the best, though, with Red XIII as a pet for Lightning. The early pixel days of Final Fantasy saw the likes of Cecil gracing the screen, which is great to return to, in my opinion.

    How is Cecil not in the top 3? He is far better than any of the characters in the top 10. This list is just FF7 biased.

    One of the first main characters with an intriguing backstory. Cecil is awesome.

23. Wedge

24. Noctis

    

    He is probably one of the most pressured Final Fantasy characters. He's got a lot on his plate. Even though no one in real life can probably truly relate to his pressure, he's still probably the most relatable FF character out there. He's also almost ridiculously powerful. Ignoring the plot, they manage to make his insanely strong powers work.

    Hands down! Best character for DLC in Tekken 7! And great character design in Final Fantasy XV. I main him in Tekken 7. He's a good, perfect pairing for Lightning Farron. No lies, no BS, this character is worth maining in Tekken 7! He costs $7.99 in the USA. He's DLC #3, and you get Hammerhead for the stage. It's a great one! I have him on my PS4. Great music for the Tekken 7 jukebox! I listen to it on SoundCloud! I wanted him for Smash Bros when the game was in development. I wish they could switch the voice to English instead of Japanese.

25. Rikku

    

    She's a character with a lot of fun!

    She'd be fun to meet in real life.

26. Yuffie Kisaragi

    

    Yuffie Kisaragi is a character from Square Enix's Final Fantasy video game series, first introduced in Final Fantasy VII in 1997. She appears as an optional playable character and is known for her ninja abilities and energetic personality. Yuffie has also featured in various spin-offs and recent remakes... read more

27. Auron

    

    The textbook definition of cool.