26 Years Later, The Best Final Fantasy is an Untouchable Gem

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Look, as a gamer, I can tell you this series is legendary – seriously, the most iconic JRPG out there. It’s all about huge, sweeping fantasy stories. There have been a ton of great games in the series, but one stands out above the rest. It’s not just the best story they’ve told, it’s also the most unbelievably fantastical world I’ve ever played in.

Released in 2000 for the Sony PlayStation, Final Fantasy IX is considered the high point of fantasy storytelling in video games. It features a delightful and magical world, incredibly charming characters, and a compelling story filled with dramatic turns, meaningful themes, and touching moments. Compared to other excellent Final Fantasy games, IX stands out for its focus on fantasy, as many others lean more towards science fiction.

Final Fantasy IX is One of the Greatest Games of All Time

While not flawless, Final Fantasy IX is a remarkably well-made JRPG. It’s a return to the traditional fantasy setting of swords and magic that fans loved, especially after the more futuristic themes of the previous two games. It also marked the end of an era for the series, as Final Fantasy X would later introduce a very different style and direction.

Final Fantasy IX follows Zidane, a playful thief with a hidden past and a big heart. He teams up with Steiner, a clumsy but conflicted warrior, to help Princess Garnet, a gentle and sheltered White Mage. Together, they must save her kingdom from her mother, who has unexpectedly become cruel and power-hungry.

Throughout the game, Final Fantasy IX creates a vibrant and believable world, and the relationships between its main characters truly come to life. Zidane acts as an older brother figure to Vivi, and despite constant arguing, he slowly builds a friendship with the wary Steiner. Most notably, Zidane and Garnet develop a realistic and touching romance – arguably the most genuine love story in the entire Final Fantasy series.

As the story of Final Fantasy IX unfolds, it grows in ambition, adding memorable characters and a truly compelling villain in Kuja. The stakes quickly rise beyond simple conflict between nations, and the game delivers powerful emotional moments. It’s beautifully presented with a classic art style and an unforgettable soundtrack – the best in the Final Fantasy series. Final Fantasy IX thoughtfully examines themes of love, self-discovery, and the meaning of life, culminating in the most moving and resonant finale of any game in the franchise.

While Final Fantasy IX has interesting battle and equipment features, its gameplay isn’t the game’s strongest point – and that’s typical for most Final Fantasy titles. The biggest problem with the original release isn’t a matter of taste – like whether you prefer highly customizable characters or set classes – it’s that the game runs a bit slowly. Later versions have improved this, but there’s still one core issue: some characters aren’t developed enough. This doesn’t ruin an otherwise brilliant game, but Freya’s storyline feels incomplete, and the characters Eiko, Quina, and Amarant could have used more depth.

The Other Best Final Fantasy Games Fail to Match the Perfection of FF9

To really appreciate why Final Fantasy IX stands out as the best in the series, it’s helpful to consider where other Final Fantasy games sometimes fall short. It’s also important to remember that many Final Fantasy titles lean heavily into science fiction or science fantasy themes.

Let’s skip the first five Final Fantasy games for this discussion. While they’re all traditional fantasy adventures, only one really stands out story-wise, and Final Fantasy VI is clearly a step up in terms of technology and how it plays.

Let’s also exclude online games and spin-offs from this discussion, as they’re quite different from the core titles. While games like Final Fantasy XI, Final Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy Tactics, and Final Fantasy VII: Remake are all excellent, they don’t really fit into the traditional JRPG category.

Many later Final Fantasy games have noticeable problems that have always caused strong disagreements among fans. For example, Final Fantasy VIII is criticized for its confusing Junction system and weak story, Final Fantasy XII for its uninteresting main character and gameplay that felt like an online multiplayer game, and the Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, despite being a clever and overlooked science-fantasy series, suffers from uneven gameplay and being difficult to get into.

The latest two major Final Fantasy games have also disappointed fans. Final Fantasy XV launched feeling unfinished and didn’t meet expectations, and Final Fantasy XVI feels disconnected from the rest of the series, both in terms of its story and how it plays.

Only Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, and X-2 really compare to Final Fantasy IX. Although all are excellent games, Final Fantasy X feels restricted by its straightforward path, dull battles, and a difficult story about forgiveness. X-2 has some strange and awkward parts, and its actual ending nearly destroys the experience. Plus, both X and X-2 lean more towards science fiction than traditional fantasy.

Look, I love Final Fantasy VI and VII, but for me, Final Fantasy IX just hits different. VI is amazing for a long stretch, but honestly, too many of its characters feel like they’re just there, and the story kind of loses its way once the big bad happens. They basically sideline Terra, and the ending… well, it always felt a little weird to me. It’s sparked debates for years about who the actual main character even is, which tells you something, right?

Look, everyone loves Final Fantasy VII, and yeah, it was the first one to really blend sci-fi with fantasy, but honestly, I think Final Fantasy IX is the better game. And it’s not just because I like Zidane, Vivi, and Kuja more than Cloud, Aerith, and Sephiroth! Even setting my personal preferences aside, IX just looks better, plain and simple. Plus, it feels more like the classic Final Fantasy games we all fell in love with in the first place. The writing in VII isn’t as polished either, and even Hironobu Sakaguchi, the creator of the series, says IX is his favorite! So, while VII is great, I truly believe IX is the peak of the series.

Final Fantasy IX stands out as the best in the Final Fantasy series and a truly exceptional fantasy game. It’s unlikely another game will surpass it anytime soon. What makes it special is its unforgettable characters, immersive world, heartfelt story, and captivating music. While it has a few small gameplay issues and some characters aren’t used to their full potential, these don’t detract from its overall brilliance – it’s a true masterpiece.

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2026-03-01 21:42