The best Final Fantasy game of all time, according to Metacritic, may be a bit surprising, as it is not the most popular ones, such as FF7, for example. Square Enix’s RPG franchise is constantly expanding, either with new installments in the main series, remakes, or even remasters of spin-offs. In 2023, the series saw the release of Final Fantasy 16, the latest entry in the series, though 2024 held the release of FF7 Rebirth, the second part of the FF7 Remake series. The story of FF7 Remake’s Part 3 is already complete, but doesn’t have a release date.

There also haven’t been announcements regarding a 17th installment in the main series. With such a long repertoire of titles, many of which are extremely well evaluated by players and critics, it’s common to associate some of the most popular titles, like FF7 and FFX, as the best. They are certainly some of the best, but their Metacritic scores fall below one specific game in the series that is deemed a bit less popular, perhaps due to the moment in which it was released.

Final Fantasy 9 Is The Best Game In The Franchise, According To Metacritic

The Game Has a 94 Metascore & 8.9 User Score

According to Metacritic, Final Fantasy 9 is the best game in Square Enix’s franchise. The game holds a whopping 94 Metascore and an 8.9 user score on the platform. These scores put the game released in 2000 ahead of other surprising titles in the series, including FFXIV: Endwalker, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy 7, and FF7 Rebirth. As seen on Metacritic, FFXIV: Endwalker is the second-best entry in the series, with a 92 Metascore and a 9.0 user score.

After that, Final Fantasy X, Final Fantasy 7, and FF7 Rebirth are all tied with a 92 Metascore and an 8.9 user score, as seen on Metacritic. The difference in scores between FF9 and the other mentioned titles in the top 5 ranking on the platform isn’t too great and can be considered somewhat equivalent, but, score-wise, the 2000 title is still considered slightly better. The user scores are nearly identical, but the critics’ love for Final Fantasy 9 put it in first place in the series.

FF9 Outscores FF7, FFX, & XIV: Endwalker (& Rightfully So)

The Gameplay Is Pristine & Its Story Is Timeless

Outscoring FFXIV: Endwalker, FFX, FF7, and FF7 Rebirth, Final Fantasy 9’s status as the best entry in the series is well-deserved. Even though FFXIV is my favorite title in the franchise, FF9 is easily my second-favorite. The title boasts a fantastic gameplay structure that is well-polished and has aged quite well, especially when compared to the likes of games like FF7 and FFX, for example, both of which have a lot of flaws. The story that FF9 tells is also timeless and is, possibly, the most touching among the single-player entries.

The ensemble of characters in FF9 is also legendary. Furthermore, one of the least spoken boons in its design is how much it highlights the fantasy aspect of the series, something that had been left aside significantly in previous entries. FF6, FF7, and FF8 are all severely tech-oriented, whereas FF9 takes a good, long look back to its origins and dives into the fantasy that gives the franchise its name.

After years of rumors, FF9 Remake seems inevitable as it moves toward its 25th anniversary, and after the confirmation of the FF Tactics remaster.

The scores that it has obtained are justified, even if it isn’t as popular as other entries. If you haven’t played it before, I highly recommend jumping into FF9, considered the best Final Fantasy game ever, and seeing exactly why it’s so praised – and seeing how well it’s aged, you don’t really need to wait for the rumored remake.