Also, Cloud won best character
Recently, Japan’s national broadcasting company, NHK, held a “best Final Fantasy game and character poll,” and naturally, the results might shock you.
It feels like I’ve been championing Final Fantasy X for nearly my whole life and suddenly feel validated, as it took the top spot in the poll as the best Final Fantasy of all time. The cliched generational pick of VII was second, followed by VI (the one a lot of people consider the best in terms of quality), IX, XIV, V, VIII, IV and XI.
Spinoffs were allowed in the poll, as Tactics took spot 11, with Crisis Core at 13, Type-0 at 16, Crystal Chronicles at 17, Mobius at 20, Tactics Advance at 22, Dissidia (the original) at 23, Ring of Fates taking 25, Dissidia 012 at 26, Adventure at 27, Echoes of Time at 29 and Record Keeper at 30. A few sequels like X-2 and Lightning Returns also made the list. This poll is legit, as it had an astounding 468,654 votes.
The other poll dealt with best character, which saw Cloud win it, followed by Yuna, Aerith (Aeris), Vivi, Zidane, Emet-Selch (XIV), Tidus, Lightning, Tifa and Zack. I find it kind of funny that Lightning isn’t in the top five given how much the creatives push her so hard, and VII clearly dominates overall with Cloud, Aerith, Tifa and Zack all part of the top 10: only X and IX have multiple reps.
Final Fantasy [NHK via Nintendo Life]
NHS best Final Fantasy poll 2020:
- Final Fantasy X (2001)
- Final Fantasy VII (1997)
- Final Fantasy VI (1994)
- Final Fantasy IX (2000)
- Final Fantasy XIV (2010~)
- Final Fantasy V (1992)
- Final Fantasy VIII (1999)
- Final Fantasy IV (1991)
- Final Fantasy XI (2002~)
- Final Fantasy XV (2016)
- Final Fantasy Tactics (1997)
- Final Fantasy III (1990)
- Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (2007)
- Final Fantasy XIII (2009)
- Final Fantasy XII (2006)
- Final Fantasy Type-0 (2011)
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (2003)
- Final Fantasy II (1988)
- Final Fantasy X-2 (2003)
- Mobius Final Fantasy (2015~)
- Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (2013)
- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (2003)
- Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)
- Final Fantasy (1987)
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (2007)
- Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy (2011)
- Final Fantasy Adventure (1991)
- Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2011)
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (2009)
- Final Fantasy Record Keeper (2014~)
Best Final Fantasy character:
- Cloud Strife – Final Fantasy VII
- Yuna – Final Fantasy X
- Aerith Gainsborough – Final Fantasy VII
- Vivi Ornitier – Final Fantasy IX
- Zidane Tribal – Final Fantasy IX
- Emet-Selch – Final Fantasy XIV
- Tidus – Final Fantasy X
- Lightning – Final Fantasy XIII
- Tifa Lockhart – Final Fantasy VII
- Zack Fair – Final Fantasy VII
- Sephiroth – Final Fantasy VII
- Haurchefant Greystone – Final Fantasy XIV
- Noctis Lucis Caelum – Final Fantasy XV
- Squall Leonhart – Final Fantasy VIII
- Auron – Final Fantasy X
- Gilgamesh – Final Fantasy V
- Terra Branford – Final Fantasy VI
- Kain Highwind – Final Fantasy IV
- Celes Chere – Final Fantasy VI
- Crystal Exarch – Final Fantasy XIV
- Locke Cole – Final Fantasy VI
- Vincent Valentine – Final Fantasy VII
- Edgar Roni Figaro – Final Fantasy VI
- Shantotto – Final Fantasy XI
- Bartz Klauser – Final Fantasy V
- Laguna Loire – Final Fantasy VIII
- Rikku – Final Fantasy X
- Ignis Scientia – Final Fantasy XV
- Balthier – Final Fantasy XII
- Faris Scherwiz – Final Fantasy V
- Agrias Oaks – Final Fantasy Tactics
- Reno – Final Fantasy VII
- Yuffie Kisaragi – Final Fantasy VII
- Jecht – Final Fantasy X
- Rinoa Heartilly – Final Fantasy VIII
- Ramza Beoulve – Final Fantasy Tactics
- Rydia (Adult) – Final Fantasy IV
- Prompto Argentum – Final Fantasy XV
- Galuf Halm Baldesion – Final Fantasy V
- Cecil Harvey (Paladin) – Final Fantasy IV
- Shadow – Final Fantasy VI
- Estinien Wyrmblood – Final Fantasy XIV
- Kefka Palazzo – Final Fantasy VI
- Setzer Gabbiani – Final Fantasy VI
- Garnet Til Alexandros XVII – Final Fantasy IX
- Ardbert – Final Fantasy XIV
- Kuja – Final Fantasy IX
- Hope Estheim – Final Fantasy XIII
- Sabin Rene Figaro – Final Fantasy VI
- Red XIII – Final Fantasy VII
- Y’shtola Rhul – Final Fantasy XIV
- Beatrix – Final Fantasy IX
- Wakka – Final Fantasy X
- Golbez – Final Fantasy IV
- Eiko Carol – Final Fantasy IX
- Cidolfus Orlandeau – Final Fantasy Tactics
- Kurasame Susaya – Final Fantasy Type-0
- G’raha Tia – Final Fantasy XIV
- Cid – Final Fantasy VII
- Alisaie Leveilleur – Final Fantasy XIV
- Ace – Final Fantasy Type-0
- Lulu – Final Fantasy X
- Ardyn Izunia – Final Fantasy XV
- Lenna Charlotte Tycoon – Final Fantasy V
- Alphinaud Leveilleur – Final Fantasy XIV
- Ultros – Final Fantasy VI
- Edge Geraldine – Final Fantasy IV
- Vaan – Final Fantasy XII
- Lunafreya Nox Fleuret – Final Fantasy XV
- Irvine Kinneas – Final Fantasy VIII
- Minwu – Final Fantasy II
- Adelbert Steiner – Final Fantasy IX
- Selphie Tilmitt – Final Fantasy VIII
- Freya Crescent – Final Fantasy IX
- Aranea Highwind – Final Fantasy XV
