Which Final Fantasy Game shoud I play first?

[Styyxx]

I'm wondering which FF game I should start with since I have never played any of them before. Which one is going to be the least difficult to play. Which has the best story? Do they need to be played in order?

[Engwathang]

Best story: FF6, least difficult ff1. No need for play in order

[Locrian]

The numbered games don't have to be played in order, but the sequels do. So definitely don't play The After Years first (not sure why you're on this discussion forum but oh well).

[Styyxx]

I wanted the most imput from the most people who played all the different FF games. I didn't want to pick the wrong one and get turned off all together thinking they were all like this. Or try to start in the middle and find out I would have got more out of it if I played them in order.

[Meladath]

Best story is very subjective, but I think it's a tie between VII and X (my personal favorite). VI's story is also very good. I guess it depends alot what you're looking for in a game and how important graphics are to you. FF1-3 and 5 are definitely skippable if story is important to you, but I've enjoyed them all to some extent except II which I just didn't like. If you don't mind 2D graphics play VI first, and possibly wait until after IX to play IV since the PC version has voice acting, whereas I-IX doesn't. VI-X are unmissable in my opinion. After Years and X-2 can be skipped if you don't care for the way they continue the story, as both have divided fan opinion. I liked the XIII trilogy and Type-0, but I guess they are an acquired taste as many people seem to hate them. XII is not availabe on PC yet, but it's a solid title as well, but should be played after Tactics which isn't available either (set in the same universe). Give

[Meladath]

Gameplay wise most FF games are similar up to and including XIII-2. VIII and X have the best gameplay IMO, although VIII takes some time getting used to. X is also completely turn-based, which might be to your liking since you seem to love Civ 5. XIII and XIII-2 are more fast-paced though. Lightning Returns and especially Type-0 are vastly different, and more real-time than anything.

[Meladath]

Originally posted by seagullsquest:

I wanted the most imput from the most people who played all the different FF games. I didn't want to pick the wrong one and get turned off all together thinking they were all like this. Or try to start in the middle and find out I would have got more out of it if I played them in order.

Oh, and I almost forgot: Absolutely no need to play the game in order for story purposes (except for XIII trlogy, X-2 and After Years), but it could be fun to play them starting with I (when it's available for Steam) to see the evolution of gameplay. You will also notice fun references from game to game.

[Helevorn]

FF6 and FF7. FF6 on SNES or GBA, FF7 on Steam/PC or PSX.

[RedGeneral]

Final Fantasy 9 (IX) is the best. Hironobu Sakaguchi (creator of Final Fantasy) said "it's closest to the ideal view of what Final Fantasy should be." Nobuo Uematsu also said that FF9's score is his favorite.

Final Fantasy 12 (XII) however was a blatant copy, ripoff really, of Star Wars: Original Trilogy.

[Bad_Conduct]

If you want an old school RPG, III is surprisingly good.

[Kiss My Ax]

F.F. 1