All the mainline games are not interconnected at all, they are pretty much very separate in terms of story / settings / characters. So you can jump into any one of the games. Also, their turn-based systems, aka Active Time Battle, aren’t anything interesting, compared to say Shin Megami Tensei’s Press Turn system. All FF games have very linear / streamlined experience compared to other games, i.e. choices don’t matter much, you don’t choose the stats, equipments are streamlined.

Here’s some overview:

• First 6 games were 2D games, the best of those bunches are Final Fantasy 6. Great story, great villain, great music
• original FF7 is the one popularized the JRPG genre, and probably broke the base between older 2D fans and newcomers. It has memorable characters, music, story about eco-terrorism. The gameplay revolves around materia system, it’s like logic system where say if you connect Fire magic with All-effect and 2x-effect, you can casts double Fire magic that hits every enemies, etc. FF7 Crisis Core is one of the best FF spinoffs out there, while FF7 Remake is a ‘remake’. It’s advised that you finished the original FF7 before playing those two.
• FF8 also broke the base. The game is more romance-centric in some way, but still sci-fi. The gameplay revolves around junction / draw system, where you draw magic from enemies to junction it to your stats.
• FF9 is kinda back to original game. It’s more high-fantasy setting, and was released during the end of PS1. It wasn’t as popular as FF7 or FF8, but there are definitely fans. I had hard time getting into it, because the animation is kinda slow, but maybe I should replay the HD version
• FFX is very well received, it’s a sci-fi romance story that takes place in south east Asian-like tropical islands. The first FF game on PS2. FFX has a sequel, FFX-2, which is also well received
• FF11 is MMO, I don’t play MMO, so I have no idea about it.
• FF12 is great, it’s more political than usual FF games, because it’s written by Matsuno, who made Tactics Ogre and FF Tactics. The gameplay is bit weird, bit MMO like.
• FF13 was not well received, the only mainline FF game on PS3. It spawned two other games FFX-2 and FFX Lightning Returns. The main complaint about FF13 was that the story was incomprehensible, the game is very linear, and the battle mechanics is very confusing. I think what happened is that
  • they used tons of opaque in-game terms (Fal’ Cie, La’ Cie), that’s barely explained until very late in the game.
  • the game also opens up very late, there’s a one large wide region for you to roam around and engage in enemy encounters, but they only give it to you very late in the game
  • the combat wasn’t explained clearly, the paradigm shift system is actually fun, and a step up from ATB
  • annoying characters, they focused too much on Hope and Snow. Hope is a whiny child, but he’s a child, so it’s ok. Snow on the other hand, is just an annoying character who likes to talk about himself.
• FF14 is another MMO, I don’t touch MMO
• FF15 is kind of a mess, it was in development hell. I like the roadtrip story, where you just drive around. The open world is bit sparse and serves mostly for enemy encounters. One of the main issue is that some of the stories are gated behind DLCs. The gameplay is bit more weirder than normal ATBs. I like this game, but not as much as others.
• FF16 is great. Devil May Cry combat, very streamlined and nicely paced story, those huge spectacle Asura’s Wrath-esque battles, etc. This game is my current GOTY.

There are other spinoff games, e.g. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles, World of Final Fantasy, but they are mostly spinoffs, mostly for fans who want more after playing the mainline.

But there’s one that I want to recommend, and that’s Final Fantasy Tactics. It’s a strategy RPG and it’s amazing. There’s an updated version released on PSP, called Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, which is probably the one you should play.

There are rumor swirling around about FF9 and FF Tactics remakes, but can’t say anything until we see it.

They are completely disconnected, with the exception of the occasional spinoff or direct sequel, but those are easy to identify. The last game is probably the easier one of the series to pick up and play (this statement has been true for the whole existence of the series)

Where to start? Depends. Everyone of them is a huge game and a big time investment.

Taking into account you have no nostalgia for the series, I’d say your options, in order of what I think would stick are:

• Option 1: the last one. If you just want to play a modern action/rpg game with AAA sensibilities but weird enough, is not a bad option. You have no need for any previous knowledge, the gameplay is completely different to the one in previous entries, etc. Haven’t played so I do t know if it’s any good.
• Option 2: the 7 remake. One of the biggest milestones in the series retold for modern audiences, with updated graphics and narrative.
• Option 3: 16bit retro experience: FFVI, SNES or GBA version. The pinnacle of the formula for the 8 and 16 bit consoles. Upcoming titles in the series are way different. Great in every way a game can be good.
• Option 4: the 7 vanilla. The first international massive mainstream success for the series and one of the more influential video games in history. After this one, if you loved it:
  • Option 4a: the PSX trilogy. Go for FFVIII and FFIX for the full pre-render backgrounds and 3d models god killing trio.
  • Option 4b: the complication. If you are really into the setting and characters you have a few games complicating this one under the “Final Fantasy VII Compilation”. Some aren’t even RPGs.

If you go completely Final Fantasy insane after any of those, start with FF, the first one from the NES and make your way through them all. Prepare a couple thousand hours.

Final Fantasy games have some similar themes/monsters/abilities/sometimes gameplay mechanics, however, except for some outliers, they all take place in separate worlds and have separate stories and worldbuilding.

They’re all decently long games so if you’re looking to play a few:

FF16 is the most recent and has good reviews. It plays more like an action game.

FF4 is my favorite. It was on the Super Nintendo but has a 3D remake on Steam. It plays like an old school JRPG.

FF6 is one of the most popular. It was on Super Nintendo. I believe it has a remaster on Steam. It plays like an old school JRPG but has one of the most lauded stories in games.

FF10 is another favorite of mine. It was on PS2. It has a remaster on steam. It plays like a newer school JRPG.

Try checking them out on Steam and seeing which one catches your eye

The remake of FF7 is pretty easy on newcomers, especially with understanding the story. I would caution about 16, though. It’s not hard; it’s just a different style of game play that’s not as forgiving.

Final Fantasy X is pretty good and linear too; it’s voice acted and modern but still turn based, so it’s not action heavy.

All of the games are pretty separate, though. There’s similar characters but they’re not really connecting nor is the story.

If you’re going to do the remake, I’d say try to keep away from the OG game or spoilers since it will make it so much better.

FF 8 and FF 9 are great too but a bit more complex, so it might be better off waiting on those until you get through another one first.

xiv… It’s n mmo , but you’ll figure it out. its pretty ez n there’s a free trial

What do you play on?

FFI and FFII (Understanding the concept of FF) ---- FFIV, FFV, FFVI (Get deep in story telling) ---- FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX, FFX (Base of 3D FF, must play) ---- FFXV, FFXVI (Recent titles).

What kind of games do you like to play?

I’d start with 6 (sometimes referred to as 3 in the US). The writing is solid, there are plenty of choices to make and characters to play with, and it moves along nicely. You can put a bunch of time into maxing everyone out and grinding out the highest difficulty areas, but you don’t have to.

Great story, great characters, and one hell of a female lead especially considering the era it was released in.

Start with XVI. There’s a lot of buzz/conversation around it. I find that it’s such a great collective experience for movies and games when everyone is talking about it.

Then check out a game that interests you. All of the numbered games will be all inclusive. X and XII are my top suggestions, and very different from one another.

Some of the others are mildly related like Stranger of Paradise.

The only point in the numbered series where I’d say you should play a different one first is IX, which plays on nostalgia for the aesthetics and tropes of I, III, and V as a part of the cozy vibe it’s going for with its setting. And note that VII Remake is not actually a remake of VII and thus not a part of the numbered series, being best enjoyed by people already familiar with VII.

Beyond those stipulations, play whatever looks coolest.

The only single player ones I’ve ever played have been 1 and 7. 1 was…old. The mechanics and everything remind me of Dragon Warrior but I kind of honestly just prefer Dragon Warrior (although I guess that one is also nostalgic because I remember watching my dad play it as a kid).

7 is much more modern but still pretty old at this point. It has a good story and interesting characters. It’s been a while and I don’t remember what the actual gameplay was like but I don’t remember it being turn based.

I’ve also watched my BF play quite a bit of Final Fantasy Tactics and that’s just what it sounds like, a very tactical turn based game. Not for me but some people really like that style of game so that’s something to look into if it appeals to what you’re looking for.

I also played a little bit of Final Fantasy 14 online and it was fun, although not the styles of MMO I personally prefer. But again it’s all personal preference and if you like MMOs you should look it up because you might want to consider that instead of one of the single player games.

I don’t have hundreds of hours

Don’t start with XIV then!

So what is the most recent game in the series that I can start with that is worth it to play and wouldn’t confuse a newcomer?

All of the FF games – baring the ones that are explicitly sequels, like X2 – are totally separate from each other, you can jump in anywhere. At most you might miss some references or easter eggs.

If you want the most recent then, that’d be XVI, although I’d personally recommend looking up what the gameplay is like in the different games and starting wherever you feel you’ll have the most fun! There are some weirder ones out there, like crystal chronicles (my own first final fantasy game) and tactics, so you have a lot of options!