Japan Votes For Its Favorite Final Fantasy Games And Characters

Debates about the best Final Fantasy games have been drawn out for years on end now – with fans going back and forth about which title broke the franchise, saved it, or was some sort of cult classic. Well, Japanese folks finally got to settle that score on a national scale this past week!

Japan’s National Broadcaster NHK has released the results of a recent country-wide popularity poll that sought out fan inputs on the best Final Fantasy games, characters and more. In total, the poll saw a whopping 468,654 votes across these various categories.

For favorite game, Final Fantasy X obtained the most votes at first place – even beating the popular Final Fantasy VII (which came in second). Meanwhile, Final Fantasy VI managed a respectable third place – while the mobile gacha game Final Fantasy Record Keeper stewed at the bottom of these rankings.

All-Final Fantasy Grand Poll: Series #1 to 30

1. Final Fantasy X (2001)
2. Final Fantasy VII (1997)
3. Final Fantasy VI (1994)
4. Final Fantasy IX (2000)
5. Final Fantasy XIV (2010~)
6. Final Fantasy V (1992)
7. Final Fantasy VIII (1999)
8. Final Fantasy IV (1991)
9. Final Fantasy XI (2002~)
10. Final Fantasy XV (2016)
11. Final Fantasy Tactics (1997)
12. Final Fantasy III (1990)
13. Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (2007)
14. Final Fantasy XIII (2009)
15. Final Fantasy XII (2006)
16. Final Fantasy Type-0 (2011)
17. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (2003)
18. Final Fantasy II (1988)
19. Final Fantasy X-2 (2003)
20. Mobius Final Fantasy (2015~)
21. Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (2013)
22. Final Fantasy Tactics Advance (2003)
23. Dissidia Final Fantasy (2008)
24. Final Fantasy (1987)
25. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (2007)
26. Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy (2011)
27. Final Fantasy Adventure (1991)
28. Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2011)
29. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time (2009)
30. Final Fantasy Record Keeper (2014~)

As for favorite character, the fan-favorite Cloud Strife took first place instead – beating out Yuna from Final Fantasy X. Cloud’s companion Aerith followed closely behind, taking third place in the polls.

All-Final Fantasy Grand Poll: Characters #1 to 75

1. Cloud Strife – Final Fantasy VII
2. Yuna – Final Fantasy X
3. Aerith Gainsborough – Final Fantasy VII
4. Vivi Ornitier – Final Fantasy IX
5. Zidane Tribal – Final Fantasy IX
6. Emet-Selch – Final Fantasy XIV
7. Tidus – Final Fantasy X
8. Lightning – Final Fantasy XIII
9. Tifa Lockhart – Final Fantasy VII
10. Zack Fair – Final Fantasy VII
11. Sephiroth – Final Fantasy VII
12. Haurchefant Greystone – Final Fantasy XIV
13. Noctis Lucis Caelum – Final Fantasy XV
14. Squall Leonhart – Final Fantasy VIII
15. Auron – Final Fantasy X
16. Gilgamesh – Final Fantasy V
17. Terra Branford – Final Fantasy VI
18. Kain Highwind – Final Fantasy IV
19. Celes Chere – Final Fantasy VI
20. Crystal Exarch – Final Fantasy XIV
21. Locke Cole – Final Fantasy VI
22. Vincent Valentine – Final Fantasy VII
23. Edgar Roni Figaro – Final Fantasy VI
24. Shantotto – Final Fantasy XI
25. Bartz Klauser – Final Fantasy V
26. Laguna Loire – Final Fantasy VIII
27. Rikku – Final Fantasy X
28. Ignis Scientia – Final Fantasy XV
29. Balthier – Final Fantasy XII
30. Faris Scherwiz – Final Fantasy V
31. Agrias Oaks – Final Fantasy Tactics
32. Reno – Final Fantasy VII
33. Yuffie Kisaragi – Final Fantasy VII
34. Jecht – Final Fantasy X
35. Rinoa Heartilly – Final Fantasy VIII
36. Ramza Beoulve – Final Fantasy Tactics
37. Rydia (Adult) – Final Fantasy IV
38. Prompto Argentum – Final Fantasy XV
39. Galuf Halm Baldesion – Final Fantasy V
40. Cecil Harvey (Paladin) – Final Fantasy IV
41. Shadow – Final Fantasy VI
42. Estinien Wyrmblood – Final Fantasy XIV
43. Kefka Palazzo – Final Fantasy VI
44. Setzer Gabbiani – Final Fantasy VI
45. Garnet Til Alexandros XVII – Final Fantasy IX
46. Ardbert – Final Fantasy XIV
47. Kuja – Final Fantasy IX
48. Hope Estheim – Final Fantasy XIII
49. Sabin Rene Figaro – Final Fantasy VI
50. Red XIII – Final Fantasy VII
51. Y’shtola Rhul – Final Fantasy XIV
52. Beatrix – Final Fantasy IX
53. Wakka – Final Fantasy X
54. Golbez – Final Fantasy IV
55. Eiko Carol – Final Fantasy IX
56. Cidolfus Orlandeau – Final Fantasy Tactics
57. Kurasame Susaya – Final Fantasy Type-0
58. G’raha Tia – Final Fantasy XIV
59. Cid – Final Fantasy VII
60. Alisaie Leveilleur – Final Fantasy XIV
61. Ace – Final Fantasy Type-0
62. Lulu – Final Fantasy X
63. Ardyn Izunia – Final Fantasy XV
64. Lenna Charlotte Tycoon – Final Fantasy V
65. Alphinaud Leveilleur – Final Fantasy XIV
66. Ultros – Final Fantasy VI
67. Edge Geraldine – Final Fantasy IV
68. Vaan – Final Fantasy XII
69. Lunafreya Nox Fleuret – Final Fantasy XV
70. Irvine Kinneas – Final Fantasy VIII
71. Minwu – Final Fantasy II
72. Adelbert Steiner – Final Fantasy IX
73. Selphie Tilmitt – Final Fantasy VIII
74. Freya Crescent – Final Fantasy IX
75. Aranea Highwind – Final Fantasy XV

If you want a further breakdown of these rankings, you can check out NHK’s Japanese website in full over here.

What do you think of these results? Did you favorite game or characters place high on the poll? Feel free to share your thoughts with us below!

(A big thanks to Siliconera for these translations!)