Final Fantasybegan as a last-ditch effort for Squaresoft to pull out a hit and they certainly succeeded. No one could have imagined back then that the series, which started in Japan in 1987, would still be going strong today.
Besides dozens of mainline games, there have been more spinoffs than anything else related toFinal Fantasy. Most spinoffs tend to include nods from mainline characters, likeYuffie fromFinal Fantasy 7. This begs the question though. Discounting mobile games, what character from the series has been playable the most? The results may be obvious to diehards, but let’s dive in regardless.
8Zidane Tribal (Final Fantasy 9)
A Charismatic Thief
Zidane is the main hero fromFinal Fantasy 9who is a swashbuckling thief. He’s also in twoItadaki Streetgames includingDragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street PortableandItadaki Street: Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy 30th Anniversary. Itadaki Street is like Monopoly but with RPG elements. Zidane is also in all three Dissidia games includingDissidia Final Fantasy,Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, and Dissidia Final Fantasy NT. Dissidia is a fighting game franchise that began on the PSP, focusing on heroes and villains duking it out in crossover battles. Finally, Zidane is playable in all three Theatrhythm games includingTheatrhythm Final Fantasy,Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call, andTheatrhythm Final Bar Line. These are all rhythm-based RPGs featuring characters and music across the franchise.
7Tidus (Final Fantasy 10)
Tidus is the main character fromFinal Fantasy 10who is a bit divisive in the eyes of fans as he can be a bit much with all of his whining about his dad. Besides his original game, Tidus is playable in the first previously unnamed Itadaki Street game,Dragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special, along with the last game. Tidus is also in all threeDissidiaand all threeTheatrhythmgames. He’s a well-used character but there are no unique games with Tidus returning at least as a playable character.
6Yuna (Final Fantasy 10)
Summoning Courage
Yuna is also fromFinal Fantasy 10and she’s the love interest of Tidus. As a Summoner of the group, she’s also the strongest in the game. This may be why she was given her own spinoff,Final Fantasy 10-2, which was another turn-based RPG but this one used a Job system.
Besides epic RPGs, Yuna is in the same Itadaki Street games as Tidus which makes sense since they are a couple. The only difference is that herFinal Fantasy 10-2version also appears inDragon Quest & Final Fantasy in Itadaki Street Special. She’s in the last twoDissidiagames and all threeTheatrhythmgames.
5Vaan (Final Fantasy 12)
To The Skies
Vaan is fromFinal Fantasy 12and like Zidane, he’s a sky pirate albeit one in training. Like Yuna, Vaan got a direct sequel viaFinal Fantasy 12: Revenant Wingswhich was an RTS experience on the DS. Around this same time, Vaan appeared as a secret character players could unlock in the tactical RPGFinal Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift. Vaan appeared in the first twoItadaki Streetgames, the last twoDissidiagames, and all threeTheatrhythmgames.
4Squall Leonhart (Final Fantasy 8)
Scarred Beyond Repair
Squall is the protagonist fromFinal Fantasy 8and fans probably remember him the most for his distinct scar and Gunblade weapon. Despite his lack of conformity in his game, Squall was seemingly up to playing ball with other titles. For example, he’s unlockable inChocobo RacingandChocobo GPwhich are two racing games akin to theMario Kartseries. Squall is in the first and thirdItadaki Streetgames, all threeDissidiagames, and all threeTheatrhythmgames making him a legend.
3Tifa Lockhart (Final Fantasy 7)
Beware Her Fists Of Fury
It’s time to enter theFinal Fantasy 7block of characters because they have all been in a staggering amount of games.Tifa was a playable party memberin the original game along withFinal Fantasy 7 RemakeandFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthand she will most likely be playable in the final remake whenever that comes out.
Before theDissidiaseries began,Final Fantasycharacters appeared in the wrestling fighter,Ehrgeiz: God Bless the Ringwhich includes Tifa. Tifa is also in the first twoItadaki Streetgames, the last twoDissidiagames, and all threeTheatrhythmgames making her the most used female character in the franchise.
2Sephiroth (Final Fantasy 7)
A Villain Appears
Sephiroth is the main villain ofFinal Fantasy 7who technically was a party member in a flashback sequence. However, players didn’t have much control over him, unlikeFinal Fantasy 7 Rebirthwhich made him more of a character in the same flashback scene. He was also inEhrgeiz: God Bless the Ringand another unique fighting game,Super Smash Bros. Ultimate. Nintendo even commemorated Sephiroth with an Amiibo alongside its release. Finally, he is in all threeItadaki Street,Dissidia, andTheatrhythmgames making him the villain who has appeared in the most games.
1Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy 7)
God Bless The King
Cloud is easily one of the most popular charactersin the franchise let alone video games as a whole. He’s playable in the original game alongside the two remake projects so far. He’s a secret character in the original Final Fantasy Tactics and a pain to unlock to boot. Like Squall, Cloud raced in the wackyChocobo RacingandChocobo GPadventures. He brawled inEhrgeiz: God Bless the Ringlike most of his fellow cast members. Cloud is inSuper Smash Bros. Ultimatelike Sephiroth but he also got into the 3DS and Wii U versions ofSuper Smash Bros.before that which could almost be counted as two separate games. To top it off, Cloud is in all threeItadaki Street,Dissidia, andTheatrhythmgames and who knows what else after this.
