Final Fantasy VI

FF7 gets all the attention, but for my money this earlier entry is the peak of the series and one of the video game GOATs. Terra's Theme is the soundtrack of my dreams.

The espers, the magic learning system, the characters, the drama, the abilities, the gothic/dark elements and world-shattering events.... It all makes Final Fantasy VI such a powerful game and must-play.

Certainly one of my favorite games of all time. From the chilly mines of Narshe to the majestic sands of Figaro to choosing a scenario to the opera and to the heart of the Empire to the Floating Continent and on into the World of Ruin, the story of this one just pulls me in every time like a great book or film. Amazing music, great JRPG gameplay, a world full of secrets and sidequests and maybe my favorite video game villain of all time in Kefka, all delicious cherries on top.

I suplexed a ghost train.

a starkly mature experience that feels almost inappropriate as a Final Fantasy game. there is no saving the world, here: only vengeance; everyone fails in their own way. that it's fun to play is a bonus worth mentioning, but the story is genuinely brilliant. I forget who said this first, but Uematsu's score really is like Michaelangelo doing the Sistine Chapel with crayons.

The best FF of all-time. The most characters of any of the games in the franchise and most of them are compelling, and even the ones that aren't either have cool fan stories or are just fun to use. An incredibly dark story which was mind-blowing back in '94; I mean, the bad guys basically win, there's suicide, genocide, etc. Turn-based combat which I like because I grew up with it, visuals still pop today, arguably the best FF OST. Also, the World of Ruin was open-world, how cool is that?

it's good, but massively overrated with a cast too diluted to properly flesh any of them out and a relatively uncomplex villain

A steampunk fantasy masterpiece. Elegant writing, lovely graphical design, and a deep, satisfying combat system that pairs perfectly with the grandiose saga. Twists and turns aplenty are cushioned by poignant character moments, which serve to build a cast of heroes you won't want to leave.

A nearly flawless game. If you're intested in RPGs or just games in general, this is a must play. It's a standard bearer for sure. I didn't play it in my youth, though, so I don't have quite the personal love for it.

There's a bit less character customization than V had, but the breadth of the cast makes up for it by giving you lots of options to play with. All the artwork is more beautiful than ever, soundtrack is great as always, and there are some unforgettable story moments and set pieces. The endgame was pretty easy, but that can happen because there are so very many sidequests near the end, leading to lots of borderline-exploity ways to become overpowered.