Since the release of its first entry in 1987,Final Fantasyhas grown into one of gaming’s largest and most successful franchises. It’s sold more than 160 million units and generated over $12 billion in revenue. It is a series that is best known forits innovation, itsintricate stories, and, perhaps most of all, itswonderful cast of characters.
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Although there are plenty of visual similarities between the series' main protagonists, beneath the surface there are some wildly contrasting personalities. Some are driven by vengeance while others are fighting for what they consider to be just and noble causes. Whatever their motivations though, they invariably leave quite the impression on players.
Updated July 10, 2025, by Tom Bowen:After a seven-year wait, Final Fantasy 16 has finally arrived and is proving to be one of the series' most divisive installments to date. Although most seem to be in agreement that the new combat system is a huge leap forward for the franchise, many feel as though some of the other big changes stray a little too far from the series' tried and tested formula. It’s easy to see why, really, with games like Horizon Forbidden West and God of War Ragnarok arguably doing a much better job of incorporating their RPG elements than Final Fantasy 16 does. That said, one area where the game doesn’t disappoint is through its main protagonist Clive, who gets a lot more time in the spotlight than many of his predecessors ever did. Whether or not he ranks among the very best main protagonists in Final Fantasy games is perhaps a matter for debate though, as there have been some truly fantastic Final Fantasy heroes over the years.
14The Warriors of Light (Final Fantasy)
Rather than a single main protagonist, the very firstFinal Fantasygame ended up boasting four. They weren’t actually given canon names in the original release but were eventually dubbed Setro, Zauver, Flora, and Teol in a book of short stories that was released in Japan some two and a half decades later. Much likeLink in a lot of the earlierZeldagames, the four heroes were designed to be blank slates onto which players could project themselves.
Although this does make for some pretty forgettable protagonists, it worked surprisingly well within the confines of the game itself. As well as being more immersive and helping to showcasethe series' revolutionary job system, it also played into the game’s narrative, with four crystals, four fiends, and four elements also playing an important role in the story. Some pretty major changes were made for the game’s 2022 reimagining,Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin, withChaos-obsessed Jackserving as the main focal point in a newly-designed cast of characters.
13Luneth (Final Fantasy III)
Like the four Warriors of Light in the series' very first installment, Luneth wasn’t given a name in the original release ofFinal Fantasy III, nor did the game have a single main protagonist. This all changed with the game’s 2006 Nintendo DS remake, however, with players starting out with only Luneth and having to recruit the other three members of the game’s four Warriors of Light as they make their way through the early stages of the story.
Were it not for the DS remake, Luneth would be just as forgettable as some of her predecessors, if not more. However, Director Hiromichi Tanaka and his team did a pretty decent job of fleshing out the character and her fellow orphans without having to alter the tone of the story all that much. They are still held back a little by the confines of the original narrative but are a whole lot more interesting than they were in the original release.
12Vaan (Final Fantasy XII)
Final Fantasy XIIis a much better game than a lot of people give it credit for. That said, it’s easy to see why it’s not talked about anywhere near as much as some of its peers, and a big part of this is down to its main protagonist, Vaan. Much like Tidus inFinal Fantasy X, there are times when Vaan doesn’t feel like the main protagonist of his own game, though his excuses for fading into the background are a lot flimsier than those ofthe iconic Blitzball star.
While there are more than a few times when Tidus is overshadowed inFinal Fantasy X, this is more a testament to the strength of the characters that surround him than a sign of his own weakness. In the case of Vaan, however, he’s really just a largely forgettable character with motivations that are best described as tired and uncompelling. To his credit,Vaan does have a pretty unique design, though whether or not this is a good thing is definitely a matter for debate.
11Firion (Final Fantasy II)
Firion was the first of the series' main protagonists to be given a name and has a fairly interesting backstory too. His decision to join forces with the rebels is a gallant one for someone so young and the energy that he brings to the cause is invaluable. It’s just a shame that the game’s narrative structure didn’t allow for more character development in this regard, nor did it really spend enough time exploring the loss of both his birth parents and his adoptive ones.
What players do learn about Firion is that he’s willing to put his life on the line for peace and can handle himself in combat like a seasoned pro rather than the relative rookie that he actually is. Leadership seems to come naturally to him and he has no issues dealing with the extreme pressure that’s placed upon him. Had he featured in a later game he’d likely be far more popular with fans, but the limitations of the era perhaps hold him back just as much as they doFinal Fantasy II.
10Noctis Lucis Caelum (Final Fantasy XV)
Much of Noctis' strength as a leading man comes from his supporting cast and the bond that they share. The flaws in his personality are softened by the positive traits of his friends, while their needs and deficiencies really allow his own strengths to shine. Without them, he can at times feel a little unbalanced. The bond that he shares with Lunafreya is also a compelling one, although it arguably deserved quite a bit more screen time than it was ultimately given.
For all of his weaknesses though, Noctis is a very likable character and it’s hard not to feel like an honorary member of the gang while watching them cruise around in the Regalia together.His character development is believabletoo and his willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good is admirable. He’s a great leader, although far from the best that the series has to offer.
9Tidus (Final Fantasy X)
Tidus is an interesting character, particularly when it comes to his origins and his relationship with his father. Throughout the game, players are given glimpses of Tidus' attempts to make Jecht proud of him, and yet nothing he does is ever good enough. Not only does this make him a sympathetic character, but also a relatable one. Except when it comes to his ridiculous laughter, that is. There is nothing even remotely relatable about that.
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Unfortunately for Tidus,he shares the stage with some wonderful characters. Auron, despite not being the main protagonist, has a far more interesting backstory and arguably offers more to the party. Both characters are overshadowed by Yuna though, who is the star of the show in more ways than one. Heavily involved though he may be, Tidus can at times feel more like a supporting character in somebody else’s story rather than the leading man in his own. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing forFinal Fantasy X, but it’s not the best look for a main protagonist.
8Bartz Klauser (Final Fantasy V)
Bartz’s journey borrows a lot from the classic coming-of-age narrative, but the intricacy ofFinal Fantasy V’s story allows it to play out in some often unexpected ways. Being responsible for the fate of the world is something that one would expect to weigh heavily on a person’s shoulders and yet Bartz is able to carry this weight with relative ease. It helps, of course, that he’s supported by a strong cast as well as his faithful companion, Boco.
Bartz’s easygoing nature shines through at even the darkest of moments, but that’s not to say that he doesn’t take his role as one of the Warriors of Light seriously. His relationship with Boco shows a compassionate side to his character that’s sometimes missing from the series' main protagonists. Unfortunately, it is this that at times prevents Bartz from being a truly great leader and he can sometimes be pushed aside by other party members like Lenna and Faris.
7Zidane Tribal (Final Fantasy IX)
LikeFinal Fantasy IXitself, Zidane is seen by some as the pariah of theFinal Fantasyfranchise. He broke the trend of strong and sullen main protagonists that had begun to creep into the series in the preceding games and did so to great effect. His lighthearted nature came as a breath of fresh air and provided a really unique experience, although his womanizing antics were perhaps a step too far for some players at times.
More could have been made of his Genome backstory, although as a character, Zidane is about as fleshed-out as they come. His interactions with the other party members are a joy to behold, as are those with some of the game’s random NPCs. He may lack many of the qualities that make a great leader, buthe’s smart, he’s loyal and he bears all of the hallmarks of a wonderful character.
6Squall Leonhart (Final Fantasy VIII)
It’s not so much the changes in Squall’s circumstances that make him so likable, but instead,the way that he responds to them. When players first meet him, he is a cold-hearted mercenary focused on climbing to the top of the SeeD hierarchy. As time passes, however, Squall’s focus shifts from doing what is right for himself, to simply doing what is right. That he is able to make these distinctions at just the age of 17 is incredibly impressive; as too are his leadership skills.
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Ironically, perhaps, Squall still becomes the Commander of Balamb Garden. This comes, though, as the result of his innate leadership skills rather than any kind of desire for power or progress. While not the most talkative character, Squall really is a natural-born leader and the perfect person to drive the charge against Ultimecia’s tyranny.
5Clive Rosfield (Final Fantasy XVI)
A lot of the bestFinal Fantasyheroes have daddy issues; either growing up without a father or having to suffer through their constant abuse.Clive is a little different in this regard, as rather than his father Erwin, it is his mother Anabella who mistreats him, and it is perhaps the disdain that she has for Clive due to him being overlooked by the Phoenix that helped to shape who he became as a person, not to mention many of the main plot points that take place around him.
The fact that Clive is the only playable character inFinal Fantasy 16definitely works in his favor, as it means that the player is constantly focused on him. Of course, it also helps that he’s quite likable, boasting many of the qualities that one might expect from a hero while also suffering his fair share of flaws, the latter of which make him infinitely more relatable. The whole narrative being built around him makes a big difference too, as unlike a lot of theFinal Fantasyheroes that came before him, he has no real choice but to go along with proceedings.
