The Final Fantasy franchise has more than its fair share of fantastic playable characters, but some are much better than others. These iconic party members stand head and shoulders above their peers, with their personalities, fighting prowess, and overall impact on their respective games' main stories all contributing to their fan-favorite status.
Due to the way that a lot of the series' earlier entries were designed, the best Final Fantasy characters are often secondary party members rather than the games' main heroes. As a result, it's not at all uncommon for one playable character to outshine the rest of the party, as is the case with the following Final Fantasy characters.
Sabin (Final Fantasy 6)
Although Terra and Celes serve as the two main protagonists, neither really comes close to topping the list when it comes to the best playable party members in Final Fantasy 6. The same cannot be said of Cyan or Edgar, both of whom bring an awful lot to the table, though it's ultimately the latter's brother, Sabin, who most fans consider to be the game's best character.
His relationship with his brother makes for an interesting subplot, but it's arguably his dealings with Duncan and Vargas that really set him apart from the rest of the pack. Sabin's martial arts background and unique Combo command make him incredibly useful in battle too, with the young prince even able to suplex a train at one point in the game.
Tifa (Final Fantasy 7)
Another Monk-style fighter, Tifa's role in Final Fantasy 7 is a lot more important than a lot of players really give her credit for. She is one of the few constants in Cloud's life, and it is through his relationship with her that the spiky-haired hero and the players controlling him are ultimately able to explore and uncover the secrets of his past life.
Final Fantasy Remake explores Tifa's character in more detail, with the addition of voice acting and the improved graphical fidelity providing her with a lot more depth than she had in the original game. Cloud may once again serve as the face of the project, but it's Tifa who provides the heart, making her a much more relatable, and, in turn, a much more likable playable character.
Lightning (Final Fantasy 13)
A lot of the earlier Final Fantasy games featured blank-slate main characters, with players able to rename them however they saw fit. Their non-existent personalities made it much easier for players to project themselves onto them, which, as a result, made the experience a lot more immersive. As voice acting made its way into the series though, this trend quickly began to change, as too did the way that Final Fantasy heroes were designed.
Vaan was the first main protagonist with a fixed name, though he remained a somewhat forgettable character for a variety of reasons. Lightning, on the other hand, proved to be a lot more memorable, even if the games that she appeared in were a little lackluster. Her well-defined persona and stylish appearance make her an infinitely better character than the rest of Final Fantasy 13's cast, though her sister Serah does at least provide some competition in the two sequels.
Seifer (Final Fantasy 8)
Granted, Seifer may only be playable for a very small portion of Final Fantasy 8, but there's still a strong argument to be made for him being the game's best playable character. Designed as the main rival and, in many ways, the polar opposite of Squall, Seifer is an incredibly deep character who manages to remain relatable despite his actions becoming more and more sinister as the game goes on.
In many ways, Seifer is a lot like Kain in Final Fantasy 4, both in terms of his personality and his impact on the story. The fact that he is able to slice a summon in half gives the Final Fantasy 8 man the edge though, as this remains one of the most badass and most shocking moments in the series' rich and storied history to date.
Auron (Final Fantasy 10)
Many consider the main cast of Final Fantasy 10 to be the best that the series has to offer, and there's a very good reason for that. Each one has their own clearly-defined motivations for joining Yuna on her quest, while the relationships between them help to provide depth and intrigue in near-equal measures. With the exception of perhaps Kimahri (whose background is just a little too generic for some players' liking), they're all great characters in their own right, but one stands out above the rest.
The role that Auron plays throughout the events of Final Fantasy 10 is a pivotal one; helping to link the past and the present while also serving as a role model of sorts for both Yuna and Tidus. In many ways, he's the father figure that the latter always wanted, yet, like Jecht, he's far from perfect and has issues of his own that he needs to work through. It also helps that he's one of the strongest playable characters in the game, so will likely be a mainstay in the active party of most players.