Are you a newcomer to theFinal Fantasyseries? If you’ve been playing exclusively on Nintendo hardware for some time, you may have missed out on a lot of the greatest games in the series. Maybe this is your first time jumping in, or this might be your return after a long hiatus.
Now, the Nintendo Switch has plenty of games in theFinal Fantasyseries after they had been releasing previously on PlayStation and Xbox hardware for years. So I’d like to help you, the newcomer, find where to start on Nintendo Switch so that you can get the best experience the series has to offer.
Final Fantasy X(The One You Should Definitely Play First)
Release Date: June 05, 2025
Price: $49.99(IncludesFinal Fantasy X-2)
This game is an easy recommendation for newcomers. Not only is it hailed as one of the best entries in the series by a multitude of fans, but it’s also great to jump into if it’s your first time playing the series.
FFXis the last to use the series’iconic turn-based combat; in my opinion it utilizes it the best, and even though the game released in 2001, it still holds up today. On top of accessible gameplay, you’ll get to experience one of the most gripping narratives in gaming. If you’re not looking to get into the hardest of hardcoreFinal Fantasygames,FFXis a great place to start. Better yet, it has deeper systems throughout the game that you may begin to explore, if you feel more adventurous.
World of Final Fantasy(The Alternative toFinal FantasyX)
Available Now
Price: $39.99
I loveWorld of Final Fantasy,but it’sreallyeasy. If you’re really intimidated by the idea of playing a mainlinegame,Worldoffers a super casual experience that’s quite a lot of fun.
It has some new battle mechanics and systems that are very akin toPokémon.At the same time, the game sees the return of the series' turn-based combat (which I mentioned before aboutFFX).Worldalso has a charming chibi art style and a world that’s really fun to explore. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with starting on an easier game and growing from there. IfWorld of Final Fantasysounds like your cup of tea, definitely give it a shot!
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age(The Odd One Out)
Release Date: August 04, 2025
Price: $49.99
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Ageis a bit harder to recommend as it’s so different from every otherFinal Fantasyentryon the Switch. If it were up to me, I’d say that you should play every other game on the Nintendo Switch before going into this one.
The Zodiac Ageuses a very passive battle system that’s more akin toFinal Fantasy XI’s MMORPG gameplay.XIIis still hailed as one of the best by some series fans, but it may not be the best place to start for newcomers. Jumping into this one before some of the otherFinal Fantasygames may be a bit jarring; however, it cannot be understated thatFinal Fantasy XIIis a tremendously good game.
Final Fantasy IX(The One You Should Play AfterFFX)
Price: $20.99
When you’re talking about the bestFinal Fantasygames, old-school fans usually gravitate towardsVI, VII, andIX.And rightfully so, asFinal Fantasy IXreally encapsulated what the series was all about, to begin with. It’s the last entry we’ve seen that takes place in a medieval-style fantasy world, and it also happens to be the last entry in the series that was touched by the father of the series, Hironobu Sakaguchi.
WhileFinal Fantasy IXmight feel a bit odd for those unfamiliar with PS1 games, (they haven’t necessarily aged the best), it’s still a fantastic story and some quality-of-life improvements have been made to make it a bit easier for newcomers to get through. This is a must-play for any JRPG fan, but not necessarily theFinal Fantasythat I think you should jump into first.
Final Fantasy VII(The Last Turn-Based One You Should Play)
Price: $15.99
Everything you’ve heard aboutFinal Fantasystems from this game.Final Fantasy VIIredefined storytelling in video games and made JRPGs a mainstay for years to come. I think it has arguably aged the worst out of all the games mentioned above, but it’s still an important game and an important piece of video game history. Due to its retro nature, I think it can be considered quite an undertaking to jump intoFFVIIfor the first time, especially if you’re not familiar with anything outside of a few iconic scenes.
Final Fantasy VIIis an awesome journey, and it has also received some quality-of-life improvements with its Switch port that should make it a bit easier to play. Do yourself a favor and build up to this one: it’s certainly worthy of all its hype. Whether you’re on the side of the ninth game or this one, it cannot be overlooked how important this JRPG is to gaming’s history, and that’s why I think you should wait to playFFVII.
Final Fantasy X-2(The Totally Optional One)
Included withFinal Fantasy X HD
Final Fantasy X-2is a solid sequel toFFX.However, if you’re interested in just playing the mainline games, you’re totally okay skipping out on this one.FFX-2does change things up in terms of combat, so you may definitely check out how the series began experimenting with different combat styles. The game also stars three female protagonists who are absolutely awesome. If you’re super infatuated withX’sstoryline once you see the credits roll, feel free to give this one a shot before jumping into the others.
As someone who has played the large majority of games in this iconic JRPG series, feel free to take my opinions into consideration, or don’t! It’s totally up to you. Be sure to give yourself a lot of time to enjoy each of theseFinal Fantasygames, as every single one that’s on the Switch is really quite good. It’s certainly an exciting time to be a Switch owner and a JRPG fan.
