The Final Fantasy franchise is one of the best known in the gaming industry and has been running since the release of its first title in 1987. It now boasts 15 main titles to its name, as well as numerous sequels, spin-offs, remakes, and remasters.
The games are often praised for their world-building, emotive stories, memorable characters, and immersive gameplay, and as such, the franchise has a large fan following. There have been many fan-favorite characters over the years, though surprisingly some of the best female characters from the franchise are not necessarily the leading ladies. Check out these awesome female characters from the Final Fantasy franchise.
Updated November 27th, 2020: During the PS5 Showcase earlier in the year, players were given their first look at the next numbered title to hit the fan-favorite franchise – Final Fantasy 16. Fans are understandably pretty hyped about the installment and the new characters that will take them on their next adventure.
The characters of the Final Fantasy franchise are some of the most memorable when it comes to gaming, with there being many female characters in particular that deserve some recognition. Here are even more of the very best female characters that the series has to offer.
15 Shantotto (Final Fantasy 11)
Shantotto is one of the NPCs from the first MMO of the series – Final Fantasy 11. As a Black Mage, she is largely tied to the Black Mage job questline, which was to be her only function originally. However, her character grew and she became one of the main NPCs in the overall storyline, as well as being the main feature of the A Shantotto Ascension expansion.
She is characterized by her signature laugh and unique way of speaking; in English, she rhymes, while in the Japanese version she speaks formal Japanese. Shantotto is a fan-favorite, so it’s no surprise that she features as one of the characters in the Dissidia series, and also cameoed in a timed event in Final Fantasy 14.
14 Serah Farron (Final Fantasy 13/13-2/Lightning Returns)
Serah is the sister of Final Fantasy 13‘s main protagonist Lightning and she serves as the main reason that Lightning begins her adventure, with Lightning hoping to save her sister from her fate of being a l’Cie. Interestingly, by the second game in the Final Fantasy 13 arc, Serah became the protagonist, though Lightning regained the mantle of the main character for the third and final game.
Though Serah is arguably a forgettable character in the first game, which is understandable as she doesn’t feature on screen much, she more than makes up for it in Final Fantasy 13-2 and proves herself worthy of being one of the best female characters in the franchise.
13 Y’shtola Rhul (Final Fantasy 14)
Much like Shantotto, Y’shtola is one of the NPCs of the next MMO of the franchise – Final Fantasy 14. Though she was initially a Conjurer, she went on to become a Sorceress, essentially a Black Mage, though she has some abilities unique to her.
Y’shtola makes her mark on the plot of the game, with there being many memorable scenes where she kicks butt and proves herself worthy of being a fan-favorite character. She is notably another favorite who represents their Final Fantasy title in the Dissidia series.
12 Aranea Highwind (Final Fantasy 15)
Aranea Highwind may only have been a side character in Final Fantasy 15, but she most certainly left her mark on the Final Fantasy fandom as her character simply exudes awesomeness. As a Dragoon, she is not only a worthy warrior, but she has gorgeous armor too, in keeping with the signature Dragoon style.
She features as a boss for players to defeat but is also a temporary party member later in the game also. Her popularity with the fans has ensured that she has featured in many spin-off titles in the franchise, largely the mobile-based games.
11 Beatrix (Final Fantasy 9)
In Final Fantasy 9, Beatrix is the general of Alexandria, and as such, she serves Garnet’s mother, Queen Brahne. The player first encounters her as an enemy, though Beatrix later becomes a temporary party member.
Beatrix is steadfastly loyal to Alexandria and its citizens, which makes her a really admirable character. She is also able to use white magic in battle, as well as her Seiken ability, which gives her sword skills extra offensive damage, similar to Steiner’s Sword Art.
10 Fran (Final Fantasy 12)
A playable character in both Final Fantasy 12 and Final Fantasy 12: Revenant Wings, Fran is the most striking character out of the two titles due to her being of the Viera race. It’s not often that the franchise offers players such a varied cast in terms of appearance and race, so it was refreshing to have the mysterious character of Fran included.
Though she is more reserved, Fran still oozes attitude and can quickly silence anyone with a stern glare. She is highly skilled when it comes to weaponry and combat is a very worthwhile party member.
9 Selphie Tilmitt (Final Fantasy 8)
There were several decent female characters featured in Final Fantasy 8, but Selphie is arguably the best one. This cheerful young woman manages to balance a light-hearted character with more serious scenes, as well as offering up comic relief without it being cringeworthy for players to watch.
Selphie is immediately endearing and players often forget that she deals with some of the worst heartbreak in the game as out of all of the Gardens, it is her home of Trabia that is destroyed. The scene where Selphie visits the graves of her friends and speaks to them is absolutely heartwrenching.
8 Freya Crescent (Final Fantasy 9)
Freya is one of the companions that players come across during the story of Final Fantasy 9. She is Burmecian, a race of anthropomorphic rats that live in Cleyra and Burmecia. Freya is an awesome female character that strayed from the usual guise of a Dragoon that the franchise uses, and instead has an outfit that is uniquely her own.
Freya’s touching side story about her seeking her long lost love only to find that he does not remember her is just one of the many sad interludes woven into the tale of Final Fantasy 9.
7 Lulu (Final Fantasy 10/10-2)
Lulu is one of Yuna’s guardians in Final Fantasy 10 and is one of the playable party members. Fans were immediately smitten with her rather cool, gothic style and stern personality. Despite making an appearance in the sequel, Final Fantasy 10-2, Lulu was relegated to a side NPC who had recently become a new mother, rather than taking part in Yuna’s little Charlie’s Angels-like setup.
Unsurprisingly, Lulu emerged as a fan-favorite of Final Fantasy 10 as she offered a more mature female character than some of the previous women in the franchise.
6 Lunafreya Nox Fleuret (Final Fantasy 15)
Though heralded as the heroine of Final Fantasy 15, fans felt that Lunafreya had surprisingly little screen time in the game. Even though it seemed as if players barely get to scratch the surface of Lunafreya, she still remains one of the most intriguing, and therefore, best female characters in the series.
Arguably, Lunafreya represents one of the few times where the female lead is the one pushing the events of the game forward and “saving” the hero instead of the hero saving her. Fans were bitterly disappointed when the Episode Lunafreya DLC was canceled, along with a few other episodes.
5 Terra Branford (Final Fantasy 6)
Terra is one of the characters of Final Fantasy 6, all of whom share the spotlight as the “leading role.” Terra is probably the character who has varied the most in design, with her hair sometimes being shown as green or blonde and her outfit changing depending on whether it is official artwork, FMV, a sprite, or the game in which she is appearing.
She is one of the best female characters due to her character development from Gestahlian Empire soldier to a member of the resistance, as well as her sheer power, which makes her a formidable force to be reckoned with.
4 Rydia (Final Fantasy 4)
Rydia is one of the playable characters in Final Fantasy 4 and also appeared in Final Fantasy 4: The After Years. This green-haired beauty is a summoner and is one of the most prominent characters from the title.
What makes her stand out as one of the best female characters in the franchise is that players see her mature from a young, fearful girl into a strong, independent woman. The game granted Rydia a well-crafted story arc and showed her development in terms of relationships with others as well as perfecting her powers.
3 Rikku (Final Fantasy 10/10-2)
Rikku is the life and soul of Final Fantasy 10 and its sequel Final Fantasy 10-2, she is so happy and perky that it’s hard not to fall in love with her free-spirited character. Her carefree character is even more endearing when players see the stigma that is held against her because she is Al Bhed, making Rikku even fiercer than previously thought as she is still able to smile in the face of adversity.
Additionally, Rikku is caring and loyal enough to try and save Yuna from her fate and eventually accompanies Yuna in her quest, becoming the final guardian.
2 Tifa Lockheart (Final Fantasy 7)
Tifa is one of the playable characters in Final Fantasy 7, as well as appearing in some of the title’s spin-off games. Though she is often overshadowed by the likes of Aerith, Tifa has a large fan following who would happily argue that she is the best female character out of this particular title.
Though Tifa can be shy, she is absolutely a strong woman who can handle herself. Tifa is also very caring about others, despite not often opening up herself, which makes her a very endearing character.
1 Lightning Farron (Final Fantasy 13/13-2/Lightning Returns)
Lightning of Final Fantasy 13 was a refreshing change of pace for Final Fantasy players as it was the first time the series delivered on a true female protagonist. Though some fans may argue that Terra of Final Fantasy 6 was the first female lead, Motomu Toriyama of Square Enix has stated that every character in Final Fantasy 6 was supposed to be a main character, so therefore, Lightning is the first proper female lead.
Additionally, Lightning was a change of pace as she wasn’t some damsel in distress relying on others to save her or help her, she was the hero. Her tom-boyish, stalwart personality proved popular enough to earn herself two further sequels.
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