The role-playing video game genre is known for its epic stories and dynamic characters, and Final Fantasy made its fair share of contributions. The Final Fantasy series typically stands above the rest as a boon of creativity and storytelling. The series has some of the best characters in RPGs, and many of its most notable characters are female. Final Fantasy would set a precedent for how to write female characters for games.

From the stoic Lulu to the cheerful Aerith to badasses like Faris, Final Fantasy has a cavalcade of women that fans can call their favorite. Characters that are a joy to play with, easy to get attached to, and full of inspiration. The most likable women in Final Fantasy prove that not every RPG hero carries a giant Buster Sword.

Updated on July 3, 2024, by Michael Colwander: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is out to rave reviews and highlights some of the best Final Fantasy characters in the entire franchise, especially Aerith and Tifa. That momentum continues into the latest Final Fantasy XIV expansion Dawntrail. More characters have been added to further highlight the amazing women in Final Fantasy.

15 Jill Warrick Is The Strong-Willed Dominant Of Shiva

In Final Fantasy XVI, Jill Warrick is a childhood friend of Clive Rosfield and served as a ward to his father after a conflict between her native northern territories and Rosaria. After the fall of Rosaria and the presumed death of both Clive and his brother Joshua, Jill was enslaved by the Iron Kingdom where she later awoken her powers as the Dominant of Shiva. In turn, becoming a weapon of mass destruction to be used by the Iron Kingdom.

Jill reunites with Clive and both join in Cid's cause to destroy all of the Mothercrystals. Jill is generally reserved due to her past trauma, but she's a kind and empathetic soul. She's also a strong fighter even without her Shiva powers. She's extremely skilled with her rapier and isn't afraid to leap into battle, especially to help those in need.

14 Oerba Yun Fang Is A Charismatic Party Member Committed To Protecting Vanille

Opinions of the Final Fantasy XIII cast are varied, to say the least. Over 15 years later, Final Fantasy XIII's cast remains a subject of debate with many appreciating their complexities while others find most of them unlikable.

One consensus is that Oerba Yun Fang is a highly likable character. Her laid-back personality and her willingness to speak her mind provide a necessary and realistic dynamic in the often bickering and conflicting Final Fantasy XIII cast. Her affection for Vanille gives her the motivation to protect her by any means necessary. Fang is also extremely useful in battle, especially for aggressive playstyles, being a fixture in most players' active party composition.

13 Aranea Highwind Was One Of The Highlights Of Final Fantasy XV

In contrast to Final Fantasy XIII, fans generally liked the cast of Final Fantasy XV. Many just weren't fans of the storytelling that surrounded that cast, leading many to believe that Final Fantasy XV was a huge missed opportunity to be an all-time great installment. One of Final Fantasy XV's most popular characters wasn't Lunafreya or Cindy, but Aranea Highwind.

Aranea is a mercenary who was enlisted to lead one of the Nifilheim Empire's military units. Her laid-back and at times flirty personality quickly endeared her to fans. Not to mention her impressive dragoon fighting, which has always been popular with the Final Fantasy fanbase. Aranea is so well-liked that players have discovered an exploit to keep in the main party indefinitely as opposed to being just a guest. On top of that, the cancellation of her solo DLC outing is seen as one of Final Fantasy XV's biggest disappointments.

12 Y'shtola Rhul Is A Vital Member Of The Scions Of The Seventh Dawn

At the start of Final Fantasy XIV, things can be overwhelming for both the player and the future Warrior of Light. Thankfully, Y'shtola Rhul is one of the first major characters players meet. Her intelligence initially adds needed context to the surrounding world, helping beginners ease into Final Fantasy XIV. Her brilliant mind and her ability to sense Aether continue to prove to be vital in solving the many mysteries faced by the Scions.

Y'shtola brings a calming and motherly personality to Final Fantasy XIV's cast, and she always maintains a level head. That's unless someone says something humorous, embarrassing, or flirty to her. This often leads to hilarious interactions like her embarrassment over her magical girl-like "Water, water, froth, and foam!" conjuring incantation that she had created when she was younger, which was necessary to solve a current matter.

11 Celes Chere Is A General Who Turned Her Back On The Empire

Final Fantasy VI is revered for having one of the best casts of any mainline game, even if it can be a bit bloated. One of the highlights of that cast is Celes Chere, a magic-infused general for the Gestahlian Empire. Celes' hands are clean as she has to atone for the atrocities she's committed on behalf of the Empire, such as the destruction of Maranda.

She was given a chance to do so after being branded as a traitor by the Empire. Celes joined the Returners, which initially saw skepticism from Cyan. Celes proved her worth whether it was in battle or through her singing voice during an Opera in one of the most iconic scenes in gaming.

Making her debut in Final Fantasy VII, Yuffie Kisaragi is a mischievous ninja who attacks Cloud's party in the forest. After her defeat, she decides to join the party with the intent to steal from them. She often gives her enemies insulting nicknames to throw them off guard.

Yuffie wishes to restore her home of Wutai to its former glory, so she begins gathering materia. Despite being cocky, she cares for those around her. Yuffie is one of many lovable characters from the Final Fantasy VII continuity thanks to her personality and stylish ninja moves. Yuffie has gotten an even greater chance to shine with the Episode: INTERmission DLC for Final Fantasy VII Remake, which is focused entirely on her. She also officially joins Cloud's party in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

9 Terra Branford Was Final Fantasy's First Female Protagonist

Terra Branford is the main character of Final Fantasy VI. She is an esper who the Empire enslaved, and she doesn't seem to have much of a personality at first outside of having amnesia. However, the player learns more about her over time and starts to root for her.

After regaining her memories, Terra Branford becomes more and more willing to help the adventuring party take down Kefka. However, she sees her power as a curse rather than a blessing for much of the game. She wishes to make the world a better place for future generations, bolstering Final Fantasy VI's excellent story.

8 Rinoa Heartilly Taught Squall To Open Up And Follow His Heart

Rinoa Heartilly is from Final Fantasy VIII and is a member of the Forest Owls, a group rebelling against the Galbadian government. She convinces Cid to assist them with their cause by sending some SeeD agents, one of whom is the main character Squall.

Rinoa is a cheerful girl who isn't afraid to express herself. Because of this, she is the perfect foil for the brooding Squall, making their relationship more satisfying to see grow. She is compassionate and determined to rebel against her father, a military officer in Galbadia. Her kindness has won over many characters and fans over the years.

7 Faris Scherwiz Is An Awesome Pirate With A Royal Past

Faris Scherwiz is a character from Final Fantasy V with an interesting background. Born a princess, she found herself swept up in a storm while sailing with her father, King Tycoon. The trauma from the incident caused Faris to lose her memory, and she became a member of a pirate crew while disguising herself as male.

Faris is a bold and brash character in Final Fantasy V. She is initially rough around the edges but warms to the party after joining them. Faris is an excellent leader who commands respect, capable of leading an entire crew that's willing to follow her anywhere.

6 Freya Crescent Has Overcome Numerous Tragedies, Including A Love Who Can't Remember Her

Freya Crescent is a playable character in Final Fantasy IX. She is a Burmecian, who is an anthropomorphic race of rat people. As a Dragon Knight, she can wield spears and jump extremely high. Freya is searching for her long-lost lover throughout the game.

Despite being faced with many tragic events in her life, Freya is hopeful for the future. Freya is a strong character who faces her problems head-on and is a friendly young lady, very intelligent, and incredibly competitive. Despite her love for Sir Fratley and his heartbreaking lack of memory of who she is, it doesn't burden Freya too much. She still presses on to save the world alongside Zidane to build a world where she can start over with her love.

5 Lulu Is A No Nonsense Black Mage Who Begins To Open Up Through Motherhood

Lulu is a playable Black Mage in Final Fantasy X. She seems cold and callous, which initially makes her unlikable. But as the story develops, players begin to understand why Lulu is the way she is. She's still stricken by the death of her boyfriend, Chappu, to the monster Sin. Underneath her rough exterior, Lulu is quite kind, caring, and compassionate. Lulu is a true tsundere to her eventual husband Wakka.

After the events of Final Fantasy X, Lulu begins to warm up and has a child in Final Fantasy X-2. Lulu is intelligent and willing to fulfill her role as a guardian to the bitter end. Ultimately, she is on the journey not just to protect Yuna, but to help herself overcome the loss of Chappu.

4 Yuna Is Committed To Stopping Sin, Knowing Full Well She's Embarking On A Journey Of Sacrifice

Yuna is a playable character in both Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2. Yuna goes through significant development throughout Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2. Yuna is kind and determined to do her duty, whatever that may be. The events of Final Fantasy X have led Yuna to become a bit more self-sufficient.

In Final Fantasy X-2, she begins to despise sacrifice in the name of peace. She is more willing to jump into danger in Final Fantasy X-2 as well, especially if it's to help someone in need. Yuna has become such a dynamic character throughout her tenure, and it's easy to enjoy playing as her.

3 Rikku Is A Fun And Energetic Thief

Rikku is a playable character in Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2. She is an Al-Bhed, a people in the world of Spira who often clashes with Yevonites over religious ideals. She joins the party even though she is somewhat against Yuna's pilgrimage.

Rikku is carefree most of the time, and she encourages Yuna and the others to have more fun in life. Rikku is unsure of what lies ahead for her, which bothers her. She is a skilled alchemist, which comes in handy throughout Final Fantasy X. Rikku is the most likable female party member in the game thanks to her happy-go-lucky nature and skills as a thief. Rikku later joins Yuna on her Sphere Hunting journey in the divisive, but fun Final Fantasy X-2.

2 Aerith Gainsborough's Loveable And Cheerful Personality Makes Her Fate All The More Devastating

Aerith Gainsborough is one of the main characters of Final Fantasy VII. She is the last of a race of magical beings called Cetra, which is why Shinra is hunting her. Aerith quickly befriends Cloud and joins the party in hunting down Sephiroth.

Aerith is happy-go-lucky and cheerful, and her comedic timing in the ongoing Final Fantasy VII remake trilogy makes her all the more endearing. She plays the perfect foil to Cloud and values the ability to make decisions for herself and carve her destiny. Aerith spits in the face of danger, such as monsters and Shinra. Her death is considered one of the most heartbreaking moments in gaming.

1 Tifa Lockhart's Strength And Compassion Help Make Her One Of The Most Iconic Video Game Characters Ever

Tifa Lockhart is another main character of Final Fantasy VII. She takes on opponents with her fists in the Final Fantasy Monk style, making her a reliable ally in combat. Tifa has a warm demeanor and often puts others above herself. She won't stop at nothing to protect her friends, especially Cloud. However, this occasionally leads her to neglect her feelings.

Tifa is one of Cloud's closest allies and one of the strongest. She is quite reserved due to trauma but often finds herself looking after others, as she's just as often compelled to protect her loved ones. Tifa is a treasure of a character, and not only one of the best Final Fantasy female characters but one of the best overall characters in all of video games.