


Slap dab in the middle of these fan-favorite RPGs is Final Fantasy VIII, the middle child of the bunch: not a bad game in any way, but often overshadowed by its older and younger siblings. Three years after that, Final Fantasy IX was celebrated for bringing the series back to its fantastical roots, complete with a grand medieval setting, a cast of flamboyant, and well rounded characters - and the cutest little Black Mage that you ever did see.

Final Fantasy VII was applauded for its modern take on the classic RPG formula, amazing and sometimes heartbreaking character development, and one of the most exemplary soundtracks in all of gaming by veteran composer Nobuo Uematsu. Final Fantasy VII, VIII, and IX are three of the most iconic games in RPG history, all with very distinct styles, storytelling, and tone. Nothing really screams ‘90s gaming nostalgia for me quite like the PlayStation era of Final Fantasy games.
