Where does FFXIV rank among your favorite FF games?

[HakuroDK]

1. FFV
2. FFIX
3. FFXIV
4. FFIV
5. FFVII

[Fenral]

Going just by the main numbered entries...

IX
V
XII
VIII
VII
X
VI
XIII
I
III
IV
II
XIV

XI alone is unranked because it's the only one I've never had a chance to play. In all honesty, XIV is ranking the lowest for me lately because, gameplay aside, as a story it's just so damn scattershot, like it's trying to hit that target called "Final Fantasy" but has no idea what that target even looks like. Maybe it's just because the story is still ongoing, but I have yet to feel that sense of cohesion that I get from even the lowest ranking entries. It borrows a ton from other games in the series, but has yet to prove to me that it knows how to make them fit together.

But even low-ranking for a Final Fantasy is still way above most of the genre, so I'm not saying it's bad, just... missing that je ne sais quoi.

[KaijinRhada]

Of the numbered ones that I have played:

VI
IX
VIII/IV
X/XIV
VII/I/V
II

If you throw Tactics in there, it's tied with VI for top pick for me.

Edit: Forgot XII, same place as II.

[Attelia]

My favorite FF is still FF6, although I love the Ivalice lore and its focus on politics (FF12, FFT/FFTA series, and Vagrant Story) for a grittier world. FF14 is creeping up though, mostly because of the reveals in Heavensward and the fact it has gritty political elements mixed in with the high fantasy.

I'm really surprised to hear that. FFXII is my favorite (also my first) for the same reasons. Also not a huge fan of turn-based combat. Tales of Symphonia spoiled that for me forever ago. I actually really liked the gambit system.
Most people I talk to hate on XII so much. The only thing I didn't like was the supernatural elements being turned up to 11 towards the second half. It almost felt like a completely different game, and was kind of lame, besides.

XIV is ranking the lowest for me lately because, gameplay aside, as a story it's just so damn scattershot, like it's trying to hit that target called "Final Fantasy" but has no idea what that target even looks like. Maybe it's just because the story is still ongoing, but I have yet to feel that sense of cohesion that I get from even the lowest ranking entries. It borrows a ton from other games in the series, but has yet to prove to me that it knows how to make them fit together.

But even low-ranking for a Final Fantasy is still way above most of the genre, so I'm not saying it's bad, just... missing that je ne sais quoi.

I think that might be a side effect of the MMO characterization. The only other MMO I've played is WoW. For Blizzard, the lore of Warcraft was preset; the World of Warcraft was just a means to explore pre-existing lore. As such, the "story(ies)" had some semblance of cohesion, while branching out the possibilities. I started playing FFXIV about 3 months ago, so I know basically jack-all about the lore. I feel like there is supposed to be a bigger picture, but it doesn't seem terribly interesting.

Basically taking the part I disliked most about XII and turned it into a central plot element. But the central part is, as you said, scattered. Idk. Maybe I should catch up to Heavensward content, but I doubt it'll start to make more sense.

[Amiaze]

Most people I talk to hate on XII so much. The only thing I didn't like was the supernatural elements being turned up to 11 towards the second half. It almost felt like a completely different game, and was kind of lame, besides.

I'm glad to see more FFXII fans around. I always respected its story, although I found it very boring due to the fact that I'd just come off of FFX and FFVIII, so I was used to minimal politics in my stories. It also had an entire cast of characters that I could care about and trade off at any time, whereas I always felt a strain in the other games. Either I'd be dying to get one party member that wouldn't come until later on in the story (Rikku) or I'd be dying to see someone's story and personality progress, but they never would (Selphie). I thought FFXII balanced things out very well in comparison.

I'm really hoping for an HD Remaster so that I can give that game a proper run and focus on what's happening.

[Mikedizzy]

1. XIV
2. XII
3. VII
4. VIII
5. VI
6. XIII, XIII-2 (Lightning Returns can eat a big one....LOL) Did not care for that time restriction you had on stuff...not one bit...ruined the game.

[Mykll]

It's easily in my top 20 FF games. But so are 19 others.

[lynn_]

It's the only FF game I've actually played extensively.
The only other FF games I've played have been FFX and X-2. And tactics when I was really young for a very brief time. So. XIV is probably my favorite.

[AskaRay]

Wellll we all know what my top one is but anyway

VI
VII
XII
XIV
all others, even ones I haven't played yet
VIII

I'm kidding about VIII (or am I), but I really do like XIV quite a bit. I don't think I would've played this long if I didn't.

[Kuzonoha]

No FF game is going to top FFIX for me, personally. Love that game to death.

FFXIV, is in my top five, excluding spinoffs like Dissdia. I don't think it can breach my personal top three (IX, X, IV). It's harder to compare considering it's an MMO but combining the game, story, and experience it's utterly brilliant. It's been a while since I've played a FF game, let alone RPG this immersive. I've yet to play some others like VI, which based on what I know/what friends experienced, has the potential in its story and characters to make my top three. We'll see soon enough.