The Final Fantasy series is made up of games known for their well-developed and memorable casts of characters, from icons like Sephiroth and Kefka to lesser-known favorites like Datto and Kunsel. The huge success of the series has made it incredibly influential to video games in general, and it's easy to see the echoes of some of Final Fantasy's characters in other titles.
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With a series as long-running as Final Fantasy, it's no surprise that it has introduced many great female characters--from heroes like Lightning and Terra to villains like Ultimecia, and almost every kind of character in between. While picking the best girl is always a contentious subject, it is true that some of the female characters of Final Fantasy have had more of an impact than others.
Jenova
A major antagonist of Final Fantasy VII, Jenova is an alien lifeform known as the "calamity of the sky". Because she's an alien, Jenova doesn't actually have gender but, while referring to her as a woman is debatable, she is known as 'Sephiroth's mother' and presents as and is referred to as female. Regardless, Jenova's impact on the world ofFFVII cannot be understated, making her one of the most central characters of theCompilation of Final Fantasy VIIstory and well worth recognition.
Jenova's presence is the cause for most, if not all, of the story of FFVII, and her connection to Sephiroth and the Jenova Project is some of the most interesting lore in theFinal Fantasyseries. With the unique, creepy design of her variant forms, her boss battles, and her deep ties to the story, Jenova is an iconic figure of the world of Final Fantasy VII.
Yunalesca
Another popular female antagonist, Yunalesca's presence as a boss is one of the best twists in Final Fantasy X. Yunalesca is introduced to the player as a legend--a revered summoner who was the first to use the Final Summoning to defeat Sin.
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Meeting Yunalesca's spirit kicks off a series of some of the most memorable moments in FFX. From the truth behind the Final Summoning and Yunalesca's role in the Church of Yevon to the reveal of the tragic backstory of both Auron and Jecht, Yunalesca's scenes fundamentally change the player's understanding of the story. Ending her interaction with the cast by trying to "mercy kill" them and kicking off a great boss fight, Yunalesca made sure to leave her mark.
Yuffie Kisaragi
Along with Vincent Valentine, Yuffie is one of the optional party members in Final Fantasy VII, only joining the party if the player selected a specific sequence of dialogue options when interacting with her. Despite how difficult this must have been in the days before walkthroughs were only a few clicks away, Yuffie was an early fan favorite--and the success of her role as a confident, mischievous ninja undoubtedly inspired later 'thief' characters like Rikku.
Yuffie introduces players to the world of the Wutai Clan, an interesting facet of the FFVII world that is only accessible through her character. The importance of the Wutai is only really explored in Crisis Core, but the lore she provides still adds an interesting layer to the story. Besides her backstory and endearing personality, Yuffie is beloved for being one of the strongest characters in the game--wielding powerful limit breaks, high luck, and long-range weapons.
Ultimecia
Appearing as the main villain of Final Fantasy VIII, Ultimecia is the first female antagonist in the Final Fantasy series, opening the door for later evil ladies like theIX's Beatrix,X's Yunalesca, and XIII-2's Alyssa. But it's not just her influence that makes Ultimecia great, as she's not just the first female villain, or even just the best of the female villains, but one ofthe best antagonists in all of Final Fantasy.
Ultimecia is introduced through the possessed body of Edea, a formerly kind and caring orphanage owner who Ultimecia has corrupted into a sad*stic villain--an incredibly cruel act of manipulation as well as a small peek into the extent of her power. Ultimecia's legacy, however, is truly cemented because of her incredible boss fight. With her impressive strength and array of abilities, the fight is challenging in the best way and is only further elevated by its incredible theme music.
Freya Crescent
Final Fantasy IX's Freya Crescent has one of the more tragic storylines of the game, hailing from a race of ratlike people who just barely survived genocide and then dedicating herself to finding the lost love of her life--who has permanently amnesia. Freya perseveresin the face of the challenges she faces, remaining kind and open-hearted despite all she's been through and forming a close friendship with Zidane.
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Freya stands out not only for her storyline, but also for her unique take on the classic Dragoon class. Her design already stands out due to her race,and her uniform is nothing like the Dragoons of past titles. Despite this, Freya is a formidable fighter with some extremely useful abilities, making her one of the best combat units in FFIX.
Lightning
Despite Final Fantasy XIII's well-acknowledged issues, Lightning is still unquestionably a great character andone of the best of the more recent Final Fantasy games. While it would have been easy for her to fade from players' minds due to her game's lackluster reception, Lightning has remained well-loved by fans.
Her relentless drive and indomitable will, independence, seemingly disaffected attitude, and impressive combat ability gives Lightning the kind of inherent edgy cool of Cloud or even Auron. She can be brash and cold and reluctant to trust, but her absolute commitment to saving her sister and eventual bond with Hope reveals a remarkably big heart.
Tifa Lockhart
Tifa Lockhart is one of the most iconic of all the Final Fantasy female characters and amongst the most popular video game girls of all time-- especially with the release of the Final Fantasy VII remake introducing her to a new generation. Tifa's caring nature is her greatest strength, but she's well-known for how her kindness doesn't at all lessen her ability to deliver a nasty punch.
Tifa is more than just 'Cloud's friend', however, and her presence is what holds the game together. Tifa's personal passion for destroying the Shinra company is the reason why Cloud gets involved in the first place, and her determination to restore his memories while in the lifestream is how he was able to continue. Without Tifa, there would be no Cloud Strife.
Celes Chere
The characters of Final Fantasy VI are some of the best in the series, and Celes is no exception. Initially a general in the Empire, Celes defected and joined the Returners and their fight against her former nation. And while sometimes her pride and strict attitude get the best of her, she develops a deeply caring bond with Terra and even a romantic relationship with Locke.
All of the best parts of Celes are especially highlighted when she takes the role of 'viewpoint' character in the second half of the game. Because of her determination and loyalty, she's able to fight through despair and gather the rest of the main cast back together to make a stand against Kefka. Although restoring the world is ultimately a team effort, it's because of Celes's incredible strength of character that it's made possible in the first place.
Terra Branford
Claiming anyone as the 'main character' of Final Fantasy VI is a famously contentious subject, but it is difficult to deny how Terra's storyline feels like the heart of the game. Starting as a terrified slave with no memories, Terra has to first deal with confronting and accepting the truth of herself, before then having to deal with having the very same abilities that she has so often seen used to harm others, while also facing the massive threat of Kefka and the empire. There is, to put it lightly, a lot on her plate.
Terra has to overcome an overwhelming amount of trauma and adversity throughout the events of the game and the player is with her through much of it, which is part of why she has remained such a beloved character. Her challenging journey towards self-acceptance makes her moment of peace on the airship at the end particularly emotional--a well-earned happy ending for a girl who has been through so much pain.
Yuna
While Tidus is the protagonist of Final Fantasy X, the journey he goes on during the game is not his own. Instead, FFX is truly about Tidus's experience joining Yuna on her quest to defeat Sin--protecting, guiding, and uplifting her while she treads the difficult path of a summoner. His devotion comes naturally and immediately and the reasoning becomes clear over the course of the game.
It is almost impossible not to fall in love with Yuna. She stands out completely from the popular JRPG 'magical damsel' role (a la Aerith) and is much more than a 'nice girl love interest' (also Aerith), despite how she might seem to fit those roles on a surface level. Instead, Yuna has one of the best-written character arcs in the Final Fantasy series--confronting sacrifice, indoctrination, grief, and growing up while also having to face some incredibly difficult moral decisions. Yuna is full of heartbreak and joy and tremendous strength of conviction, and it all comes together to make an immediately and effortlessly beloved character.
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