4) Final Fantasy VI (1994)
Final Fantasy VI was a game changer for the series. For starters, the devious clown Kefka is arguably the most legitimately evil villain in Final Fantasy not just at the time of FFVI’s release, but even now, more than 20 years later. Right from the get-go you know he’s a bad dude, and his dark side only continues to grow throughout the game, to the point where he destroys half the world and leaves the rest in ruins. He is no one’s puppet, and is in fact the one pulling so many strings throughout the game. There’s no surprise reveal at the end of some random higher being; it’s all Kefka.
Also, of course, the playable cast helps to make FFVI the memorable masterpiece that it is. Terra may be the official face of Final Fantasy VI, but at least half of the primary cast all feel like main character material in their own rights. Their stories are all so deep and meaningful, and stick with you long after you expect to forget them.