3) Final Fantasy X (2001)
To say Final Fantasy X made waves when it released would be a severe understatement. It was the first game in the series to feature full voice acting, and the world of Spira was more immersive and beautiful than anything that had come before it, thanks to the power of the PlayStation 2. The soundtrack, the people, the landscapes; everything about this game was stunning, and that beauty only increased with the recent HD remaster.
Looks will only get you so far though, so it’s important to note that Yuna’s pilgrimage to defeat Sin remains one of the most beloved stories yet told in any video game, not just of those in the Final Fantasy family.
Additionally, the battle system takes the tried and true turn-based mechanic and throws a wrench in it, allowing you to freely swap out party members in the heat of battle. It’s an absolutely wonderful piece of game design, and one that would be great to see in more RPGs. And while the Sphere Grid takes some getting used to, once you’ve played with it a little, you have the opportunity to branch out your characters’ specialties immensely, allowing for some really unique and powerful builds capable of felling any foe.
