The advancements in technology over the past three-and-a-half decades have allowed developers to achieve things that could only be dreamed of when the Final Fantasy franchise first debuted way back in 1987. With every new home console generation, the series has climbed to new heights. Gone are the days when party members were unrecognizable pixels on the screen, as are the random encounters that stalked gamers throughout Gaia for so many years.
However, one area in which Final Fantasy has always excelled is its music. Led by the remarkable Nobuo Uematsu, the franchise has been responsible for some of the most iconic tracks in gaming. As the years have gone by, more talented composers have come on board and the series has continued to delight players with its wide range of wonderful compositions. Like the games that they accompany, the best Final Fantasy soundtracks leave a lasting impression on players.
10 Final Fantasy XV
Yoko Shimomura was the Lead Composer for Final Fantasy XV
Final Fantasy XV‘s soundtrack is the perfect accompaniment to a not-so-perfect game. It might not have too many memorable tracks, but this is largely a consequence of the game’s lack of truly memorable moments rather than a result of any flaws with the soundtrack itself. The score helps to flesh out the game’s larger-than-life world and provides additional depth to the relationships between the game’s key characters.
It would be hard to talk about this soundtrack without mentioning the sublime Apocalypsis Noctis. It’s a first-class piece that punctuates some of the game’s best battles and helps them to linger in the memory a little longer than the largely lackluster plot. The emotionally charged Somnus and the fantastically frantic Invidia also stand out in this regard.
9 Final Fantasy XI
Naoshi Mizuta was the Lead Composer for Final Fantasy XI
The soundtrack for Final Fantasy XI doesn’t get as much love as it deserves. This is likely the result of how expansive Final Fantasy XI is as a game and how few people played it compared to some of the other numbered entries in the series. While the game itself may not be for everyone, though, many series fans would do well to check out its soundtrack.
Distant Worlds is one of the series’ better vocal tracks, while The Sanctuary of Zi’Tah is one of its most enchanting. The pick of the bunch, however, has to be Selbina. The Celtic-inspired track is as uplifting as it is catchy and serves as a refreshing change from the abundance of fantasy-themed pieces that are found throughout the game.
8 Final Fantasy XIII
Masashi Hamauzu was the Lead Composer for Final Fantasy XIII
To many, listening to Final Fantasy XIII‘s soundtrack is a lot more enjoyable than playing the game itself. That’s not meant as a dig at the game, but more a testament to how great its soundtrack is. After Final Fantasy XII‘s fairly underwhelming score, Masashi Hamauzu returned to compose. It was his first time composing solo for the series, and he definitely made the most of the opportunity.
The soundtrack doesn’t have too many standout pieces, but each composition perfectly fits the scenes in which they are used. Even at the game’s most hectic moments, tracks like Archylte Steppe and Dust to Dust help it to maintain a measured feeling that encourages players to relax into their seats and enjoy the experience rather than perch awkwardly on the edge.
7 Final Fantasy I
Nobuo Uematsu was the Lead Composer for Final Fantasy I
To say that Final Fantasy I‘s soundtrack was limited by the hardware of the NES would be a bit of an understatement. Despite these limitations, though, the game is responsible for some of the series’ most iconic tracks. Prelude and Victory Fanfare both made their first appearances in Final Fantasy I and went on to become staples of the series; appearing in just about every entry that followed.
Although neither of the ones found on the Final Fantasy I soundtrack can be considered the definite version, they’re technically responsible for all of the iterations that followed and thus are hugely important to the series. Then there’s Battle Scene, which is one of the more unique battle themes in the franchise and really helps to keep the excitement levels up in what is now an incredibly antiquated game.
6 Final Fantasy IV
Nobuo Uematsu was the Lead Composer for Final Fantasy IV
Theme of Love perfectly captures the depth of Rosa and Cecil’s relationship. Although it may not be too popular in the West, it’s one of the series’ most beloved tracks in Japan. At one point, it was even included in the 6th-grade music curriculum in schools across the country. It’s also one of the most covered Final Fantasy tracks in history, with countless versions uploaded to sites like YouTube and Niconico.
Although not quite as memorable, Mt. Ordeals, Battle with the Four Fiends, and Troian Beauty are all equally well-composed and align perfectly with the scenes in which they’re used. The game’s Overworld Theme also deserves a mention, not only for its quality, but also for the obvious inspiration that it provided for future tracks in the series (especially some of those found in Final Fantasy VI).
5 Final Fantasy IX
Nobuo Uematsu was the Lead Composer for Final Fantasy IX
The melodic beats of Crossing Those Hills make it the ultimate chillout piece. On the surface, it’s not a particularly complicated track, but buried beneath its wistful melody are some intricate accompanying parts that help to provide the kind of depth in which listeners can easily lose themselves. It really is a masterpiece of a track and is without a doubt the standout piece on Final Fantasy IX‘s soundtrack.
Other tracks like Melodies of Life and Feel My Blade help to strengthen some of the game’s key events, while the brilliant Passing Sorrow and You’re Not Alone provide the emotional accompaniment needed to add the necessary weight to some of the game’s many heartfelt moments. It’s an incredible soundtrack, but not quite the best that the Final Fantasy franchise has to offer.
4 Final Fantasy VI
Nobuo Uematsu was the Lead Composer for Final Fantasy VI
Despite having to contend with the technical limitations of the SNES, Final Fantasy VI‘s soundtrack is every bit as captivating as the ones that would follow. All of the character themes are memorable and do a fantastic job of letting the player know what each party member is all about. Terra’s Theme is probably the pick of the bunch, but they’re all great in their own way.
Other tracks like Phantom Forest and Esper World serve as great scene-setters, while the 17-minute epic Dancing Mad is one of the few tracks in the series that can come close to rivaling One-Winged Angel for the title of the best final boss battle theme. It’s also a great track to wrap up both a fantastic game and a fantastic soundtrack.
3 Final Fantasy VIII
Nobuo Uematsu was the Lead Composer for Final Fantasy VIII
Final Fantasy VIII is one of the most divisive games in the franchise, but one thing that most can agree on is that it has a fantastic soundtrack. The Man with the Machine Gun is one of the catchiest tracks in the series and is the perfect piece for psyching players up. Contrast this with the emotional Eyes on Me or the unsettling Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec, and it’s a soundtrack with something for almost every occasion.
What makes this soundtrack so great is that it’s a bit more experimental than some of the other soundtracks that had come before it. It still feels very much like a Final Fantasy soundtrack, but it offers its own unique twist. The range of tracks and the sheer volume of them help make this one of the best Final Fantasy soundtracks to date.
2 Final Fantasy VII
Nobuo Uematsu was the Lead Composer for Final Fantasy VII
From the hauntingly beautiful Listen to the Cries of the Planet to the bone-chilling One-Winged Angel, the soundtrack for Final Fantasy VII is packed with iconic and memorable tracks. Even some of the more innocuous tracks like Cosmo Canyon and Wall Market Theme will stick with players long after they’ve powered down the console. In many cases, we’re talking years after.
Hearing some of those tracks reimagined for the Final Fantasy VII remake project has been an absolute joy. When making changes to fan favorites, there’s always a risk of overcomplicating things and messing up. Thankfully, Uematsu and Hamauzu were able to avoid this pitfall. Given that many of the game’s best tracks come in its latter stages, knowing that the best is yet to come makes the prospect of Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3 all the more exciting.
1 Final Fantasy X
Nobuo Uematsu was the Lead Composer for Final Fantasy X
Even if To Zanarkand was the only track in the game, Final Fantasy X would still have the best Final Fantasy soundtrack. It’s one of the most captivating pieces of music in all of gaming, let alone the Final Fantasy franchise. When combined with other great tracks like the multi-layered Hymn of the Fayth and the stunningly beautiful Suteki da ne, it’s a score that’s capable of evoking almost every emotion on the spectrum, much like the game itself.
In total, Final Fantasy X features more than 90 tracks, and while some are a little more memorable than others, each one fits the locations and key story beats that they accompany like a glove. Anybody who’s seen the Final Fantasy orchestra in concert will know that Final Fantasy X‘s tracks often feature more than those of any other game in the series – and there’s a very good reason for that. Put simply, Final Fantasy X‘s soundtrack is Nobuo Uematsu at his very best.
