Summary
TheFinal Fantasyfranchise is one of the most popular in all of gaming and has continued to shape and redefine the JRPG genre since making its debut way back in 1987. These days, the series has 16 mainline titles to its name, as well as a plethora of sequels, spin-offs, remakes, and remasters.
The games are often praised for their world-building, emotive stories, memorable characters, and immersive gameplay, and as such, the franchise has a large fan following. There have also been many fan-favorite characters over the years, with the best femaleFinal Fantasycharacters leaving a lasting impression on both the franchise and its players.
Updated July 01, 2025, by Tom Bowen:Though it perhaps falls a little short when it comes to main protagonists, the Final Fantasy series has provided plenty of memorable female party members over the years. The likes of Tifa and Terra have made a huge impression on fans, but they are far from the only ones. Just as the series has grown since the mid to late nineties, so too has the number of female characters in Final Fantasy games and their general importance to the plots of their respective titles. The best female Final Fantasy characters aren’t always heroes either, as evidenced by the strength of some of the series' sinister leading ladies.
Although many still prefer the original game,theFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeproject did an excellent job of fleshing out some of Midgar’s inhabitants. Both NPCs and party members alike benefited from the 2020 title boasting a fully voiced cast of characters, but none more so than Avalanche member Jessie Rasberry.
Like her fellow eco-terrorists Wedge and Biggs, Jessie only played a minor role in the original release ofFinal Fantasy 7. However,Final Fantasy 7 Remakesees her take center stage at several points during the story. She makes the most of her time in the spotlight too; with the devs able to squeeze in some new backstory as well asteasing a potential romance between Jessie and Cloud.
Princess Sarah may not be playable in the firstFinal Fantasygame, but that’s not to say that she doesn’t still have an important role to play in the game’s plot. What’s more, her legacy would continue long after the game’s closing moments, with her name being given to just about every other princess that can be found across theFinal Fantasyfranchise.
Perhaps the most interesting iteration of Sarah is the one fromMobiusFinal Fantasy:a game in which the princess is not only playable but also one of the three main characters. Theshort-lived mobile titledid an excellent job of further exploring her character, providing a healthy mix of personality and backstory for players to sink their teeth into.
Though it may be a common theme throughout the franchise, not allFinal Fantasyprincessesare named Sarah, as evidenced by Princess Lenna inFinal Fantasy 5. She’s not the only princess in that game either, with her sister Faris also serving as a party member as the story progresses. Of course, when she first joins up with Bartz and Lenna, nobody knows her true identity.
The idea of abadass pink-haired pirate princessis a lot more interesting than the typical depiction of nobility found inFinal Fantasygames. In many ways, Lenna and Faris would serve as a precursor of sorts for Edgar and Sabin inFinal Fantasy 6, with each game boasting a more traditional crown prince or princess as well as a more laidback and adventurous sibling.
Having played a fairly subdued role in the original release ofFinal Fantasy 7, Scarlet’s prominence in the first two parts of the remake andthe Yuffie-centric DLCsuggests that there may be bigger things in store for the Shinra executive this time around. Even if there aren’t, her role inIntergradeis already enough to earn her a prominent place in the series' rogues' gallery.
Fans of the original release will likely have fond memories of the slapping mini-game, which seesScarlet and Tifa slapping each other off atop a giant Mako cannon. Given how evocative the villain is in the remake, one suspects that this iconic scene will be infinitely more powerful when fans eventually get the chance to experience it again in glorious HD.
Benedikta’s time in the spotlight is relatively brief when compared to some of the other characters inFinal Fantasy 16, but she still made quite a big impression on players. This was in part down to her fiery personality and the way that she interacted withsome of the other dominants inFF16, but also to some of the mystique surrounding her past.
Benedikta is initially shown to be romantically involved with Hugo, yet through flashbacks, players learn about her past relationships with both Cid and Barnabas. She’s one of those larger-than-life characters who steals every scene without doing anything in particular and is very much in keeping withFinal Fantasy 16’sGame of Thronestheme.
Although Terra is generally considered to be the main protagonist ofFinal Fantasy 6, there’s an argument to be made that Celes is equally important. It’s she who guides players through one ofthe most depressing and soul-destroying sections of the game, demonstrating relatable emotions that, as a half-Esper, Terra just isn’t capable of.
What’s more,Celes' tragic character arcis infinitely more satisfying than Terra’s, with the latter’s relying more on a poorly explored and underdeveloped twist than any real substance. Celes, on the other hand, demonstrates real growth throughout the events of the game and, for the most part, does what needs to be done with very little drama.
Much like the series' long list of heroes, the overwhelming majority ofFinal Fantasyvillainshave been male. It’s perhaps for this reason that Ultimecia stands out quite as much as she does, though it’s equally probable that her insanely powerful abilities also factor into her memorability somewhere.
Final Fantasy 8certainly has its issues, but one area where it truly excels is in its writing; particularly when it comes to the way that it sets up its antagonists. Seifer and Edea perfectly dress the stage for Ultimecia, and her subsequent performance absolutely knocks it out of the park. Of course, it certainly helps thatUltimecia can bend both time and people to her sinister will.
Shantotto is one of the NPCs fromFinal Fantasy 11. As a Black Mage, she is largely tied tothe Black Mage job questline, which was to be her only function originally. However, her character grew and she became one of the main NPCs in the overall storyline, as well as being the main feature of theA Shantotto Ascensionexpansion.
Shantotto is characterized by her signature laugh and unique way of speaking. In English, she rhymes, while in the Japanese version, she speaks formal Japanese. Shantotto is a fan favorite, so it’s no surprise that she features as one of the characters intheDissidiaseries, and also cameoed in a timed event inFinal Fantasy 14.
Serah is the younger sister ofFinal Fantasy 13’smain protagonist Lightning and serves as the driving force behind the narrative, with Lightning hoping to save her sister from her fate of being a l’Cie. Interestingly, in the second game in theFinal Fantasy 13trilogy, Serah becomes the protagonist, although Lightning returns as the main character for the third and final game.
Although she is a fairly forgettable character in the first game, which is understandable as she doesn’t feature on screen much,Serah more than makes up for it inFinal Fantasy 13-2and proves to be one of the best female characters in the franchise. She’s incredibly likable due to how ordinary and relatable she is, which is somewhat rare in a series that’s known for its over-the-top characters.
Much like Shantotto before her, Y’shtola started life as a somewhat unspectacular NPC in aFinal FantasyMMO. At the beginning ofFinal Fantasy 14she’s just a simple Conjurer, but through subsequent expansions, Y’shtola goes on to become a Sorceress with a few unique abilities.
Y’shtola makes her mark on the plot of the game too, with there being many memorable scenes in which she kicks butt and proves herself worthy of being a fan-favorite character. She also plays an important role in theDissidiaseries, although it’s her role inFinal Fantasy 14that makes her so adored by fans.
