The 10 GREATEST Final Fantasy Side Characters

The 10 Greatest Final Fantasy Side Characters

Welcome to MojoPlays, and today we’re looking at some of the greatest side characters in the Final Fantasy games. With some exceptions, we did our best to avoid party members and primary antagonists, opting instead to focus on side characters who left a lasting impression. Spoilers ahead for some games!

Estinien “Final Fantasy XIV” (2013)

“Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn” is one of the most popular sprawling MMORPGs around, and naturally has a massive roster of side characters that fans adore. Estinien Varlineau is one of these characters. He’s the current Azure Dragoon that’s been around since the earliest days of the game, and has been a fan-favorite ever since, especially during the Heavensward expansion. With a bit of a tragic backstory, Estinien is a hero in many players’ eyes, despite being corrupted by Nidhogg. Either way, we love this Elezen lance-wielder.

Beatrix “Final Fantasy IX” (2000)

Final Fantasy IX on the original PlayStation has no shortage of interesting and complex side characters. General Beatrix, leader of the army of Alexandria, is a powerful paladin-type character who plays an important role throughout the entirety of the game’s story. She joins your party temporarily, offering hard-hitting melee damage and useful White Magic for healing. She has a bit of rivalry with Steiner, but we loved every second spent with this one-eyed badass and seeing her growth.

Jessie, Biggs, & Wedge “Final Fantasy VII” (1997)

The eco-terrorist group known as Avalanche in both the original and remake of Final Fantasy VII is made up of a colorful cast of characters. Of course we have Cloud, Barrett, and Tifa, but we’d be fools to ignore the fan-favorite trio of Jessie, Biggs, and Wedge. They’re with you throughout the first act of the game, helping to infiltrate Midgar and take down the reactor in the opening scenes, and provide great comic relief and create a sense of camaraderie among the group. And sorry Tifa and Aerith, Jessie is secretly the best girl.

Fusoya “Final Fantasy IV” (1991)

Fusoya is an ancient Lunarian from, you guessed it, the moon, and one of the strongest party members in Final Fantasy IV. It’s just too bad you only get to use him for a small chunk of time at the very end of the game. He helps Cecil and the gang to defeat the big baddie Zemus, and his prowess in battle is similar to Tellah the Sage from the beginning of the game - He uses powerful magic and deals massive damage from the back row. He has a special relationship with another character from this title, but more on him later.

Lunafreya “Final Fantasy XV” (2016)

Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, or simply just Luna, is the former princess of Tenebrae and one of the main characters of Final Fantasy XV’s multimedia saga of storytelling. She’s not only protagonist Noctis’s close childhood friend, but also his bride-to-be. Despite her being an unplayable character, her power is unrivaled, as she has the power to speak to the gods as the youngest Oracle in history. One of the most notable moments in the game is the fight against Leviathan, where Luna speaks to the massive serpent and attempts to calm it.

Cid “Final Fantasy XVI” (2023)

If you’re playing any Final Fantasy game, you can bet on one constant: Cid. Every iteration has a character named Cid in some form or another, and we think Cidolfus Telamon from Final Fantasy XVI’s is one of the best. Masterfully voiced by Ralph Ineson, the Dominant of Ramuh is a guiding hand throughout Clive’s adventure and acts as a father figure for our protagonist, giving him advice on how to navigate the volatile political landscape of Valisthea. In a fight, Cid calls upon Ramuh to use lightning-based magic and uses a sword for close quarters combat.

Cindy Aurum “Final Fantasy XV” (2016)

Speaking of Cids, the next entry on our list is the granddaughter of Final Fantasy XV’s Cid, Cindy Aurum. She’s the head mechanic of the Hammerhead garage, and Noctis and the boys meet her very early on in the game. You’ll return to her often to customize, refuel, tow, or upgrade the Regalia, the gang’s car throughout the game. Her bubbly personality, Southern accent, and character design bring her very high up on any Final Fantasy fan’s crush lists. Can’t blame ‘em.

Gilgamesh “Final Fantasy V” (1992)

Gilgamesh is another recurring character throughout the Final Fantasy games, and while not as prominent as Cid, leaves an impression every time he makes an appearance. He plays a pivotal role throughout the story of Final Fantasy V, as the right-hand man of the main antagonist Exdeath, as well as declaring himself as Bartz’s rival. Often portrayed as a mecha-samurai warrior, he provides a ton of comic relief and gives the party a hard time, which is swiftly followed by an easy battle or just him running away.

Dyne “Final Fantasy VII” (1997)

Dyne is the childhood best friend of Barret Wallace, as well as biological father of his adopted daughter Marlene. With a fairly tragic backstory, we get a lot more exposition into Barret’s past when we meet Dyne in Corel as well. Dyne lost his family and his arm due to a fire started by the Shinra Electric Power Company, and goes on a revenge-fueled rampage that eventually lands him in Corel Prison. This chunk of Final Fantasy VII is a great character development moment for Barret, and shows even more how ruthless Shinra can be.

Golbez “Final Fantasy IV” (1991)

Final Fantasy villains are no strangers to full 180 character development, but we think Golbez from Final Fantasy IV is the best example of this. He plagues Cecil and the party throughout the entirety of the game, only to find out he’s being manipulated by the true villain Zemus. In flashbacks, we learn that Golbez is actually the older brother of protagonist Cecil. Talk about family drama. His boss fights are relatively tough - Golbez is a powerful magic user that deals considerable damage, but his backstory and character arc are what earns him his place on this list.

What do you think of our picks? Have a favorite of your own? Let us know in the comments below.