If you’re a long-time gamer, you’ll have seen the industry go through all kinds of shocking changes. From the humble early days of Pong, Space Invaders and Pac-Man to the enormous open worlds of recent titles like Red Dead Redemption 2, gaming has come a super long way. It’s almost frightening to think about.

In just the last decade, the Final Fantasy franchise has introduced a wide range of colorful new characters. However, being the world-renowned series it is, it’s also milked some of its classic characters a little too much in the same timeframe.

10 Best New Character: Prompto Argentum (Final Fantasy XV)

Final Fantasy XV proved to be more than a little divisive, there’s no doubt about that. From its presentation to its open world, from its plot to its characters, every element of the game was the subject of much debate.

One thing we can probably all agree on, however, is the fact that Prompto Argentum is one of the cheeriest and most resolutely enthusiastic characters the franchise has seen in some time (despite his true identity). With his penchant for photography and endless silly banter, where would Noctis’ road trip have been without this sharpshooter?

9 Stale Old Character: Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)

Now, don’t get us wrong here. We can appreciate Cloud, we really can. After all, for so many fans around the world, he is the face of Final Fantasy, the most instantly recognizable personality from the series for a whole generation who hopped on board with Final Fantasy VII.

However, there comes a point at which even the most staunch fan gets a little jaded with him. It was fantastic to see him join the Super Smash Bros. roster, yes. The much-ballyhooed remake of this landmark RPG is going to be a thrill to play too. Still, though: Cloud really has been pushed to the hilt of late.

8 Best New Character: Lann And Reynn (World Of Final Fantasy)

One of the quirkier releases the franchise saw over the past decade was 2016’s World Of Final Fantasy, an utterly stylized and thoroughly adorable chibi adventure through the storybook world of Grymoire. It stars two young twins, Lann and his sister Reynn, whomust recover their memories as they find their way through this curious world and fulfil their destinies as Mirage Keepers.

What does this mean? It means that can ‘capture’ famous enemies from the Final Fantasy series (known as Mirages) and battle alongside them in ‘stacks,’ which affect your abilities and stats. Riding an adorable chibi Behemoth in battle isn’t an experience you’ll forget in a hurry. Lann and Reynn are a perfect double act, with Reynn’s caution and reason balancing out Lann’s impetuousness and rash behaviour. You can’t help but grow fond of the pair.

7 Stale Old Character: Shiva

Once again, there’s no disrespect meant towards a giant of the Final Fantasy world here. The old guard of traditional summon monsters, Shiva, Ifrit, Bahamut, Odin and so on, have carved out their own glorious place in Final Fantasy history.

That one time Ramuh was replaced by a great thundery bird-thing in Final Fantasy VIII must have heard the poor old guy’s ego a little, but aside from that, these are well-respected legends in every sense. The only trouble is, they’ve been trotted out a little too often by this stage. At least recurring characters like the ‘Cids’ are entirely different people with each appearance.

6 Best New Character: Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII Series)

Well, yes. As was the case with Final Fantasy XV, fans certainly have mixed feelings about this one. XIII (which only just released before the beginning of the last decade in Japan) took the series in a dramatically different direction for its time (dialling up the flashy visuals and keeping everything largely linear), and it’s understandable that many resented that.

Lightning herself has also split opinion. She’s very cold and guarded (think Cloud Strife and Squall Leonheart), but some felt that, over the course of Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, we got to know her a little better. We certainly think she’s one of the more popular recent additions to the series.

5 Stale Old Character: Moogles

Whoa. Whoa, whoa, whoa, there. We understand, we really do. Where would Final Fantasy be without moogles and chocobos? An infinitely less adorable place, that’s where. There’s no denying that.

The issue is, it seems that there’s nothing new that moogles can really do any more. They arguable hit their apex back in Final Fantasy IX, when they were the world’s enthusiastic postal service, flying around on their tiny wings, kupo kupo-ing and all of that great stuff. These days, it can seem that they’re featured in a game simply because they’re moogles and they have to be, which may not be doing them many favors.

4 Best New Character: Ace (Final Fantasy: Type-0)

Now, Final Fantasy: Type-0 certainly isn’t among the biggest games in the franchise. Originally released for the PSP (in Japan) in 2011, this action RPG saw players take control of the various members of Class Zero in real-time battles, as a great war between kingdoms rages in the world of Orience.

Of the fourteen class members, Ace perhaps seemed a little more developed, seeming to be more profoundly affected by the conflict. He proved popular enough to become a playable fighter in 2018’s PS4 release of Dissidia Final Fantasy NT.

3 Stale Old Character: Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)

That’s right, friends. You just can’t have Cloud without Sephiroth, can you? Some fans want the sullen silver-haired swordsman to be released as an echo fighter for Cloud in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, which just goes to prove the enduring and interconnected appeal of these two pop culture legends.

Even so, all those greatest/most powerful villain debates do grow a little stale. There are also those who will tell you just how overrated Sephiroth is, though his importance to the series means that he’s always going to have that celebrity status.

2 Best New Character: The Explorers (Final Fantasy Explorers)

Naturally, a franchise as popular and prolific as Final Fantasy has brought us more than a few quirky spin-offs in its time. Rhythm title Theatrhythm Final Fantasy is one of the more memorable examples, but a lot of fans may never have experienced Final Fantasy Explorers.

This 3DS title first hit Japan in 2014 (arriving in the west two years later). It’s a Monster Hunter-esque affair, which sees players take the role of Explorers in a land rich with resources and (of course) deadly threats in the form of monsters from across the franchise. Sing the job system, the player customizes a character to their own preferences, before teaming up with fellow Explorers and taking on quests together. Mixing and matching equipment and abilities to make your Explorer your own is a lot of fun. They’re some of the most enjoyable Final Fantasy characters to play in a long time as a result, even if they aren’t defined personalities.

1 Stale Old Character: Squall Leonheart (Final Fantasy VIII)

Now, to be fair to Squall, we hadn’t really heard a lot from him over the past decade. Not officially, at least. What we did hear, however, was constantly mithering that Final Fantasy VIII needed to be remastered. Messages to this effect were posted on just about every social media post Square-Enix made.

Of course, the announcement that the remaster finally was coming was met with a lot of hype. Hype, and snarky memes about Squall actually being “the best-looking guy here” at last, now that he has a discernible face and not a hideous pixel blob to fill the space between his hair and his shirt. Well, friends, here he is.

NEXT: Final Fantasy 8: 10 Weird Rules Students In Balamb Garden Need To Follow