I’ve been wanting to jump in on the final fantasy universe for a while now but I’m not sure where to start.
To be clear, I don’t have hundreds of hours to play the whole series. Someone told me that each game tends to be somewhat separate from the series as a whole.
So what is the most recent game in the series that I can start with that is worth it to play and wouldn’t confuse a newcomer?
The only point in the numbered series where I’d say you should play a different one first is IX, which plays on nostalgia for the aesthetics and tropes of I, III, and V as a part of the cozy vibe it’s going for with its setting. And note that VII Remake is not actually a remake of VII and thus not a part of the numbered series, being best enjoyed by people already familiar with VII.
Beyond those stipulations, play whatever looks coolest.