When I think about casts in RPGs I tend to think Final Fantasy 7 has one of the best there is. And as the compilation grew into the new Remake series we have now, these characters have only developed further and further. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth shows us a completely new side to this cast too. Here are the best of the best characters in Final Fantasy 7.
10. Yuffie Kisanagi
Some people may not be the biggest fan of Yuffie, but I can’t imagine Final Fantasy 7 without her. Sure she had a pretty mean-spirited side quest in the original game where she steals your party’s Materia. But she does give it back and stick with everyone until the very end. So she’s got plenty of goodwill in her heart.
The Remake series has done so much for Yuffie in terms of giving her more character and defining her goals a little more. She feels much more complicated these days than her old Materia-stealing ninja ways. Of course, given the chance she would absolutely take all the Materia in the world if she could, but that’s why I think she’s brilliant.
9. Jenova
Jenova is arguably the creepiest antagonist that Final Fantasy has ever seen. And most of that reputation is due to how mysterious she is throughout all the Final Fantasy 7 games. She’s a parasitic alien whose cells have been used to create some of the most powerful Soldier members in Shinra’s forces. But those same cells also drove a certain white-haired villain onto a dark path.
Throughout the original game and the Remake series, the party has to go up against different forms of Jenova. These forms are usually comprised of parts of Jenova’s body that mutate and transform into a bunch of creepy forms. It makes it so no two fights against them are the same and that’s part of what makes Jenova such a cool antagonist.
8. Vincent Valentine
The king of gothic characters in video games is here everyone and he’s definitely one of the best characters that can be recruited in Final Fantasy 7. Vincent Valentine may be an extremely edgy guy with some serious social awareness problems, but deep down he’s a sweetheart. He’s also got one of the most interesting side stories in the original game that eventually introduces us to Lucrecia Cresent, the mother of Sephiroth.
Vincent also starred in his own spin-off game called Dirge of Cerberus: Final Fantasy VII. This game is known to be a pretty rough entry in the community. However, it’s still worth checking out on your terms. It’s also the last game to come from the original Final Fantasy 7 continuity, so fans of the original title have a bit of an obligation to see it through.
7. Rufus Shinra
On the surface, Rufus Shinra is a typical entitled CEO of a company that wants to rule the world. And for the most part that’s exactly what Rufus stays as throughout Final Fantasy 7. But he has moments that show a different side to Rufus, especially in the Remake series where his suave demeanor is often challenged by the party.
Rufus Shinra’s most interesting role is undoubtedly in Advent Children where he’s bound to a wheelchair for most of the film. His disfigured body is emblematic of the greed of the Shinra company, and how that greed has left the planet ridden with Geostigma and turned Midgar into a shadow of its former self. Rufus’ goal in the movie is a form of atonement for what his company had done. It’s a fascinating turn for the antagonistic figure.
6. Barret Wallace
Barret is the rock of the Final Fantasy 7 party in many ways. He’s the initial leader of the small Avalanche cell that Cloud works with at the start of the story. But quickly follows Cloud’s lead when the hunt for Sephiroth truly begins, And while Barret can often be quick to anger and more than happy to make use of his gun arm, there’s a softer side to him as well through his relationship with Marlene.
But it’s Barret’s Corel backstory that opens up his character. In this arc, we get to see why Barret is so angry at Shinra, providing much-appreciated depth to a character who could have otherwise felt flat and two-dimensional. The Remake series has done so much for Barret as well by giving him plenty of heartfelt moments, while still keeping his comedic edge. Without a doubt, Barret is indeed one of the best characters in Final Fantasy 7.
5. Zack Fair
The original hero himself has to be on this list somewhere. Zack Fair was a mostly mysterious character in the original game, whose true reveal came close to the end of the story. And the bulk of his screentime was found in a completely optional scene that players could easily miss back in the day. Of course, since then Zack’s story is far more well-known.
Zack took his place in the starring role for Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7, a prequel to the original FF7. From Zack becoming a Soldier First Class member, to him eventually meeting Cloud Strife and Aerith Gainsborough. And Zack’s infamous demise in the original timeline is one of the saddest moments in gaming history. But with the new Remake series in full swing, his new story is only just beginning.
4. Aerith Gainsborough
For many gamers in the 90s, Aerith’s death was the single most heartbreaking moment in their entire gaming lives. And even today, that moment has sent ripples throughout gaming history. So of course Aerith needs to be on this list for that reason alone. But she’s so much more than a shocking death. She brings a genuine sweetness and humanity to the Final Fantasy 7 cast that’s unique to her.
In terms of gameplay, Aerith is also one of the best spellcasters in the series. Most of her expertise lies in supporting the party with her crazy strong healing limit breaks. But she can dole out powerful offensive magic with ease as well. She’s one of the most fun characters to control in the Remake series due to how powerful she can be at the right moment.
3. Sephiroth
If you’ve just started to hear boss music in your head, that means we’re at a very special point in the list. Sephiroth is one of gaming’s greatest villains for a reason and it’s not just because of his incredible theme. He’s cruel, extremely powerful, and has one of the strangest motivations that a Final Fantasy villain has ever had. And to top it all off, he’s got the longest sword I’ve ever seen.
Tragedy lives at Sephiroth’s core. In Crisis Core, we see a Sephiroth long before his evil turn, and he’s someone who values friendship and desires to do good. Of course, that doesn’t last too long but the tiny glimpse that we get of Sephiroth being a decent dude makes his turn much sadder. That extra bit of depth is what makes Sephiroth one of the best Final Fantasy 7 characters.
2. Tifa Lockheart
Tifa is one of the coolest characters in the entire RPG genre and I don’t think that can be argued. And since this is my list she gets to soar near the very top. Tifa is one of the best party members throughout the Final Fantasy 7 games. She deals an absurd amount of damage with her flurry of punches, and in the original game, she can essentially suplex a mountain. If that isn’t proof enough of how cool she is then I don’t know what is.
But Tifa also has a lot going on in the story. She has a hatred of Shinra but doesn’t want to perform the extreme levels of violence that Avalanche resorts to. She has a deep connection to Cloud but struggles to understand his problems. Still, she sticks with him until the very end and supports him nearly every step of the way. Plus, through the added material in the compilation and Remake series, Tifa has only grown as a character.
1. Cloud Strife
This probably isn’t much of a surprise but Cloud Strife is indeed the best character in all of Final Fantasy 7. In a lot of RPGs, the main character is often a conduit for the player’s thoughts and actions in the virtual space. And while Cloud seemingly fulfills that role in the beginning, things change as the game goes on.
Cloud’s insecurities and jumbled-up memories are a core part of what makes Final Fantasy 7 work to begin with. The almost Eldritchian horror of Cloud’s fragmented sense of self, plus his ties to Sephiroth, make him one of the greatest gaming protagonists of all time. In the original series, we got to see Cloud struggle to deal with the sacrifices made by those around him. But he eventually came to terms with all of this and found happiness. But with the Remake series in full throttle, his story could be going in an extremely exciting and completely different direction. It also helps that Cloud is incredibly fun and strong with the right build in Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth.
