This is a brief explanation of all English Final Fantasies. If you dont want to read through all of wikipedia to figure out  what game you're looking for, or what the basics of the games are, here is your guide!


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Console Final Fantasies
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Final Fantasy I - NES - The first FF game. IMO, this game was hard to figure out as a child. The magic system is unlike any other FF system. There were many abbreviations adding to the confusion. This is a completely turn based game. There is no active time battle system. The characters didn't have names. There isn't a LOT amount of text to read in this game, consequently there is no huge plot going on here. It's just the main, kill the monsters type of thing. You can choose what jobs you want the characters to be. (ex: 4 fighters, 4 white mages, or a balanced team) You can have 4 people in battle at a time.

Final Fantasy IV - SNES - Released in the US as Final Fantasy II. This game is a huge jump from FF I, mostly because there was two whole games not even released in the US! In this game, there is a lot more plot. The characters have names. This game introduces the active time battle system used in most FFs. The Characters all have pre-designed jobs. You can have 5 people in battle at a time.

Final Fantasy VI - SNES - Released in the US as Final Fantasy III. Graphic details are a bit more than IV. The equips/battle system is more customizable. It has a large playable cast. You can have 4 people in battle at a time. In battle, with low HP, there is a low chance of getting a desperation attack which is similar to future games. (Limit breaks, Overdrive) A lot of people refer to this as the best game/ff game ever. (I Haven t played this one yet, so i don t have a ton of info >_<)

Final Fantasy VII - PS1 - This was the first FF game to use 3D Graphics. It's 3 disks long. The battle system is active, again. You use materia to customize your weapons and stuff. There is a long, exciting story with plenty of plot twists. Including one of the most "shocking events in gaming history." FF7 only allows 3 people to participate in battle. This game incorporates Limit Breaks which will be used in further games. Your character unleashes a special attack after a certain amount of time/attacks. There are lots of cut scenes and summon animations.

Final Fantasy VIII - PS1 - This is 4 disks long. The characters are realistically proportioned. The magic system is very strange. There are no magic points. There is no typical weapon/armor system. The battles revolve around Guardian Points. There is a card mini game. This was the first FF game to include a vocal track theme song. Also considered to be one of the best games/ff games ever. (I haven t played this one yet, either.)

Final Fantasy IX - PS1 - This is also 4 disks long. This game reverts more to its roots, which IMO, makes it easier and more fun. Each character has a set job, like earlier FFs. The cut scenes do not have to be viewed at a certain time, with the inclusion of active time event. Limit break is renamed to "Trance". There is a nice storyline, with a few plot twists. The characters are completely lovable. The ending features a vocal track. The cut scene /FMV graphics are very nice, IMO, compared to FF7's cut scenes /FMV.

Final Fantasy X - PS2 - This is the first FF for PS2, and is only 1 Disk(DVD) long. This features many vocal parts and songs... large, beautiful scenes. Unlike previous FFs, everything is rendered into scale with the characters. Traditional EXP/leveling was replaced with the sphere grid, making it possible for your characters to learn virtually any skill if they can get to it. This game kind of gets rid of ATB. You can choose your attack strategies and whatnot, and the enemy wont attack you. Limit breaks are now called Overdrives, and you have to fulfill the condition to pull them off. (ex: press X X O triangle) The dungeons are mostly puzzles, which can be aggravating at times. There is 3 characters allowed at a time, and can be swapped out at any time using L1. There are real time facial expressions and lip movements. (I'm not going to tell you how much they match the words but..) The story is rich, has plot twists, and the characters are lovable. The plot is mostly linear, most people didn't like this. This was the only FF game to have a DIRECT sequel.

Final Fantasy X-2 - PS2 - This is the second FF for PS2, and is considered by many, the worst FF game ever. By others, a decent game! This is set in the same world as FF X, with, for the most part, the same characters. (A few new ones) The main difference is the battle system. The ATB is back. You level up with the Garment Grid and Dress spheres. This lets you choose what classes your characters are. Yuna could be a white mage... or a gunner, etc. This game is a bit different by being more action/adventure.. like you can climb things now with X. This game is completely NON linear. You can do pretty much anything you want at a certain point in the game. There are 2 vocal songs in this game, in addition to the voice overs still. If you finish the game 100% you get a bonus cut scene. Personally, I don t like the % games. My first (and only) time though, I got 32% eheh ^^;;

Final Fantasy XI: Online - PS2/PC - This is the first and only online FF for PC. You HAVE to play this game online. There have been 4 expansions to this game. All battles are real time, and character customization is limited. Um, my friend said that the battle system is menu driven. I've never played this game either (and probably never will) So i don t know much about it.

Final Fantasy XII - PS2 - The battle system is all real time with menus. Sounds odd? It is. There are blue and red lines which tell you when you can and cant hit an enemy. A gambit system controls actions of characters. A License system (similar to sphere grid) determines your abilities and equipment. This is one of the few FFs which doesn t feature a love plot. I haven t played this game very much yet.

Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles - Game Cube - This is the first FF game on a Nintendo system since Final Fantasy VI. This is in my opinion, one of the best multiplayer games ever. You have a set number of levels that you must defeat to gain artifacts and weapon/armor patters that increase your stats. The plot is, IMO very strange and almost nonexistent until the end. You can play this one player or with GBA and cables with up to 4 people. You pick up Magicite to cast spells. There is no MP, you can cast as much as you want. Your life is measured in hearts, not in numbers. Unless you get a magicite ring, you must find spells in each level, or you cant cast at all. Cure stones are usually plentiful so this isn t a problem.

Final Fantasy Anthology - PS1 - FFA is compilation of Final Fantasy V and VI. This was Final Fantasy V's first peek into the US. FF VI is just about the same as it was for SNES. FF V has a really interesting job system. You can be 1 of MANY jobs, after unlocking them. You can even combine some jobs, it's really neat. FF V was the first game (when it was on SNES) to incorporate timed events. FF V was the second game to include ATB. The plot is interesting, and always has you playing to find out what happens next.

Final Fantasy Chronicles - PS1 - FFC is a compilation of Final Fantasy IV and Chrono Trigger. Why Chrono Trigger is there, I have NO idea. FF IV had full motion 3D cut scenes. Final Fantasy IV first introduced the active time battle system (when it was on the SNES). There are 5 people in battle allowed at a time. For more info on FF IV read FF IV. I'm not explaining CT because, well, CT is not FF, lol.

Final Fantasy Origins - PS1 - This includes Final Fantasy I and II. This is II's first peek at the US. It's basically just a remake with updating graphics and sound. I believe FF I fixes the abbreviations and is easier to understand than the NES version. FF II Introduced Chocobos and the character "Cid". You don t gain levels the traditional way. You improve according to how you use the characters. It also introduced a system of remembering certain information. The graphics are very similar to Final Fantasy I. I haven t played this much yet either.

Final Fantasy Tactics - PS1 - FFT combined some FF features with a tactical game play. I've never played FFT, so...

Final Fantasy Mystic Quest - SNES - A beginners RPG, many people don t like it, as it is "too easy" but I like it. It is like an action adventure.
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Portable Final Fantasies
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Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo Tales - DS - basically Role play, Exploration, and Card Battles. Battles take place in a pop up book.
Final Fantasy III - DS - This is a remake Final Fantasy III, only with improved plot, the characters have names now, and newly rendered in 3D. The original III was similar to I and II.
Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings - DS - Similar to a tactics game, only i hear it's worse.
Final Fantasy I & II: Dawn of Souls - GBA - Similar to FF:Origins, with updates graphics and cut scenes.
Final Fantasy IV Advance - GBA - Remake of FF IV with updates graphics, etc.
Final Fantasy V Advance - GBA - Remake of FF V with updates graphics, etc.
Final Fantasy VI Advance - GBA - Remake of FF VI with updates graphics, etc.
Final Fantasy Tactics Advance - GBA - Like FFT, it combines FF features with tactical game play.
Final Fantasy I: PSP - A remake of FF1 with higher res graphics.
Final Fantasy II: PSP - A remake of FF2 with higher res graphics.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions - PSP - Similar to the other Tactics games. FF elements in a tactical environment.

Final Fantasy Adventure - GB - FFA is not really a Final Fantasy Game. It's part of the Seiken Densetsu / Secret of Mana series. Bad Nintendo!
Final Fantasy Legend I, II, III - GB - The FFL games are part of the "SaGa" series in Japan, not really Final Fantasy! BAD NINTENDO!

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Future Final Fantasies
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Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
Final Fantasy Tactics A2: The Sealed Grimoire
Final Fantasy IV DS