My top 1 are FFVI, Dirge of Cerberus FFVII, FFVIII, FFIX and FFXII.

As for my top 2, it's FFII, FFX and FFX-2, but I don't think any less of them. They're just amazing in a different kind of way than the others that putting them alongside the top 1 games feels wrong to me. Essentially, they're top 1, but a different top 1, if that makes sense.

Here, this sums up my preferences

IX then IX now IX forever

Crisis Core is my favorite one, but I’ve only played that and part of Final Fantasy 1

My top 3 are VII, VI, and IX

My too 3 are XII, VII, and honestly gonna go with XV

My top 4, in order, are VII, XIII, VI, and XII.

For the rest, in order, slightly lower but all enjoyable in their own ways: II, III, IX, V, IV, I, X, and XV. Well, never played XV (and likely never will unless it comes to Switch or I want it badly enough to get a Xbox One and PS4), but seen a playthrough of it and looks cool, at least until it takes a turn for the grimdark.

Last is VIII, the only one I didn't find QUITE as enjoyable, but not without good points and fun characters and one day I might be persuaded to resume my playthrough and see if I can change my mind about it.

Never played or researched any sequels or spinoffs.

XIII lightning forever!

My favorite is FFXII. It's combination of gameplay ( the gambit system is like programming the characters), story (6 hours of storyline), use of graphics ( the weather changes when zoning in and out of areas), and music ( using a full orchestra to make it sound classical). It took 6 years to develope and all that is compacted into one 6 gig disk ( I think) on the PS2.