Kain Highwind

Who are your favorite characters in each mainline game that you've played, and why? Mine are:

Final Fantasy II

Leila. I love how she just joins you when her ambush fails, and she grows from a brigand into a steadfast ally.

Final Fantasy IV

Kain Highwind. His story is so tragic. It's a dark mirror of Cecil's journey, and it's fascinating.

Final Fantasy VI

Terra Branford. In a game that has such a strong focus on the connections between its main cast, Terra's loneliness really stands out. She's trapped between two worlds, and doesn't really fit in either.

Final Fantasy VII

Tifa Lockhart. Tifa seems to be the most level-headed character in the game. She always manages to keep her cool, even when the others start to lose it.

Final Fantasy IX

Vivi Ornitier. I've only just begun this game, but Vivi already stands out. He's so unsure of himself, and so afraid of where he comes from, but loyal and courageous, too.

Final Fantasy X

Yuna. Her courage and willingness to sacrifice herself for the good of Spira is awe-inspiring.

Final Fantasy XI

Iroha. I've only played the first few missions of Rhapsodies of Vana'diel, but Iroha is already my favorite character in Final Fantasy XI. She's been through some pretty insane circumstances, and her determination in the face of such craziness is impressive.

Final Fantasy XII

Cidolfus Demen Bunansa. His relationship with Balthier is intense and horrifying. He's also my favorite kind of villain, intelligent and insane in equal parts.

Final Fantasy XIII

Claire "Lightning" Farron. I'm on the autism spectrum, and I've always interpreted Lightning as being on the spectrum herself. She has almost no social skills, is incredibly bad at expressing her emotions, and has a single-minded determination that focuses her attention on her immediate goal to the exclusion of all else. Whether she's actually autistic or not, it's cool to see a main character with these traits. Lightning is also my favorite character in the entire series.

Final Fantasy XIV

Minfilia Warde. The story of Final Fantasy XIV is one of the more chaotic FInal Fantasy stories. Especially in the Seventh Astral Era questline (which I just finished), a million things are happening at once, and crises are popping up faster than we can deal with them. Minfilia is such a calming presence throughout these events. She always has a plan, and she (almost) never loses her cool. She's the anchor of Final Fantasy XIV's story.

Final Fantasy XV

Ardyn Izunia. Another great villain, not simply power-hungry like many Final Fantasy villains. Though he's lost sight of justice in his pursuit of revenge, he was in the right in his conflict with Somnus centuries ago. He has a genuine case against Noctis's family, and that makes him an incredibly interesting villain.