18. Final Fantasy III (1990)
Final Fantasy III’s influence is felt in so many future games because it was the first to introduce the series’ recurring “job” class system. The Dressphere system in Final Fantasy X-2 or the Paradigm Shift in Final Fantasy XIII wouldn’t exist without Final Fantasy III bringing in the idea of easily interchangeable classes. While its characters and world haven’t quite had the same staying power as most other games on this list, its influence on the gameplay of the franchise permeates through it over 30 years later. The original game was the last of the series’ NES entries, but thanks to re-releases like the DS remake, it has remained a touchstone for modern fans, albeit one that hasn’t had the same cultural impact as any of the games it influenced. — Kenneth Shepard
Read More: Final Fantasy III Retrospective: Hope You Like Losing Progress
