Final Fantasy Series Poll Led by Emet-Selch and FFXIV

Japanese video sharing site NicoNico held a popularity poll to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Final Fantasy series. The poll asked Japanese fans their favorite FF title, favorite music track from the series, and their favorite character. The results were topped by FFXIV, “To Zanarkand,” and Emet-Selch.

The total sample size for the NicoNico Final Fantasy poll was about 11,169 votes. Almost all the top three spots in each category were held by entries from Final Fantasy XIV, Final Fantasy X, and Final Fantasy VII. For example, the top three most-popular characters were Emet-Selch, Wakka, and Cloud Strife. Emet-Selch is one of the Ascians, a group of major antagonists from throughout FFXIV‘s main story. He was also the central villain of the Shadowbringers expansion. He is voiced in Japanese by Hiroki Takahashi (Keith Kepler in Spy x Family, Ryu in Street Fighter V) and in English by René Zagger.

The only exception to the trend was Final Fantasy V, which broke into the top three in the “Favorite Music Track” category. The top three songs were FFX‘s main theme, “To Zanarkand”, FFV‘s “Battle on the Big Bridge,” and FFXIV‘s “A Long Fall” (also known as “The Twinning”).

Check out the ranking of entries from the character and game categories in the NicoNico Final Fantasy series poll below. The full list of music tracks is available at this link.

Favorite Main Final Fantasy Title

1. Final Fantasy XIV
2. Final Fantasy VII
3. Final Fantasy X
4. Final Fantasy VI
5. Final Fantasy IX
6. Final Fantasy V
7. Final Fantasy VIII
8. Final Fantasy XI
9. Final Fantasy XV
10. Final Fantasy III
11. Final Fantasy XIII
12. Final Fantasy XII
13. Final Fantasy II
14. Final Fantasy

Favorite Final Fantasy Character

1. Emet-Selch (FFXIV)
2. Wakka (FFX)
3. Cloud Strife (FFVII)
4. Tifa Lockhart (FFVII)
5. Zidane Tribal (FFIX)
6. Aerith Gainsborough (FFVII)
7. G’raha Tia (FFXIV)
8. Vivi Ornitier (FFIX)
9. Tidus (FFX)
10. Haurchefant Greystone (FFXIV)
11. Squall Leonhart (FFVIII)
12. Terra Branford (FFVI)
13. Yuna (FFX)
14. Lightning Farron (FFXIII)
15. Bartz Klauser (FFV)
16. Noctis Lucis Caelum (FFXV)
17. Celes Chere (FFVI)
18. Zack Fair (FFVII)
19. Locke Cole
20. Sephiroth (FFVII)
21. Kain Highwind (FFIV)
22. Auron (FFX)
23. Faris Scherwiz (FFV)
24. Rydia (FFIV)
25. Cecil Harvey (FFIV)
26. Edgar Roni Figaro (FFVI)
27. Shantotto (FFXI)
28. Venat (FFXIV)
29. Gilgamesh (FFV)
30. Yuffie Kisaragi (FFVII)

Favorite Final Fantasy Music Track

1. To Zanarkand (FFX)
2. Battle on the Big Bridge (FFV)
3. A Long Fall (FFXIV)
4. Searching for Friends (FFVI)
5. Suteki Da Ne (FFX)
6. Blinded By Light (FFXIII)
7. Triumph (FFXIV)
8. Who Brings Shadow (FFXIV)
9. Eternal Wind (FFIII)
10. Aerith’s Theme (FFVII)

The Final Fantasy games are available on various platforms. The first six games in the series will arrive on PS4 and Switch via the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster line. FFXIV is available on the PS4, PS5, and PC.