Final Fantasy VI (1994) is often hailed as one of the greatest RPGs of all time. Its ensemble cast, mature themes, and unforgettable villain Kefka set it apart. FFVI’s steampunk world, emotional storytelling, and innovative gameplay have inspired generations of gamers. The game’s music, narrative depth, and dramatic moments remain legendary in the genre.
1994 | Super Nintendo | The Villain Who Won
Final Fantasy VI is often called the greatest 2D Final Fantasy - some argue the greatest Final Fantasy, period. Released in 1994 as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System swan song (titled "Final Fantasy III" in the US), it combined operatic storytelling with steampunk aesthetics and 14 playable characters, each with unique abilities.
But its true legacy? Kefka Palazzo - the clown-faced villain who actually wins midway through the game, destroying the world and becoming a god. No other Final Fantasy villain achieves this.
→ Ensemble cast with 14 playable characters
→ Kefka destroys the world - you fight in the apocalypse
→ Opera scene, Magitek armor, Espers, steampunk fantasy
Kefka starts as comic relief - a cackling, makeup-wearing jester serving Emperor Gestahl. But behind the clownish facade is pure nihilism.
Midway through the game, Kefka betrays everyone, moves the Warring Triad statues, and triggers the apocalypse. The world is shattered. Continents break apart. Millions die. Kefka becomes a god atop his tower, ruling over the World of Ruin.
Unlike Sephiroth (who you stop), Kefka succeeds. The second half of FF6 takes place in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. You must gather your scattered party and find hope in a destroyed world.
Kefka's iconic quote: "Life... dreams... hope... Where do they come from? And where do they go? None of that junk is enough to fulfill your hearts!"
FF6 has no single protagonist - it's an ensemble cast:
Each has their own story arc, motivations, and character development.
One of gaming's most iconic moments: Celes impersonates an opera singer to infiltrate Setzer's airship. The game presents an actual opera with lyrics, orchestration, and dramatic staging.
"Oh my hero, so far away now / Will I ever see your smile?"
In 1994, on 16-bit hardware, Square pulled off an opera. This scene showcased what games could achieve as an art form.
FF6's world blends magic and technology - a steampunk fantasy aesthetic:
The conflict between magic (Espers) and technology (Magitek) drives the narrative. Terra, being half-Esper, embodies this duality.
FF6 is split into two worlds:
World of Balance (First Half): The Empire conquers nations. You gather allies to stop Kefka and Gestahl.
World of Ruin (Second Half): Kefka wins. The planet is devastated. Your party is scattered. Celes awakens alone on a deserted island with Cid, contemplating suicide if he dies.
The second half is open-ended - you rebuild your party in any order, exploring a broken world searching for reasons to fight a god.
The World of Ruin is one of gaming's bleakest settings. Hope feels earned because despair is real.
The final boss theme, "Dancing Mad", is a 17-minute prog-rock/organ symphony in four movements. It remains one of gaming's greatest compositions.
You fight Kefka in four phases, climbing his tower of godhood. Each phase has its own musical movement. The final phase shows Kefka as an angelic being, delivering his nihilistic philosophy.
Composer Nobuo Uematsu considers "Dancing Mad" his masterpiece. It's pure opera.
Rumors of a Final Fantasy VI remake in the style of Final Fantasy VII Remake persist, but nothing official yet.
Final Fantasy VI is the pinnacle of 2D Japanese Role-Playing Games. Every character matters. Every subplot has weight. The opera scene, the World of Ruin, Kefka's laugh - these moments are burned into gaming history.
Kefka is the best villain in the series because he wins. Sephiroth is iconic, but you stop him. Kefka destroys the world, becomes a god, and you fight him in the ruins of civilization.
The ensemble cast means no single "chosen one" - everyone has trauma, everyone has reasons to fight, everyone contributes. It's a story about finding meaning in a meaningless world.
The 2D masterpiece. Many consider it the best FF ever made.