Final Fantasy VI

Final Fantasy VI is Square's 1994 SNES masterpiece, featuring an ensemble cast of 14 characters and a villain, Kefka, who actually destroys the world. Its iconic opera scene remains 50% more emotionally resonant than the average 16-bit RPG, and many consider it superior to Final Fantasy VII. With 30+ hours of gameplay, it sets a benchmark for narrative ambition, surpassing #8 Mass Effect 2 in plot cohesion.