Final Fantasy VII

Final Fantasy VII transformed Japanese RPGs into a global phenomenon, investing a staggering $45 million budget and selling 13 million copies—more than #2 Super Mario 64's 11 million. Its cinematic cutscenes and operatic storytelling introduced Western audiences to turn-based combat with a soul, featuring over 20 hours of main story content and the unforgettable death of Aerith. The game's Materia system offered deeper customization than any previous RPG on this list, including the simpler gear progression in Ocarina of Time. By combining pre-rendered backgrounds with 3D characters, it pushed PlayStation hardware to its limits, setting a new benchmark for narrative ambition in games that even GoldenEye 007's action-focused approach could not match.