8. Terra (Final Fantasy VI)

Technically, Final Fantasy VI isn’t meant to have a central protagonist, but Terra has taken on that role in the years since the original game launched on the Super Nintendo. Despite its ensemble structure, Final Fantasy VI shows some favoritism toward her, from her appearing in the game’s logo, to having you play as her before anyone else in the cast. So it makes sense she would end up representing the party in games like Dissidia or World of Final Fantasy

In the harsh world of Final Fantasy VI, Terra is often faced with the constant damning realization that to those around her, she is just a tool to be used. Her magical esper/human identity places her in the center of several of the game’s conflicts as she struggles to understand her place in the world and what she actually wants out of the life she’s been given. Because she was being controlled by the maniacal villain Kefka for so long, she spends the early parts of the game struggling with amnesia and trying to determine who she is and sort through emotions she doesn’t know how to contextualize. It’s through her connections with those around her that she determines she’s capable of feeling love for others, and she wants to fight for that. And as she goes on to prove, that kind of love can change the world.