Final Fantasy 14 (FF14) is one of the most popular MMOs out there, with the game even having to be taken off of the market after the influx of new players during the release of the Endwalker expansion. There are many reasons why Final Fantasy 14 is so popular amongst MMO fans, with so much content to take part in throughout the entire game no matter what expansions players are working through.
Many players are passionate about the overall story and lore of Final Fantasy 14, and for good reason. There are also a ton of characters throughout the game that are much-loved amongst fans of the game, even the villains. Thanks to excellent character progression and development, even the villains have become incredibly popular fan favorites.
7 Emet Selch
Emet Selch is probably the most popular villain within Final Fantasy 14, with a vast amount of artists creating fanart of him alongside the other characters within the game. The biggest factor in Emet Selch's popularity is his character progression, especially in the Endwalker expansion.
It's important to note that he is one of the main antagonists in the Shadowbringers expansion, and while he may annoy some, he's loved by a large amount of the player base. The way his character is written creates an entertaining and complex character, who is a member of the Ascians who is working towards the grand Rejoining.
6 Estinien Varlineau
The famous Estinien Varlineau or better known as Estinien Wyrmblood has undergone quite a bit of character progression since he was first introduced. Players first meet Estinien during the Dragoon job quests, meaning those who don't pick up the Dragoon job won't actually meet him until they get to the main story in the Heavensward expansion. He's one of the main characters in Heavensward as he joins the player on their journey throughout the main story.
Estinien, originally from Ishgard, is quite a loner when it comes to his personality as he often chooses to adventure by himself while sometimes meeting up with the Scions of the Seventh Dawn at points throughout the story. Estinien is another example of excellent character progression, with his character being much more fleshed out throughout the expansions that follow from A Realm Reborn.
5 G'raha Tia
Arguably one of the most popular characters within Final Fantasy 14, G'raha Tia is a miqote from Sharlayan who is first seen in the all-important Crystal Tower questline in the post-patches of A Realm Reborn. After completing this questline he isn't actually seen again until Shadowbringers where he has an extremely important role. G'raha Tia undergoes a ton of character progression throughout the Shadowbringers expansion, making him an extremely popular character amongst fans of Final Fantasy 14.
He's also one of the main characters in the Endwalker expansion, and while he doesn't have as much of an important role, he's still a staple character within the Scions. He's loveable and is clearly a huge fan of the Warrior of Light, often being the one who brings comic relief to the storyline, which makes him a super likable character within the player base.
4 Y'shtola Rhul
First introduced in A Realm Reborn, Y'shtola is a staple character throughout all of the Final Fantasy 14 expansions so far. She's a crucial member of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and wields strong powers that allow her to clearly see Aether activity, as well as being a Blackmage.
She's popular amongst fans, often being the subject of many pieces of fan art, and is also featured in a lot of advertisements for the game, making her a recognizable face even for those who don't play Final Fantasy 14. Y'shtola undergoes quite a bit of character progression, especially in the Shadowbringers expansion. There's also a major turning point in Heavensward which leaves Y'shtola blind due to a severe incident.
3 Thancred Waters
Much like Y'shtola, Thancred Waters is one of the main characters within the Scions of the Seventh Dawn. His character is much more fleshed out and highlighted in the later expansions, making him a much more likable character within the fanbase. He cares deeply about Minfilia after caring for her since she was young, making her more of a sister to him than a friend, and is easily one of the most charming characters in Final Fantasy 14.
Thancred is a devoted character overall, who is always ready to right the wrongs and take part in a battle. In Shadowbringers he meets Ryne, who later becomes much like a daughter to him, and it's pretty wholesome to watch. Witnessing the interactions between Thancred and Ryne is one of the best ways to get a real feel of Thancred's true character, with his caring personality laid bare for all to see as he does his best to protect Ryne.
2 Hythlodaeus
Hythlodaeus is first introduced at the end of the Shadowbringers expansion and is a major character in Endwalker as a supporting character alongside Emet Selch. He is from the world before the sundering when the Warrior of Light happens to find themselves in the past.
Fans of Final Fantasy 14 quickly started to love Hythlodaeus as he appeared in Endwalker as a kind-hearted character, making him the subject of many pieces of fan art, especially with his fellow Ancient Emet Selch. Hythlodaeus has the gift of soul sight, making him a much sought-after member of the Convocation of Fourteen in Amaurot.
1 Alphinaud And Alisae
While they are two different characters they often come as a pair, mostly bickering and teasing each other though. There can't be one without the other, with Alphinaud close being Alisae, especially in the later expansions. The main characters tend to change jobs as the expansions go on, with Alphinaud becoming a Sage in Endwalker, while Alisae remains a Red Mage.
While fans of Final Fantasy 14 are first introduced to Alphinaud in the later parts of A Realm Reborn, players get to meet Alisae properly in Heavensward. They soon become two of the major characters within the roster as they are key members of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and vow to protect the Warrior of Light at all costs. They undergo a lot of character progression throughout the expansions, making them extremely popular amongst the fans. This is due to the abundance of emotional, and also comedically wholesome, cutscenes that players get to experience throughout the expansions with Alphinaud and Alisae.