5 Best Characters From Final Fantasy 6

Published Sep 19, 2026, 7:00 PM EDT

Bruno Yonezawa is a Gaming Senior Writer for Screen Rant. He's been practicing professional journalism for over 10 years, and is also a communications specialist. He's played games all his life and turned that passionate hobby into a passionate career, in an industry where he's worked as a writer, editor, analyst, and more.

Arguably the best entry of the pixel era, Final Fantasy 6 is also considered the best installment in the series by many. Combining some of the best gameplay mechanics with a mature and unforgettable story, the title released back in 1994 was the pinnacle of the series when it was restricted to pixel graphics. Even the father of the franchise, Hironobu Sakaguchi, considers Final Fantasy 6 the best in the series, which is a testament to its overall quality. It is not as popular as games like FF7 and FFX, but it’s just as good as them, if not better.

As was mentioned, there are several things that make the Square Enix SNES RPG a masterpiece, but one of the things that drives it toward excellence is its cast of characters. The story in Final Fantasy 6 is only as good as it is because of the characters that push it forward and keep us hooked. One thing that it does better than most entries is that it has a whole cast of protagonists rather than a single protagonist aided by a group of secondary heroes. It still has a poster girl, but its other characters are just as important.

Terra Branford

The poster girl in question is Terra Branford, considered the main protagonist in this Final Fantasy game. Terra is the child of a human and an Esper, and is the living proof that both humans and Espers can live peacefully with one another. However, ambition lies in the heart of humanity and forced the bond between her parents to be severed so that she could survive.

Terra’s a phenomenal character in every aspect. Not only is she extremely powerful as one of the very few characters capable of wielding magic, but she can also enter her Trance state, which further buffs her in combat. She is also the one leading the party against the Gestalhian Empire and the game’s main antagonist, Kefka. Terra is the heart of the party, and her story, without giving too much away, is one of the deepest ones in the series.

Celes Chere

Alongside Terra, Celes Chere is the only other character who can naturally gain magic without the use of Espers. While she has a ton of gameplay value with her rune knight capabilities, which can tank enemy attacks, for example, in addition to her incredible stats, it’s her story that makes her so incredible. Considered by many to be the true protagonist, Celes has some incredible character moments in Final Fantasy 6.

She is, for example, the one singing Aria di Mezzo Carattere during the famous opera scene in the game. While that is the most iconic scene, her whole narrative arc with the party, including learning to trust them, is what makes her story so beautiful. This is not to mention that she is nearly the direct opposite of Kefka, which is precisely why many players feel like she’s the true protagonist in FF6.

Locke Cole

Custom image by Sean Migalla

There’s no overselling how great it is to play with Locke Cole from the very start of the game. This master treasure hunter is one of the best and most reliable damage dealers in the RPG, and he’s the one who will be stealing great gear from enemies across the campaign. He’s also so fast he hardly ever gets hit, too, making him one of the best playable characters in Final Fantasy 6.

On top of everything he has to offer in terms of gameplay value, Locke Cole also has one of the most emotional story arcs in the game. As you play, you learn more about him and his past. He is fighting so that he can find a way to revive Rachel, his love, who died tragically. While he presents himself as a tough and humorous ally, he’s actually masking his past and how big a heart he has. The way he protects Terra is a direct reference to his inability to protect Rachel. It’s gut-wrenching and beautiful.

Sabin Rene Figaro

Arguably the best playable character in Final Fantasy 6, Sabin Rene Figaro is a character you’ll want in nearly every party formation during the campaign – when he’s available. This powerhouse of a character uses Blitz moves to damage enemies, and he’s one of the most reliable ones for damage. He has tons of multi-target attacks that deal full damage to all enemies, and he only gets better over time. Also, there’s nothing more satisfying than getting his combos right.

His personal story isn’t as deep as those of some of the other characters in the game, but the way Sabin bonds with other party members warms your heart. On top of that, he also provides great comedic relief, not only as a funny character, but a strong one at that. Sabin literally suplexes an entire train, in what is considered one of the best Final Fantasy moments of all time.

Kefka Palazzo

Considered one of the best villains in the series, Kefka Palazzo is another great character who helps push Final Fantasy 6 in the right direction. Apart from being a walking icon of nihilism, Kefka is the type of villain you feel an urge to defeat. The best part is that he also stars in one of the biggest plot twists in Final Fantasy history. There’s no understating just how despicable Kefka is, and that’s great for the story.

Kefka is constantly appearing in the game, too, making his presence all the more annoying. If that weren’t enough, the final battle against this villain is truly something of the heavens, as you’ll be facing him in various forms, one of which is a perverted interpretation of godhood. Surely, the cast of heroes is remarkable, but Final Fantasy 6 would likely not be the work of art that it is without the presence of the iconic Kefka as the main antagonist.

Systems