The forums kind of speak for themselves where interest in the individual games is concerned. Just look at the post counts. :D
as of 3/4/06 - 12:10PM EST
Final Fantasy I-III - 889
Final Fantasy IV - 1,027
Final Fantasy V - 544
Final Fantasy VI - 2,359
Final Fantasy VII - 4,993
Final Fantasy VIII - 2,457
Final Fantasy IX - 1,159
Final Fantasy X - 2,948
Final Fantasy XI - 1,855
Final Fantasy X-2 - 1,685
Final Fantasy Tactics - 776
here are the 10 most talked about Final Fantasy games:
1) Final Fantasy VII - 4,993
2) Final Fantasy X - 2,948
3) Final Fantasy VIII - 2,457
4) Final Fantasy VI - 2,359
5) Final Fantasy XI - 1,855
6) Final Fantasy X-2 - 1,685
7) Final Fantasy IX - 1,159
8) Final Fantasy IV - 1,027
9) Final Fantasy I-III - 889 (this is shocking! come on old schoolers!)
10)Final Fantasy Tactics - 776
So FFV doesn't make the cut, even to this day FFVII is still the benchmark for the series' popularity, FFX is extremely well liked, more people played FFX-2 than FFIV in here, and FFI II and III are the least talked about of all the numbered games. this poll is far more in-depth, spread over time, and has more options than any thread poll could be. and you can continue to watch it changer over the course of years! sorry, i'm a little stat crazy - and while this may not directly correspond with what's the 'best' FF game, post counts really are the teller of people's level of interest.