Absolutely not. The beauty of the mainline Final Fantasy games is that they tell self-contained stories with no direct connections to the other games. There are recurring creatures and monsters that act as motifs, but in no way connect the games narratively.

Like most RPGs, the difficulty of Final Fantasy games is largely dictated by the player party’s character levels as well as their equipped weapons, armour and abilities, in relation to the abilities and stats of the enemies they face. 

There is generally a greater emphasis on strategy and adaptability over physical dexterity. More recent titles like Final Fantasy XV and Final Fantasy VII Remake also offer adjustable difficulty levels.

As of 2023, there are 16 mainline games. If you take spin-offs and sub-sequels into account, there are over 100, embracing genres including turn-based strategy, rhythm action, fighting and even kart racing.

Every numbered Final Fantasy game from Final Fantasy VII has appeared on a PlayStation console and all, apart from Final Fantasy XI, are playable on the current generation of systems. 

The majority of numbered Final Fantasy games are traditional Japanese RPGs with random enemy encounters and turn-based combat. However, the series evolved to introduce summons and the Active Time Battle system, which made combat much more dynamic.

Since Final Fantasy XII, the single-player games have introduced systems that give players more freedom to choose their battles and utilize real-time movement.

Final Fantasy XIV Online is an MMORPG with that allows you to explore an expansive world alongside other players.

Mainline Final Fantasy games are generally recommended for players aged 16+ due to depictions of fantasy violence and mature themes. 

However, select titles like World of Final Fantasy Maxima are suitable for younger players.

Final Fantasy (sometimes referred to as Final Fantasy I) was the first to be released. The story tells of four Warriors of Light journeying to defeat the archdemon Chaos. 

Stranger of Paradise Final Fantasy Origin depicts how the Final Fantasy antagonist, Garland, fell from grace.