Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is the latest expansion in the long-running Final Fantasy XIV MMO. For those who haven’t played it, Final Fantasy XIV probably should have been titled Final Fantasy Online II. It’s been going since 2010, and after a very rocky first few years, it’s had 5 excellent expansions. Each expansion grew the plot, and it all came to a close with 2021’s phenomenal Endwalker fina...

“Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail delivers an emotional gut punch, even if it takes some time to get there.”

Final Fantasy XIV’s Dawntrail brings a fresh new start to the MMORPG, and while it doesn’t quite live up to the emotional highs of Endwalker, still provides a solid basis that the developers can continue building upon into the future.

The Dawntrail MSQ is salient and beautiful in the exact way that has made the Final Fantasy XIV narrative so beloved…I play MMOs to connect to others, invest in my communities, raid, and be a part of something larger than just me and a television screen. Dawntrail captures that, and that’s truly what matters.

While it hasn't completely lost its luster, Dawntrail proves that it's about time for Final Fantasy XIV to change.

FFXIV Dawntrail starts with a trip to the New World, and it sets up the next narrative journey for the Warrior of Light.

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is a mixed bag of amazement and sorrow. On one hand, the expansion has some of the best gameplay we’ve seen from the MMORPG, with the two new jobs being perfectly slotted into the hefty roster. It also has some exciting trials and raids to kick things off, making the prospect of its post-release patches beyond exciting. That’s not to mention the soundtrack is as memora...

Final Fantasy XIV Dawntrail evokes mixed feelings. While following the game's story, I was close to falling asleep for a long time - fortunately, this was compensated by the fantastic design of the boss battles. But after waiting so long, I wanted more.

Better battle content manages to take the sting out what would otherwise be an average at best expansion.

Dawntrail ups the ante with exhilarating combat experiences and builds a stunning new world, but meandering storytelling highlights the MMO's flaws.

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Coming off two critically acclaimed expansions, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail has some big shoes to fill. The fifth expansion for FFXIV (sixth, if counting the reboot that was A Realm Reborn), sees familiar faces in strange lands while setting up a new narrative arc after Endwalker resolved the Hydalean and Zodiark storyline. For anyone who's seen the trailer for Dawntrail, it's also noticeable wha...