Final Fantasy XVI Reviews

Final Fantasy XVI is an epic in every sense of the word. Consistently sharp writing, a captivating cast of characters, exhilarating combat, and a timeless soundtrack coalesce into an experience that showcases what the PlayStation 5 is capable of at the highest level. It constantly finds ways to top its own scale in remarkable fashion, but never loses sight of the intimate journey its built around.

Final Fantasy XVI is a truly special game that, while not without its issues, had me in awe of its frequent moments of absolute spectacle and emotion.

Final Fantasy XVI Complete Edition is easily the definitive way to experience Square's latest epic for those who can push the game to its limits on PC.

In this review, you'll understand everything you need to know about Echoes of the Fallen, the first piece of DLC for Final Fantasy XVI. Is it a nice addition to the game or just a cheap cash grab? Worry not! If you liked the main game, then you'll certainly want to tackle this sweet DLC as well!

The Rising Tide works great as one last hurrah with new Eikons and a short but worthwhile adventure that shows a different side of FFXVI.

Another strong aspect of the game is the visuals, which are of remarkably high quality. The environments are diverse and interesting, the character designs are memorable, and the particle effects – as is often the case with Square Enix – are brilliant. I found the soundtrack to be overall less memorable than previous entries, though the songs that did stick in my mind are top-notch.

Final Fantasy XVI represents a step forward for the franchise in terms of enhancing gameplay elements, but it falls short of being a truly engaging combat experience, with the otherwise fun Eikon ability system being let down by a lack of difficulty. The game thrives as a story-driven experience, with consistently spectacular scenes made more immersive by the outstanding voice acting and fine attention to detail in graphical design. Some players may find themselves wanting more from the sound design, but when the music is on point it truly shines. If rich storytelling, extensive lore, and enticing worldbuilding are your thing, you’re unlikely to be disappointed here.

Highly anticipated Final Fantasy XVI exceeds many of its expectations. Focusing on action and world building, this spellbinding tale of Eikons is a magnificent entry for fans and newcomers alike.

Final Fantasy XVI is a new change to the highs of the Final Fantasy series with fleshed-out characters and fantastic set pieces. It can get bogged down due to its linearity and being unable to go back to certain locations but overall it is a masterpiece.

Final Fantasy XVI reinvigorates the long-running franchise thanks to its grimdark tone and engaging real-time combat. This is exactly the refresh the series needed.

Final Fantasy XVI decided it wanted to be different. Gone is any element of turn-based combat. But not all typical Final Fantasy elements have been left by the curb. An excellent musical score, great cast of characters, and a story that will be hard to top are all here. There are a few hiccups with this new style. I missed a minimap more than I thought I would, cutscenes back to back after taking ten steps was a common annoyance, and side-quests feel like an afterthought. But those are small potato issues. This is a Final Fantasy game for both newcomers and those who loved the old-school fantasy settings of previous entries. Final Fantasy XVI isn't perfect, but it's close.

Final Fantasy XVI is bold, brilliant, and everything a Final Fantasy should be. Despite from some shortcomings due to the sheer ambition of the title, XVI is a masterful work that is a must-play experience for any RPG or action game fan. Clive Rosfield's story is one that will surely be talked about for years to come.

The franchise wanted to grow up. But at its heart, the game is true to tradition, both for good and ill.

“Final Fantasy XVI delivers when it comes to spectacular action, but dated design and shallow RPG systems drag down a promising blockbuster.”

Final Fantasy XVI arrives triumphantly nearly seven years after the last mainline release. Featuring a tale of epic proportions with many twists and turns while also breaking many franchise traditions, in concept and boldness alone it won’t be a title for all fans. It’s entirely not what you’d expect when it comes to the series. The very reason I preface that upfront is that I fall exactly into the target audience. I bloody love Final Fantasy XVI. It’s turned me, a disbeliever of the ...

Final Fantasy XVI is an incredible action game that offers an epic tale with gorgeous visuals and an amazing soundtrack but lacking content will be noticeable to fans of the series.

While Final Fantasy XVI didn’t meet this fan’s expectations for a new series entry, newcomers to epic fantasy and action games will be swept away by the eye-melting combat and enormous-yet-approachable scale.

Final Fantasy XVI is bombastic, indulgent, and extreme, breaking far beyond the limits of what I thought an action-oriented Final Fantasy could pull off. It represents a pivotal shift for the series, ditching any semblance of turn-based move selection, active-time battles, or anything else in its history in favor of a fast-paced, extravagant, combo-heavy combat system that continued to grow more robust throughout my 60-plus hour journey.

I’ve spent the last few weeks completely immersing myself in Valisthea and the story of Clive. Countless hours exploring, fighting, and trying to predict where the story would go next. Now, after I’ve finished, I’ve found myself with an urge that I’ve never had with any other JRPG, not even ones from my favorite franchises: I want to go in and play again. I don’t do New Game + modes, but Final Fantasy XVI has me rearing for another go around.

Almost perfect if not for the nitty-gritty. If it’s quite there but not enough to push the boundaries, it’s still an awesome game.

Final Fantasy XVI is everything I could have hoped for and more. Combat is fast paced and rewarding as you master combos and abilities. Eikon fights, while not as interesting to play, are gorgeous to witness. All of this is wrapped up into a deep story and fully fleshed out world that you'll want to be protecting.

From its outrageously beautiful visuals to its brilliant story, Final Fantasy XVI is compelling from start to finish. Its action combat is topped only by the incredible Kaiju-esque Eikon battles, and its story is one of the best I’ve played in the series. Final Fantasy XVI kept me entranced from the moment Phoenix and Ifrit battled in its opening stages till the credits rolled almost 65 hours later.

Final Fantasy XVI is a brave new direction for the long-running RPG series, and one that pays off. We haven’t been this engaged by a Final Fantasy title in quite some time, and we absolutely love the new action-focused combat system. Sometimes elements of the new and old Final Fantasy clash, and the story has some elements that left us scratching our heads, but overall this will be remembered as one of the greats. With stunning visuals, a rousing soundtrack, a fun combat system and an engaging politically-driven story, Final Fantasy XVI is quite simply a triumph.

The minor issues the game has doesn’t detract from the incredible experience Clive & Co. bring to the table. Players will be treated to a compelling tale, stunning visual spectacles, and a fluid and fun combat system. What’s even more impressive is, Square Enix manages to make the franchise “grow up” alongside the players who grew up playing the series. FFXVI deals with more mature themes and manages to make it matter without being overly preachy about it.

Final Fantasy XVI is an outstanding achievement. Every part of it, from its characters to its combat, was put there with a purpose. Not only does it deliver satisfyingly slick action RPG combat in between masterfully directed cutscenes, but also a story with real heart. Most importantly, it's incredibly clear that a team of creative individuals was behind every decision. There's a human element that permeates every aspect of Final Fantasy XVI, and it'll end up becoming a lot of people's favorite Final Fantasy because of that.

Final Fantasy XVI will change what we think of the franchise moving forward. It’s groundbreaking on so many levels, elevating the thirty-five-year old series to new heights. The combat is highly engaging and invites creativity and experimentation by giving players a bevy of tools to play around with. The story is beautifully written, and although it takes nods from other fantasy properties, it builds its own unique universe to immerse one in. The presentation is also spectacular, marrying both visuals and audio in an orchestra of splendor. While there's downtime in between the major story beats, players will still be on the edge of their seat throughout this lengthy adventure. This is a bold new direction for the franchise we wholeheartedly endorse, as while it doesn’t have the same charm as older titles, Square Enix have created something truly special. Final Fantasy XVI is the most captivating and cinematic Final Fantasy ever released, and will stick with us for generations to come.

Final Fantasy 16 is the furthest the mainline series has ever strayed from its traditional RPG roots. It's more of an action game with RPG elements bolted on than it is an RPG with action combat, but at the same time, it boasts all of the ingredients that we associate with the greatest Final Fantasy titles. Its character-driven story is grand and intoxicating, its fantastical world building is brilliant, and it's fit to burst with glorious battles. Again, it's a bold new direction for the beloved franchise, but it's also the best mainline, single-player Final Fantasy game since 12 — and it's not even close.

After every Eikon battle in Final Fantasy XVI, I kept asking myself “how can the next one be any better?” Only to be proven wrong each and every time.

The sun is setting upon the land of Valisthea. For centuries, people have flocked to her Mothercrystals to partake of their blessing—the abundant aether that fuels the magicks they rely upon in their everyday lives. But as the aether begins to fade and the lifeless deadlands spread ever further, so too does the struggle over the final flickers of the Mothers' light grow ever more fierce. Bloody battle rages across the realm, rival nations sending their ultimate weapons against each other: the Dominants. Men and women within whom sleep the world-shattering power of an Eikon. There are few in Valisthea whose lives have not been touched by this war for the crystals' blessing, and Clive Rosfield, firstborn son of the Archduke of Rosaria, is no exception.

It’s difficult to judge a Final Fantasy against the crystalline legacy of its predecessors. But Final Fantasy XVI takes a confident step into new territory and doesn’t slip. And for those who want an impressive, electrifying, enjoyable action RPG to sink hours upon hours into, you’d be very hard pressed to find a better option than Final Fantasy XVI.

If you’re a fan of strong narrative experiences, Final Fantasy lore, breath-taking graphics and a particularly sassy Moogle, and you don’t mind a sprinkling of The Witcher, The Handmaids Tale and the many accents of Old Blighty, then Final Fantasy XVI is the game for you. Heck, it might just be the best Final Fantasy yet!

The next main series entry is the most mature Final Fantasy game so far and lets it explore a whole new range of topics. Add to that a fast and fun combat system, and you get a game that’s hard to put down.

In a world full of games trying to stand out, Final Fantasy XVI has no problem rising above the rest. Wonderfully fun combat and beautiful presentation help make the excellent story even more impactful in an adventure well worth the price of admission.

There’s been some fantastic Final Fantasy games in recent years, such as the remake of the much loved VII as well as each new expansion of MMO XIV Online, but a proper mainline sequel has been a long time coming. The long-running role-playing series always brings a fresh world and story with each new numeral, but not always without growing pains: 2016’s Final Fantasy XV changed the formula a little too much, and some argued the developers were stuck in the past on the gameplay front.

Throughout its 35-year history, the Final Fantasy series has constantly reinvented itself — sometimes more successfully than others. The combination of God of War, Game of Thrones, and SNES-era Final Fantasy games seems like it just shouldn’t work. Yet somehow, it lives up to all of those lofty inspirations. Final Fantasy XVI is a rousing triumph, honoring the series’ history while blazing a bold new path for the future.

It may be hard to believe, but it’s been nearly seven years since the last mainline Final Fantasy title was released. In November of 2016, players were introduced to Noctis and his band of brothers on a countrywide road trip that saw the series make its first introductions into action-based combat. Still beholden to the rules of the Active Time Battle behind the scenes, there was still a framework in place that kept Final Fantasy from becoming a true character action game. Now, with a development team heralded by Ryota Suzuki, a combat designer with years of experience in the genre, Square-Enix and Creative Business Unit III have finally cracked that code with the soon-to-be-released Final Fantasy XVI.

Final Fantasy XVI is a confident game with amazing combat, an earnest narrative, and unbridled spectacle. Faults in pacing, RPG depth, quest design, and all those other nagging criticisms be damned - this game is special.

Is there a franchise more divisive and controversial amongst its own fans than Final Fantasy? How many times have I seen equal amounts of people loving and hating Final Fantasy VII‘s remake, XIII’s linearity, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origins‘ ridiculousness, and so on. With the exception of maybe VI, IX, and parts of XIV, I don’t think I have ever seen a Final Fantasy game truly, 100% adored by its fan base. Final Fantasy XVI will NOT be one of those games. I am pretty sure...