Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

 PC
User Score
9.1

Universal acclaim- based on 1547 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,419 out of 1547
  2. Mixed: 26 out of 1547
  3. Negative: 102 out of 1547

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  1. Sharess_
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Honestly I've played a LOT since Shadowbringers has released (pre release on 28th) and I've finished all the MSQ (Main Story Quests) and It's been a hell of a ride. Voice acting and story line are ON POINT!!!

    On release there are 8 dungeons and 2 big boss "Trials" as well as 2 lesser Big Boss Trials included with the expansion as well as 5 zones you can obtain flying in right away (Not    Honestly I've played a LOT since Shadowbringers has released (pre release on 28th) and I've finished all the MSQ (Main Story Quests) and It's been a hell of a ride. Voice acting and story line are ON POINT!!!

    On release there are 8 dungeons and 2 big boss "Trials" as well as 2 lesser Big Boss Trials included with the expansion as well as 5 zones you can obtain flying in right away (Not wait 7 months and have to do a buncha BS, looking @ You WoW)

    Also with Shadowbringers it brought a complete revamp to the games combat system and healing system. It made all the jobs (Classes) WAY more fun to play which is awesome. Looking more and more like a fast action MMORPG.

    Each zone ingame is gorgeous in Shadowbringers, all the music is amazing, the game is more fun to play than ever and jobs are more balanced. What more could you ask for to be honest.

    So some people give low scores it seems because it's expensive because they have to buy initial game plus this expansion. Other games make you buy initial, prior expansions and then current expansion.

    At least FFXIV Lets you buy Game + All prior expansions for one low price and then allows you to buy current expansion when you get to it.    … Expand
  2. PMS_Jordan
    Jun 7, 2021
    10
    I have well over 1,000 hours in this fantastic MMO. It is my favorite Final Fantasy story as well as my favorite MMO of all time. Shadowbringers is straight fire baby! Best expansion by far! I don't know how Endwalker will top it, but I believe in the Dev team. 10/10 would recommend.
  3. Rikori
    Sep 5, 2020
    10
    Absolute masterpiece, honestly the best MMORPG online I've ever seen. The story is the best thing about the game.
  4. Lovely_TimeLord
    Dec 21, 2020
    10
    First of all I wanna say I'm a guy who love play everytime of game online or not and I played a lot of mmorpg over the years... that said, I feel cursed for never playing final fantasy XIV...

    Shadowbringer is for me the best game I've ever played, just brilliant. It had been a long time since I had seen something so puzzling and magnificent. If you came here looking to know if it's    First of all I wanna say I'm a guy who love play everytime of game online or not and I played a lot of mmorpg over the years... that said, I feel cursed for never playing final fantasy XIV...

    Shadowbringer is for me the best game I've ever played, just brilliant. It had been a long time since I had seen something so puzzling and magnificent.

    If you came here looking to know if it's worth playing. YEA!
    But if you are going to start in FFXIV play without haste, forget that the game is a mmorpg, enjoy the story as if it were an offline game and you will not be disappointed    … Expand
  5. mokoantic
    Jul 20, 2020
    10
    Took me too long to start playing this game, and i loved everything about this game: the jobs, the combat, the dungeons, the raids, the community, the world, the story ........

    I played the base game and the three expansions and loved them all. But i think Shadowbringers is the best all around.

    Must play for mmo players.
  6. Wweald
    Dec 15, 2021
    10
    Amazing expansion. Has the best areas, cities, characters, story and dungeons of the game imo. I think Stormblood wins on trials by a tiny bit. Shadowbringers and FFXIV in general is one of the best experiences in gaming.
  7. wildinstict
    Jul 27, 2020
    10
    One brings shadows, one brings the light....enough said...just buy the game. Its story is extremely good
  8. MSB1
    Dec 18, 2020
    10
    The greatest MMO expansion ever made by a long shot. It's going to be a tough, if not impossible, task for Yoshi and his crew to top this one. The story ramped into something truly beautiful and amazing with a main villain that was relatable and charismatic without being the usual 'cliché charismatic guy', giving a beautiful and fitting end to the story arc that it closed. The world,The greatest MMO expansion ever made by a long shot. It's going to be a tough, if not impossible, task for Yoshi and his crew to top this one. The story ramped into something truly beautiful and amazing with a main villain that was relatable and charismatic without being the usual 'cliché charismatic guy', giving a beautiful and fitting end to the story arc that it closed. The world, characters and story were just fantastic, beautiful visually, and well written. The music per the usual was also A+ and some of the best you'll find in gaming.

    Something FF14 has always done infinitely better than WoW is class balance which they constantly listen to feedback on and make tweaks on to try to line jobs up better with one another based off their utility or lack therefore. All of them are performing pretty well and Monks just got an excellent and much needed rework . You can play any job in here you desire and feel like you're pull your weight, whether through the powerful buffs or sheer nuking power. And that's a formula that has continued to stick true in Shadowbringers. They just continue to excel at balance. If it looks fun, play it. You'll have value in groups or savage raids in the end.

    To those of you that play WoW and may be reading this wondering if this could be a breath of fresh air to you after the crap show that's Shadowlands the answer is yes. ESPECIALLY if you love a well written story and characters. The Expansion may be drawing towards a close in a few months, but it's still very much worth getting into. Especially now that ARR's story has received a much needed pruning that will make the level 50 slog from ARR to Heavensward (Where the game truly starts to shine.) much more manageable. That slog was often the defeat of many people trying the game out. But stick through till Heavensward and you'll be justly reward going onwards.

    I should mention that the classes and savage/ultimate raids are quite unlike anything you're used to in WoW. The classes are more in depth and have deeper and longer rotations. A slightly longer GCD than WoW helps out a lot with this and for 'weaving' abilities inbetween them that are off it. If you like the fast playstyle of WoW over a slower one, I would recommend looking into Ninja as a melee or Summoner as a caster as they have many abilities to weave that makes them feel faster. There's tons of resources out there such as The Balance discord to help you on the way and learn the ins and outs of these as well as many youtube videos. And there's easier options of the 'holy trinity' if you don't want to play anything too complex. White Mage (Healer), Red Mage (DPS), and Warrior (Tank) come to mind there as examples. The dungeons are quite easy, Mythic + in WoW is going to be more of a challenge. But the Savage/Ultimate raids are a completely different ballpark from WoW that requires a good, coordinated group and being good at your job as you have many mechanics to go through all the while keeping your dps/healing up to task. One death, especially in ultimate, can spell the difference between victory or a wipe/enrage. And it will also make you a hell of a player over in WoW after spending some time with it. Dodging mechanics in WoW is a joke after learning to dodge some of the mechanics FF14 throws out you in those high end raids.    … Expand
  9. Katzena
    Dec 12, 2021
    10
    Probably one the best expansions from the game, i'm conflicted if i liked it more than endwalker or not as this point. but i loved everything about this expansion
  10. Tonarestriga
    Jul 26, 2020
    9
    Only two content patches in and there has yet to be an end to the content. The dungeons are gorgeous, the raids are amazing, the crafting and gathering systems are still their own slice of annoying. I cannot wait to see what YoshiP and his team come up with next but one thing is for sure it is going to be action packed, content packed, and one heck of a ride that I cannot wait to go on.
  11. eugenji
    Oct 9, 2021
    10
    Mit Abstand das bisher beste FFXIV Addon.
    Tolle Geschichte Super Musik
    Nier 24er Raids
    FF7 Weapons als 8er Raids
    … Wer wollte zB Rubin Weapon nicht auch mal in „modern“ sehen ;)
  12. Wulfo
    Dec 27, 2020
    10
    This expansion had me crying my eyes out. Everything from the story, characters, music, dialogue, everything is brilliant. The only bad thing about this expansion, is that it set the bar so high that I don't think it's possible for the next expansion to be as good as this one.
  13. sable10
    Dec 11, 2021
    10
    This expansion cemented my love for this amazing MMO. Fantastic story telling, memorable zones and characters. I was sad to leave it when Endwalker was announced. Super great expansion!
  14. gamingtime
    Jan 25, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Honestly the best expansion of the game imo (haven't played endwalker, but the experience will be quite hard to surpass). The music is great as always, especially the dungeon final boss battle theme (Insatiable) gives me chills when hearing it first time. The story was fantastic! The despair and struggle of the first's people portrayed throughout left quite an impression. I was amazed that SE decided to make an extra map just for telling the story of Emet-Selch, but it really did the work nicely. I can still remember the sense of loss and loneliness when reaching the recreated undersea amaurot.… Expand
  15. BugabooJones
    Aug 14, 2020
    10
    Just finished patch 5.3, this is without a doubt, the greatest Final Fantasy story ever told. And it sucks because most people wont ever experience it.
  16. ShogunSHUN
    Dec 4, 2020
    10
    The best MMO out there! Undoubtedly shadowbringers was a surprise, beautiful landscapes, captivating characters, fantastic fights, and let's not forget the soundtrack, incredible!
  17. Dulera
    Dec 4, 2020
    10
    One of the best gaming experiences from start to finish I have ever had. This expansion cements FFXIV as not only The best MMO currently operating but also one of the best Final Fantasy games in the series.
  18. Hieronymous
    Dec 14, 2020
    10
    Phenomenal story arc which leaves you wanting for more. Shadowbringers also brings some welcome changes to class skills by making them more streamlined and coherent.
  19. Daisylanning22
    Dec 16, 2020
    10
    Gorgeous spell animations, every healer can brez (looking at you wow), class balance is immaculate, and god damn can SE tell a story. I was sobbing for half of this xpac and most of the patch content. Cute world events, glamour, housing and great raid/dungeon encounters, this game is perfect.
  20. ganassa
    Jan 3, 2021
    10
    This game just keeps getting better and better. I cannot wait for the new classes of the next expansion and the continuation of this epic saga.
  21. Countrefresh
    Feb 6, 2021
    10
    One of the most unique and delightful rpgs of all history, not just mmos. This is the only rpg on the market where you can pick up for 300 hours and feel like it’s one giant story despite being segmented expansion packs because even in the 300th hour are themes and clues from the first expansion become major plot points.
  22. shinnaileron
    Feb 12, 2021
    10
    best, amazing story gameplay and everything , nothing even close to ff14, not even WOW
  23. KP1994
    Dec 9, 2021
    10
    It's kinda ironic that this 2019 Final Fantasy Fourteen Shadowbringers is much better than 2013/2018-? Grand Theft Auto+Red Dead Online not to mention remind me to 2020 Hades PC too.
  24. jokerdamate8
    Dec 10, 2021
    10
    Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is one of the best video game experiences, period. The story of the game thus far has slowly been rising in quality, but in this expansion, the growth was exponential—so much so that it has become one of the best video game narratives I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The foreboding tone, the themes of indolence and finality, and the overallFinal Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is one of the best video game experiences, period. The story of the game thus far has slowly been rising in quality, but in this expansion, the growth was exponential—so much so that it has become one of the best video game narratives I have ever had the pleasure of experiencing. The foreboding tone, the themes of indolence and finality, and the overall "feel" were very consistent and executed to nigh-perfection. Supporting this narrative was a cast of characters that felt more real and relatable than any before, with the returning Scions truly feeling like a group of companions and friends one can rely on. It must be said that no few tears were shed in some scenes and character moments. Gameplay-wise, it is more of the same which is not a bad thing; in fact, some dungeons and trials still stand out as fun and interesting.

    Shadowbringers was the expansion wherein I finally told myself, "That FFXIV might be among the best JRPGs I have ever had the joy playing".    … Expand
  25. grot00
    Dec 11, 2021
    9
    Perfect expansion. If only devs could muster up some courage and finally kill some major npc. The only thing this story lacks is some stakes, actual risks.
  26. Torexid
    Dec 11, 2021
    9
    Great story and great music. Definitely worth the money and so worth playing!
  27. Lux7
    Dec 11, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ver good … Expand
  28. forsakee
    Dec 11, 2021
    10
    easy 10/10 best mmo - good story and good savage fights. only thing lacking is good pvp
  29. Deadalia
    Dec 11, 2021
    10
    This game is juste amazing. The story is probably one of the best we ever had in FF games. The new map is also amazing. Can't tell more without spoil but this game is for sure one of the best MMO and one of the best final fantasy
  30. RCSabin
    Dec 12, 2021
    9
    What a phenomenal expansion.

    Story takes a while to pick up and become interesting but since it went on a darker tone and cutscenes are pretty great you don't mind as much as in Stormblood. Once it does pick up its a blast until the end.
  31. Apollo5x5
    Dec 21, 2021
    10
    I got into FF14 right before this expansion came out. This review is late, but I didn't think to talk about it here til now.

    The story from the base game to the expansion before this was fascinating. There were several highs and a few lows throughout my blast through ARR, HW, and Stormblood. When this game came out I started a bit burnt out, but once I started getting into the main    I got into FF14 right before this expansion came out. This review is late, but I didn't think to talk about it here til now.

    The story from the base game to the expansion before this was fascinating. There were several highs and a few lows throughout my blast through ARR, HW, and Stormblood. When this game came out I started a bit burnt out, but once I started getting into the main story quests (MSQ) I got a HUGE second wind. I beat the MSQ in a few weeks, not because it was short, but because I couldn't stop playing.

    Music - some songs are decent, but the main song for my playthrough was called "High Treason." Such a powerful musical movement that I listen to when I'm not playing the game, even to this day. There are lots of songs like this within the game that just captivate me.

    Gameplay - I started the new Tank class, Gunbreaker, when it released and I had a lot of fun getting to learn new rotations and play through the class quest. The dungeons and bosses were a lot of fun to play through and the overall experience of the game was my favorite for an MMO at the time.

    Story and Characters - This is where the meat of the playthrough occurred. The main villain is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. Only other ones that come to mind at this level are from playstation 1 games I played back in the early 2000's that continue to live with me today (Ghaleon from Lunar 1 and 2 really come to mind). This story is also an amazing bridge to Endwalker.

    Overall - This game is a love letter to fantasy and mmo players. Story is rich with content, characters are phenomenal, and the experience within the community is something I will treasure in my gaming life. You'll notice a trend with FF14 players talking about how important it is to experience the story (and I'll mention please feel free to experience the game the way YOU want to). If you're someone who enjoys the elements I discussed above, take the time to enjoy the journey. I remember into a month of this game existing, IGN's FB group had a lot of people saying this should be game of the year, and it was mine and many other's game of the year.

    Be safe and be sure to give this game a shot!    … Expand
  32. xeryl
    Mar 1, 2023
    10
    One of the best stories ever toid in an MMO, with so many multifaceted and unique characters culminating in a storyline that you'll likely never forget that could stand on its own entirely as a great final fantasy game.
  33. LastResource
    Jan 14, 2023
    10
    worth it and glad to play this game again. so much memories and nostalgia within this fourteenth game in the series. this expansion is breathtaking!
  34. NN010
    Jan 29, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is a masterpiece of an RPG that manages to tell an emotional & heartfelt story and has some great gameplay & encounter design along the way. It still bears a few of FFXIV's pacing problems, but it's still come a long way since A Realm Reborn. The music of this expansion is also superb!

    10/10. “Remember… Remember us… Remember that we once lived.”
  35. Roka
    Apr 1, 2023
    9
    This is not your ordinary expansion. It's a journey into a world of darkness and light, where the lines between good and evil are blurred, and the fate of the universe hangs in the balance.

    The story is epic, the characters are unforgettable, and the gameplay is as thrilling as ever. Emet-Selch and Graha-Tia are two of the most awesome characters in my opinion. They're complex,    This is not your ordinary expansion. It's a journey into a world of darkness and light, where the lines between good and evil are blurred, and the fate of the universe hangs in the balance.

    The story is epic, the characters are unforgettable, and the gameplay is as thrilling as ever.

    Emet-Selch and Graha-Tia are two of the most awesome characters in my opinion. They're complex, nuanced, and utterly captivating. You'll find yourself drawn to their stories.
    And speaking of characters, let's not forget about Zenos. Yes, he's back, and he's as badass as ever. Still wish though they would give us some infos about his past and his general life in the castle before he turned in the person we all know today. Also his connection to Emet. There is so much they left out, it's a little bit meh in my opinion. Really wish they would show us a bit more about this character.

    Overall, Final Fantasy's Shadowbringers expansion is pretty great and it will leave you breathless.    … Expand
  36. Latorn
    Nov 23, 2020
    10
    Shadowbringers is, in my experience, without a doubt the greatest multiplayer story ever told through a game.

    I've played many Final Fantasy games, but Shadowbringers is my favourite of all. It puts forth the greatest depth accompanied by dark, interesting themes, that are tackled with an expert finesse. Like it's predecessors, Shadowbringers is truly a game upon itself rather than a    Shadowbringers is, in my experience, without a doubt the greatest multiplayer story ever told through a game.

    I've played many Final Fantasy games, but Shadowbringers is my favourite of all. It puts forth the greatest depth accompanied by dark, interesting themes, that are tackled with an expert finesse. Like it's predecessors, Shadowbringers is truly a game upon itself rather than a simple expansion.

    A story that deserves to be experienced by all, but unfortunately may only be experienced by few, as it is necessary to work your way through the other fantastic FFXIV expansions before arriving at Shadowbringers. Shadowbringers is a masterpiece that brings a level of worldbuilding that is a rarity in JRPGs, and unrivaled in the MMORPG genre.    … Expand
  37. Not_A_Shill
    Dec 31, 2020
    10
    Hello, I'm absolutly not a paid corporate shill and this is my unbiased Review for SHADOWBRINGERS

    SHADOWBRINGERS is a masterpiece of video game narrative. Nothing else even comes close. The story is brutal, challenging, bold, and almost never "fun". It is harrowing, forcing the player to confront violence in a way video games never do. In a medium where everything is John Wick,    Hello, I'm absolutly not a paid corporate shill and this is my unbiased Review for SHADOWBRINGERS

    SHADOWBRINGERS is a masterpiece of video game narrative. Nothing else even comes close. The story is brutal, challenging, bold, and almost never "fun". It is harrowing, forcing the player to confront violence in a way video games never do. In a medium where everything is John Wick, SHADOWBRINGERS is Schindler's List.

    And just like that film, there were times when I wasn't sure I could keep going. It is a relentless emotional assault that I suspect will force even the most jaded gamer to feel empathy. The game is a work of art - every aspect feels crafted at the highest level. Visuals, audio, controls, animation, level design, performance. It is astounding. And frequently beautiful.

    With moments you NEVER find in video games. But I cannot overstate how harrowing it is. It feels like 2 seasons of the darkest TV show you'll ever find, and it frequently better than most TV on the air. That's saying a lot. I think it is an IMPORTANT game. It tore me up, and I will never, ever forget SHADOWBRINGERS is a game that will change you.

    In short, SHADOWBRINGERS put me through hell. I did not enjoy it. I wasn't supposed to. I was affected by it. Like no game before. I am in awe of it. I am recovering from it.    … Expand
  38. Naoshi
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Perfection! I've played mmo's since the early days when Ultima Online existed and have to say that Shadowbringers is the first in a long time to make me feel so engaged with the story. final fantasy XIV is known for it's impressive storytelling, but Shadowbringers takes it to another level. On a MMO stand point it's perfection.... equally you could call this an amazing RPG.
    The additions    Perfection! I've played mmo's since the early days when Ultima Online existed and have to say that Shadowbringers is the first in a long time to make me feel so engaged with the story. final fantasy XIV is known for it's impressive storytelling, but Shadowbringers takes it to another level. On a MMO stand point it's perfection.... equally you could call this an amazing RPG.
    The additions of the Trust system and other quality of life changes, really just polish the diamond this expansion already was.    … Expand
  39. LaysMan
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Amazing new DLC! New classes, new Music, new location. Amazing story. Recommended!
  40. houjo2000
    Jun 28, 2021
    10
    The story continues and builds on one started almost a decade ago, and it is amazing. Fantastic game with so much care put into it, beautiful for its age, god tier music, the most chill and friendly community I've ever seen.

    This is the best mmo of all time, and this is their best xpac yet. Can't wait to see the conclusion of the story arc that started with 1.0 to end in Endwalker, and    The story continues and builds on one started almost a decade ago, and it is amazing. Fantastic game with so much care put into it, beautiful for its age, god tier music, the most chill and friendly community I've ever seen.

    This is the best mmo of all time, and this is their best xpac yet. Can't wait to see the conclusion of the story arc that started with 1.0 to end in Endwalker, and definitely can't wait to see what the next arc will be.    … Expand
  41. BetaReviews
    Nov 26, 2020
    10
    Amazing story. Graphics has a great emphasis on attention to detail from scenery to character.
  42. Genis94
    Jul 15, 2019
    10
    Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers isn't just a good MMO expansion. It's by far the best Final Fantasy game I've ever played. The combat system has been refined and retooled to be more intuitive with less unfun mechanics bogging it down, such as the removal of the ammo and heat systems from Machinist. The story in Shadowbringers is far and away one of the best RPG stories in years and isFinal Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers isn't just a good MMO expansion. It's by far the best Final Fantasy game I've ever played. The combat system has been refined and retooled to be more intuitive with less unfun mechanics bogging it down, such as the removal of the ammo and heat systems from Machinist. The story in Shadowbringers is far and away one of the best RPG stories in years and is full of twists and turns that challenge your preconceptions of the rules of the world as well as the morality of your struggle. Masayoshi Soken has also blown us away yet again with his OST, managing to implement all manner of musical genre into an ever-evolving game. Shadowbringers is more than worth your time, and I strongly urge new players to progress through the game normally rather than buy skips to jump straight to the endgame. Endgame isn't everything in XIV and the story loses a lot of meaningful impact by skipping it.… Expand
  43. GenericBlueToad
    Jul 17, 2019
    10
    I made an account this to rate this. This game left me feeling empty and sad in the way only truly amazing stories can. The characters are so incredibly written and voiced. The antagonist is beautifully crafted. The cutscene are animated perfectly to fit the scenes. This game made me connect so much even just with my own character. It's truly a masterpiece. I almost wish this wasnt an MMO,I made an account this to rate this. This game left me feeling empty and sad in the way only truly amazing stories can. The characters are so incredibly written and voiced. The antagonist is beautifully crafted. The cutscene are animated perfectly to fit the scenes. This game made me connect so much even just with my own character. It's truly a masterpiece. I almost wish this wasnt an MMO, because anyone who doesn't play ffxiv will miss out on this, and that's genuinely upsetting.… Expand
  44. Chiaki_san
    Jul 17, 2019
    10
    The story of the new Addon is better than the most AAA single player game stories.
  45. BaronSolace
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Aviot is incorrect on the yen price to get into the game, its actually ¥6576 / 59.99 (expac + base) for a new player
    and ¥ 4200 / $40 for a veteran player. you wont find another mmo like this, it transcends the wow clone stereotype.
  46. Pmemer
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    The best Final Fantasy experience in over a decade. FFXIV has always been good but Shadowbringers just pushes it over the edge.
  47. aevic
    Jul 3, 2019
    10
    In an age where the MMO genre seems to be dying off, Shadowbringers emerges to show that MMO's are still alive and kicking. A story that grips you as soon as you jump into it. Environments and music that will leave you breathless. Truly, Yoshi-P and all of SE should be proud of this as they have done a phenomenal job.
  48. Kohlmanb
    Jul 4, 2019
    10
    Shadowbringers is the best mmorpg expansion that we've seen in many many years. SE knocked it out of the park with this one.
  49. LingShar
    Jul 5, 2019
    10
    FF XIV becomes greater and greater. Great scenario, great antagonist(whom i used to compete a lot). Antagonist deserves a lot of good words in his address. His story, his character it's all so great. And last part of scenario is breathtaking. What more can i say? - Music. Soken is genius, and music in this expanshion says th same. Design of location worse than in Stormblood, but stillFF XIV becomes greater and greater. Great scenario, great antagonist(whom i used to compete a lot). Antagonist deserves a lot of good words in his address. His story, his character it's all so great. And last part of scenario is breathtaking. What more can i say? - Music. Soken is genius, and music in this expanshion says th same. Design of location worse than in Stormblood, but still good. But design of last scenario dungeon is something amazing. About gameplay... I very like rebalance of classes. Trust system is best that they can do - NPC deal good dps, evade AoE and boss mechanics, (Urianger - best healer) and no awaitng in queue for dps, it's good step. So i receive many positive emotions through playing this expansion. Thanks to Yoshida, Soken and other creators of this masterpiece. Looking for new scenario patches.… Expand
  50. Selunari
    Jul 8, 2019
    10
    Just finished the Main Story. This is by far the best MMO Expansion I've ever played. The music is fantastic, the QoL changes are extremely good, and the story blows many other non-mmo Final Fantasies out of the water.
  51. Sherchi
    Jul 3, 2019
    10
    I haven't felt as exicited playing an MMO since I was a child. City's actually feel like they are cities and not just a warehouse with vendors. Music is so good I could just listen to it all day., Almost all of the main story is voiced beautifully, and the story itself just drags you in and keeps you there. I normally skip stories and only play for endgame, but this expansion's was just too good
  52. Maliwolf
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Best expansion of the game so far and probably the best overall expansion to a MMO in general of all those that i have played. Story was excellent and kept me wanting to know what happens next. It was also accompanied by a fantastic soundtrack. This is for sure one of if not the best MMO out there now.
  53. Dom007
    Mar 31, 2021
    10
    Amazing story. Best in the final fantasy franchise. Characters are amazing and the main villian is the best character I have ever seen in a game. Music is the outstanding and the areas are beautiful. Masterpiece.
  54. TPLaMar
    Aug 22, 2021
    10
    In 2021 I started playing from ARR to Shadowbringers and I am blown away that a 10/10 game could get better. 100/10 easily
  55. ganick
    Jul 15, 2021
    10
    The Shadowbringers expansion is the pinnacle in Final Fantasy series, while the early game can turn some people a way but the overall gameplay is only getting better and better over time.
  56. spyrospy
    Aug 16, 2021
    10
    Having played FFXIV actively for two years now, I can honestly say it is one of the best video game experiences I have had the pleasure of playing. Shadowbringers is the highlight of the journey, bringing a story that made me cry more times than every other game combined. If you enjoy a good fantasy story, you can't go wrong with Final Fantasy XIV. Every expansion is like a new book or aHaving played FFXIV actively for two years now, I can honestly say it is one of the best video game experiences I have had the pleasure of playing. Shadowbringers is the highlight of the journey, bringing a story that made me cry more times than every other game combined. If you enjoy a good fantasy story, you can't go wrong with Final Fantasy XIV. Every expansion is like a new book or a season of a fantasy series, and Shadowbringers is where the game rewards you for the investment of getting so far.… Expand
  57. Ykkaru
    Aug 24, 2021
    10
    Fantastic game with a really nice and welcoming community. I was baffled by all the things you can do in this game.
    Especially the healthy faction system and the player housing was a breath of fresh air for someone coming from wow with it's toxic faction system, that is reflected in the toxic behavior of wow players. Not all of them of course. Many are just tired and frustrated by it but    Fantastic game with a really nice and welcoming community. I was baffled by all the things you can do in this game.
    Especially the healthy faction system and the player housing was a breath of fresh air for someone coming from wow with it's toxic faction system, that is reflected in the toxic behavior of wow players. Not all of them of course. Many are just tired and frustrated by it but aren't toxic. So yeah, it's nice to see that Square Enix is managing their factions and the community in such a healthy way.
    FF XIV is great!    … Expand
  58. ReviewerX103
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Played this expansion's story from start to finish.

    One of if not the best story I have played in my 14yrs of playing mmos. So many plot twist, raw emotions, and just masterful writing in part of the story writers. Tons of voiced cut scenes. You even begin to question yourself if the main villains are actually bad and second guess if what you are doing is even right in the first place.    Played this expansion's story from start to finish.

    One of if not the best story I have played in my 14yrs of playing mmos. So many plot twist, raw emotions, and just masterful writing in part of the story writers. Tons of voiced cut scenes. You even begin to question yourself if the main villains are actually bad and second guess if what you are doing is even right in the first place. This expansion ties the game into all the expansions before it filling in many of the small questions hinted in the dialog and cut scenes of A Ream Reborn, Heavensward, and Storm Blood.

    The sound track for this expansion is stellar, with the exception of the open world battle music in my opinion had to turn that off in the settings. But everything else just fits so well. I found myself literally just listening to the field music in several of the zones and the final battle zone for 30+mins while I did stuff around the house the other day.

    World design they take us to another shard, parallel universe, where the world developed completely differently. You can tell where you are in game but it is done where they really did not borrow any assets from the old Eorzea world. It is masterfully done. Some parts of the world even change as you progress through the story.

    Negative parts of this expansion are somewhat hard to find, it is very polished but here are a few in my opinion.

    You have to do everything else before it or pay to skip to this. So as a new player you have 50ish hours of work to get to this expansion, or drop money in the cashshop. (You will be sorta lost in the story if you do though.)

    There are points where you need to level up outside progressing the story. While not bad with what the game give you it sucked to have to take a 1-2hr breaks right as you are getting into the story to continue it. This is standard for a mmo though.

    The server issues on certain worlds, while no where near as bad ARR,HW, and Stormblood. Disconnects and ques are up drastically. To note this is common in any major mmo and always resolves itself as the expansion launch gets farther away. This basically means a lot of ppl are playing.

    Extremely long ques for tanks and dps classes due to shortage of healers. Without the launch of a new healer job this expansion there is an extreme imbalance of jobs in the instance que system. You can expect up to 30min waits as tank and dps. Healers insta get into groups for literally everything.

    Overall this is one of the single best expansions ever released in any mmo period. I highly suggest purchasing it even if only to play through the story it is that good.    … Expand
  59. Hock
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Absolute phenomenal story telling, best expansion story line yet. Would highly recommend to anyone on the fence.
  60. Mikoto94
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Best expansion yet, square enix really outdid themselves, amazing story, soundtrack, locations.
  61. Akiin
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Holy... this is how a expansion to a game should be, Shadowbringers puts other Mmo's to shame with it's otherworldy soundtrack and a Story better than most tripel A games provide. THIS IS A MUST BUY FOR FF14 PLAYERS !
  62. mikezero0526
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    I am not the type of person who typically writes reviews, but I truly felt like this experience deserved one. This is one of the best stories, so far, that I have ever played in a game. I am putting this on par with AAA single player games as well. This expansion, all by itself, stands on its own but with the foundations set by the past 5 years, it is even better. The music is some ofI am not the type of person who typically writes reviews, but I truly felt like this experience deserved one. This is one of the best stories, so far, that I have ever played in a game. I am putting this on par with AAA single player games as well. This expansion, all by itself, stands on its own but with the foundations set by the past 5 years, it is even better. The music is some of the best I have heard in a video game. The story is amazing and well written. It is like finding a good book that you just can't put down. The world is absolutely gorgeous and filled with life and adventure. The player base is amazing.… Expand
  63. Gamejournalism
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Koji and YoshiP really did go all out here. Other companies should take note
  64. HyperTornado
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    All I can say is the story is insanely good and keeps me reeling in the entire time. The dungeons are super high budget and the world environment is gorgeous. Note that to get to Shadowbringers you must complete the previous expansions.
  65. OmniSteve
    Nov 15, 2019
    10
    Not the most noob friendly game out there. But once get over the steep learning curve, this becomes a legendary MMO!
  66. bmorin2514
    Dec 8, 2020
    10
    This is possibly the best Final Fantasy in the series... and it's an MMO on top of that.
    The systems they use are perfected. They don't change very much, but that's because they're done so well. All they do is add more and more content to do and more classes to play.

    The music is 11/10 as well.
  67. Aetheros
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    I have not felt this happy to play this game since Heavensward. This is brilliant. All the attention to detail. All the small improvements to the engine to deliver high quality, expression rich cutscenes. The voicework in the german version also saw a huge increase in production quality. The gameplay may be lacking for some but I think its absolutely brilliant. Beyond that, You only needI have not felt this happy to play this game since Heavensward. This is brilliant. All the attention to detail. All the small improvements to the engine to deliver high quality, expression rich cutscenes. The voicework in the german version also saw a huge increase in production quality. The gameplay may be lacking for some but I think its absolutely brilliant. Beyond that, You only need to pay about 60$ to play the full game, since Shadowbringers includes all previous expansions. This is a brilliant package and everyone should give it a try. Even if the content before looses out in comparison to this newest expansion. Especially the early game needs to be retouched.

    Either way, most of my critisism doesn't concern the changes Shadowbringer does to the game. So a solid 10 from me.    … Expand
  68. Rubedo
    Jul 3, 2019
    10
    Nothing on the market has never been more true to the game type MMO-RPG than FF14 with their newly released expansion. The story, music, zones, new jobs, battle changes are just beautiful. I'm at loss for words to describe my experience trough Shadowbringers
  69. Balbereith
    Jul 3, 2019
    10
    Shadowbringers is a really a game full of emotions. The story is great, epic from the beginning to the end.

    And the truth behind everything... The truth, guys... The end of this game is incredible.
  70. pagepro
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Even if you aren't a huge fan of MMO and are just looking for a good RPG to play this game is it. I have played many Final Fantasy games in my 26 years being alive and seeing everything come to life is amazing. If you have a favorite Final Fantasy game you will find that this game pulls ideas from all of them and molds it into something amazing.
    This expansion however is the best that XIV    Even if you aren't a huge fan of MMO and are just looking for a good RPG to play this game is it. I have played many Final Fantasy games in my 26 years being alive and seeing everything come to life is amazing. If you have a favorite Final Fantasy game you will find that this game pulls ideas from all of them and molds it into something amazing.
    This expansion however is the best that XIV has to offer thus far and the bar was pretty high to begin with after Heavensward and Stormblood. Shadowbringers sets the bar even higher. If you are looking for an immersive game with a great soundtrack with an engaging story and gameplay you won't be disappointed.    … Expand
  71. iNuclearPickle
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I got early excess and started playing day 1 and love it
    Story -definitely took a darker tone watching a character become a sin eater you sit there as the greater sin eater stabs the npc trying to protect a child who will become a sineater himself in time then transform barfing out light the main on her face as her eyes go blacl then the change is done. Combat for summoner & fates -the changes feel good as a summoner getting bahmuhut after 1 trance feels great and Then going into fire bird trance definitely keeps you busy in a fun way. I’ve been mainly leveling thro fates since you benefit both through exp and rewards you get from trading gems is nice once I’ve finished summoner it’s gonna be nice doing fate trains to level my other jobs to get more options in the shop

    Ending statement
    -I really love what they’ve changed and loving the story and will continue to love it going forward    … Expand
  72. Jisatsu
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Seriously puts a lot of video game stories to shame. You thought your precious heavensward was good? You might want to plan a funeral for it... because Shadowbringers puts it six feet in the ground. May be the best story I’ve ever experienced and really pulls all the lore from the last near decade of content in lovely. You’ve never experienced anything like this in a game. It’s just nextSeriously puts a lot of video game stories to shame. You thought your precious heavensward was good? You might want to plan a funeral for it... because Shadowbringers puts it six feet in the ground. May be the best story I’ve ever experienced and really pulls all the lore from the last near decade of content in lovely. You’ve never experienced anything like this in a game. It’s just next level.… Expand
  73. Fireguardian
    Jul 3, 2019
    10
    The Story is one of the best ones in the Final Fantasy Franchise and in MMO's to this date. Classes are fun, endgame is interesting and there is a lot to do after you got your first class to 80. Also the 35€ Price tag is a absolute steal for the amount of content.
  74. novidcat
    Jul 4, 2019
    10
    Too good for an mmo.The most final fantasy game I have played in last decade.
  75. Ianas
    Jul 7, 2019
    10
    If you've reached Shadowbringers you've already invested a lot of time into the characters, but this is where a lot of that investment will pay off. Shadowbringers pulls on countless threads that have been woven into the world of Final Fantasy XIV and tightens the lore into a more cohesive whole than it's ever been, and for me that's where the biggest moments in Shadowbringers have comeIf you've reached Shadowbringers you've already invested a lot of time into the characters, but this is where a lot of that investment will pay off. Shadowbringers pulls on countless threads that have been woven into the world of Final Fantasy XIV and tightens the lore into a more cohesive whole than it's ever been, and for me that's where the biggest moments in Shadowbringers have come from. For all the time I spent attending Fan Fests or watching them in the middle of the night or sitting through translated live letters and parsing each word of interviews and press releases, I was still surprised by so many elements of the plot and the final acts left me simultaneously in awe and terror at the events that were unfolding in front of me, so masterfully brought back to life by Naoki Yoshida and his team. This was a story to rival the best in the Final Fantasy series for sure.… Expand
  76. Kroshinator
    Jul 15, 2019
    10
    One of the greatest stories ever told in Final Fantasy franchise and one of the best mmo expansions ever released. True masterpiece.
  77. dinghole
    Jul 20, 2019
    10
    I've been a fan of Final Fantasy 14 since day one but this expansion has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had in a game.
  78. Lonegunspy
    Jul 6, 2019
    10
    Having played FFXIV since ver 1.0, I’ve seen the game change and grow over the years. It’s been a joy too see the game become something that was nothing but a instrument of frustration to the truly great game it is today

    Ver 1.0 was a mess, and I was ready to abandon this game. Having come from other MMOs I was not impressed to say the least, but when Yoshida came onboard and made his    Having played FFXIV since ver 1.0, I’ve seen the game change and grow over the years. It’s been a joy too see the game become something that was nothing but a instrument of frustration to the truly great game it is today

    Ver 1.0 was a mess, and I was ready to abandon this game. Having come from other MMOs I was not impressed to say the least, but when Yoshida came onboard and made his promises to the players, I was doubtful anything would happen, but it did intrigue me.
    What he did to make good on those promises, and weaving the disaster of the original game into the lore of the Calamity event (fitting name) was masterful. By the end of its lifecycle ver 1.0 was playable and enjoyable a miracle when given what he had to work with.

    After the servers went down, launching ARR after the long wait was like a breath of fresh air, ARR had pacing issues and such but compared to 1.0, it was amazing, and set the firmament for what was to come. The after story for ARR was painful, you could see Square was struggling with what to do now, since it was apparent pre ARR release they didn’t think the redux was actually going to pay off. As the months went on I played on, it was like any MMO I understood, Fuller grinds and such. I wasn’t terribly impressed, but I saw nothing different so played XIV as well as some other MMOs at the time.

    Heavensward came out and it’s narrative, was amazing. The atmosphere it set of the world, long standing cultural and literal warfare as the setting was moving. The story was subtle and we were given a deeper understanding of the world we were set in. The Post HW stories were brief but numerous and kept me involved.
    The storytelling had come to its own, and I looked forwards to what was to come. Stormblood came out and the pacing was so different from HW, the story wasn’t as nuanced but showcased a dichotomy where we weren’t focused on one area but two, expanding our view of the world two fold, and showcasing two opposite outcomes of war. We felt the urgency a bit too much as the pacing had us jumping in and out of two lands but it’s also where the character development started becoming unquestionably refined. Certain characters become beloved. Certain characters you should feel NO sympathy for, became human. The worlds NPCs became more than just the 2d characters and villains that serve no purpose than to play their part and fade away from the spotlight. The after story of SB especially showed that every character you meet probably has a history you may not expect. And we as the hero are allowed to glimpse that history and understand. Now with Shadowbringers, the storytelling has reached a pinnacle. From the magnificent send off from Stormblood, the last story arc and that final dungeon... we the players are thrust into a story that draws you in from the opening quest, and subsequent change in venue that quest launches. We’re presented a slow thought out world, where our conversations feel meaningful and the characters we meet are deeper than just a fetch quest placeholder. Don’t get me wrong, the quest is probably to fetch something, but you feel there’s a meaning for actually needing it to be done. Then almost immediately the game sets the stakes high, and inspires the player to want to be a hero. Want to make things right. Want to figure out a resolution as the problems are encountered. And these problems? These problems are set in such a beautiful crafted world, that changes so much as you advance from zone to zone. So very beautiful and complimented by a magnificent musical score. The most consistently great so far.

    All in all Shadowbringers interweaves all those elements. Characters, environment, music to create a story that makes you want to see how it ends. It rewards you emotionally as well as breaks your heart when appropriate, the world of shadowbringers, has that balance, and makes you want to believe you can make that difference, after all you are the Warrior of Ligh...Darkness...

    Taken as it is, the story is incomplete if you’re a new player, havingbto work Through all the last content may seem burdensome, but it’s so worth it. You are the hero here, imagine how many hours of your own lore you’re creating. Not just observing but actually creating a heroic history, with so many moments of pain and triumph that you will feel attached to your character, regardless if you have the best gear or not. It’s not the destination so much in XIV as the journey, and after Shadowbringers, you’ll want to see more than ever where the journey will go. The creative team shows their love for the game with Shadowbringers and has raised the bar so high, it will be difficult to keep up to par, let alone surpass it. But I believe Yoshi-P and the team can, and I want to see them succeed. And I intend to be there when they raise that bar higher still.    … Expand
  79. braves300
    Jul 3, 2019
    10
    This is one of the best Final Fantasy stories in the last two decades and the best I have ever played (I've played VIII, X, XII, XIII). This story alone beats a lot of non-MMO RPGs out there. The voice acting was top-notch and even better than previous expansions. The character development was high quality as well. The cutscenes were well directed as well making the dramatic moments feelThis is one of the best Final Fantasy stories in the last two decades and the best I have ever played (I've played VIII, X, XII, XIII). This story alone beats a lot of non-MMO RPGs out there. The voice acting was top-notch and even better than previous expansions. The character development was high quality as well. The cutscenes were well directed as well making the dramatic moments feel much more impact. I couldn't stop taking screenshots of my characters whenever there was a big moment going on in the story. Big credit to the story writers here. The zones were also incredible. Each time I enter a new zone, I was always in disbelief in how much prettier the game and environment got with each new zone. There are definitely times where I stop and took in the sights of the environment. And this without mentioning the music as well. The music that accompanies the zones does a really great job at capturing the mood and atmosphere of the story. Same with the trials as well. The buildup to the 2nd and 3rd fight were great as well making the fights feel much more epic. Credit to Soken for composing an awesome soundtrack.

    The only issue I had was the amount of time between the first and second dungeon (but it's understandable as it fits with the story's pacing). The story will make you laugh and cry. This is a tale told of epic proportions.    … Expand
  80. Cavox
    Jul 8, 2019
    10
    Spoiler-free review, you have to experience it on your own.

    I've always thought that MMORPGs need to have an awful story by default. That it's just a checkbox to mark like in Hack&Slashes - where gameplay is all that matters. I was sure the story is a necessary evil to drive the player around to do quests or grind through the content. Years of playing World of Warcraft solidified that    Spoiler-free review, you have to experience it on your own.

    I've always thought that MMORPGs need to have an awful story by default. That it's just a checkbox to mark like in Hack&Slashes - where gameplay is all that matters. I was sure the story is a necessary evil to drive the player around to do quests or grind through the content. Years of playing World of Warcraft solidified that opinion for me.

    Naoki Yoshida (the director of FFXIV) and Natsuko Ishikawa (the writer) have proven me wrong.
    Not only FFXIV Shadowbringers has undoubtedly the best story ever written in an MMORPG, even better than universally praised Heavensward expansion from the same game, but also one of the best stories I have seen in any RPG I've played for the last decade at least. Not often do I have goosebumps during a cutscene in a video game, but Shadowbringers is just so good I'm not ashamed of admitting it.
    The music is also on the next level. Masayoshi Soken has again proven his mettle - he makes the highest grade video game music, on equal footing with Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Cross) and Nobuo Uematsu (FF series). It suplements the story of FFXIV in a way that when combined it truly deserves the unofficial title of KINObringers.

    The gameplay and graphics suffer a little bit in Final Fantasy, having to accommodate for console players. They're not bad, mind you - they just aren't at their full potential due to the PS3/PS4 limitations. But if I have to judge the expansion on its own it's still a perfect 10 for me. Worth every penny spent.

    It's made with love and care, which is especially impressive if you account that (allegedly) the game is made on a shoestring budget. It's an RPG first and MMO second, but it knocks-out the competition from the get-go and for me it reigns are the king of MMORPGs in the year 2019.    … Expand
  81. metusodium
    Jul 3, 2019
    10
    Comparing this expansion with all main series Final Fantasy games, would still easily put it near the top. Huge praise to the team working on this game. All of the other recent Final Fantasy IP's could learn a lesson or five from them.
  82. SpudCommando
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    This is the most Final Fantasy game in almost a decade. The story, the cast, the music, it rivals or even exceeds that of single player JRPGs. Square Enix has done a great job on producing this title. Just over a decade ago, FFXIV was a massive failure. But they since then made an amazing comeback to bring Shadowbringers today.
  83. Dkcbrown
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    You won't find an MMO (And few games in general) with a stronger story or more meticulously crafted music. The new QOL updates and Jobs are aces! Can't recommend this game more!
  84. Prezly
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Anyone who is voting this low hasn’t played it (or is likely a WoW fanboy). Shadowbringers is a flawless expansion, a rare gem of a game that improves in every way upon the game while somehow managing to be an entire standalone game in its own right (storywise).

    I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, and all I want to do is do it over and over again with different characters. If you love Final    Anyone who is voting this low hasn’t played it (or is likely a WoW fanboy). Shadowbringers is a flawless expansion, a rare gem of a game that improves in every way upon the game while somehow managing to be an entire standalone game in its own right (storywise).

    I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, and all I want to do is do it over and over again with different characters.

    If you love Final Fantasy, MMOs, or incredible storytelling this game is for you...

    If you just want to hurry up and beat the endgame content without having to play the game.....this is still for you, but you will need to purchase a token to bypass the story.

    This is, without a doubt. The best MMO expansion ever.    … Expand
  85. OtoKitsune
    Jul 3, 2019
    10
    Amazing storyline!! The community is as friendly as MMO's go and the level of character customisation/expression is amazing. Very immersive and lots of attention to detail in both the graphics and the interface
  86. kamuis22
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Best mmorpg best DLC music 10/10 the new classes is good,new location and the best story.
  87. DaveZarek94
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Played during early access and once i finished the MSQ i must say, hands down GOTY for me, what a great experience, been emotionally invested trough the story and even weeping in some parts. This game is absolute wonderful
  88. Kamui22
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    Best mmorpg best DLC music 10/10 the new classes is good,new location and the best story.
  89. Redpaint
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    I'm a lazy person and don't really write review. FFXIV 5.0 made me registered an account in this website and wrote a review to pay my respect! The story is super super super good, personally I think it is better than 4.0 (stormblood)! New maps have very beautiful view!
  90. Iceflare
    Jul 2, 2019
    10
    This Expansion is beyond fantastic!
    First of all, let's look at the bad parts, to show how few there are:
    - The combat music for overworld battles is horrible - The FPS cap was a mistake (although it's being removed again) - Many large areas look pretty empty - From all the shiny old weapons they only implemented the Omega weapons for Gunbreaker and Dancer, unlike Stormblood, where    This Expansion is beyond fantastic!
    First of all, let's look at the bad parts, to show how few there are:
    - The combat music for overworld battles is horrible
    - The FPS cap was a mistake (although it's being removed again)
    - Many large areas look pretty empty
    - From all the shiny old weapons they only implemented the Omega weapons for Gunbreaker and Dancer, unlike Stormblood, where they implemented almost all old weapons for Redmage and Samurai

    And that's it! Everything else is absolutely wonderful:
    - The music is wonderful through the bank. Every dungeon theme is on spot and fits the theme. Every boss theme is incredibly exciting. Every zone theme is absolutely perfect and when the area's night is restored the music gets even better. And the Final battle's music is unbelievable
    - The story of this expansion is absolutely breathtaking, especially the ending. You thought Avengers: Endgame was a great ending? It is total crap compared to Shadowbringers's ending. Shadowbringers genuinely made me cry for the bad guy in the end, despite having done the good deed. Never had this experience before
    - The lore is so rich and well implemented, that you crave for more and actually want to listen to non-essential NPC conversations, which I never did before
    - The changes to combat classes, despite them being a simplification of their rotations, feels extremely good, satisfying and rewarding now. Jobs feel much more intuitive and mistakes don't punish you in such an unsatisfying way anymore (also, boss transitions aren't such a pain anymore)
    - The endgame is full of interesting stuff to do, like the Crystarium deliveries, FATE chains that reward you with several different things (apparently they've learned from Eureka), the typical expert dungeons (which also are very entertaining), very interesting extreme boss fights, countless Sightseeing Log spots that are a challenge to reach, level scaling Sidequests that now reward you with decent experience no matter when you take it and a soon to be released raid which I can't wait to see
    - The trust system (running dungeons with 3 story NPCs instead of 3 other players) is actually better than I imagined it would be. They perform flawlessly in every dungeon, which is great for players who still have difficulties learning the mechanics - even if you deliberately pull extra mobs (the NPCs can take it) - with the only downside vs real human players being that trust NPCs do much less damage and the dungeon takes longer to complete in general
    - The new races Viera and Hrothgar - despite only existing as one gender each in the game for now - look absolutely stunning and despite thinking that not many players would pick up the bulky, muscular Hrothgar, I've actually seen lots and lots of them running around
    - The two new jobs Dancer and Gunbreaker feel extremely great to play. Their animations and sound effects are super satisfying and their general gameplay feels extremely polished
    - With the active subscriber count reaching over the 1 million players bar the game feels so full of other players and no matter where you go at any time everything feels so full

    All in all, this is the best Final Fantasy XIV expansion so far - even a lot greater than Heavensward, which was already amazing and of course better than Stormblood, which was not that great in comparison, but still good.    … Expand
  91. minibiubiu
    Jul 3, 2019
    10
    The best expansion of FFXIV and insane OST, breathtaking and tearing story, what I could ask for more.
  92. iozay
    Jul 14, 2019
    10
    One of the best stories I have ever seen, great music and awesome gameplay :)
  93. Dustybrown
    Jul 5, 2019
    10
    The best Final Fantasy story I’ve ever played. I am just completely blown way. The music is incredible, the new zones are beautiful. The dungeons are amazingly designed. Even the voice acting is amazing. You can see how much hard work the dev team have put into this game and it really shines through. An excellent expansion to an already fantastic mmo.
  94. Mogster
    Jul 4, 2019
    10
    Simply the best expansion released for FFXIV. It has come to the point where you can consider FFXIV's story as one of the best FF stories out there.

    ShB comfortable **** on a lot of RPG stories in the last decade or so.
  95. Steviejd
    Jul 4, 2019
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best expansion for an mom ever! Easily can carry it self as one of the best Final Fantasy stories ever told.… Expand
  96. Valinov
    Jul 4, 2019
    10
    I made an account just to rate this. I finished the main scenario quests a couple hours ago and I have no words that can truly describe just how epic it was. If there was a way to say "wtf" and "holy sh!t" at the same time, I'd be shouting it until I lost my voice. The dev team has outdone themselves in every aspect. Bravo
  97. Khalindra_Nela
    Jul 4, 2019
    10
    Absolutely the best Expansion FFXIV has to offer! The whole Expansion is a roller coaster of emotions from the start to the end ! If ur into the story. I strongly recommend to not buy the jump potion if you are a new player! You will miss out on a lot of the story wich leads up to Shadowbringers wich kinda brings all of the stuff that happened before to its conclusion! And theres moreAbsolutely the best Expansion FFXIV has to offer! The whole Expansion is a roller coaster of emotions from the start to the end ! If ur into the story. I strongly recommend to not buy the jump potion if you are a new player! You will miss out on a lot of the story wich leads up to Shadowbringers wich kinda brings all of the stuff that happened before to its conclusion! And theres more Adventures after!… Expand
  98. raigon25
    Jul 13, 2019
    10
    What a phenomenal journey how can they top this! the story, the music the gameplay is maddening that this is an expansion! and it well worth the money i'd throw hundreds at it I could.
  99. Devilish
    Jul 11, 2019
    10
    This will be the best MMORPG expansion you'll ever played. Story is top notch and Music is so so good.
  100. Gamer4life1985
    Jul 13, 2019
    10
    I will say I am a huge FF fan and have played every single game plus many more RPGs in my lifetime so far and Shadowbringers is arguably one of the best ever created. This story has been a massive build up for 9 years, including when it 1.0 was rough; and with each expansion SE continues to out do themselves and have created an absolute masterpiece. The bad guy is charismatic,I will say I am a huge FF fan and have played every single game plus many more RPGs in my lifetime so far and Shadowbringers is arguably one of the best ever created. This story has been a massive build up for 9 years, including when it 1.0 was rough; and with each expansion SE continues to out do themselves and have created an absolute masterpiece. The bad guy is charismatic, intriguing, and relatable; in other words human and you truly understand his motivations by the ending dungeon and trial. The rest of the story is heartbreaking, emotional, cheerful, and all those emotions that we crave from an excellent story.

    SE was a masterpiece you have created and I truly hope you are paying attention to all this praise. You guys have been doing wonderful the last couple of years and continue to be that with your future releases. Continue the great work. Can't wait for the Nier raid in 14 and the future content of this game especially.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PC Game of 2019
23
#23 Most Discussed PC Game of 2019
9
#9 Most Shared PC Game of 2019

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 25 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 24 out of 25
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 25
  3. Negative: 0 out of 25
  1. Cubed3
    Mar 27, 2020
    70
    The active story events of ShadowBringers are good fun, but due to the grinding nature of the genre, it suffers from some terrible pacing issues. If you are invested in FFXIV, this DLC will probably excite and please you. It's a fun but forgettable romp that runs just the wrong side of boring during its hours-long retelling and bland A-B mission style. If this tickles your fancy, be sure to start and play with a team of friends - it will easily be 10 times more enjoyable, if infinitely longer.
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  2. Multiplayer.it
    Sep 15, 2019
    90
    Shadowbringers is not just a fun and juicy MMORPG thanks to some intuitive design choices and amazing dungeons and encounters, but also a different take on the overindulged "hero saves the world" story with lots of twists and turns.
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  3. Game Informer
    Aug 15, 2019
    90
    Shadowbringers is the best expansion yet for Square Enix’s MMORPG, a world that comes alive in the player’s hands, with weight and gravitas moving you through every whimsical corner. Old-fashioned quest design and color-dodging combat add a dull tinge to a truly magical landscape, but those imperfections can’t keep down the scale and scope of excellent environments, grandiose bosses, and majestic music.
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