Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood

The Legacy of Final Fantasy XIV continues to improve the magnificent Heavensward. Stormblood is one of the best products available from Square Enix and some of the best MMORPG on the market.

Stormblood doesn't do much to shake up the general design Final Fantasy XIV has followed since its relaunch, but never before have its familiar elements worked quite so well.

What this all amounts to is an expansion that doesn’t push Final Fantasy XIV in bold new directions because, quite frankly, it doesn’t need to. Stormblood takes everything that makes the game good and doubles down on it, expanding the world of Hydaelyn and filling it with more to see, do, and experience. Minor issues with its story and storytelling notwithstanding, this is everything I could want from a Final Fantasy XIV expansion.

Stormblood is one of the best expansions we had seen in any MMORPG in recent years. It offers a great story; new and amazing regions to explore; a great amount of additional content that goes from missions to FATES, dungeons or raids; and corrections to its gameplay mechanics that redefine its own experience. If you are a recurrent player of it, then there is no reason to not own it, as simple as that.

Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood is the most polished version of the game to date. It flexes its story telling muscles and delivers a main quest that will be remembered as the gold standard for MMORPGs until Yoshida-san and his team decide to top themselves again.

Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood is one of the best MMORPG expansions in recent years, with a compelling and well-written main story, intriguing Far East setting, a wealth of new content and important QoL refinements.

Stormblood is a great successor to Heavensward, proving that Final Fantasy XIV can always improve.

The release of Stormblood only cements what some players have known for a very long time; Final Fantasy XIV is a phenomenal MMORPG. The structural changes to combat and PvP, as well as the two new classes, introduce plenty for both veterans and newcomers to sink their teeth into, while the emotionally charged central campaign is easily amongst the best the franchise has offered in years.

After playing the reborn Final Fantasy XIV for nearly three years, each expansion feels like a game of give and take. They're very good, but tend to fall into the same routine as the base game. That's not so much of an issue if that routine is a winning one.

Final Fantasy XIV second expansion pack, Stormblood, is a storytelling achievement, but nothing more. The game it's a showcase of the archaic scheme that governs every MMO in existence. Nevertheless, it’s a rich and vibrant world which proudly carries the name of Final Fantasy.

Final Fantasy XIV Stormblood is a great successor to Heavensward, comes with an engaging story, well-developed characters, and gameplay changes that will keep you occupied in the world of Eorzea for many, many hours.

While my time with Stormblood started off slow, once I got into Doma and met the characters there, things really took hold for me. What initially seemed like a dull liberation story quickly grew into a full-on, worldwide revolution with characters worth caring about. While the party interactions never match up to what was offered in Heavensward, the world building, villain motivations, and general sense of purpose for the heroes quickly took center stage and never let up. The build-up was worth the trip, especially the final boss, and all of it left me excited to see what's next.

Stormblood is the perfect expansion for Final Fantasy XIV players who want something new and refreshing. With gorgeous visuals, new areas to explore and an immersive questline, it’s something players won’t want to miss.