User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8567 Ratings

User score distribution:
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
  1. Jul 6, 2023
    9
    After having played the game with all the additional content, it has been 60 hours of play.

    Pros The most remarkable thing about this game is the story and its narrative, there are points in the game where the narrative meets a powerful audiovisual section, which without a doubt can elevate it to one of the most epic moments in the video game industry. Its cooldown-based combat
    After having played the game with all the additional content, it has been 60 hours of play.

    Pros

    The most remarkable thing about this game is the story and its narrative, there are points in the game where the narrative meets a powerful audiovisual section, which without a doubt can elevate it to one of the most epic moments in the video game industry.

    Its cooldown-based combat system is fun and snappy, though you end up getting so powerful that the later stages of the game are a walk. However, the game has an extra difficulty for those who want a greater challenge.

    One of its negative points was the high blur motion that the game presented, it has been recently fixed.

    cons

    The secondary missions are poor, some give you good lore, but at the level of execution it is the simplest of the saga. That causes the game's rhythm to be broken by those moments where Clive becomes an errand boy, it is a point that overshadows the moments that he reaches excellence.

    As a personal request I have found extra content missing such as: chocobo races, card minigames... It has been something that has been present in many FF and gave them duration and magic. In this game the only mechanics are fighting or running errands.

    Conclusion: one of the most epic stories of recent years overshadowed by an unambitious design of missions and extras.
    Expand
  2. Jun 27, 2023
    10
    review bombers couldnt even get this game to a 7 lol, in all honesty one of the most exiciting games ive played and most immersive. im a fan of old and new final fantsys and this is a easy 9.5-10
  3. Jun 27, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy has truly peaked with FF7R and now FF16. Both absolute masterpieces.
  4. Jun 27, 2023
    10
    From the graphics, the music, and the voice acting, this is the best FF game I've ever played. The combat system is my new favorite for RPG games and I hope they keep it for future FF games. I don't want to spoil the story for anyone, so I'll just say if you're a fan of Final Fantasy, do yourself a massive favor and play this game.
  5. Jul 26, 2023
    10
    Such a great story ! I lone this game so much! .
  6. Aug 3, 2023
    9
    This is a great FF gams that delivers on what was advertised. Highly recommend if you like action-adventure story-based games with great sword combat with various powersets.

    Solid story and interesting lore with likeable characters with a very well-balanced protagonist, Clive Rosfield. The conmbat gameplay is incredibly satisfying with various powersets and great sword combat, although
    This is a great FF gams that delivers on what was advertised. Highly recommend if you like action-adventure story-based games with great sword combat with various powersets.

    Solid story and interesting lore with likeable characters with a very well-balanced protagonist, Clive Rosfield. The conmbat gameplay is incredibly satisfying with various powersets and great sword combat, although it is on the easier side so if you are looking for a big challenge, you may be slightly disappointed. It is not so easy that it is boring, but not very difficult either. The boss fights are also some of the best in gaming wit great set pieces, combat, visuals, sound, and atmosphere. Each one feels like it could be an endgame fight. The performance is consistent and the graphics are beautiful. The RPG elements are a bit shallow than previous games in the franchise, not terrible, but not as in-depth and i do miss the party system like in the 7 remake. The exploration in the areas desppite the graphis being great can be a bit weak due to some repititive side quests and uninteresting side characters outside of the main cast, but a few of them are still interesting enough.
    Expand
  7. Aug 3, 2023
    10
    I can’t think of another game in recent memory that gave me chills and legit tears like this one did.
  8. Aug 3, 2023
    10
    Love this game!!! Its going up there with 7 and 10 in my top 3. .
  9. Aug 13, 2023
    9
    I loved every second of this game, the story is amazing, the side quest really good. I enjoyed everything about this game. Excited to come back to it on ng+. My only criticism on the game they really couldve brung the quality up on the game, felt like the game was alil blurry and they reslly could've done more with upgrades, equipment and weapons i felt like it had a boring upgrade system,I loved every second of this game, the story is amazing, the side quest really good. I enjoyed everything about this game. Excited to come back to it on ng+. My only criticism on the game they really couldve brung the quality up on the game, felt like the game was alil blurry and they reslly could've done more with upgrades, equipment and weapons i felt like it had a boring upgrade system, ike that was the last thing cbu thought to do but thats my only problem with this game. Everything else was fantastic 9 out of 10 for me honestly think its goty with its story and combat. Expand
  10. Aug 13, 2023
    10
    Absolutely epic game that raises the bar in several areas. Loved every minute.
  11. Aug 27, 2023
    6
    Absolutely stunning graphics. Awesome Eikon battles. And really good story!!

    But Final fantasy is so much more. We we all lovet FF like 6,7,8,9 was not because of graphics. Noy cause of Eikonbattles. I miss the side quests. I miss all the mystery. Theese new FF games are way too easy. A Child could play it. There is alays a questionmark, vivid colors or in this case a dog showing you the
    Absolutely stunning graphics. Awesome Eikon battles. And really good story!!

    But Final fantasy is so much more. We we all lovet FF like 6,7,8,9 was not because of graphics. Noy cause of Eikonbattles. I miss the side quests. I miss all the mystery. Theese new FF games are way too easy. A Child could play it. There is alays a questionmark, vivid colors or in this case a dog showing you the way. Every weapon, every armour everything is in front of your eyes in the min quest. There are no chocobos, no open world map, no card games, no fishing. Nothing at all that fills you day besides hunting main quest or obviously easy side quests.

    Better luck next time!
    Expand
  12. Aug 28, 2023
    2
    A shame for an action game and embarrassing to be Final Fantasy in name but not in fact. Final Fantasy 16 fails to entertain me due to a sadly poor writing and the boring and repetitive gameplay, too many quick time events. While the plot is see-saw and mostly forgettable.
    Without interesting ideas, and without scenes of real impact for a player, given the excessive use of CG movies even
    A shame for an action game and embarrassing to be Final Fantasy in name but not in fact. Final Fantasy 16 fails to entertain me due to a sadly poor writing and the boring and repetitive gameplay, too many quick time events. While the plot is see-saw and mostly forgettable.
    Without interesting ideas, and without scenes of real impact for a player, given the excessive use of CG movies even for every single Quick Time Event. Note of evidence, a rough, linear and empty level design for all sections of the game make the whole things not worth the price tag
    Expand
  13. Sep 4, 2023
    10
    This is my best Final Fantasy game amaizing graphics combat and music .
  14. Sep 9, 2023
    3
    No es final fantasy, animaciones de los npcs como los del final fantasy x, escenarios vacíos y estáticos, historia aburrida y lenta ,solo por dos momentos lo demás es puro relleno cansino y absurdo, lineal y sin complejo sistema de combate, un juego indi tiene más mecánicas que ofrecer vaya castaña ni de lejos esta a la altura de final fantasy 7 remake
  15. Jul 3, 2023
    4
    By attaching Final Fantasy to the title, Square Enix has tricked many gamers into believing this to be a 10/10.

    Does it have high production value? i.e. voice acting, music, story, art design, etc. -Yes. Does the combat feel fun and rewarding? -Fun yes, rewarding maybe not so much. Does the world feel immersive? Does it feel interactive? -The world (story) is fully realized. But you
    By attaching Final Fantasy to the title, Square Enix has tricked many gamers into believing this to be a 10/10.

    Does it have high production value? i.e. voice acting, music, story, art design, etc.
    -Yes.

    Does the combat feel fun and rewarding?
    -Fun yes, rewarding maybe not so much.

    Does the world feel immersive? Does it feel interactive?
    -The world (story) is fully realized. But you don't really interact with it directly.

    Is the game polished? Performance steady?
    -Bugs/glitches don't happen, if at all. But you're basically watching a movie so they don't have a lot of opportunities to occur. Performance is not great. Frame rate is pretty all over, and most of the character models aren't really "next-gen" even during cutscenes.

    So in reality, this is a mediocre game with an army of die-hard fans waiting to eat it up. If this title was developed by a different studio, and had no relationship to any past titles, it would not be getting the praise it is.

    This is not a bad game. But it is definitely not a great one.

    Really, FFXVI is an interactive movie with okay combat. If you look at the game like that, it's pretty good. But if you look at it like it (should) be looked at, it's not that fun. It gets tiresome walking around, it gets tiresome fighting the same enemies, with nowhere cool to discover or anything interesting to find. It gets very repetitive as far as gameplay is concerned. The story is the only thing that keeps moving, and even that can get a little drawn out after awhile.

    I find it shocking that so many people can be pulled into a stupor and think this game is a GOTY contender. You think pointless equipment options and mundane items are GOTY worthy? You can't even change how Clive looks. He eventually puts on that stupid Castlevania outfit and you get to look at that for the next 30 hours. This game feels like they wanted to do much more but everything got cut.

    For example, characters keep handing Clive these "Seals" which show he has the person's favor, allowing him to be accepted by the local population. But these seals don't unlock anything. You can now start a side quest from a local npc, but you couldn't even talk to them before receiving the seal so it's not like anything changed. Maybe the seal lets you get past a gate, into a new area? No, that's just story locked. The seal is a just a story beat which serves that purpose. It's so dumb, the game always makes this point to make you feel like you're accepted into the community now but it's doesn't even feel necessary. People comment on the mark, but that's it. But it's not like you actually talk to people. They're just side quests and main quests.

    To me, these "Seals" represent the overall feeling this game has. It feels empty and incomplete. It feels mundane and pointless. It feels like a very old game (PS2 era) with fancy graphics and modern flair.

    Will you find enjoyment in FFXVI? Probably. I enjoyed playing it, for the most part. But did it feel like a 10/10? A GOTY? Not even close.

    FFXVI is to action RPGs as Time Crisis is to first-person shooters. All on rails.
    Expand
  16. Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Excelente game superou minhas expectativas, melhor que final fantasy anterior em muitos aspectos, só precisa de patch para o modo performance.
  17. Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Final fantaxy XVI me ha demostrado que no siempre debes de hacer caso a las críticas profesionales El juego lo único cierto es que baja un poco el nivel en la mitad pero estamos hablando que baja de un 10 a un 9 y no en narrativa sino en forma de llevar las misiones y un poco el ritmo que lleva, el juego apartir de las 25 horas baja el ritmo y es donde pasa a ser un 9 pero a las 35 40Final fantaxy XVI me ha demostrado que no siempre debes de hacer caso a las críticas profesionales El juego lo único cierto es que baja un poco el nivel en la mitad pero estamos hablando que baja de un 10 a un 9 y no en narrativa sino en forma de llevar las misiones y un poco el ritmo que lleva, el juego apartir de las 25 horas baja el ritmo y es donde pasa a ser un 9 pero a las 35 40 horas vuelve a subir el ritmo hasta el final y juro que he llorado con el final, es un juego en el que el Gameplay es muy satisfactorio y completo aunque parezca simple, la soundtrack es bueno... No hace falta ni decirlo, la narrativa creo sinceramente que objetivamente es top 3 pero para mí es mi top 1, es la que más he disfrutado y más emociones he sentido, la dirección de juego, escenas, cinematografía, todo es un deleite audiovisual, los problemas que decían los medios de optimización, misiones simples y vacías... Todo son falacias, las misiones son simples si pero te dan un lore del juego muy importante, esa es la recompensa de las misiones, es cierto que es más un hack and Slash que un RPG pero eso no quita que se deba de criticar el juego por ser lineal, tener misiones simples etc porque hay miles de juegos así y se consideran obras maestras (en la misma saga el ff X y VII). Tambien la forma de llevar las partes +18 como escenas sex, chantajes, conflictos políticos, escenas de romance etc, siento que todo es muy orgánico, se siente real y no como en otros que parece forzado.
    En conclusión, me parece un juego de 10 recomendado 100%, podrás disfrutarlo perfectamente todo el viaje
    Expand
  18. Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Combat is fun story feels like game of thrones this is a FF unlike any other characters are awesome the combat flows nicely and the touch with controlling the dog in combat is fun!!! Can’t wait till I can get more eikon abilities and immerse myself in the world I’m 12 hrs in
  19. Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Another PlayStation masterpiece! Ignore the review bombing and get the game. Epic and huge in scale with a great narrative and awesome combat.
  20. Jul 5, 2023
    3
    This game was a huge disappointment for me. The first half was pretty great, but then I got to the halfway mark and just kept asking myself "is this all there is?"

    First off I love action combat in RPGs, but the fighting is so shallow and easy in the game a gnat couldnt drown in it. Enemy variety is abysmal and you stop running into new enemies before the halfway mark and they are all
    This game was a huge disappointment for me. The first half was pretty great, but then I got to the halfway mark and just kept asking myself "is this all there is?"

    First off I love action combat in RPGs, but the fighting is so shallow and easy in the game a gnat couldnt drown in it. Enemy variety is abysmal and you stop running into new enemies before the halfway mark and they are all fought exactly the same. No strategy other than depleting a stagger bar then using a couple of big moves and repeat it ad nauseum. Thats egregious for a 20 hour long game

    The world itself utilizes ps3 era design philosophies and feels either extremely lazy or low budget. No dungeons to explore. no meaningful gear to find. no puzzles to solve. no character to build. no party to control. The games side quests feel worse than most korean free to play MMOs. They offer no meaningful rewards or content to do and only try to shove the games main plot point down your throat incessantly in bite sized chunks. There are way too many of these as well and they always pop up in horrible spots totally ruining the pacing of an already weirdly paced story. There are a few things I did enjoy about the game though like some of the characters and a few of the boss fights werent terrible. I also appreciated the grounded approach to story telling, but that almost is fully abandoned by the end with what I can only describe as the "god is the badguy" cliche and you have to prove to him humanity can survive. It really feels out of place in what was a somewhat intriguing political fantasy tale although it did rely on game of thrones tropes too often. All in all I dont HATE the game, but it honestly feels like several steps back from FF12 which is what it seems to want to emulate. It feels watered down and the budget feels like it was only placed in visual fidelity rather than actual game design. Ill say its a personal 7 out of 10 for me.
    Expand
  21. Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Another case of review bombing, but FFXVI is clearly a masterpiece. Story is engaging, battle system is fun and DMC style, and the soundtrack is magnificent.

    Quality mode is the way to play: It's smooth even if we're talking about 30 fps.

    Regarding the overheating issue, if your PS5 is dusty and encased in a narrow space... well, it's your fault!
  22. Jun 28, 2023
    3
    Final Fantasy XIV Shadow Bringers was so great that I bought this one. What came out was a reboot of A Realm Reborn.

    It's not even a footnote to HEAVENSWORD, why Joshua was using a false name, why the Dominants were born that way, how Clive was treated for 13 years, and that is not told at all. Don't you realize what was wrong with FF15? Moreover, even the main quests were made to do
    Final Fantasy XIV Shadow Bringers was so great that I bought this one. What came out was a reboot of A Realm Reborn.

    It's not even a footnote to HEAVENSWORD, why Joshua was using a false name, why the Dominants were born that way, how Clive was treated for 13 years, and that is not told at all.

    Don't you realize what was wrong with FF15? Moreover, even the main quests were made to do stale errands like the three most important delicacies, and they were nothing but a painful experience. I don't like Artema's motives, like shifting the blame, and I don't feel the need to have more than one Artema.

    Not talking about it is not always a good thing, in fact, FF10, which explained everything, is still talked about as a masterpiece, and Final Fantasy when Sakaguchi was around told all story.

    I think it's time to research once again why those works were so popular back then.

    And The music is too classical, which kills the original battle background music of FF.

    Final Fantasy should have hot progressive rock battle music, like Nobuo Uematsu's, and fixed battle music, and FF14 does that.

    Why didn't it? They said, "We made it classical to fit the worldview of Game of Thrones homage"? Don't ficking kid yourself, even FF11 even came out with a progressive block in the assault area! The only ones that didn't are Tactics and 12.

    As for battles, they are exhilarating, but there is no freedom of strategy. In that sense, it feels very monotonous. Where is the variety of black magic? Why can the enemies use Cure and Protect, but not Clive?

    The UI is also hard to look at and doesn't fit Final Fantasy.

    It fits because of the game design of Bayonetta and Devil May Cry.

    However, it is not all bad. The direction of the action is not bad, and I hope that the ATB of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and the action of this game will be combined well. That is what I think is the perfect Final Fantasy battle system, and the command elements should not be discarded.

    There were some good parts, I enjoyed it until the midway rush, then it stalled after Artema came out. It's sad, Yoshida, because I had very high hopes for it.

    I love your Final Fantasy 14 very much and still enjoy playing it. Why didn't you ask Natsuko Ishikawa to do it? You knew that Maehiro's A Realm Reborn scenario was not well received.

    He shines because he is a planner and battle designer, I don't want you to adopt his narrative.

    Yoshida, Takai, and Maehiro should leave Ivalice.
    Expand
  23. Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy XVI (FFXVI) marks a welcome return to the series' high fantasy roots, backed by modern gameplay mechanics and storytelling. The game presents a magnificent new world, packed with magic, medieval aesthetics, and mythical creatures, a refreshing shift from the futuristic environments of recent installments.

    STORY: FFXVI tells a rich, mature tale filled with political
    Final Fantasy XVI (FFXVI) marks a welcome return to the series' high fantasy roots, backed by modern gameplay mechanics and storytelling. The game presents a magnificent new world, packed with magic, medieval aesthetics, and mythical creatures, a refreshing shift from the futuristic environments of recent installments.

    STORY:

    FFXVI tells a rich, mature tale filled with political intrigue, ancient prophecies, and moral quandaries, reminiscent of earlier Final Fantasy entries. The narrative beautifully balances the human drama with the grandeur of its fantasy world. Characters are well-realized, each with their distinct motivations and growth arcs, making them compelling and relatable. However, the story can sometimes feel a bit too complex and confusing, perhaps a common trait for the franchise.

    GAMEPLAY:

    The combat system is a blend of real-time action and strategic command-based elements, giving players the best of both worlds. It retains the complexity and tactical depth of previous games while incorporating a sense of urgency and dynamism seen in more action-oriented titles. The character progression system is deep and rewarding, providing players with an array of customization options to suit their preferred play style. The inclusion of iconic Final Fantasy summons, portrayed with unprecedented scale and cinematic flair, further elevates the experience.

    VISUALS AND SOUND:

    Square Enix outdoes itself in the visual department. The game is breathtaking, featuring highly detailed character models, stunning environments, and impressive special effects. The music, as always, is phenomenal, combining classic themes with new compositions that perfectly accentuate the emotional highs and lows of the story.

    PERFORMANCE:

    On the technical front, FFXVI runs smoothly on next-gen consoles, offering a consistent framerate and quick load times. There have been a few reported minor glitches, but nothing game-breaking. It's expected these issues will be addressed in future patches.

    CONCLUSION:

    Despite minor hiccups and a sometimes convoluted plot, Final Fantasy XVI stands as a notable entry in the franchise. It beautifully intertwines tradition and innovation, blending a return to high fantasy with contemporary gameplay mechanics and storytelling. For fans of the series or newcomers looking for a rich JRPG experience, FFXVI is a journey worth embarking on.
    Expand
  24. Jul 14, 2023
    4
    Would maybe be interested in slogging through the painfully dull story if the combat wasn't also equally uniteresting to due to how painfully easy the game is. After Yoshi P bragged about how the game was finished months ago and wouldn't need a day one patch you would think the games performance would be able to atleast hold a somewhat consistant 60fps in what is supposed to be a fastWould maybe be interested in slogging through the painfully dull story if the combat wasn't also equally uniteresting to due to how painfully easy the game is. After Yoshi P bragged about how the game was finished months ago and wouldn't need a day one patch you would think the games performance would be able to atleast hold a somewhat consistant 60fps in what is supposed to be a fast paced action game but I guess that's simply expecting too much from this team. Probably the only good thing about the game are it's visuals and the games impressive boss fights. The sheer spectacle of these fights combined with an outstanding soundtrack make these fights feel truly epic, they're also some of the few fights in the game that don't immediately melt to mindlessly spamming your abilities and actually seem fairly well balanced for the games mechanics, unlike regular and "elite" enemies which make up the majority of the games combat. Unfortunately they're too few and far and simply aren't worth putting up with the meandering busy work the game puts in between them. Expand
  25. Jul 2, 2023
    7
    ce jeu ne mérite clairement pas un 10.c est un jeu au-dessus de la moyenne Les graphismes sont bien et la musique est très belles.le scénario est correct. Par contre le combat est sympas les 5 premières heures puis c est toujours pareil rien de transcendant. Le rythme du jeu est catastrophique et il faut éviter les longues cessions de jeu sinon le jeu devient ennuyant.
    Les quetes annexes
    ce jeu ne mérite clairement pas un 10.c est un jeu au-dessus de la moyenne Les graphismes sont bien et la musique est très belles.le scénario est correct. Par contre le combat est sympas les 5 premières heures puis c est toujours pareil rien de transcendant. Le rythme du jeu est catastrophique et il faut éviter les longues cessions de jeu sinon le jeu devient ennuyant.
    Les quetes annexes sont nullissime mais il faut les faire pour débloquer des améliorations. Ce jeu à trop de défaut pour être le jeu de l année je comprends pas tous ces 10.
    Encore les journalistes on peut comprendre ils ont peur de plus recevoir les jeux en avance des éditeurs.
    Expand
  26. Jun 24, 2023
    10
    the history is 10/10. gameplay and graphics too, i loved this game so much. He is not perfect (for exemple, bad fps sometimes) but is amazing game! The narrative he has makes up for the lack of performance
  27. Jun 23, 2023
    10
    One of the best entry in the series. Amazing music, game play, combat everything is top notch. High quality production value. Must play.
  28. Jun 24, 2023
    9
    Overall an amazing game. Some minor issues such as frame rate inconsistencies keep it from being a masterpiece, but the combat is simple and fun, the voice acting is solid, the story is good enough to keep me interested, and the fidelity is top tier. If you're wanting a final fantasy that's modern, but done way better than Versus 13/15, this is it. Worth the day 1 price point of 69.99usd.
  29. Jun 23, 2023
    10
    It took a while to get into the game after the demo area but the story managed to draw me in and every moment I find myself wanting to know what is going to happen next. The combat was dull initially but I tried to spice things up by trying different combos and it ended up really fun. Boss battles can be quite intense because potions are limited and you need to read their moves to dodge orIt took a while to get into the game after the demo area but the story managed to draw me in and every moment I find myself wanting to know what is going to happen next. The combat was dull initially but I tried to spice things up by trying different combos and it ended up really fun. Boss battles can be quite intense because potions are limited and you need to read their moves to dodge or parry them and this makes them engaging. Eikons fight are on an epic scale with accompanying OST which can make your hair stand. My concerns with the non-existent towns are also put to rest when I finally entered Martha's Rest. The vibe of the place combined with the OST brings back memory of entering Kalm for the first time in FF7. Definitely a top 5 FF for me. Expand
  30. Jun 23, 2023
    10
    The game is a big improvement from the last final fantasy’s . The story is very good, the combat is very good, the characters are very likable .
Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 146 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Negative: 0 out of 146
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 22, 2024
    100
    Final Fantasy XVI is an excellent game in every way. If you're a fan of the series for the stories and characters, you won't go wrong here, and if you've avoided the series for, say, turn-based combat, the sixteenth installment offers the perfect opportunity to get started with this legend of the gaming industry. [Issue#329]
  2. Oct 30, 2023
    73
    This is a solid RPG/action game. Some elements of the game are unusual and fresh for single-player parts of the Final Fantasy series, but some are too dull and rudimentary.
  3. PLAY
    Sep 17, 2023
    90
    New numbered FFs are good again. Stunning to look at, with new, punchy combat, and a great yarn, it is, if anything, too focussed, lacking a bit of the weird. [Issue#30, p.78]