Final Fantasy XVI

 PlayStation 5
User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8567 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6,528 out of 8567
  2. Mixed: 693 out of 8567
  3. Negative: 1,346 out of 8567
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  1. dilliamson
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy XVI is a remarkable addition to the franchise, delivering an unforgettable experience that combines captivating storytelling, thrilling combat, and breathtaking Eikon battles. This game feels like a return to form for the single player FF's.

    The storytelling in Final Fantasy XVI is masterfully executed, taking the time to explain lore and characters to create the rich and    Final Fantasy XVI is a remarkable addition to the franchise, delivering an unforgettable experience that combines captivating storytelling, thrilling combat, and breathtaking Eikon battles. This game feels like a return to form for the single player FF's.

    The storytelling in Final Fantasy XVI is masterfully executed, taking the time to explain lore and characters to create the rich and immersive world of Valisthea. Characters relationships are deeply developed, making them relatable and memorable. Clive's story keeps players emotionally invested, resulting in a captivating journey from start to finish.

    The combat system sets a new bar for other action games. Each battle is a spectacle, filled with fast-paced movements, strategic decision-making, and skillful combos. The result is a dynamic and thrilling experience that keeps players engaged throughout their adventures. For those not familiar with action games, the accessibility options make the combat easy to pick up, especially if you're more interested in story.

    The Eikon battles in Final Fantasy XVI are awe-inspiring showcases of power and scale. These massive encounters with Final Fantasy's summons leave a lasting impression with stunning visuals, mesmerizing animations, and changing set pieces. Each clash with an Eikon tops the last, I found myself at the edge of my seat the whole ride.

    Visually, the graphics are a feast for the eyes. The detailed environments and towns create a world that feels more grounded than other AAA games, while still keeping the fantastical theme we'd expect in a Final Fantasy game.

    The musical score of Final Fantasy XVI is a masterpiece in its own right. Enchanting melodies and stirring orchestrations perfectly complement the game's atmosphere, enhancing the emotional impact of every moment. Soken's soundtrack leaves a lasting impression and will surely be regarded as some of his greatest work.

    FFXVI is a remarkable addition to the franchise, earning its place among the greats. With its engrossing story, thrilling combat, and awe-inspiring Eikon battles, Yoshi-P and the team at CBU3 delivered a gaming experience that is nothing short of epic.    … Expand
  2. RedEyesLulu
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    An absolutely fantastic mediaeval story that gripped me from start to finish with emotional fulfilling moments, the characters are unique, and their sidequests are great too.
    Hands down best game of all time we will never see game this beautifully crafted and polished the level of detail is levels above everything can’t wait to buy this again on PC
  3. TorgalFanGirl
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    this game is the game I've been waiting for. it includes everything! perfect story, best graphics of all time stunningly polished to perfection, soundtrack out this world sokkan the greatest of all time, even emotionally heart feeling, and much more!!!. thank you Square Enix for this divine masterpiece! # FFXVI GOTY
  4. Caitin_
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    No spoiler review. This game is a must play, firstly this is best looking next generation game of all time,The way the story is told and the character development that exists is insane, from all characters, it is a game that makes you feel all type of emotions and is very enjoyable to complete. Personally, it's GOTY.
  5. InsaneWB91
    Jun 29, 2023
    9
    Was hesitant bc I’ve never really played final fantasy well since ff10 but I gotta say it’s an amazing game and worth every penny if you like gow or any other action adventure game with rpg elements or are just a final fantasy fan then you’re going to absolutely love this game. Must buy 9 outta 10 for me
  6. makotoast
    Jul 4, 2023
    10
    One of my favourite games of all time. Stellar music, boss fights, combat, voice acting, narrative, graphics and characters.
  7. Ind1g0
    Jul 25, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is genuinely the best game i've ever played. The experience was unreal, it made you feel every emotion possible. first off the story, its done perfectly. the pacing is great(granted you do some side-quests lol) and a it never gets boring and every time you stop playing it leaves you itching to play more and continue the stellar story
    next the side-quests. they are some of the best side-quests i've ever seen. often side-quests just become grindy and they never have much depth but those issues aren't here.
    the quests are beautiful, happy, sad, impactful, and most importantly it doesn't feel like a completely different game from the story when you do them. it blends together so well and you actually feel like the things you do make an impact on the characters and people of the game and the amount of dialogue random Npcs have is pretty incredible. their just fun to do as well, and the rewards you get are great like various upgrades or one where at the end of a side quest line you get the best sword in the game (not counting new game+ gear) so i definitely recommend doing them.
    next the music. Jesus christ someone went hard with these. its some of the best **** ive heard in my life and when i finished the game i literally saved like 25 songs to my personal playlist so that should give you a good idea on how good the music is. As for the ending song it will make you **** cry and feel hopeful at the same damn time.
    next is combat.
    now for older and newer ff fans no it is not turn based
    however it seems like its a little harder to make turn based work in modern games( excluding persona)
    i just don't think it would work here with this game and turn based isn't nearly as popular as it once was
    it just doesn't seem like what a-lot of modern players want
    turn based fanatics can go on about turn based is better or it fits more or it takes way more skill or blah blah games aren't about being good at it or about the game being insanely difficult its about having a fun beautiful experience and this has that in spades.
    to keep it kinda short the combat is **** awesome and epic. the combos you can pull of are satisfying and i adore the eikon powers and i'm betting and hoping you will too.
    dodging feels satisfying landing strong attacks feels satisfying and its just all around super fun
    it never gets boring either, certainly didn't for me.
    the boss fights are....this game has the best boss fights of anything ever
    towards the ending i got so excited about fighting the final boss i was **** up quick time events cause i was so excited and **** and i accidentally pressed a bunch of wrong buttons. (yes it has quicktime events however they arent annoying and were actually very satisfying to pull off)
    it helps that they are paired with the most godly music you'll ever hear so..yeah.
    they are satisfying and so damn fun to fight and its also an insane spectacle cause this games graphics are **** unreal. i took so many screenshots throughout the game cause it looks too good and idk how they did this but they did and its perfect.

    now we get to characters
    holy hell where to start... how about with clive our main guy.
    hes such a good main character youll find yourself loving his interactions and personality from the start.
    he actually shows emotion too like hell cry and laugh. albiet not a loud one but he will chuckle and smile frequently and he's very logical cause sometimes you'll find yourself saying his exact line before he can.
    every other character is like this too. you'll feel for them you'll love them you'll be happy and sad for them
    Clive certainly wont outshine everyone by a wide margin, in fact you may find yourself loving other characters more than him and i certainly wouldnt blame you for that.

    for example and lets just use one cause this is **** long enough already

    Cid
    from the first line you can tell **** i'm gonna love this guy"
    and you'll be right
    everything about him, his character his humor his voice his beliefs and his interactions with other characters is done flawlessly.
    the only complaint is i want more with him but wanting more isnt really a good complaint is it
    i think it give you plenty especially since his death elevates the story

    now cid is not in the game for too long
    he dies after the first 25% of the story buut the impact he makes on the characters the world the story, to Clive and most importantly to you, is incredible.
    you just have to play it to understand

    now for the ending
    now i may have put spoilers but i will never spoil an entire ending but this had me **** crying and it was just so beautiful, the perfect ending to this game and probably anything ever.
    the songs that play at the end are literally some of the best songs you'll ever hear and the end of the story will change you.

    so thats my review
    go play this game RN
    its worth every damn penny
    just take your time and have fun with it and you wont be sorry

    ps i ain't a professional critic.    … Expand
  8. tidus2k3
    Jul 14, 2023
    10
    Prepare to be blown away by the sheer brilliance of FF16. This game effortlessly combines stunning visuals, immersive game play, epic boss fights and a captivating story line to deliver an unforgettable experience. FF16 was my first PS5 game, I was enthralled by the richly detailed world and the seamless mechanics. The game play especially the DMC like combat system is addictive. Clive,Prepare to be blown away by the sheer brilliance of FF16. This game effortlessly combines stunning visuals, immersive game play, epic boss fights and a captivating story line to deliver an unforgettable experience. FF16 was my first PS5 game, I was enthralled by the richly detailed world and the seamless mechanics. The game play especially the DMC like combat system is addictive. Clive, Joshua, Cid, Jill, etc are deeply engaging, and the breathtaking moments leave you breathless. FF16 is an absolute masterpiece that should be celebrated by gamers everywhere. Don't miss out on this incredible adventure!… Expand
  9. si357
    Jul 17, 2023
    3
    Story and cinematic scenes are epic to say the least. Acting is great but there are unnatural and awkward pauses throughout the entirety of the game. Gear is borderline irrelevant as you just craft the next pieces that correspond to the story and guaranteed material drops from bosses. Combat lacks variety as you can just rotate the same skills for maximum DPS, stagger, and damage immunity.Story and cinematic scenes are epic to say the least. Acting is great but there are unnatural and awkward pauses throughout the entirety of the game. Gear is borderline irrelevant as you just craft the next pieces that correspond to the story and guaranteed material drops from bosses. Combat lacks variety as you can just rotate the same skills for maximum DPS, stagger, and damage immunity. There has been a long cry for the mainline series to return to turn-based or ATB at the very least and XVI’s gameplay and combat (or lack there of) have hit this home harder than ever. Trying to be a generic, action RPG won’t get Square Enix there. The heart of the original FF was a party based game similar to Dungeons and Dragons and XVI walked completely away from that. Character diversity is seriously lacking as well. Movies don’t assume the viewer is uneducated and video games shouldn’t either. If you're bad at action games and want something super easy then this is the game for you. Outside of knowing what skills cause the enemies stagger to go down faster it doesn't really matter what combination you choose. Just spam moves and dodge and you'll never see a game over screen. I am ashamed I purchased this game new just adding to undeserved sales numbers. At least we know this game won’t be in contention for GotY.… Expand
  10. Whatthefreak
    Jul 17, 2023
    9
    An incredible return to form for the franchise with insanely over the top boss fights I've never seen the likes of before in any other game. Intriguing story and characters and everything I could hope for from a final fantasy game. The only fault for me is a non-existent end game, once you beat the story there's basically nothing to do, bar optional chronolith trials that took me about 1An incredible return to form for the franchise with insanely over the top boss fights I've never seen the likes of before in any other game. Intriguing story and characters and everything I could hope for from a final fantasy game. The only fault for me is a non-existent end game, once you beat the story there's basically nothing to do, bar optional chronolith trials that took me about 1 or 2 hours to find and beat. Despite this, a must play for anyone looking for a good story driven game.… Expand
  11. Blockism
    Jul 22, 2023
    4
    I don’t understand how this game is receiving such high ratings… Are we playing the same game? Yes there are some cool moments and battles but overall the game feels disjointed. The story is weak, I feel no connection to the characters and when you’re not smashing buttons you’re just running to the next thing. Why am I running to a character 10ft away to continue dialogue from a cutsceneI don’t understand how this game is receiving such high ratings… Are we playing the same game? Yes there are some cool moments and battles but overall the game feels disjointed. The story is weak, I feel no connection to the characters and when you’re not smashing buttons you’re just running to the next thing. Why am I running to a character 10ft away to continue dialogue from a cutscene telling me to run to another point on the map? It just seems lazy. There’s no motivation to replay this game.

    I really expected more from a Final Fantasy game. For me, this isn’t a true Final Fantasy game. It is a game trying to be Final Fantasy (and missing the mark completely) after binging game of thrones.    … Expand
  12. tufu
    Jul 29, 2023
    0
    Regretting purchasing this game, poor frame count, poor combat experience, poor side quests, poor ending, and the gameplay made people feel sleepy.
  13. TheShewolf
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Going down as one of the best entries in the series.
    Just don’t use the preorder bonuses or accessibility items if you don’t need them. they clearly trivialize the game which is quite challenging and literally unbeatable unless played correctly.
  14. ferrri430430
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Game of the year!!! The gameplay is amazing, it's not flawless, but it's a game that you must try!!
  15. urufangu
    Jun 23, 2023
    5
    After 6 hours of start the game there's a lot of cinematics, the gameplay at the moment is simple and too straightforward, I hope it gets better.
  16. Chiichii
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    A MASTERPIECE. 100/10. I'm absolutely thrilled. After two and a half years of waiting I was not disappointed. But on the contrary it exceeded my expectations. I really like the medieval, somewhat gloomy and more mature/serious setting, which you're not normally used to from an FF. From the narrative of the story as well as the interesting characters (with a great voice acting), theA MASTERPIECE. 100/10. I'm absolutely thrilled. After two and a half years of waiting I was not disappointed. But on the contrary it exceeded my expectations. I really like the medieval, somewhat gloomy and more mature/serious setting, which you're not normally used to from an FF. From the narrative of the story as well as the interesting characters (with a great voice acting), the detailed graphic world (which is semi open, with sometimes smaller and somewhat straighter and sometimes larger areas to explore, which I think is good - after all, the focus is on the story) to the great cinematic staging and the breathtaking and perfectly fitting music that make the whole thing even more epic. I have the audio and bass really loud when playing because it's just WOW. And I mean you can pet Torgal! I don't even want to get started on the combat system. It's action-packed and incredibly fun. The boss fights are varied and a highlight. Depending on your own fighting style, Clive's skillset can also be adjusted using the numerous skills that you can learn throughout the game. You don't even have to worry about "wrong" builds, you can experiment freely. The skill points can be freely distributed and reset. And the people who hate the combat system on principle and complain and give 0 points just because it's not turn-based and claim it's not FF. I do not understand you. If it's too hard for you, you can always equip rings to make it easier for you.

    I can say I'm a big FF fan and have played almost all parts of the series and also love turn-based battles but also action-heavy ones. And if you look at the other parts, the classic turn-based combat wasn't in every part. Furthermore, both in this part and in earlier parts, there is a fantasy world in which magic is worked, chocobos, a party, mogs, crystals, the espers (sometimes less important, sometimes more). In this part they were given an important and novel role. And I think that's a good thing. How can you seriously say it has nothing to do with an FF anymore? Final Fantasy as a series itself is always trying out new things and is constantly changing, then and now. And the (alleged fans) who are building something else simply have no idea about FF if you think it's not a "real FF". Don't be so defiant and get your emotions under control. Get involved in the game and give it a chance, Yoshi-P and his team put a lot of love into it and you can feel it. It would/is a pity that the game suffers because of people like that, which it doesn't deserve at all and it's not fair either, because it's a really great game.    … Expand
  17. Liathen
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    A masterclass in what a modern RPG can be.

    The story is phenomenal, and the pacing is on point. Many may say it has "pacing problems" but that is not true, a story properly having moments of high action interspersed with slow quiet moments is not a pacing problem, it's just good storytelling. Games telling a story cannot and should not have constant, uninterrupted action. The    A masterclass in what a modern RPG can be.

    The story is phenomenal, and the pacing is on point. Many may say it has "pacing problems" but that is not true, a story properly having moments of high action interspersed with slow quiet moments is not a pacing problem, it's just good storytelling. Games telling a story cannot and should not have constant, uninterrupted action.

    The combat is surprisingly deep. If you don't turn on easy mode, it provides an incredible challenge that can be met with a variety of gameplay styles, from a melee focused parry build to a ranged caster that focuses on dodging. The more Eikons you get, the bigger your potential arsenal becomes.

    Graphics are just amazing. There is nothing to say. The visuals are incredible and the vistas sweeping and detailed.

    My single complaint is that there is no kind of mini map or map overlay. Either give us full map accessibility or no map.

    The FF16 team has also said that they will be patching in additional features at a later date, like disabling motion blur, which should help many people.

    And when reading reviews remember this: A game should be rated on what it is, not what it is not.    … Expand
  18. BBBi
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    I am honestly puzzled by the extremely negative reviews. This game has either 10 and 9 reviews or 0. Absolute 0. The other guy says that the game is ok and puts ZERO as score.

    Consider then that we have either 10 or 0 and then....look at the game. Just by looking at it do you think it is 10 or 0? This thing with negative funboyism and flaming has to stop. Don't listen to the trolls.    I am honestly puzzled by the extremely negative reviews. This game has either 10 and 9 reviews or 0. Absolute 0. The other guy says that the game is ok and puts ZERO as score.

    Consider then that we have either 10 or 0 and then....look at the game. Just by looking at it do you think it is 10 or 0? This thing with negative funboyism and flaming has to stop. Don't listen to the trolls. This is a FF for the generations to come but by also taking the hand of the generations in the past.

    PS those that complain that the game has many cutscenes and dialogue, obviously haven't played FF 6,7,8 and 9. If you want to come and review on a FF game, get a life first.    … Expand
  19. GamerGaming
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Amazing game and a must play to all that love RPG’s, unfortunately getting review bombed heavily.
  20. moasmar8
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Top G game It’s literally the most beautiful game I’ve played in a looong time Especially these days where it hard to find a good game give the players what they want
  21. TimmonsXCI
    Jun 24, 2023
    5
    Is it a Final Fantasy game, or is it a hack and slash just branded Final Fantasy? The game seems to walk a fine sketchy line where it can't decide on what kind of game it wants to be.
  22. Steyraus
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Beutifull amazing game...This game feels truly next gen , like it could not work without the modern tech. It's stunning buetiful. Character design and is compeling and attractive in a way no other games do anymore. The combat is just fun, it hooks you in and tantalises your eyes with ever slice and stab...
    Literally the only negative I have is that it's not on Xbox...Alot of My friends    Beutifull amazing game...This game feels truly next gen , like it could not work without the modern tech. It's stunning buetiful. Character design and is compeling and attractive in a way no other games do anymore. The combat is just fun, it hooks you in and tantalises your eyes with ever slice and stab...
    Literally the only negative I have is that it's not on Xbox...Alot of My friends that have a Series X also loved FF15 and they can't play FF16 without dropping hundreds of dollars for one game franchise that was previously multi plat for decades, since the 6th console gen.    … Expand
  23. Pazmeta
    Jun 29, 2023
    1
    Wow I came in with high expectations after ff15. Everyone saying it's better than ff15. Omg it's probably one of the most boring action rpgs I've come across. I enjoy the combat. Even the action set pieces. But the story puts me to sleep. Not a fan of the medieval either. 15 is way better than this boring slog and yet was hated.
  24. Moonmanxs
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Beautiful game, nice action, having a blast, cant put it down. f**k the haters
  25. vimtocreed
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Really fun. Looks good and great story and characters. Clive is a beast and Cid is awesome. Plus you get a dog in your party.… Expand
  26. Pupo
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Incredible game. I only wish that it had a better performance and less side quests.
    Damn that ending...    … Expand
  27. vash_payan
    Jun 23, 2023
    5
    It seems to me that the game is too simple. The saga has been innovative on many occasions, but this game has not wanted to take risks and has only offered combat with a lot of brilliance. Disappointing in graphics, story and performance.
  28. Syrax2022
    Jul 1, 2023
    4
    It's like an unfinished game. Long and boring and can't skip the boring scenes, you can only wait and input some stupid QTE and continue waiting.
  29. Craxk
    Jun 23, 2023
    5
    After the exceptional Demo, the game had a solid start.
    The combat was fun and the cut scenes are good, but the story falls off for around the last third of the game.
    The main quest takes all the worst parts of Final Fantasy XIV and puts fetch quests in as filler, The side quests are bland fetch quests with little to no rewards and the rewards you actually do get are useless, and despite    After the exceptional Demo, the game had a solid start.
    The combat was fun and the cut scenes are good, but the story falls off for around the last third of the game.
    The main quest takes all the worst parts of Final Fantasy XIV and puts fetch quests in as filler, The side quests are bland fetch quests with little to no rewards and the rewards you actually do get are useless, and despite the world opening up later in the game it is empty with nothing in it being worth your time.    … Expand
  30. maeghar
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    Amazing. The music, art, visuals, story-telling -- this game has it all. I've been playing for hours at a time for the past few days and haven't been able to put my controller down as of yet. Yoshida and his team really put everything into this and it shows. More games need to take note -- a must play.
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Awards & Rankings

16
#16 Best PlayStation 5 Game of 2023
1
#1 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2023

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 146 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 134 out of 146
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 146
  3. 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. Riot Pixels
    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.
    Read full review
  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]
See all critic reviews »