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. Gilizy
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Engaging story with non stop jawdropping events..awesome battle system..its been a while since the latest FF this interesting..
  2. Jules28
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    First of all, please ignore ALL the comments related to the war console and hate on PS5 exclusives, and try the demo to be 100% sure you want this game.
    Said that, Final Fantasy XVI is the best entry of the saga in a looooong time.
    Mechanics: It is a really fun game. You can decide if you want to play it easy, or a little bit more hard. It is not a souls game, so don't expect to do the    First of all, please ignore ALL the comments related to the war console and hate on PS5 exclusives, and try the demo to be 100% sure you want this game.
    Said that, Final Fantasy XVI is the best entry of the saga in a looooong time.

    Mechanics: It is a really fun game. You can decide if you want to play it easy, or a little bit more hard. It is not a souls game, so don't expect to do the bosses 20 times, but if you choose action mode and you don't use the rings, you can have a nice experience that requires a bit of technique. Of course as you progress in the game it gets easier, like basically in every game.

    Exploration: It is like Final Fantasy XII. Almost exactly, if you don't like that this is not the game for you. I loved it.

    Graphics: They are amazing, the characters are really expressive and the scenarios are beautiful. There is a lot of different scenarios, unlike FF XV. Sometimes the NPC faces are a little bit stiff.

    Music: GOD

    Story: This part is 100% subjective, that is why I started my review recommending to play the demo. The game is dark and gloomy and sometimes it has a lot of dialogue and cinematics. If you don't like that, this is not the game for you. If you like complex, rich and interesting lore, this is the game for you. Of course as EVERY JRPG in history, it has its fantastic and weird elements, so expect that.
    I loved the story, I get really attached to the characters and really got me emotional.

    In conclusion I LOVED THIS GAME, and I love to see the way the saga is taking. Also the publishing was clean with no delays and an amazing marketing. The game doesn't have issues regarding bugs, it is very polished.    … Expand
  3. Koxenep
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Years ago that not get a great history like this FF. This plus the quickly gameplay make it awesome
  4. Annemal326
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Only about 20 hours in but I'm 100% emotionally involved. The characters are believeable, loveable, and relatable. The story is completely captivating and the action is top notch. Coupled with the graphics, I can honestly say this is one of the better Final Fantasy games, maybe top 5 -- and as a 41 yr old gamer, I've played them all ;)
  5. YRG
    Jun 26, 2023
    6
    I have played every Final Fantasy game since FFVII and through the entirety of the story of this game, and have done quite a few of the side quests too, overall I agree with other reviewers that it is the best mainline FF game in a decade, that is if you don't consider FFVII Remake and FFXIV Shadowbringers and Endwalker. I believe all those games had a significantly better story thanI have played every Final Fantasy game since FFVII and through the entirety of the story of this game, and have done quite a few of the side quests too, overall I agree with other reviewers that it is the best mainline FF game in a decade, that is if you don't consider FFVII Remake and FFXIV Shadowbringers and Endwalker. I believe all those games had a significantly better story than FFXVI. But certainly this game is better than XII, XIII, and way better than XV since the latter was a development nightmare and felt unfinished. However, like most FF games after FFX, this game has quite a few flaws.

    Story: Without any spoilers, I was very disappointed with how the story progressed, beyond the first 5-6 hours. At a point about a quarter into the story, it was very clear to me how it is going to progress. The problem with Final Fantasy after FFX is that their stories has become derivative. This felt like a repeat of FF Type-0 story and a poorer version of FFIX story with some elements of Shadowbringers. The script was very poor clear from the fact that the player was literally told at many points what they should think of the story. The best part of the story is Clive, who is the most relatable main character since Tidus of FFX. But the villain is very boring and one-dimensional. Overall, the story arch was very disappointing and in my opinion they dropped the ball with the ending and ruined Clive's arch entirely. I would not give this game any score above 7 based on story alone.

    Quests: The quests, even in the main story, can be very tedious at times. Lots and lots of fetch me this and that quests in the main story line that slow down the story in crucial moments and generally feel like fillers. Side quests are even worse. Ever since playing Witcher 3, my bar for quest quality has risen. Many of the quests here felt more like errands/chores than actual quests. I would give the quests a 6 at most.

    Gameplay: This was the most disappointing element to me. PlayStation has no shortage of great action games, namely God of War, Horizon, and Uncharted; and FF has always been the main reason I have bought a PlayStation as it was a defining JRPG; with this game, it no longer is and that is sad. If you are new to FF and enjoy action games you may be fine with this. RPGs need not be turn-based necessarily, albeit I greatly enjoy games like Dragon Quest. When I compare this game to other RPGs, such as Elden Ring, or action games like God of War, the gameplay is neither here nor there, and is quite shallow. a 4 or 5 is the best here.
    Music: The highlight of this game and the only reason I am giving it a score above 5. Very timely and epic, and on-point throughout the story. A 10 here.

    Performance: This game certainly suffers from framerate issues as others have experienced, even in frame rate optimized mode. A 5 here.

    Conclusion: Overall, I was very disappointed after playing 30+ hrs of the story mode and this is going to be one of the more forgettable Final Fantasy games for me. The story was very derivative, and it felt like retelling of FFIX, XIII, XIV Shadowbringers, and Type-0. Final Fantasy games have become derivative and lost their originality. I did not enjoy the direction they took the gameplay and found the quests tedious. I recommend this game to you only if you ARE NOT a Final Fantasy fan. If you are, prepare to be bored and disappointed.    … Expand
  6. Rutilas
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    A bit more complex gameplay during the cinematic fights and it would be an 11/10
  7. Mr_Hadouken
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Such an amazing game. The gameplay is awesome. The music is great. So far the story is great too.
  8. FanaticGamer
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Never been a final fantasy fan until playing this one. Beautiful story telling and large scale fights keep me hooked from start to finish and leaves me never wanting to put my controller down. the side quest can be a little dull but the story and combat more than makes up for that. This is a story that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat never knowing whats gonna happen next. TheNever been a final fantasy fan until playing this one. Beautiful story telling and large scale fights keep me hooked from start to finish and leaves me never wanting to put my controller down. the side quest can be a little dull but the story and combat more than makes up for that. This is a story that is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat never knowing whats gonna happen next. The music is also the best music I have heard from any game I have played and does a really good job at matching the intensity of whatever part of the game you are at. Highly recommend playing this… Expand
  9. victormuzza
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Simply a masterpiece. It could have a super hard mode though, but for me the difficulty is perfect. The story, the combat system, the special effects, the voices, the attention to the details, everything is just amazing. It just gets better and better by the hour. It's my favorite Final Fantasy of all time.
  10. xXDanteCrossXx
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    This game is wonderful. It's been years since I've found myself interested in every word voiced and written in a story. This is what RPGs are about. Putting yourself in another shoes and experiencing their story through thick and thin. If you're interested in this game ignore all of the nay sayers it's a story worth the time you sink in.
  11. dewmilan
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    เกมเพลอาจจะรู้สึกแปลกใหม่สำหรับไฟน่อล แต่ปฎิเสธไม่ได้ว่านี่คือเกมที่ดี
  12. fortny
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    final fantasy xvi has best combat performance .
    the story is adult . and everything is good
  13. WreckedJ
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Amazing entry. Played every game since the 1st and this is one of the greatest stories of the lot. Yep it's different, but a shake up is good. The combat, characters, eikons (summons) and story are just first class. Congrats Square Enix, you completely delivered.
  14. Frodo2829
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    It is one of the best experiences i have play, only bad thing is performance mode, but all other things are too strong.
  15. TheBrotherMan
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    I cannot believe the amount of times I was captivated by the story or beauty of this game during my playthrough. The combat is rewarding and satisfying and the story was great.
  16. 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
  17. bigdfan8
    Jun 26, 2023
    9
    I am absolutely loving this game. I feel like hardcore fans of final fantasy may not be happy. However, I've always felt Final Fantasy always had amazing stories, but the game play was not for me. 16 is action packed which I love. Side quests would be my only knock on it. They've could had made the more interesting. A couple side quests are but not enough. The story is excellent. The musicI am absolutely loving this game. I feel like hardcore fans of final fantasy may not be happy. However, I've always felt Final Fantasy always had amazing stories, but the game play was not for me. 16 is action packed which I love. Side quests would be my only knock on it. They've could had made the more interesting. A couple side quests are but not enough. The story is excellent. The music is great as well. This is by far my favorite Final Fantasy. For the record before this one, 8 was my favorite. I really enjoyed the story and characters of 8 not game play.… Expand
  18. socold_remix
    Jun 26, 2023
    9
    Pathetic to see people review bombing a game just cause it ain’t on their platform. I enjoyed every second with this game the boss fights were all spectacular the story was interesting the ending left me a bit sour though could’ve been presented better. Combat was great many intense moments. Cast and the voice acting were all amazing too. probably going to be my Game of the Year.
  19. Zeon1982
    Jun 24, 2023
    9
    Final Fantasy 16 is an awesome game despite it's not in the same genre as past entries. Square Enix put they're heart and soul into making this game and it shows. The awesome story and jaw dropping cinematic gameplay had me glued to my seat. The challenging gameplay was difficult at first but once you've learned and practiced for a while, it feels so rewarding. The side quest were boring,Final Fantasy 16 is an awesome game despite it's not in the same genre as past entries. Square Enix put they're heart and soul into making this game and it shows. The awesome story and jaw dropping cinematic gameplay had me glued to my seat. The challenging gameplay was difficult at first but once you've learned and practiced for a while, it feels so rewarding. The side quest were boring, they felt like MMO style fetch quests.… Expand
  20. jojosreference
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Great story with deep political lore and combat is very satisfying especially the eikon battles
  21. FRGS
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    A game that no fan expected becomes a wonderful surprise. Focused much more on the action but with an easy-to-learn combat, it scales as the game progresses, and the epic story keeps you inside the game like no other has ever done and demonstrates how the narrative in games can be as or more exciting in games than in any other media.
    The game is a faithful example of the objective that    A game that no fan expected becomes a wonderful surprise. Focused much more on the action but with an easy-to-learn combat, it scales as the game progresses, and the epic story keeps you inside the game like no other has ever done and demonstrates how the narrative in games can be as or more exciting in games than in any other media.
    The game is a faithful example of the objective that the company has when launching new games in the main series of the franchise, which is to bring something new. This may make some fans unhappy in the short term, as well as gain a lot of new fans for the franchise, a behavior we've seen since IX.    … Expand
  22. glaap
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    It's been years since we had a truly epic just overall great AAA game being released, and in my opinion, this is finally it. Yes, it's not perfect, nothing ever is, but all the things people complain about are just so irrelevant when you look at the whole picture. We should applaud the developers for finally releasing a good complete AAA game when everybody else is not giving a damn aboutIt's been years since we had a truly epic just overall great AAA game being released, and in my opinion, this is finally it. Yes, it's not perfect, nothing ever is, but all the things people complain about are just so irrelevant when you look at the whole picture. We should applaud the developers for finally releasing a good complete AAA game when everybody else is not giving a damn about quality anymore, instead of talking about if it fits into a game series where almost every game is so different. Just enjoy it for what it is - as near as we've gotten to a perfect game in years.… Expand
  23. sagemilli92
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Visuals are downright stunning at times. Combat is very deep and fun as hell. I have never played a Final Fantasy game, and decided to purchase after playing the demo. If you like the demo, then you will love the game. Voice acting is immaculate, music is amazing. I am playing it on Quality mode (30 fps), and it runs great. Motion blur is good, and the controls are responsive, so itVisuals are downright stunning at times. Combat is very deep and fun as hell. I have never played a Final Fantasy game, and decided to purchase after playing the demo. If you like the demo, then you will love the game. Voice acting is immaculate, music is amazing. I am playing it on Quality mode (30 fps), and it runs great. Motion blur is good, and the controls are responsive, so it doesn't feel like a sluggish 30 fps. Story is also great, characters are great, and the boss fights are absolutely epic. Game is very polished, the sound is amazing. If you enjoy a good story, with awesome combat, and epic boss encounters, this is the game for you.… Expand
  24. xSilec1
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Awesome Game at all. Great Storytelling, great Action, good graphics and interesting Characters!
  25. Sanael1400
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Fantastic aventur.

    Great music, combat and visualy stunning.
    Loved alle the character and Clive may be one of the best FF protagonists !
  26. RedSwagDragon
    Jun 26, 2023
    9
    15 hours in. The story is great visual perfection, great action and boss fights definitely GOTY contender.
  27. sinuer
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy 16 successfully builds upon the legacy of the franchise, delivering an enthralling and immersive gaming experience. The character of Clive stands out as a well-developed and relatable protagonist, drawing players into a richly woven narrative. The combat systems, with their dynamic and strategic elements, keep players on their toes and offer hours of thrilling gameplay.Final Fantasy 16 successfully builds upon the legacy of the franchise, delivering an enthralling and immersive gaming experience. The character of Clive stands out as a well-developed and relatable protagonist, drawing players into a richly woven narrative. The combat systems, with their dynamic and strategic elements, keep players on their toes and offer hours of thrilling gameplay. Additionally, the innovative Eikons system adds depth and complexity to battles, further enhancing the overall experience. Final Fantasy 16 is a must-play for fans of the series and an excellent entry point for newcomers looking for an unforgettable journey in a captivating world.… Expand
  28. Croowzx
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    What a wonderfull game. I've 50 hours on it and everything is still perfect. The soundtrack are really great, the character design and storyline are really dark without any taboo and (if you have some feelings) can make you smile, cry, get angry and a lot of others emotions. The graphics are amazing (you can stop anywhere and just enjoy the view for 5 or 10 minutes). The combat system isWhat a wonderfull game. I've 50 hours on it and everything is still perfect. The soundtrack are really great, the character design and storyline are really dark without any taboo and (if you have some feelings) can make you smile, cry, get angry and a lot of others emotions. The graphics are amazing (you can stop anywhere and just enjoy the view for 5 or 10 minutes). The combat system is really nervous (a lot more than the FF15) and can be personalized a lot.
    Hadn't such a great time since FFX. All i can say is : Thank you, Square Enix.    … Expand
  29. joyloop
    Jun 24, 2023
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Don't be fooled by the haters! Today if a game is not a soul Like or Zelda it is destroyed by criticism! Ff16 is a feast for the eyes and the heart, the game starts quietly but from the first eikon onwards it becomes grandiose, spectacular! The boss battles are something never seen before, perhaps only God of war reaches such a graphic marvel, but here are also the amazing music that makes everything epic! The combat system is fun and devastating! And while some may miss the turn-based combat, this game is 100 percent Final Fantasy, a true fan won't be disappointed! However, it has 3 flaws, which if they were improved in the next chapter we will have perfection. 1. Monsters encountered during exploration really too simple 2. Motion blur can not be disabled 3 management of 'equipment of the character too Basic. Guys, this game must be rewarded, brave for its finally mature themes, brave in the new gameplay, magnificent and spectacular to see!… Expand
  30. Kido12345
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    The gameplay is so cool, the game story is really interesting, I don't even want to put the ps5 controller out of my hand hahaha
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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]
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