User Score
8.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 8567 Ratings

User score distribution:
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  1. Jun 25, 2023
    10
    this is not GOTY this is GOTL, game of the life...not sure how other game's gonna top this one lol. I kept hearing people saying you can beat the game with one button, that's not entirely wrong; IF YOU'RE EQUIPPING THE SUPPORT RING! unequip the goddang ring then say it again! Some complaining the cutscene's too long, SKIP it and read it later, if you're to lazy to watch or read then it'sthis is not GOTY this is GOTL, game of the life...not sure how other game's gonna top this one lol. I kept hearing people saying you can beat the game with one button, that's not entirely wrong; IF YOU'RE EQUIPPING THE SUPPORT RING! unequip the goddang ring then say it again! Some complaining the cutscene's too long, SKIP it and read it later, if you're to lazy to watch or read then it's your own problem, not the game! plus developer's already said it's gonna be story focused with lotsa cutscene.. why the heck aren't you listen back then? lol 10/10 game Expand
  2. Jun 26, 2023
    9
    A wonderful return of a legendary saga.
    Ottimo lavoro a Yoshida e a tutto il team eccezionale di Final Fantasy XVI!
  3. Jun 27, 2023
    10
    I really enjoy Final fantasy16 ,just wow,great story!
    and I really like clive and jill !!
  4. Jun 27, 2023
    9
    This game is one of the best FF that I have ever played.

    Story, Action, Cutscene, etc..., all is high quality.

    Though I can't go around the world freely, the way prepared by devlopers gives me an great experience.

    Thank you.
  5. Jun 27, 2023
    6
    I was so happy to get to jump back into final fantasy a game I have held dear since I was younger. Alas I have been met with disappointment, The playstation 5 which is the only Format the game is available on overheats if you play it with its highest settings! Before anyone tells me I should lower the framerate turn off the HDR or Go to performance mode, why? Why should we have to acceptI was so happy to get to jump back into final fantasy a game I have held dear since I was younger. Alas I have been met with disappointment, The playstation 5 which is the only Format the game is available on overheats if you play it with its highest settings! Before anyone tells me I should lower the framerate turn off the HDR or Go to performance mode, why? Why should we have to accept it in a sub par form? We have spent over £500 for the console so why can't it run the game how it's supposed to? There isn't another version of the PS5 which is more powerful so pray tell what are we meant to do? We should expect better from a cold industry who thinks it's acceptable to release a game that is to powerful for the console to handle. The storyline is good but fairly obvious what's going to happen, feels a lot like game of thrones which to me is a good thing. The game mechanics aren't as good as 15 but it has got some interesting changes. Id say give the game a chance if you have the patience to either play it at a sub par level or have a air conditioner blowing directly onto your ps5 or like playing it and it crashing intermittently (Usually during a 20 min cutscene at the 17th minute) Expand
  6. Jun 27, 2023
    10
    Después de 50 horas está en mi top 3 de FF, la historia, la narrativa y los persigue son impresionantes, la jugabilidad tambien es muy buena y técnicamente tiene de los momentos más épicos vistos en un videojuego, la BSO magistral.
  7. Jun 27, 2023
    10
    The greatest game I’ve ever played. I’ve been a fan of the series since childhood and it’s greatly shaped my creative journey, when 13’s sequels and 15 came out I wanted to love them but they had such blaring issues that I couldn’t ignore despite feeling the series was the epitome of story driven media. However from start to finish of 16 I was invested in the world, characters, battles andThe greatest game I’ve ever played. I’ve been a fan of the series since childhood and it’s greatly shaped my creative journey, when 13’s sequels and 15 came out I wanted to love them but they had such blaring issues that I couldn’t ignore despite feeling the series was the epitome of story driven media. However from start to finish of 16 I was invested in the world, characters, battles and ESPECIALLY music. The game only allowing control of Clive isn’t completely new for final fantasy as most games had a locked over world character and the original 15 was this way. Clive is and is surrounded by realistic characters that aren’t overly virtuous, flawed, and likeable. The Eikonic battles drag a bit at times but the diversity in gameplay and spectacle make them each separately spectacular, and the combat is satisfying and fun to play around with. This game is such a love letter to the series from the initial pose the Dragoon is in similar to the FF4 logo, the battle theme from 8 being remixed into the battle theme here, the overall Final Fantasy musical theme being incorporated into a few songs, and even the voice acting being some of the best in any game with none of the constant gasps or grunts shoehorned into very basic movements like opening something, or moving a particular way that was littered in 15 and 13. From start to finish I was the wide eyed kid again that experienced FF7 for the first time wondering how a presentation could be so beautiful and compelling. This game will stay with me likely for the rest of my life along with GOW2018/RAG, Sekiro, and FF7. Extremely thankful to have experienced this project. Expand
  8. Jun 27, 2023
    10
    I love this game. I have played all of the numbered Final Fantasies except for 11 and this one fits right in. The voice acting is awesome, I love the combat and it looks beautiful. It is definitely worth it.
  9. Jun 27, 2023
    10
    Maravilloso juego, maravillosa historia y buenos gráficos, obviamente tiene sus fallos como cualquier otro juego, como por ejemplo la jugabilidad a veces es muy estática o algo asi, pero eso no quita que el sistema de combate y los efectos sean maravillosos, enamorada de este juego
  10. Jun 27, 2023
    10
    Un juego que recupera la magia que hizo tan mítica a esta saga.
    Hay cosas mejorables, pero aún así con los defectos que tiene es una obra maestra.
  11. Jun 28, 2023
    10
    A true masterpiece. Breaks conventions established by the series, and moves gaming forward in the process. Sets the bar higher than anything has before for open world games with dark mediaeval story telling. The sense of freedom is amazing, and actually becomes a story line element. This game is more than complete, and it's full of surprises. Because of the open world aspect, there areA true masterpiece. Breaks conventions established by the series, and moves gaming forward in the process. Sets the bar higher than anything has before for open world games with dark mediaeval story telling. The sense of freedom is amazing, and actually becomes a story line element. This game is more than complete, and it's full of surprises. Because of the open world aspect, there are several ways to play, and one problem/challenge can have several solutions depending on your style and strategy so many unique ways to play making your combos look clean as **** This provides a huge amount of replay value, as players can play new game plus for additional runs through the game. This is art. This is a masterpiece. This is a gift to gamers. Best game to ever release best looking game of all time! 10/10 Expand
  12. Jun 28, 2023
    9
    FFXVI is a game that delivers on so many levels. The story is incredibly engaging and endearing with a flare that you can only see in the RPG genre’s penchant for the extraordinary and spectacular. It has a wide range of characters which are likeable, and are not merely black and white. Sure, you’ll hate one person or another, but you can understand their reasoning for doing so, and it canFFXVI is a game that delivers on so many levels. The story is incredibly engaging and endearing with a flare that you can only see in the RPG genre’s penchant for the extraordinary and spectacular. It has a wide range of characters which are likeable, and are not merely black and white. Sure, you’ll hate one person or another, but you can understand their reasoning for doing so, and it can feel like the world is moving whether you’re there or not, and not that the world is revolving around you that can be the case in other games.
    Combat is fluid and highly engaging, with an extremely high degree of customization available, to be able to fit to your playstyle. There has never been a combat situation in this game that was not fun.
    The side quests, which unlock as you progress through the story, are inoffensive at worst, but offer unique insights into people’s lives in the world of Valisthea, or offer some unique lore that you wouldn’t get otherwise.
    Environments are stunning to look at and are filled with things to marvel at. At some points when exploring I did note that some frames were dropped (I played on Frame-rate mode), but as I was exploring, and frames never dropped in combat where it mattered, this was a non-issue for me.
    Finally, the music, I believe, to be in a class of its own. Masayoshi Soken has knocked it out of the park with every ambient piece of music, embodying the zones overall feel. Character themes are on yet another level, leitmotifs abound and calling back to previous scenes, it is purely a joy to listen to.
    Overall, I think this is a definite recommendation, and one that I believe will stand the test of time and be remembered for years to come.
    Expand
  13. Jun 28, 2023
    10
    Game is amazing!!! Definitely noticiable effort, Amazing dark story definitely feels like something that has happened in mid evil times
  14. CCS
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    I feel FF16 has created a very unique style of game. Definitely not for every gamers since it heavily relies on the story but I love a GREAT story and this game is making me feel like watching a tv show that I can’t stop until I see the last episode. You become very attach to the characters and invested in the world. VA has done an amazing work. It’s very immersive with the battleI feel FF16 has created a very unique style of game. Definitely not for every gamers since it heavily relies on the story but I love a GREAT story and this game is making me feel like watching a tv show that I can’t stop until I see the last episode. You become very attach to the characters and invested in the world. VA has done an amazing work. It’s very immersive with the battle cinematography. Graphics are very impactful and beautiful. I know there’s complains about motion but in my case it does not affect or bother me at all. Same with side quests, I enjoy learning more of these npc’s life and environment. Even if it’s just delivering an item, I get to know what impact it does to their life. Is this game for everyone? No. It may be slow or not enough for some players that enjoys just action/gameplay. I would say playing the demo is a really good way to know if this game is for you or not. Would I recommend this game? Absolutely YES! It’s a roller coaster of emotion in the story and excitement watching the fight scenes that is unique and worth experiencing it. Expand
  15. Jun 29, 2023
    10
    Literally Perfect. By far my favorite Final Fantasy game and maybe even my all time favourite game. Made me cry more than any other game.
  16. Jul 1, 2023
    8
    About: huge FF fan, played all mainline entries & most spin-offs plus MMO’s.

    Critic score seems overly generous. I desperately wanted XVI to achieve perfect scores, demo raised optimism, but awarding 100% is undeserved (exaggerated fandom?). Having experienced XIV from initial launch to remake, I knew what to expect from Yoshi P & MMO team. Turned out concerns were warranted, but they
    About: huge FF fan, played all mainline entries & most spin-offs plus MMO’s.

    Critic score seems overly generous. I desperately wanted XVI to achieve perfect scores, demo raised optimism, but awarding 100% is undeserved (exaggerated fandom?). Having experienced XIV from initial launch to remake, I knew what to expect from Yoshi P & MMO team. Turned out concerns were warranted, but they still managed to build a superb game probably ranking 6th amongst my favourite Final Fantasies.

    Music 10/10
    Great & grew on me throughout: catchy, suspenseful, atmospheric & fits the moment more often than not. Never quite hitting heights of Uematsu’s genius — a tough ask as he’s in his own untouchable tier. Soken meanwhile is top of also-rans, demonstrating consistency, versatility & production quality, albeit surprisingly quirky in parts.

    Combat 7/10
    Shift was a big talking point I found interesting with plenty of choices on the skill tree, but I soon figured you could get away with ability spam & there’s very little challenge or strategy required if keeping equipment upgraded, even for S rank hunts. It becomes somewhat automatic & akin to MMO-style “cooldown” combat with a faster pace. Very flashy and responsive with a lot happening on screen that it’s almost a firework show with numbers plastered everywhere. Often difficult to see the character models. It definitely keeps you busy but a lack of status effects, item variety & proper magic spells simplifies things greatly. I have seen videos of people performing “sick combo’s” that flow seamlessly, but that’s completely unnecessary & requires you to work harder for the same outcome unless you are concerned with number output. FF7R has the upper hand in this department, offering a mix of action & turn-based, being overall the more interesting approach & can be played like an action game if the player chooses. I personally prefer having control of multiple party members with different styles.

    Graphics & Visuals 9/10
    The world of Valisthea is beautiful, grand & unexpectedly breathtaking mixed in with a few other drab landscapes. Overall visuals are of a high quality & warrant next-gen status. Performance mode is so inconsistent that I unusually went all-in on fidelity. Concerns of linearity are addressed early on as areas don’t appear claustrophobic without being fully open world. It maintains the right balance for story focus while allowing exploration as each region opens up. One of the main issues is that exploration is largely unrewarding in terms of items & gear. Loot in general is lacking and underwhelming, including most quest rewards. Some iffy animations.

    MINOR SPOILER: summons (Eikons) take the stage in a new way & these battles sometimes overshadow anything I’ve seen in gaming thus far, even eclipsing Marvel movies.

    Gameplay 6/10
    The is an apparent lack of traditional RPG elements where stats are concerned. Everything has been streamlined or even “dumbed-down” as some might say, possibly to expand appeal to newer fans without being overwhelming. Equipment choices are somewhat limited if you enjoy different builds & the next upgrade is almost always available to increase the few numbers that matter. Accessories offer time reductions to certain ability usage & damage increases, though this is barely relevant in the grand scheme of things. There are also ones that increase item potency, which are plentiful anyway if you can time dodges well.

    Characters 9/10
    Interesting & I cared deeply about most of the core group. Voice acting is performed well, but opinions may vary depending on taste (I did not think Ralph Ineson as Cid fit the character despite being familiar with the actor beforehand — it might have even suited Hugo more who I found dramatically awful).

    Story 9/10
    Fantastic, satisfying & shocking in parts, I was intrigued & excited for then next segment to arrive. The pacing is questionable as there are large lulls in between. My main gripe is that there are far too many inexcusably uninteresting side quests. How anyone can find fetch quests to be their idea of fun is baffling. Luckily they can be skipped entirely unless you want some extra rewards from the ??? points they give. However, I would advise to not miss the important quests having a plus icon. Or, in some cases if you want extra world-building lore then they’re also worthwhile. Being a completionist I was extremely bored by the halfway point. Most serve purely to extend the length of the game which could be half as many hours long without.

    Major positive: fleshed-out world & lore. Fellow Game of Thrones fans will notice many similarities. Lore system is incredible & may spend lots of time reading archives (sadly locked behind an NPC!). Active time lore feature a nice addition — pausing during cutscenes becomes quite distracting if used too frequently.

    TLDR; solid game w/ some inconsistencies, shallowness & genre clichés/tropes
    Expand
  17. Jul 1, 2023
    8
    I will rate this game at least 8/10, no way this game can be lower. The side quest is not good (but some of them is). This game overall is totally work the money. And the biggest plus is the story and music, it just hit so deep. I love this game, this is what I hope frome the Devs of FF14. I hope this game will have a DLC.
  18. Jul 4, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy XVI best game ever made, is perfect in any aspect of the game, music(OST), graphics, story, characters, combat, gameplay, eikon fights, cutscenes-cinematic cutscenes the way they stitch these together into gameplay is pinnacle of gaming
    the scale of this game on its own speaks value these Eikon fights…

    Also I LOVE TORGAL
  19. Jul 4, 2023
    10
    I'm one of those people who think that this is the greatest game of all time, no matter what quality games are out now or will be out ever. What they did in final fantasy 16 was the unthinkable they kept raising your expectations you wouldn’t think the game would continue to get better and better after that crazy Titan Eikon fight but it does indeed this is definitely moving in good wayI'm one of those people who think that this is the greatest game of all time, no matter what quality games are out now or will be out ever. What they did in final fantasy 16 was the unthinkable they kept raising your expectations you wouldn’t think the game would continue to get better and better after that crazy Titan Eikon fight but it does indeed this is definitely moving in good way Also ignore the clowns giving it 0/10 that’s switch and Xbox fan boys in their little immature groups hate receiving just click on their profile you’ll see Final Fantasy XVI 10/10 Expand
  20. Jul 4, 2023
    10
    There is nothing that can be said about this game that has not been said already, perfection is what it is. By far the best game you'll ever play. Hands down.
  21. Jul 4, 2023
    10
    If you can see how beautiful this game is, it's because you know about amazing and gorgeous mediaeval history , this is one of the best games ever created and i think it is one of the best Final Fantasy games ever
    Must play for certain !
  22. Jul 4, 2023
    10
    One of the best games they've ever made! The story is well structured, the characters are in-depth and well-detailed. The settings are epic and medieval, wonderfully inspired by a Western world, the combat system is a perfectly accurate interweaving of combos and basic attacks that do not bore where the player can indulge himself as he prefers. The alternation of epic moments with calmOne of the best games they've ever made! The story is well structured, the characters are in-depth and well-detailed. The settings are epic and medieval, wonderfully inspired by a Western world, the combat system is a perfectly accurate interweaving of combos and basic attacks that do not bore where the player can indulge himself as he prefers. The alternation of epic moments with calm moments allows you to breathe and focus better on the game world. Perfect! A breath of fresh air BUT ABOVE ALL, INNOVATIVE! Expand
  23. Jul 6, 2023
    10
    An absolutely fantastic game, this is now my favorite FF game! FF7 will always be special but XVI? Phenomenal. Clive was spectacular as a MC! Soundtrack is peak. THAT boss fight left me with my jaw on the floor. Emotional and engaging the game leaves me wanting more every time I played!! Truly a stunning experience.

    Great Job Creative Business Team III
  24. Jul 6, 2023
    10
    Simply put the best game ever made. This game redefined the entire game industry and set a new standard nothing matches the scale of this new generation title. The experience that i have had with this game has not been matched and will never be matched again.
    I’ll be buying final fantasy xvi again on pc when it drops.
  25. Jul 6, 2023
    10
    As a final fantasy 14 fan I can say this is one of the greatest of all time, nearly perfect in every way graphics, sound, ost, story, gameplay and eikon fights. Has so much replay value . Best game I have ever played love the homage to previous ff games looking forward to what they do next!
  26. Jul 6, 2023
    10
    Flawless in every way, teaching the player everything they need to know, and remaining interesting and fun, this game simply perfect.
  27. Jul 6, 2023
    10
    This game is a masterpiece. The music, the story, the gameplay, the bosses eikon fights...all of it is spectacular. There is really not much else for me to say. If you give this game below 9, you are out of your mind.
  28. Jul 6, 2023
    10
    Greatest game in history. The entire Final Fantasy Mainline has an incredible storyline and every character had it's own unique personality that made them instantly recognisable and very easily loved or hated. At the time of the game's release, nothing could compare to the experience this game gave you it encapsulated you, you’ll never experience a game so beautifully polished the scale ofGreatest game in history. The entire Final Fantasy Mainline has an incredible storyline and every character had it's own unique personality that made them instantly recognisable and very easily loved or hated. At the time of the game's release, nothing could compare to the experience this game gave you it encapsulated you, you’ll never experience a game so beautifully polished the scale of everything in this game is perfect nothing feels out of place in this medieval setting. Despite only being single player video game. 100% worth playing way ahead of its time Expand
  29. Jul 6, 2023
    10
    No more needs to be said about this game. The best game ever, I'm not sure but if any game has to have that title then I don't mind it being this one. Games don't come much better than this. Highest peak of gaming history definitely worth playing ! 10/10
  30. Jul 6, 2023
    10
    Just came here to pay my tribute to the best game ever made. This game is so ahead of its time, the title alone is genius. The music is easily the best soundtrack you can find in a video game.
    10/10 for me best game you’ll ever play.
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]