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. MAFIAxMaverick
    Aug 28, 2023
    8
    Probably one of my favorite Final Fantasy games in terms of the story. I also love the action-oriented gameplay. The world looks beautiful, the character models look beautiful. The Digital Foundry deep dive on some of the technical elements of characters and world interaction was phenomenal. From a technical perspective, I think FFXVI is a 10/10. I also love the build variability and thinkProbably one of my favorite Final Fantasy games in terms of the story. I also love the action-oriented gameplay. The world looks beautiful, the character models look beautiful. The Digital Foundry deep dive on some of the technical elements of characters and world interaction was phenomenal. From a technical perspective, I think FFXVI is a 10/10. I also love the build variability and think there are a lot of viable builds to use for Clive.

    My two biggest gripes are - 1. Doing away with status effects. I feel like it really dumbed down the gameplay. 2. There are some amazing side quests - but the side quests in the first half of the game are weak, overall. The amount of fetch quests, I think, will deter people from picking up side quests later in the game and some of the late game side quests provide some of the best storytelling in the game.

    Overall - I don't know if this is a FF game I will come back to again and again like FFX and FFXII - but I really enjoyed my time with it.    … Expand
  2. nobilki
    Aug 20, 2023
    8
    Not the best story, still fun game to play good story, side quest story is good (can know the world/people lore more), but i cannot give this game 10/10 and not game of the year. reason?
    One main reason what i hate about this game.
    When the first official reveal about this game, u see the city concept art?. WE CANNOT EXPLORE ANY OF THIS BIG CITY. what a total liar from SQ. The city/port    Not the best story, still fun game to play good story, side quest story is good (can know the world/people lore more), but i cannot give this game 10/10 and not game of the year. reason?
    One main reason what i hate about this game.
    When the first official reveal about this game, u see the city concept art?. WE CANNOT EXPLORE ANY OF THIS BIG CITY. what a total liar from SQ. The city/port is just there for cutscene, MC go there but CUTSCENE ONLY. Many typical rpg will give us short tour explore the city go to shop speak to npc doing side quest, but for ff16 nope.

    The world map basically beautiful and i like it.
    I really wish i can go to that beautiful city    … Expand
  3. TheHambro
    Aug 21, 2023
    8
    I’ve never been into Final Fantasy. Yes, I know there are some really good games, and yes, I know Final Fantasy is all loved by many. I’ve only played one game, and that was the remake of Final Fantasy VII on the PS4. I didn’t think I could truly get myself into it, that is, until Final Fantasy XVI rolled around.

    I view the series as a light hearted adventure: fun, whimsical,    I’ve never been into Final Fantasy. Yes, I know there are some really good games, and yes, I know Final Fantasy is all loved by many. I’ve only played one game, and that was the remake of Final Fantasy VII on the PS4. I didn’t think I could truly get myself into it, that is, until Final Fantasy XVI rolled around.

    I view the series as a light hearted adventure: fun, whimsical, charming, etc. However, I truly did not expect the brooding and oppressing take on Final Fantasy XVI, and as an older gamer, I truly appreciate it. The story and side quests didn’t always have a happy ending, and they were incredibly well written and engaging throughout. Boss fights. Boss fights are **** epic; all I’m going to say. A couple of gripes I had is the lackluster crafting system, and the performance.

    Final Fantasy XVI is a damn good game, and if the series can keep this tone going, then you will have made a fan out of me!    … Expand
  4. YamikoFR
    Jul 22, 2023
    8
    FF16 is a good game focus on storyline and boss fight.. If you are looking for an hard game with complexe gameplay this is not for you.
  5. cepanutis
    Jul 13, 2023
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. [REVIEW IN SPANISH]

    Una vez finalizado el juego, debo decir que estamos ante un título que pudo haber marcado historia en la saga y codearse con la época gloriosa que va desde el VI al IX pero que se queda a medias por el camino debido a problemas importantes que no pueden pasarse por alto.

    Paso a exponerlos:

    > La progresión de personaje es inexistente y subir de nivel no significa absolutamente nada.
    > Tiene el peor sistema de gearing de la saga, y entiendo que es un hack n' slash mayormente... pero es que tanto las armas como el equipo son tan pobres y significan tan poco que no puedes pasar por alto la indeferencia con la que han tratado este aspecto y más en una franquicia como FF. Los accesorios son directamente una broma.
    > La ausencia de elementos es otro deficit importante, da exactamente igual el eikon que equipes que con cualquier puedes hacerle daño a todo, sin importar afinidades etc (un pilar de la saga que ignoran totalmente).
    > La historia tiene algún tramo demasiado bajo que te saca de la trama y del "momentum", sobran bastante y se hace unicamente por alargar el juego de manera artificial.
    > No es ni un open world ni un juego pasillero total... es algo a medio camino que no tiene demasiado sentido, pues la exploración no se premia absolutamente nada más que para encontrar 2 cofres con cualquier consumible o material random.
    > Al malo final le falta bastante fuelle y en ningún momento empatizas con él, te da un poco igual lo que le pase, sus ideas etc... es un personaje poco trabajado y que se ve superado por cualquiera de los dominantes a los que te enfrentas a nivel de carisma.
    > Pasa demasiado tiempo desde que tienes 2 eikon hasta que te dan el tercero. Y qué decir del último el cual directamente estás casi terminando el juego ya cuando lo recibes.

    Y dicho todo esto... por qué le doy un 8? pues porque aún con sus defectos y que se ha renunciado totalmente al género RPG, sigue teniendo una historia muy muy buena que sabe cerrar por lo alto y con unas primeras 12-15h de juego que son increíbles. Si llega a mantener esa dinámica hasta el final hubiesemos hablado de una de las mejores historias de la franquicia, que es decir bastante. En el balance global lo coloco como el mejor FF desde FFX que ya es bastante, por encima del FFXII, del FFXIII y del FFXV. (El XIV no es comparable aquí).    … Expand
  6. Naedeslus
    Jul 26, 2023
    8
    +Plot has a very interesting setup dealing with multiple factions.
    +Clive is a great protagonist.
    +OST is fantastic with some excellent tracks that will rank up there with some of the best. +Loads of content and tons of towns thrown in which is something the series hasn’t done in a long time. It has a great feeling of an epic scale. + Eikon battles are fantastic. + Fun combat with    +Plot has a very interesting setup dealing with multiple factions.
    +Clive is a great protagonist.
    +OST is fantastic with some excellent tracks that will rank up there with some of the best.
    +Loads of content and tons of towns thrown in which is something the series hasn’t done in a long time. It has a great feeling of an epic scale.
    + Eikon battles are fantastic.
    + Fun combat with some interesting ability combinations.

    - RPG elements are lacking.
    - Combat, while fun does feel very damage spongey and seems to lack a few things that would turn it into a great combat system, such as heavy-hitting attacks. Combat becomes very button mashy while your abilities cool down.
    - The story, while interesting, does feel very disorienting and it becomes convoluted near the end.
    - One of the weaker main villains in the series that is known for having great villains.

    This was a hard game to review. On the one hand, it has fantastic world-building and a great setup. Great characters, music, and the gameplay, while a tad bit shallow and severely lacking in RPG elements was a good time. The combat can be a bit spongey, but I did enjoy it regardless. The story, while starting off extremely strong, does delve into a weird plot twist that feels a bit out of place and the main villain isn’t as strong as say Sephiroth, Kefka, or Kuja. It does have some emotional hard-hitting moments and the voice cast does a fantastic job in their roles and Clive is a great protagonist.

    I feel that while it does have some missteps, I did enjoy my time with this game. It played well, and while the combat boils down to pretty much button mashing until you can use an ability and then you wait for a cooldown to use it again, it was entertaining enough, despite the combat being a bit spongey, especially near the end on some of the bosses.

    If you like Final Fantasy and enjoyed XV or VII: Remake you’ll probably like this a lot. I’d still recommend trying it if you’re a fan of the series but while the missteps do prevent it from being in my top five of the series, I still enjoyed my time with it and I do recommend it.    … Expand
  7. HugeyBear
    Jun 23, 2023
    8
    First impressions are positive. I’m having a lot of fun. The story is gripping and the combat is fun. Visually it’s great.

    Don’t like the lack of build diversity. It would have been nice to have multiple options here as you only play one character. Also during combat, the ability to switch focus to an enemy of your choosing is not there and this makes for close quarters fights vs lots    First impressions are positive. I’m having a lot of fun. The story is gripping and the combat is fun. Visually it’s great.

    Don’t like the lack of build diversity. It would have been nice to have multiple options here as you only play one character. Also during combat, the ability to switch focus to an enemy of your choosing is not there and this makes for close quarters fights vs lots of enemies to become a bit of a mess. The fights vs the bosses have been great so far except one I won’t name where again it suffers because multiple enemies are on screen and you can’t easily switch focus between the two and a dodge will automatically switch your focus.

    There isn’t very interesting gear options pretty much like most ff games, I think that is an area where square could improve. There isn’t much point in exploration either. I think for a story driven action game it is great but the rpg elements are lacking.    … Expand
  8. iMustang
    Sep 10, 2023
    8
    Final Fantasy XVI is truly an experience, even if an incomplete one. With a M rating and a near fully voice-acted game, XVI quickly solidifies itself as one of the boldest entries in the series to date. Taking inspiration from Game of Thrones this world and it’s politics are clearly laid out from the beginning creating immediate interest and investment into our cast of characters. With theFinal Fantasy XVI is truly an experience, even if an incomplete one. With a M rating and a near fully voice-acted game, XVI quickly solidifies itself as one of the boldest entries in the series to date. Taking inspiration from Game of Thrones this world and it’s politics are clearly laid out from the beginning creating immediate interest and investment into our cast of characters. With the focus on eikons (summons) and the dominants they inhabit, XVI quickly creates some of the most unique and memorable characters in the series history, as well as by far the best and most impressive boss battles in video game history. The gameplay with its flashy nature and multiple styles of play was almost always charming to me and a welcome direction for the series. Mix these pretty visuals with great characters and add in another legendary soundtrack, and from the beginning XVI hooks you.

    However, like most Final Fantasy games, this one is far from perfect. With a very straightforward story I would not normally complain about it’s linear nature, but the biggest missed opportunity is most of the landmarks spoken of in the game are ones you never visit. The capitol cities have big designs and we’re clearly detailed by the artists, but you only see them in cutscenes or at most briefly see pieces of them during story segments. This is really disappointing from a game with so much setup in the first act of the story, which leads to the second major disappointment, the story. XVI peaks nearly two-thirds into the adventure and never recovers. What started boldly with intense drive and conviction falls flat after a major threat is addressed, then overstays it’s welcome with a bland final act. The icing on the cake, the ending seems missing. With two DLC expansions on the horizon, I am completely convinced Square Enix is saving the true ending behind a paywall. While I’m excited even now to see how the story concludes, I’m disappointed that Square continues to do things like this with the franchise. There is always a chance I’m wrong about this, and if I am, then I would go so far to say this is one of the weakest endings in the series history.

    While far from perfect, Final Fantasy XVI is still an experience worth playing for any fan of the series. At its core it is fun, beauiful, intense, and impactful. I have far more happy memories with this game than I ever will unpleasant ones, and my opinion can only improve with upcoming DLC. Until then I have to judge the game as it is, and even with that in mind, what we have is still pretty dang great.    … Expand
  9. oriodesign
    Jul 20, 2023
    8
    I absolutely loved the fights among Eikons, the main cutscenes, the gorgeous graphic, the darker aesthetics and the fantastic soundtrack. The source of inspiration of this game is clear and it comes from other series which I love (Game of Thrones, Attack on Titan, Elden Ring...), but still maintaining a Final Fantasy identity. The combat system it's enjoyable, maybe even too easy andI absolutely loved the fights among Eikons, the main cutscenes, the gorgeous graphic, the darker aesthetics and the fantastic soundtrack. The source of inspiration of this game is clear and it comes from other series which I love (Game of Thrones, Attack on Titan, Elden Ring...), but still maintaining a Final Fantasy identity. The combat system it's enjoyable, maybe even too easy and forgiving. I also appreciated the brave choice of being a pure action game. Enemies and mechanics are often repeated, rpg elements including gear and crafting is almost absent, but I still had a good time for my 60 hours of gameplay.

    Unfortunately there are also all the problems of FFIV, with uninteresting side quests, forgettable side characters, long dull dialogues which don't add anything to the experience, but actually feel outdated, like if a modern title was padded with content from an older MMORPG. In almost every quest you are asked to fetch an object or kill a monster after lengthy tedious dialogues. Most of the characters are bland and uninspired to the point of being almost annoying for their lack of depth, especially in the side quests.

    The world is gorgeous to see and I have been particularly impressed with the vegetation richness which was probably also contributing to the framerate drop even in performance mode. I appreciate the connected locations without a proper open world which we have seen too many times, but despite the reduced size of the locations they still feel incredibly empty with no reward for exploration. Loot is practically absent and with no secrets to uncover you have little reason to explore the map. The experience feels very disconnected teleporting continuously from side quest to side quest which makes you miss the sense of journey which was so present in other titles.

    The plot has its great moments especially when confronting major opponents and the story overall is well told especially compared to FFXV. That said, the world, its characters and their motivations didn't feel believable and as soon as you look a bit deeper into the narrative it makes less sense and it's hard to feel immersed into it.

    It's a title where a player can find extremely high quality content unfortunately mixed with mediocre quests, dull characters, a world that feels empty and undercooked rpg elements.    … Expand
  10. Kino977
    Jun 25, 2023
    8
    I don’t like fast travel map only, ff saga is open world, ff16 is “open map”, party is not a party
  11. Dreamcast2040
    Jul 11, 2023
    8
    A good Action/Adventure, but a disappointing RPG game.
    Giving it an 8 feels a bit harsh, but the lack of a traditional party member system, and scaled down RPG-elements.
    This game doesn't feel like Final Fantasy and I can't help but feel a little disappointed.
  12. Eriksnb
    Sep 8, 2023
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Jogo extremamente bem feito na questão de história, peca um pouco nas conversas que quebram o ritmo do jogo, mais se vc não liga pra isso é um jogão!… Expand
  13. Cargograph
    Jul 5, 2023
    8
    Overrated by the critics. Interesting story ruined by bidimensional storytelling, missions and dull, generic protagonist. Not the step forward final fantasy fans have been waiting for. A good battle system without the substance in storytelling Final Fantasy is known for.
  14. AndreyCloud
    Jul 1, 2023
    8
    To be honest I think this game can be worthy of a 9 or higher, but there are some things that hold it back from being better. Overall, the story, music, and visuals were all good. All the side quests were good and really added a lot more depth to all the characters and the world of Valisthea. I just think the story teeters a little too much on the philosophical debates and over emotionalTo be honest I think this game can be worthy of a 9 or higher, but there are some things that hold it back from being better. Overall, the story, music, and visuals were all good. All the side quests were good and really added a lot more depth to all the characters and the world of Valisthea. I just think the story teeters a little too much on the philosophical debates and over emotional dialogue at times. I find them repeating the exact same points and lines throughout the story multiple times, especially if you do all the side quest stuff and read all the letters. For example, Jill said the word together over a dozen times and Clive had to explain this new world idea just as much. Cid and his daughter Mid I found to be my favorite characters, while Clive, Jill, and Joshua seemed a little stale and lacked any interesting character traits (just felt like they were always too emotional). Where the game really lacks however is the customizations, it’s pretty pathetic how little you can gather, collect, and customize in this game. You have 3 gear slots that just stat boost you a little each time you get something new, only the sword is ever a visual customization with no special powers of any kind ever. I crafted the most powerful sword you can get (excluding the final fantasy mode), and it looks exactly the same as the previous sword, seriously! And you can only equip 3 items (out of almost 50) that slightly boost your stats and only rarely give you a special ability. The combat was fun overall, and the ability tree was nice, however I feel like it did not offer much variety in terms of bosses (fought the same ones multiple times) and no elemental weaknesses infused. The Eikon fights were very fun and epic though. I just don’t understand why there were never better rewards or loot to chase in the game. You were stuck with the same outfit for the entire game, nor could you customize your party members in any way. There was little to no dialogue with party members as you were running around side questing, which was a bummer, you would have to occasionally turn around to acknowledge they existed (except for your wolf Torgol). So, I have to say it is good, but not great. Still totally worth playing or at least trying.… Expand
  15. jcasualmente
    Aug 15, 2023
    8
    Final Fantasy XVI is a great game, even if I feel something is missing. Honestly, I think classifying it as one of the best games in the series or just one title among many others is up to everyone's taste - whether it be mechanics, history, systems, etc. In any case, the game deserves to be played, whether by RPG fans or even for anyone who isn't, since the action-oriented approach canFinal Fantasy XVI is a great game, even if I feel something is missing. Honestly, I think classifying it as one of the best games in the series or just one title among many others is up to everyone's taste - whether it be mechanics, history, systems, etc. In any case, the game deserves to be played, whether by RPG fans or even for anyone who isn't, since the action-oriented approach can captivate a new audience.… Expand
  16. Fletchr
    Jul 11, 2023
    8
    In a nutshell: FF16 is very enjoyable, it has its issues with writing, pacing, and gameplay - but it is a fun experience worth playing through.

    In a bigger nutshell: I am a big FF fan, and while I missed a lot of what previous FF's had, and which people are giving the game a low score for, ultimately this is a new direction for FF and it is what it is, whether you like it or not. The    In a nutshell: FF16 is very enjoyable, it has its issues with writing, pacing, and gameplay - but it is a fun experience worth playing through.

    In a bigger nutshell: I am a big FF fan, and while I missed a lot of what previous FF's had, and which people are giving the game a low score for, ultimately this is a new direction for FF and it is what it is, whether you like it or not. The series is known for its evolution.

    For clarity, I have recently completed the game and have some content left to do in side missions and hunts.

    Positives:
    - Graphics
    - Worldbuilding
    - Voice Acting
    - Combat is great but can get repetitive
    - Spectacle
    - Some great characters
    - A fantastic set of villains
    - Decent amount of builds for Clive

    Negatives:
    - Poor writing in places
    - An over-abundance of relying on the player to seek out information that should be presented to them as part of the narrative
    - Side-quests aren't great and can be tedious.
    - Overall pacing
    - Lack of any meaningful item progression
    - Interactions during cinematics may as well not exist
    - An ending that ultimately gives no closure to the player and is open to interpretation, which I dislike

    Mixed:
    - Story - While good, it is a story that has been told before in FF14, with tweaks.

    I give the game an 8.5. Sadly, It is not in my top 5 FF's. I could be convinced to place it 6th!    … Expand
  17. Duncs12345
    Jul 17, 2023
    8
    Final fantasy 16 is an amazing game but an obvious flaws prevent it from being a masterpiece.

    The good; incredible storyline and script, great voice acting, well done character design, fun battle system, engaging boss mechanics, innovative gameplay with the eikon abilities and epic eikon controlled fights, the soundtrack. I believe this is what Square Enix were aiming for, and they have    Final fantasy 16 is an amazing game but an obvious flaws prevent it from being a masterpiece.

    The good; incredible storyline and script, great voice acting, well done character design, fun battle system, engaging boss mechanics, innovative gameplay with the eikon abilities and epic eikon controlled fights, the soundtrack. I believe this is what Square Enix were aiming for, and they have achieved that. The main focus of the game excels.

    The bad; invisible walls... a game of this calibre with such impressive map designs shouldn't have so many invisible walls. Chocobo gameplay is fun but under utilised, a Chocobo racing or side quest relying on chocobo battle would have been fun. Adding mini games would have made FFXVI feel less monotonous. Having Torgal was awesome, however his role is limited, I feel that stronger attacks with a cool down and skill tree to progress his abilities would have been achievable and could have added a lot. Side quests and map exploration add good world building but the rewards are pointless so there is no incentive. The gearing and items feel lackluster and there is an illusion of crafting. Therefore, giving meaning to the in game currency, weapons and items would improve the game significantly. The game is too easy, and a harder difficulty should have been available for those who do not have the spare time to commit to a new game plus. The level system seems to be irrelevant to gameplay, as low level enemies appear to receive and deal the same amount of damage as higher level enemies. The story is strong in the first half but later in the game it falls down, I feel that removing at least 10 hours from the second half would have improved the game as it began to feel like a chore.    … Expand
  18. landwalker
    Jun 23, 2023
    8
    I’m only about midway through, but so far this is pretty solid game. Having never played 14, and trying twice and never being able to get through 15, I’m having a blast. It definitely isn’t a 10 out of 10 game, but also isn’t anywhere close to a zero like the review bombers would indicate.

    The combat is decent, but not great. You can button mash and get by, but when you learn the timing    I’m only about midway through, but so far this is pretty solid game. Having never played 14, and trying twice and never being able to get through 15, I’m having a blast. It definitely isn’t a 10 out of 10 game, but also isn’t anywhere close to a zero like the review bombers would indicate.

    The combat is decent, but not great. You can button mash and get by, but when you learn the timing of combos, the combat because more engaging. I’m personally fine with them moving the series away from turn based since we have other franchises that can fill that niche. It still feels like a final fantasy story, but it is a lot different. With that said, this is the first final fantasy I’m likely to finish since FFX. In my opinion, the more action oriented combat fits the over the top stories FF is know for. On the other hand, I’m a bit annoyed that they went more action, but incredibly powerful characters can’t climb a fence or some fallen stones. I don’t mind the liberality so much, but the obstacles keeping you on course really break immersion. It’s not a home run, but the losers giving it a zero need to get a life. Play it or don’t play it, I don’t really care, but I’m enjoying it. Is it the best game ever, no. Is it a solidly fun experience about half way through, absolutely.    … Expand
  19. TopGunZ
    Aug 31, 2023
    8
    Have finished 7,8,9,10,10-2,12,13,15,16, stranger, world, tactics, crisis, 7remake and played a bit of early 14, dirge and some of the first 6. So, I am fairly experienced in FF games. 16 is a technical showcase, it has some of the most epic premises in fantasy videogaming history, one of the best, if not the best use of summons in a FF game, buuuuut... it is a spinoff, not a numbered FF.Have finished 7,8,9,10,10-2,12,13,15,16, stranger, world, tactics, crisis, 7remake and played a bit of early 14, dirge and some of the first 6. So, I am fairly experienced in FF games. 16 is a technical showcase, it has some of the most epic premises in fantasy videogaming history, one of the best, if not the best use of summons in a FF game, buuuuut... it is a spinoff, not a numbered FF. No ailments, no spells, no steampunk/tech elements - too fantasy-y, one character with very shallow progression, very little side content gameplay wise (because the lore in sidequests is superb). In general, a fantastic (pun not intended) game that I would probably rate a 9 if it didn't have the audacity to pose as a numbered FF game. Was more excited with Stranger of Paradise.… Expand
  20. CronoBreaker
    Jun 25, 2023
    8
    Honestly, it is a somewhat innovative game, you cannot say that it is super innovative, but it is trying to bring back the essence of the Fainal Fantasy of yesteryear. However, it does not have that magic formula that caught you with the enveloping story that must have a Final Fantasy another radical change was the battle system, it's very complicated, it looks a lot like forspoken, but IHonestly, it is a somewhat innovative game, you cannot say that it is super innovative, but it is trying to bring back the essence of the Fainal Fantasy of yesteryear. However, it does not have that magic formula that caught you with the enveloping story that must have a Final Fantasy another radical change was the battle system, it's very complicated, it looks a lot like forspoken, but I think that with a few adjustments and updates it could really improve I don't give it a perfect rating more than 18 and something else Don't be fooled That's why overheating does happen to some consoles, but not all of them, check your system, it could be that something is wrong with your PlayStation and it is giving you this notice.

    Sinceramente es un juego algo innovador no podrá decir que súper innovador, pero está tratando de traer de nuevo la esencia de los fainal Fantasy de antaño, Más sin embargo, no tiene esa fórmula mágica que te atrapaba con la historia envolvente que debe de tener un Final Fantasy otro cambio radical fue el sistema de batalla, es muy complicado, se parece mucho al de forspoken, pero yo creo que con unos ajustes y actualizaciones podría mejorar realmente no le doy una calificación perfecta más que 18 y otra cosa No se dejen engañar por eso del sobrecalentamiento efectivamente algunas consolas le sucede, pero no a todas chequen su sistema puede ser que algo tenga mal su PlayStation y les esté dando esta aviso.    … Expand
  21. abaeta
    Jul 21, 2023
    8
    Sincerelly I'm in love with this game. Story is being awesome, its not childish like foster Final Fantasies, the game grown more, has a great battle, you have more and more things to discover and get hyped with development of the plot. Will not be loved by everyone, but nothing will.

    But I must say that I HATE quick time events and there is a lot in this game, so, I can't give a 10.
  22. Leeroy1986
    Jun 26, 2023
    8
    I'm quite early in, just got my first Eikon ability. It's a really good game, not 10/10 Elden Ring or Zelda quality, but still a very solid experience.
  23. Gr33nMind
    Jul 11, 2023
    8
    Good game, not genre-defining or something like a masterpiece. It's a solid game but a departure from RPG with inventory & party management that defined the FF series. I had a good time but felt bored from some tiresome fetch side quest.
  24. Tuhkakasa
    Aug 13, 2023
    8
    FF16 Good music, decent worldbuilding, okey plot, nice characters, thought personally I was not that big fan of gameplay. But many did liked it.

    Decent game
  25. Linktrifuerza
    Sep 9, 2023
    8
    Final fantrasy XVI es difícil de describir, sin dudad se trata de un gran titulo muy divertido y épico pero llega a ser algo inconsistente en su historia principal, aun así vale completamente la pena si cuentas con un ps5, un imperdible.
  26. FuzzReviews
    Jun 24, 2023
    8
    The game has utterly incredible and fantastical moments that are almost completely squandered by boring, pointless RPG tedium. It’s baffling that such unreal set pieces and stellar combat is broken up by sections of utter rubbish. This is the games biggest issue, besides this bizarre pacing the game is astounding. The story falls a little flat yet the combat, art direction, HUD, music andThe game has utterly incredible and fantastical moments that are almost completely squandered by boring, pointless RPG tedium. It’s baffling that such unreal set pieces and stellar combat is broken up by sections of utter rubbish. This is the games biggest issue, besides this bizarre pacing the game is astounding. The story falls a little flat yet the combat, art direction, HUD, music and acting are all highlights representing the very best in games. I would still recommend this game, if you’re willing to do some boring RPG side quests.… Expand
  27. Reidyroo
    Jul 30, 2023
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. As a long time FF fan and having just completed the game. Overall, I feel this game follows the franchise well but does strip away a few things which makes FF games what they are. For example, if there were no chocobo's or a moogle (which I feel they just threw in to hang around a hunt board just for the sake of it) in the game, then I would not know that this is a FF game.

    Firstly, the story is very good, the first few hours as demonstrated in the demo for me was pretty mind blowing and I was hoping it would keep this trend throughout, but it does drop and picks up its intensity once more near the end of the game.

    The combat is very Devil May Cry-esq as we were expecting. It is fun to experiment with the different variations, but I feel can get quite repetitive after a while. The fights and bosses weren't really that much of a challenge and there wasn't really a consequence if you were get to get a game over, as you just jump straight into the fight again but with full health whilst the enemies health is how it was before you died.

    The voice acting for the majority of the game is excellent. Credit to SE for getting the right people for the job.

    The music is brilliant. But then again I expect nothing less from SE. For me, they never fail to disappoint.

    There were a few things that I found a little disappointing with the game. Firstly, I find it very one dimensional with not much variety. Story - fight - story - fight and so on. I miss the relaxing side challenges; the chocobo breeding, the card games, the blitzball. It would have been nice to see something like this and would have boosted my ratings on this game for sure.

    Secondly, other than Clive and Joshua, I didn't fully connect with a lot of characters. I was thrilled to hear that Clive's sidekick would be a dog. But I honestly felt nothing for Togul, he didn't have any sort of personality which I felt would have been easy to put in with just little things, most of the time I forgot he was with me. All the other interesting characters were soon killed off, so they never had a chance to be fully memorable.

    The ending. I'm not into these 'open for interpretation endings'. I get that it gets people talking about the game further. But come on, at least give us closure on something we've dedicated hours to playing.

    Overall, I enjoyed this game and it was well worth my time. However, I just hope the franchise can return to it routes a little more and not continue to create games that aim for the wider audience. I get from a business perspective that doing this brings in the ££. But don't forget the fans that loved the previous games for what they were and have given the platform the franchise has today.    … Expand
  28. Gumpers
    Jun 23, 2023
    8
    A very good game. Combat is fun, story is solid, and music is great! It’s not the best Final Fantasy title by any means.. But it’s certainly better than XV and XIII. A solid B tier game. My only gripes are the lack of an actual party, and too many cutscenes in the first act.
  29. Jon0Fun
    Aug 14, 2023
    8
    Not my favourite Final Fantasy but defiantly in my top 5.
    Has a great story (mostly) and great characters, the biggest downside for me though was the lack of party members and the fact you only control Clive.
    That said Clive and his on again off again "party" are still better than FF15's BTS on a road trip.
  30. Hevox
    Aug 16, 2023
    8
    I liked, even platinum the game, there are still flaws. A questionable and outdated game design but enriched with grandiose scenes that will remain iconic.
    The soundtrack is pretty good despite some dubious music choices.
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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.
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  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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