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. edreesespieces
    Jun 26, 2023
    3
    The game is below average. There are a lot of framerate issues that dropped by score by 2 points. Further, the story gets worse as you move on. Game of thrones vibe goes away in the 2nd half of the game. Depending on your taste maybe that's a good thing , it wasn't for me. RPG mechanics are dull and shallow and have no reason for existing. Epic fights are neat and the music is cool, greatThe game is below average. There are a lot of framerate issues that dropped by score by 2 points. Further, the story gets worse as you move on. Game of thrones vibe goes away in the 2nd half of the game. Depending on your taste maybe that's a good thing , it wasn't for me. RPG mechanics are dull and shallow and have no reason for existing. Epic fights are neat and the music is cool, great graphics too. Story is above average. Overall a below average game. I'm very dissapointed after the demo made it seem really good.… Expand
  2. Cyshox
    Jun 24, 2023
    3
    Final Fantasy XVI is no RPG but a cinematic action adventure with a weird story in a dull world - and it's performance is very poor.

    The Final Fantasy series has some of the best JRPGs out there but Final Fantasy XVI is not one of them. It has minor RPG elements but in a very simplified way similar to Spider-Man or Far Cry. You wouldn't call them RPGs, would you? Not everything is bad if    Final Fantasy XVI is no RPG but a cinematic action adventure with a weird story in a dull world - and it's performance is very poor.

    The Final Fantasy series has some of the best JRPGs out there but Final Fantasy XVI is not one of them. It has minor RPG elements but in a very simplified way similar to Spider-Man or Far Cry. You wouldn't call them RPGs, would you?

    Not everything is bad if course : Combat is pretty fun and at first glance the visuals are beautiful. I like the art style & the darker tone if this game The cutscenes are of high quality.

    However I can't recommend this game. The world is dull and empty, the story gets weird halfway through, MMO-like side quests aren't fun and the loot system is very questionable. It feels a bit like "Game of Thrones : Devil May Cry Edition" but it's very different from previous Final Fantasy games. This game should have gotten a different title.

    The performance mode of this game is atrocious : The exploration sequences are a stutterfest barely touching 60fps and dropping into the 30s. In combat resolution drops to 720p and the game becomes very blurry - while still not being able to maintain 60fps. The only way to enjoy this game is in 30fps quality mode.

    I should have avoided this release. All those good reviews a few days ago tricked me into giving it a try. I wonder what Square Enix spent to get such misleading scores...    … Expand
  3. LeandroB
    Jul 15, 2023
    3
    Unfortunately for me, this is an action game, it doesn't feel like a Final Fantasy...
  4. gusvar
    Aug 25, 2023
    3
    It's the more boring game I have played this year. It's good looking but an absolute yawn. The good parts are very far from one another.
  5. Killking241
    Jul 6, 2023
    3
    The story ends so bad it feels like i did so much work for nothing waste of my time I guess the gameplay is ok but still not worth it to me
  6. ScottPilgrim
    Jun 26, 2023
    3
    after five hours i have officially dropped this game, it’s so painfully underwhelming. the story and the characters are so dull and boring , it feels like a rip off of like game of thrones . but my biggest complaint is the gameplay , the combat is not strategic at all, it is just mindless hack and slash and dodging predictable single attacks that the enemy throws out every five seconds ,after five hours i have officially dropped this game, it’s so painfully underwhelming. the story and the characters are so dull and boring , it feels like a rip off of like game of thrones . but my biggest complaint is the gameplay , the combat is not strategic at all, it is just mindless hack and slash and dodging predictable single attacks that the enemy throws out every five seconds , there is no strategizing anything or critical thinking needed to best the enemies . just a boring rinse and repeat of button mashing and dodging every five seconds . the performance is also terrible , here we are in 2023 and still forced to lock games at 30 fps , why not just lessen the fidelity so we can have smooth gameplay ? also this game just feels cheap , invisible barriers around everything , no interacting with the world , side quests are an embarrassment and have nothing to do with anything at all. just mmo type fetch quests . i am so bitter right now for blindly spending 75 dollars on this game when money is hard to come by. never again am i falling into hype. final fantasy is dead to me and so is modern gaming . if SE ever wants me back, then they need to bring back turn based combat or something challenging and fun. and fun and interesting characters like precious titles. i’m done… Expand
  7. ilbolza85
    Jun 30, 2023
    3
    It's a good linear action combat game, on the level of Devil May Cry 5.
    But this is not a Final Fantasy game, it has no rpg mechanics, no freedom, no side quests worth talking about.
    It's an unbearably long 60 hours cutscene with the occasional playable bit. It's boring and it's not an rpg. It's a dumbed down version of a Final Fantasy that will only appeal to fans of games that are not JRPGs
  8. necrowizart89
    Aug 3, 2023
    3
    Definitely worst of all final fantasy games. Boring and simplified plot, no additional layers to the story, i felt no attachment to cid, whom to all of the characters seemed to be close to. It is action game in final fantasy style but it has no ff feeling. This was actually first ff game in which I skipped some cutscenes or dialogs. Not worth the price. Good graphics and a few good eikonDefinitely worst of all final fantasy games. Boring and simplified plot, no additional layers to the story, i felt no attachment to cid, whom to all of the characters seemed to be close to. It is action game in final fantasy style but it has no ff feeling. This was actually first ff game in which I skipped some cutscenes or dialogs. Not worth the price. Good graphics and a few good eikon fights tho.… Expand
  9. Rickrbrum
    Jun 26, 2023
    3
    If you don't like to play videogames, that's it.
    Press a button, watch a scene. Repeat, for 50 freaking hours! Final Fantasy it's over! And games are dying.

    It good looking. I'll give that.
  10. mima924
    Jun 26, 2023
    3
    FETCH FANTAST XVI.

    I'll be short, my heart has died today. NO GDR mechanichs, NO weapons differences, fake open map, NO drop, NO rewards, thons of fetch quests (always the same). This game should have been 20 hours long and It's 70. No more words. One more thing: I never died during the first playthrough, do you know why? The game is so easy and the normal difficulty (final fantasy mode)    FETCH FANTAST XVI.

    I'll be short, my heart has died today.
    NO GDR mechanichs, NO weapons differences, fake open map, NO drop, NO rewards, thons of fetch quests (always the same). This game should have been 20 hours long and It's 70. No more words.
    One more thing: I never died during the first playthrough, do you know why? The game is so easy and the normal difficulty (final fantasy mode) is unlocked only once you finish the game...
    RIP Final Fantasy.    … Expand
  11. WordsInAWhisper
    Aug 24, 2023
    3
    i really wanted to like this after FFVII Remake was so good, but I just hate this. it’s not final fantasy, it’s Kingdom Hearts: Game of Thrones Edition.
  12. Nerulas
    Jun 26, 2023
    3
    Visually beautiful, FF16 fails like so many other console games in terms of accessibility. Controller mapping type A, B, or C is a slap in the face to anyone who relies on mapping actions.
  13. Deplayzz
    Aug 10, 2023
    3
    o jogo nao é um final fantasy, mudaram todo o estilo querendo populaziar o game. Perdeu toda sua essencia.
  14. Aeula
    Jun 24, 2023
    3
    The game has a really top tier start but quickly falls off as it progresses. A dull as dishwater world, terrible side quests and a story that forgoes world building for the sake of being overly grim dark and edgy to hammer home points about how bad this world is that you understood ten missions ago. The main quest was insanely padded to boot with so many minor quests that felt no betterThe game has a really top tier start but quickly falls off as it progresses. A dull as dishwater world, terrible side quests and a story that forgoes world building for the sake of being overly grim dark and edgy to hammer home points about how bad this world is that you understood ten missions ago. The main quest was insanely padded to boot with so many minor quests that felt no better than the side quests.… Expand
  15. Toshi_inu
    Jul 22, 2023
    3
    Buena banda sonora, salvos unos temas contra los jefes que dejan mucho que desear, la historia es buena pero tiene errores importante como el tema del leviatán, eso si tiene mucho relleno la historia donde te hacen hacer de forma obligatoria misiones que no apartan nada y solo son una perdida de tiempo, pero no es un rpg sino un Hack and slash, ciudades vacías sin personalizar, el perro yBuena banda sonora, salvos unos temas contra los jefes que dejan mucho que desear, la historia es buena pero tiene errores importante como el tema del leviatán, eso si tiene mucho relleno la historia donde te hacen hacer de forma obligatoria misiones que no apartan nada y solo son una perdida de tiempo, pero no es un rpg sino un Hack and slash, ciudades vacías sin personalizar, el perro y jill son inmortales en las luchas y no ayuda en nada, la historia cae muy feo en el transcurso final, el jefe final su lucha es muy mala, después de odin todo va cuesta abajo… Expand
  16. Retroplayer1987
    Jun 24, 2023
    3
    Primero lo bueno: La música. Ahora lo malo: el resto, un juego generico Hack and slash muy facil.. lejos de lo que puede ser un Devil May Cry o Bayonetta en dificultad. Muy casual... y todo generico. No aporta nada al género.. además que dejó de ser un ''RPG'' para lo que es la saga FF... esto no es un real FF... solo utilizaron el número para que la gente lo comprara...en fin.
  17. Montiero
    Aug 10, 2023
    3
    Not a Final Fantasy game. Not at all, not whatsoever. This is Devil May Cry with another brand's label and logo, nothing more. In fact, it isn't even an RPG either. I'm about 20 hours into the game and am at the point that I just don't care to finish it. It's shallow in characters, story, combat, and systems. There's just ZERO depth or nuance that Final Fantasy is known for. But this isNot a Final Fantasy game. Not at all, not whatsoever. This is Devil May Cry with another brand's label and logo, nothing more. In fact, it isn't even an RPG either. I'm about 20 hours into the game and am at the point that I just don't care to finish it. It's shallow in characters, story, combat, and systems. There's just ZERO depth or nuance that Final Fantasy is known for. But this is the new direction that FF will probably remain in. This is not a good game and it's DEFINITELY NOT a good Final Fantasy. Shame it'll be another decade before they even make another mainline game anyway.… Expand
  18. mstersmith
    Jul 22, 2023
    3
    This will be my last FF game. It is probably the trashiest game I have ever played. The story is ruined by terrible gameplay and braindead flash. I am sure as well as it sold this is the state of the franchise, cash in on the braindead masses.
  19. RRrpgManiax
    Jun 23, 2023
    3
    While Final Fantasy has never been the most RPG of RPGs. It has never been so bereft of RPG mechanics until now. This game feels like a stripped down to its bare essentials rpg that was more concerned with going big on visuals and a clearly George R R Martin inspired story. None of which feels very fun to engage in. Boring fetch quests, underutilized side characters, poor pacing, boringWhile Final Fantasy has never been the most RPG of RPGs. It has never been so bereft of RPG mechanics until now. This game feels like a stripped down to its bare essentials rpg that was more concerned with going big on visuals and a clearly George R R Martin inspired story. None of which feels very fun to engage in. Boring fetch quests, underutilized side characters, poor pacing, boring combat makes for a disjointed mess of a game cobbled together trying to ride the highs of far superior action games like God of War. If you're a fan of RPGs you're gonna be disappointed. If you like over the top action games this might be intriguing? You're probably better sticking to Devil May Cry, Bayonetta, or God of War though in my opinion.… Expand
  20. Himmellaeufer
    Jul 14, 2023
    3
    Is Final Fantasy still an RPG?

    - No status effects - No puzzles - Almost no more RPG mechanics available! - No tactical commands for party members (Torgal does not count) - Linear gameplay - A lot of cutscenes (felt at least 50% of the game) - Loot not balanced, sometimes very bad and not well thought out - Eikons/Espa powers are only visually very chic, no effects on opponents    Is Final Fantasy still an RPG?

    - No status effects
    - No puzzles
    - Almost no more RPG mechanics available!
    - No tactical commands for party members (Torgal does not count)
    - Linear gameplay
    - A lot of cutscenes (felt at least 50% of the game)
    - Loot not balanced, sometimes very bad and not well thought out
    - Eikons/Espa powers are only visually very chic, no effects on opponents whether ice, wind or fire is used.
    - Very often (bosses) confusing because too many effects on the screen.
    - Secondary characters are not illuminated enough, very superficially or not at all
    - Only one weapon can be used, upgrade pointless since a better weapon is found 15-20 minutes later.
    - Equipping items has been greatly minimized. A weapon, a belt, a bracer and three rings/chains. Unfortunately there is nothing more.
    - side quest bad! Very much help person x, search herbs y tasks. No comparison to old FF side quests or even a witcher!
    - No mini games
    - sometimes long ways
    - Few enemy types, no variety, often repeated
    - At times the stylish Eikon/Espa fights are too long, unnecessarily long

    Reminiscent of the gameplay of EA's last Jedi Games, a Devil May Cry (yes, I know Ryota Suzuki) or a God of War.

    Despite all the negative comments, I love the soundtrack, the main character Cliff and the very beautiful world of Final Fantasy 16. I have strong vagant story vibes with a pinch of FF9.

    Unfortunately, Final Fantasy is no longer Final Fantasy. It's now just an action-adventure game that's far from its former strengths. The claim of a role-playing game has been severely restricted or completely lost.    … Expand
  21. Magnuz7
    Jul 3, 2023
    3
    Near the end of the game and it was a struggle. Only still playing because there isn't a Final Fantasy that I've not finished.
    If I was to review this one in one word it would be "Shallow".
    There is no depth in most of the game. No interesting systems whatsoever. Very repetitive gameplay loop and no incentive gameplay mechanics to expand on and keep me going. Just.. plain.
  22. IDlkcvjasd
    Sep 1, 2023
    3
    Boring as hell. Meaningless cutscenes dragging the length of the game and too many pauses.
  23. Gamm0n
    Jun 24, 2023
    3
    Always liked the final fantasy games growing up. 10 being my favourite... for Blitzball. But this just didn't feel like FF to me. It's like they had enough of what made the series great and half assed it. Maybe it'll grow on me but I doubt it.
  24. Playisgod
    Jun 25, 2023
    3
    Terrible optimización que tiene el juego, realmente se me sobrecalentó la consola 3 veces apenas llevado poco más de una hora de juego, no se si esto lo puedan arreglar pero es lamentable que esto suceda en un juego que debe tener como prioridad un ecosistema.
    A nivel jugabilidad está bien pero no se nota dificultad, literal te lo puedes pasar con solo oprimir un botón en los combates asi    Terrible optimización que tiene el juego, realmente se me sobrecalentó la consola 3 veces apenas llevado poco más de una hora de juego, no se si esto lo puedan arreglar pero es lamentable que esto suceda en un juego que debe tener como prioridad un ecosistema.
    A nivel jugabilidad está bien pero no se nota dificultad, literal te lo puedes pasar con solo oprimir un botón en los combates asi que se torna nefasto    … Expand
  25. Xanos12
    Jun 23, 2023
    3
    FFXVI is more movie than game.
    No other FF game comes close to how little gameplay there is.
    It feels like nothing is progressing, many, many sequences, lots of meaningless chatter. As mentioned here before: the exaggerated action scenes conceal the lack of substance, and I find them very unspectacular. There was one sequence that somehow got to me, but then this fight is abruptly    FFXVI is more movie than game.
    No other FF game comes close to how little gameplay there is.

    It feels like nothing is progressing, many, many sequences, lots of meaningless chatter. As mentioned here before: the exaggerated action scenes conceal the lack of substance, and I find them very unspectacular.

    There was one sequence that somehow got to me, but then this fight is abruptly interrupted without any further explanation, and everyone just goes their separate ways?

    Everything seems to be running smoothly, no one clashes with anyone else, there is hardly any interaction between them, just... somehow completely boring chatter. Honestly, for me, it's unfortunately exhausting. If it weren't for Final Fantasy being at the top, I would have already turned off the game and watched the story in a short 5-minute YouTube video; that's all it would be.

    The atmosphere barely grabs me, and despite the beautiful design, the landscapes are... meh, I simply don't feel anything. They can't even make the clouds move :~P. Even with a day/night cycle, it seems they had to cut corners.

    The combo system feels like it's only progressing slowly. I'm still using the same effective combo, but now there are two Esper abilities with long cooldowns added, much like MMORPGs such as FF14.

    The character Clive himself is also so boring and doesn't convince me at all. Apparently, it's normal for him to duel head-to-head with Espers (without abilities), while on the battlefield, all the soldiers are instantly massacred (by the way, the Domini can destroy an entire army instantly... why even have cannon fodder? Because of action and stuff?). It's nice that he has noble combat training, but as a player, that doesn't convince me why he has to throw himself into every melee without fear (and is convinced he will win? Espers are not an issue, but with a Dragoon, we have to catch our breath). I'd prefer useful and logical abilities that are more immersive than him already being a 'machine' instantly, and everyone finds it normal with Clive, blessing or no blessing.

    The world hardly invites exploration, the things you find couldn't be more uninteresting, and even the item system itself is very limited. There isn't much choice, not much to try. Instead of getting new things, everything is just +1, +2, +3, which seems to save resources, time, and creativity.

    Oh yeah, after an important story progression, the main quest tells me to get new armor from the old lady... but due to said progression, I already have the best armor (even purple rarity) available, and the old lady doesn't have anything even remotely better.

    The fact that you can only play as one character makes the gameplay itself unfortunately very monotonous, and did it really take so much time to develop just around one character? The locations are enclosed areas, scripted, and even on the ground, Clive's animation sometimes looks very clunky.

    The enemies seem uninteresting and interchangeable. The side quests are the same old rubbish as every mediocre RPG these days. What Ubisoft dominates with its 1000 markers on the map, meaninglessly completing incomprehensible side quests is the dominant feature of RPGs without exception.

    And the most important thing that has been missing since FF13: an outstanding soundtrack. A big part of the FF series was always its magnificent soundtrack, which one nostalgically listens to even today and fondly remembers the old parts. Music is an absolute component of a game if it wants to be remembered for a long time    … Expand
  26. BluesGP
    Jun 25, 2023
    3
    I had a lot of faith in this game but again final fantasy disappoints. Incoherent graphics, poor narrative (it's a game that tells a story, it's the most important aspect and they throw it overboard). The gameplay is boring, repetitive and not very involving, except for a few moments. This game leaves me with the feeling that Square Enix wanted to put a sick dose of sugar in cinematics andI had a lot of faith in this game but again final fantasy disappoints. Incoherent graphics, poor narrative (it's a game that tells a story, it's the most important aspect and they throw it overboard). The gameplay is boring, repetitive and not very involving, except for a few moments. This game leaves me with the feeling that Square Enix wanted to put a sick dose of sugar in cinematics and other key moments in the story, while the interludes (side missions, gameplay, walking corridors, etc.) became absolute garbage. A pity, and it is the last time I play a final fantasy of this new generation.… Expand
  27. BreatFR
    Jul 2, 2023
    3
    after 2 days of intensive play, here is my feeling:

    - graphics / ost: 10/10 - outfits: 4/10 - story: 7/10 - secondary quests: 1/10 - combat system: 2/10 25/50 -> 5/10 to this I will add: - fights based on one thing: yes, dodging -> -1 - world map: not visitable, only teleportations -> -1 - slow, soft, repetitive game: yes -> -1 - if we remove the primordials and put    after 2 days of intensive play, here is my feeling:

    - graphics / ost: 10/10
    - outfits: 4/10
    - story: 7/10
    - secondary quests: 1/10
    - combat system: 2/10

    25/50 -> 5/10

    to this I will add:

    - fights based on one thing: yes, dodging -> -1
    - world map: not visitable, only teleportations -> -1
    - slow, soft, repetitive game: yes -> -1
    - if we remove the primordials and put lambda monsters instead we have the same result, I haven't currently felt the "magic" of final fantasy -> -1
    - ff10, ff15, ff16: same face hero design, square-enix can't make new one?

    25/50 - 5 = 20/50 -> 4/10

    please square-enix come back to good rpg and not action/rpg to create next good final fantasy.

    after 3 days:
    too much thing to remember ff14

    after 2 weeks:
    story: 6/10
    lenth: 1/10

    25/60 - 5 = 20/60 -> 3/10    … Expand
  28. Onur84
    Jun 24, 2023
    3
    Grafik Story und Charaktere sind super ...
    Aber .. Das ist kein Final Fantasy mit taktischen Tiefgang..
    Dafür ein scheiß Tasten-bashing .
    Das ist eher ein Devil may cry im Final Fantasy Universum..

    Ich hab mich bei keinem final fantasy mehr gelangweilt wie hier . (kampfsystem )


    Zum Schluss wird es mit den nebenquests nur noch zur Qual R.I.P FINAL FANTASY
  29. lazerblade10
    Jun 24, 2023
    3
    Just beat the game today. It's ok.
    - The camera angles are a little weird at times, hard to see what's going on
    - Spells effects can be overwhelming to where you cant see the mob attacking you while it's in a tornado - Combat can sometimes feel repetitive or fights feel a little too long - Boss fight cutscenes are amazing, explosions and monsters, like a HIGH, but once it's over you    Just beat the game today. It's ok.
    - The camera angles are a little weird at times, hard to see what's going on
    - Spells effects can be overwhelming to where you cant see the mob attacking you while it's in a tornado
    - Combat can sometimes feel repetitive or fights feel a little too long
    - Boss fight cutscenes are amazing, explosions and monsters, like a HIGH, but once it's over you experience a low just talking to a shop keeper    … Expand
  30. ostojiy
    Jul 27, 2023
    3
    Combat is decent but the game is a slog to get through thereafter. Progression is basic, traversal is slow/clunky, and the story is dull.
Page:

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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 »