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. Lenoxkydo
    Aug 9, 2023
    10
    The game excels on its sensational combat, splendid story and its spectacular beauty, the battles of the Eikons are the highlight of the game.
  2. Laxus1
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Absolutely unbelievable story, dark & gritty. Some of the cleanest & most satisfying combat you will play, magnificent voice acting & brilliant music.
  3. Axelrendon
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    It is a very good game with a spectacular plot, only sometimes the combat becomes monotonous and repetitive.
  4. Andromedus
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    This game is a masterpiece! Doesn't matter how many review bombs it gets, it's worth your time. The story, characters, visuals, action, and the music! People will find reasons to pick at it, but those who have actually played it will continue to enjoy it regardless.
  5. Manson_fan25
    Jun 23, 2023
    9
    Absolutely phenomenal! I reduced the score because of the very linear nature and lack of rpg elements.
  6. GonerWithABoner
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Add a verification step to user reviews already, Metacritic.

    Game is amazing, best action combat in years, visually stunning, stellar voice acting, gripping story, endearing characters, gorgeous environments, fun and straightforward side quests, so many references to older Final Fantasy games. This is Final Fantasy, and I'm so glad we have a new mainline game this good.
  7. ShwNa
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    The best game in this year Story 100
    Graphic 100
    Combat 100
    Gameplay 100
    Everything in this game is perfect Mastarpeace
  8. Tarabyte
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    I honestly can't believe how much negativity there is surrounding this game just because some people have a set-in-stone idea of "what a Final Fantasy game should be". Those are the kind of people who can't open their minds to new ideas. And don't even get me started on the review bombs. Geez. This game is an absolute masterpiece and it's better than I had ever expected it to be. I wasn'tI honestly can't believe how much negativity there is surrounding this game just because some people have a set-in-stone idea of "what a Final Fantasy game should be". Those are the kind of people who can't open their minds to new ideas. And don't even get me started on the review bombs. Geez. This game is an absolute masterpiece and it's better than I had ever expected it to be. I wasn't even planning on buying it initially but the demo won me over. And now that I've spent hours upon hours with it, I can confidently say that it is one of the best games I've ever played.… Expand
  9. Squalllll
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Incredible story and lore along with refreshing defined action combat for the series and killer soundtrack. Surely one of the best final fantasy titles of all time
  10. Metacritigod
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Increible. en mi humilde opinion tiene el mejor combate de la saga. la historia es 9/10 la primera mitad es buenisima pero la segunda decae pero igualmente me parece bastante buena. recomendado al 100%
  11. MILIH
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Making according to previous reputation. Although it was a straight road, I enjoyed the story and action. The collaboration between visual beauty and BGM is wonderful. It's not suitable for gamers looking for a degree of freedom, but it's worth buying for those who are willing to enjoy FF16.
  12. Bacher108
    Jun 23, 2023
    6
    I'm just not sure where this desire is coming from to reinvent a franchise that has sold millions and millions of copies and has some of the most loyal fans ever. Where is this need coming from? No one is asking for the FF franchise to be completely changed. They need a game director for FF17 to do the whole "back to our roots" thing. It doesn't even have to be turn based combat. There areI'm just not sure where this desire is coming from to reinvent a franchise that has sold millions and millions of copies and has some of the most loyal fans ever. Where is this need coming from? No one is asking for the FF franchise to be completely changed. They need a game director for FF17 to do the whole "back to our roots" thing. It doesn't even have to be turn based combat. There are other FF staples that were just totally ripped out for this game and I don't understand why. At best as just a straight up cinematic action game this game is a 7. Putting the FF title, and even more so making it a mainline numbered FF and not even a spin off like stranger of paradise, this is a 5. So I'm splitting it and giving it a 6. A lot of reviewers have already covered this stuff in detail. But in short the itemisation is a complete joke. Crafting is completely pointless. Leveling up and skills feel worthless. Exploration has zero reward. And combat itself feels just ok. Some of my biggest disappointments are the total lack of the party. Sometimes you do have pals along side but they may as well not even be there. All they do is move along the story/plot. There is no change in combat when party members are with you. Most of them don't stay around long enough to develop any bond or attachment. I don't know. I'm just very disappointed. At the end of the day it just isn't a Final Fantasy. It's a straight up cinematic action game with a very obviously slapped on attempt at RPG mechanics and somewhat fun but pretty shallow combat. Ugh. I just want a good mainline FF title. To compare this to original FF7 or even 6 is just painful.… Expand
  13. Amidatelion
    Jul 1, 2023
    3
    I came in hoping the action combat would be the only thing they changed, but it just isn't a game that reminds me of Final Fantasy. No party, very little management, linear pathways, etc. Some say the story is what makes FF, but that would mean any game with a good story is FF. There has to me more to the equation. Fans of tactical RPGs, do your research before you play this. Make sureI came in hoping the action combat would be the only thing they changed, but it just isn't a game that reminds me of Final Fantasy. No party, very little management, linear pathways, etc. Some say the story is what makes FF, but that would mean any game with a good story is FF. There has to me more to the equation. Fans of tactical RPGs, do your research before you play this. Make sure it's for you, before spending that large sum.… Expand
  14. gabesoulz
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    gameplay divertida
    bela ost
    história bem dramática
    ambientação impecável

    é o goty, não jeito
  15. Fariavnf
    Jun 23, 2023
    9
    First Final Fantasy game I have played and I'm loving it.
    Combat is great and the music is fantastic, only done with 1/3 of the story but so far it's great.
  16. maidentoolfloyd
    Jun 28, 2023
    0
    Como um amante da franquia Final Fantasy, estou muito frustrado com os caminhos tomados no desenvolvimento dos últimos games. A essência foi perdida e muito do que colocaram no lugar simplesmente não funciona bem, como por exemplo a fórmula de exploração e side-quests enfadonhas e datadas...
  17. YoshidaSlash
    Jul 4, 2023
    0
    Eu gostei muito de Final Fantasy VI, até hoje acho que não joguei nenhum RPG que chegasse próximo da experiência que aquela obra prima da Square me deu. De fato um dos melhores jogos já feitos, mas aqui fica a pergunta, será que vou voltar a jogar um RPG desse desenvolvedora? Porque aqui em Final Fantasy XVI não será infelizmente, aqui é apenas mais um hack n slash como tantos outros.
  18. raiden5
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    Very good game! Story, character, battle, everything is great! Only negative is challenge, and hard mode is absent for first playthrough, why?
  19. Mattguy78
    Jun 23, 2023
    9
    While I agree that the RPG elements being stripped is a tragedy, the story, characters, spectacle, and world make up for it in spades. Wish I could give a perfect 10, but I would say it’s a 9/10 experience.
  20. alan_daki
    Jun 29, 2023
    9
    Buen juego, pero tiene detalles, grandes detalles, que indican que le faltó pulirse.
    Algunos puntos a favor:
    - Una historia increíble, con sus altibajos y enredos locos, pero que cumple su cometido e invita a seguir explorando si tienes la intención de descubrir más. - Un sistema de combate de personaje que se disfruta una vez que decides explorar las diferentes habilidades de Clive,    Buen juego, pero tiene detalles, grandes detalles, que indican que le faltó pulirse.
    Algunos puntos a favor:
    - Una historia increíble, con sus altibajos y enredos locos, pero que cumple su cometido e invita a seguir explorando si tienes la intención de descubrir más.
    - Un sistema de combate de personaje que se disfruta una vez que decides explorar las diferentes habilidades de Clive, encadenar las habilidades y buscar las batallas aéreas.
    - Nektar.

    Algunos puntos en contra:
    - El increíble sistema de combate no se implementa de manera adecuada en el mundo de Final Fantasy. Por ejemplo, se echa de menos la falta de estados alterados que podrían haber añadido más vida, jugabilidad y complejidad.
    - A medida que avanzas en el juego, la variedad de ataques de los jefes aumenta, pero es tan fácil esquivarlos que se logran evitar todos de la misma manera.
    - Aunque algunas misiones secundarias valen la pena y brindan más contexto sobre la situación en la que nos encontramos, la mayoría pecan de ser simples y repetitivas.    … Expand
  21. seraphsfist
    Jun 23, 2023
    5
    8/10 if it weren't a Final Fantasy game, but I expect more from a mainline FF entry. For the life of me I don't understand where they thought people wanted an action game that was even more braindead than all it's competition, to the point even garbage like Nu-Assassins Creed is more of an RPG than Final Fantasy. That said the story, characters and voice acting are more hit than miss, but8/10 if it weren't a Final Fantasy game, but I expect more from a mainline FF entry. For the life of me I don't understand where they thought people wanted an action game that was even more braindead than all it's competition, to the point even garbage like Nu-Assassins Creed is more of an RPG than Final Fantasy. That said the story, characters and voice acting are more hit than miss, but the quality is all over the place and it honestly gets really irritating. Combat gets really repetitive and the FX start to seem truly ridiculous when you're fighting a normal human, juggling them in the air for an eternity because for some idiot reason they have the health pool of a Monster Hunter flagship monster. Sidequests are MMO tier. Music is so far removed from the greatness of Uematsu that it's honestly depressing. I have to say after FFXV and now this, I think I'm done with Square Enix for good. They are floundering and listening to the idiotic shareholders and marketing suits instead of sticking to what worked so well for the first 20yrs of the series. If you want to make $$ make a new IP instead of embarassing yourselves.… Expand
  22. Adrifv8
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Todos hemos jugado a un Final Fantasy, y todos tenemos nuestro favorito (muchas veces el primero en jugar o acabar).Entiendo las criticas al cambio, es una saga, pero no los 0.Si somos criticos seamos serios.Llevo 25 h y el juego pinta muy bien y engancha.Os imaginais a dia de hoy que nota tendria ffX????.Le pongo un 10 por esas notas injustas de 0 que veo y sin fundamento, la mayoría sinTodos hemos jugado a un Final Fantasy, y todos tenemos nuestro favorito (muchas veces el primero en jugar o acabar).Entiendo las criticas al cambio, es una saga, pero no los 0.Si somos criticos seamos serios.Llevo 25 h y el juego pinta muy bien y engancha.Os imaginais a dia de hoy que nota tendria ffX????.Le pongo un 10 por esas notas injustas de 0 que veo y sin fundamento, la mayoría sin jugarlo mas de 5h....
    La bso muy bien, los combates entretenidos graficos muy chulos con caidas eso si.Solo espero q cuando nos pongamos a puntuar q seamos justos con el producto q tenemos.larga vida a los videojuegos y felicidades a square por el gran trabajo q tiene este PEDAZO DE FINAL FANTASY.    … Expand
  23. funkata
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    A respectable return to form for the series after the fairly disastrous Final Fantasy 15
  24. solidalon
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    FF 16 is my game of the year because it probably has the best boss fights in gaming history combined with the best soundtrack I have heard in years, the soundtrack will make you feel like the battle is meaningful and not just an ordinary battle and not just in battles but also in the open spaces that you can explore you can feel the passion that went into the soundtrack. Now for the storyFF 16 is my game of the year because it probably has the best boss fights in gaming history combined with the best soundtrack I have heard in years, the soundtrack will make you feel like the battle is meaningful and not just an ordinary battle and not just in battles but also in the open spaces that you can explore you can feel the passion that went into the soundtrack. Now for the story of ff16, I think they were right to make this game rated M because it gave them more opportunities to make the story more engaging and built those critical points in the story that will make you go wow, and for all of that, I think this game is a true 10/10 masterpiece and deserves to be game of the year. And all of those Xbots who give this game a 0 out of 10 are losers.… Expand
  25. latx
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    FFXVI is a good game and the best FF ever made.
    -Story has great pacing, many consistencies and explosive moments
    -Characters are relatable and some have interesting arcs -Performance is great during battle
  26. omegadaxer
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    This is the greatest game of all ever. I have played it for 90 hours and am amazed. I know it will be a legend. The story is great, the plot is amazing, and the narrative is incredible. The music is awesome and the score is so good. The graphics and also the way it looks and visuals are all superior to even anything you will see in the real world. What are you doing….stop reading this andThis is the greatest game of all ever. I have played it for 90 hours and am amazed. I know it will be a legend. The story is great, the plot is amazing, and the narrative is incredible. The music is awesome and the score is so good. The graphics and also the way it looks and visuals are all superior to even anything you will see in the real world. What are you doing….stop reading this and go buy this game from the store!… Expand
  27. Odysseass
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. The game is masterpiece.… Expand
  28. Itachioo
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. What a game I enjoyed it very much a change of breath from a normal ff game that the frenchise might need tbh.… Expand
  29. tonberry_ftw
    Jun 29, 2023
    5
    It was definitely better than FF13 and FF15. I'm actually ok with the new changes that they have implemented, but I think among FF series, it had some of the least interesting characters. I feel like overall story progression gets less and less interesting as you near the end, and meaningless subquests also make things worse. Overall, I would think it's not bad, but not great either, butIt was definitely better than FF13 and FF15. I'm actually ok with the new changes that they have implemented, but I think among FF series, it had some of the least interesting characters. I feel like overall story progression gets less and less interesting as you near the end, and meaningless subquests also make things worse. Overall, I would think it's not bad, but not great either, but that's just my opinion.… Expand
  30. Saiyan_Prince
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    The game is an absolute masterpiece, I've been playing the game for more than 24hours and im having the time of my life, music, characters, the Eikons battles, mind-blowing, if you want to buy this game try the demo 1st, that's what i did. Cleive must be right now my fav character in the FF franchise after Cloud Strife. A must buy game 100%
  31. frazilio
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    Eu estou adorando o jogo, tem problemas sim, principalmente de desempenho, e ainda não aprece totalmente um jogo next gen, ms ele funciona
  32. phch22777
    Jul 19, 2023
    9
    Extremely well crafted game. Best scenario since FF XII. A bit too linear. Side quests are bad. Shed a tear at the end…
  33. Iveriad
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    There are rooms for improvements, like every other video games I've played.
    But as far as enjoyment goes, Final Fantasy XVI is one of the most enjoyable Final Fantasy game I've ever played in the last 10 or more years.
  34. NBRuJaDo
    Jun 24, 2023
    9
    Not a perfect game by any means but its a great beginning for the rest of the franchise. Combat should be harder but story is great.
  35. MrCooki3
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    "Waaah, why isn't it turn-based anymore??"
    Because it's an ever-evolving series... anyone that has actually engaged with it knows this.

    Game is incredible and I'm happy that things seem to be turning around for FF as a whole lately, much to the chagrin of some "fans".
  36. Crabzilla
    Jul 6, 2023
    5
    OK lets be honest here.

    I anticipated this game A LOT after the horrible FFXV, playing this saga since VI. Its not terrible, but it isnt great either. Main story and graphics are awesome dont get me wrong, but secondary quests, RPG elements and customization are horrible. Battle is OK but repetitive. Speaking about characters, Clive is terrible, has a 2 number IQ and isnt charismatic at    OK lets be honest here.

    I anticipated this game A LOT after the horrible FFXV, playing this saga since VI.

    Its not terrible, but it isnt great either. Main story and graphics are awesome dont get me wrong, but secondary quests, RPG elements and customization are horrible. Battle is OK but repetitive.

    Speaking about characters, Clive is terrible, has a 2 number IQ and isnt charismatic at all.

    Since boredom takes like half of your playtime, I really cant give it anymore than 5.    … Expand
  37. Senkaiden
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    An amazing game! Amazing to look at, amazing to play, and an amazing, almost infinite combo possibilities as combat abilities open up. Story is very good as well. Game of the Year IMO!!
  38. Shiroineko
    Jul 18, 2023
    9
    Amazing graphics, Exciting free-flow combat and Breathtaking Eikon boss fight... Despite many shortcoming, it's still a enjoyable Final Fantasy game.
  39. LeandroB
    Jul 15, 2023
    3
    Unfortunately for me, this is an action game, it doesn't feel like a Final Fantasy...
  40. neocharge
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Amazing game, incredible combat, rich story and unprecedented production. Final Fantasy XVI sets a new bar for quality all around this generation. Clive is the best protagonist since Cloud and the Eikon battles leave me picking my jaw up off the floor every time. A true work of digital art.
  41. Maradum
    Jul 19, 2023
    9
    FF XVI is in many ways a completely new way to play a Final Fantasy game, while providing one of the most FF stories ever. The new action gameplay brings in fresh air, while the story beats, characters and story telling stay extremely true to what makes a FF a FF game.

    The best parts about the game are the main story and the characters. The main plot starts of with political issues,    FF XVI is in many ways a completely new way to play a Final Fantasy game, while providing one of the most FF stories ever. The new action gameplay brings in fresh air, while the story beats, characters and story telling stay extremely true to what makes a FF a FF game.

    The best parts about the game are the main story and the characters. The main plot starts of with political issues, wars because of ressources, a world on the brink due to the Blight, a plague that destroys the land. It gets a lot more supernatural as time goes on and what starts as something we can compare to Game of Thrones, turns into one of the most Final Fantasy stories, not unlike what VI or IX did. The main story is strong, not convoluted, well explained and well written. A great experience from start to finish.

    The characters and their character development is also extremely strong. Main characters have a lot of depth, but also side characters like Gav or even our dog Torgal get a lot of backstory. There are some misses, like Vivian, which has no character arc at all and is just the walking wikipedia of the world.

    The combat feels fast and fresh, overall there are 8 different Eikons, each giving you one basic, three medium and one ultimate skill that you can combine as you like. This offers a lot of combo potential. The combat is definitely more on the fun/power trip side than being hard.

    One of the best features of the game, as in almost every FF, is the soundtrack. It has absolutely amazing arrangements, emotional and powerful parts, some of the best tracks in all of FF.

    On the negative side, we have the quest structure and the RPG systems. There are 70+ sidequests and all of them have the same structure. Talk to quest giver > go to place A (B, C) > random fight > ending dialog. While the writing is great and the substories give a lot of character and world building, having so many of them all gameplay wise being the same and extremely bland feels bad. The same applies to some parts of the main story, where you also do some random fetch quests from time to time. Quest design feels super bad from a gameplay point of view.

    Regarding the RPG systems, they are barely there and it feels like they added them just because they HAVE to be in a Final Fantasy. The sword and armor is basically just „number go higher“ without any actual value or system. Either go full action RPG and scrap that completely, or take a system like FF VII Remake, where you get a weapon from each Eikon, you can power up that weapon to make that Eikons abilities stronger, for example.

    Overall an amazing game and a top 5 FF for me!    … Expand
  42. Ariskal
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    one of the best game i ever played, if you new in Final Fantasy series you must play this game first and if you guys already have ps5 this game is must have for PS5 owner
  43. gscharlau
    Jun 26, 2023
    9
    Um excelente jogo que certamente concorrerá a GOTY 2023. Com uma história densa e cheia de reviravoltas, o jogo oferece momentos épicos e batalhas grandiosas. As reclamações que são apresentadas não são procedentes, pois ele permanece um RPG. Não tão focado em builds e complexidade de habilidades, como um Elden Ring ou FF VII Remake mas permite sim focar em habilidades e evoluções queUm excelente jogo que certamente concorrerá a GOTY 2023. Com uma história densa e cheia de reviravoltas, o jogo oferece momentos épicos e batalhas grandiosas. As reclamações que são apresentadas não são procedentes, pois ele permanece um RPG. Não tão focado em builds e complexidade de habilidades, como um Elden Ring ou FF VII Remake mas permite sim focar em habilidades e evoluções que mudam a gameplay conforme as escolhas.
    A história começa lenta, creio que até para ambientar o jogador no mundo complexo que é esta narrativa e, conforme vai evoluindo, a aceleração e reviravoltas são de explodir cabeças.
    As batalhas são excelentes também pois, com o domínio das habilidades e timming correto, torna-se prazeroso lutar. Com certeza, se ficar só apertando quadrado não se desfruta de todo potencial, mas ele é acessível a grande parte e tipos de jogadores.
    Recomendo Fortemente!    … Expand
  44. Narkamin
    Jun 24, 2023
    6
    It's an okay game, worth playing once just don't expect a defining FF experience. It really is exactly what I expected though, it looks nice, the music is awesome (probably the best part of the whole game imo), but as far as the gameplay goes it's pretty middling. Im not sure what people are talking about when they say combat is awesome, I suppose it's subjective to some extent. For me IIt's an okay game, worth playing once just don't expect a defining FF experience. It really is exactly what I expected though, it looks nice, the music is awesome (probably the best part of the whole game imo), but as far as the gameplay goes it's pretty middling. Im not sure what people are talking about when they say combat is awesome, I suppose it's subjective to some extent. For me I would like to have seen a game that really required understanding of the core mechanics and to delve into the build possibilities as a necessary step to succeed. I don't mind the move to action combat, but if you're going to push the action combat aspect so hard then it needs to at least have the option to be challenging. Im not a huge fan of the corridor type maps either, but still the game has its high points it just also has its low points as well and so for me the entire experience felt pretty average. I think that as is so often the case these days, the devs over promised and over hyped. They spent soooo much of the preview time pushing their combat which really ended up being somewhat mediocre. And the world itself doesn't really feel that accessible. This game is like playing a movie in every sense. What you can do really has a scripted feel and just like in many action adventure movies, there is a lot of flash and pomp that often isn't warranted or necessary.… Expand
  45. njugen
    Jun 25, 2023
    9
    One of my top 3 Final Fantasy games of all time. Great story, characters and simple yet slightly complicated combat depending on which enemy you're facing (no timely accessories). The boss fights and hunts are challenging by mechanics without going too much overboard, giving multiple adrenaline rushes to the player. The ability to adjust play style and combos based on abilities offered asOne of my top 3 Final Fantasy games of all time. Great story, characters and simple yet slightly complicated combat depending on which enemy you're facing (no timely accessories). The boss fights and hunts are challenging by mechanics without going too much overboard, giving multiple adrenaline rushes to the player. The ability to adjust play style and combos based on abilities offered as more AP are earned, is another big plus. Soundtrack is definetly top tier, as well as the large area and linear narrative with no totally open world roaming in favour of the storytelling. Speaking of the narrative, this game contains a lot of cutscenes both inside and outside battles, helping it amplify immersion without the need of all out open worlds just for the sake of it.

    Negative aspects would be the side quests, although providing a clearer picture of the politics and the land of Valisthea in a good manner, they are not rewarding beyond giving more insight into the lore. Also, the character is barely customizable beyond buying/upgrading gears and gaining more abilities from the ability board, which sometimes makes this aspect less interesting than it needs to be.

    But all in all, a 9/10 definetly. Although it misses a few marks mentioned above, it really doesn't become boring when other aspects make up for it. This is clearly a game which was created with much passion in its attempt to bring something new to the Final Fantasy franchise and to satisfy a broader audience, while putting its full focus on the narrative.

    For people who put great story first and gameplay second, FFXVI is a good addition to our collection.    … Expand
  46. mokamo
    Jun 29, 2023
    9
    Great story and combat tho I didn’t like some of the dialogue and the outfit of Clive
  47. Beavssj3
    Jul 17, 2023
    10
    The story and voice acting are gripping. So happy to have a good Final Fantasy game again.
  48. LuisRodrigues
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    The game is amazing!!! The story and the characters are fantastic and the new combat is awesome. Definitely worth playing
  49. NN010
    Jul 17, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy XVI is an excellent character action-RPG with unforgettable boss fights, a tight & fluid action-combat system & an amazing story that quickly proves itself to be more than just Game of Thrones-lite & brings its own distinct feel separate from anything that came before it in the Final Fantasy franchise while still feeling like a Final Fantasy game (especially if you got intoFinal Fantasy XVI is an excellent character action-RPG with unforgettable boss fights, a tight & fluid action-combat system & an amazing story that quickly proves itself to be more than just Game of Thrones-lite & brings its own distinct feel separate from anything that came before it in the Final Fantasy franchise while still feeling like a Final Fantasy game (especially if you got into the franchise with XIV like I did). A true testament to the flexibility & ever-changing nature of the Final Fantasy franchise. Shame about the lacking difficulty & bad early-game side quests though…

    Ratings

    Creative score (story, gameplay, voice acting, art direction): 9.5/10

    Technical score (graphics, audio, performance)): 8.5/10

    Business Practices score: 6/10 (points mainly detracted for the whole PS5 timed exclusive thing)

    Overall score (my thoughts on a game’s overall quality, does not consider the business practices unless they are detrimental to the experience): 9.5 out of 10    … Expand
  50. Zvone13
    Jul 19, 2023
    10
    Ameazing game. Up there in my top 5 with Last of us, God of war, Ghost of tsushima and Deamons Souls.
  51. ersonic
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    The best game i play in 20 years.
    history 10/10
    Graphycs 10/10
    ost 10/10
    gameplay 10/10
  52. stoickobra
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    literally a masterpiece. i am absolutely obsessed with everything about this game. Clive, Torgal, Jill and Cid are some of the most endearing character s in anything i’ve played lately. still playing through it (very sad)
  53. xCid
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    10/10 the evolution that Final Fantasy needed. Amazing history and lot of fun fights.
  54. Redgman
    Jun 24, 2023
    8
    I absolutely love this game. As a lifelong FF fan I love the route they took with this. It's not perfect but man it's a fresh take at one of the most beloved franchises in history. I really only have 2 issues. 1. All the blood and gore is great BUT no dismemberment? Hate that. It's already mature and the blood is everywhere so go ahead and let me cut ppl and monsters up for real.
    2.    I absolutely love this game. As a lifelong FF fan I love the route they took with this. It's not perfect but man it's a fresh take at one of the most beloved franchises in history. I really only have 2 issues. 1. All the blood and gore is great BUT no dismemberment? Hate that. It's already mature and the blood is everywhere so go ahead and let me cut ppl and monsters up for real.
    2. The sword scabbard design for Clive is so different and such an intentional choice that the fact the sheathing and unsheathing animations clearly have the blade slice thru the side of it is just wrong. Do it right and make it make sense.    … Expand
  55. Luke_shogun
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Meu jogo favorito lançado em 2023, história magnífica, gráficos lindos, personagens carismáticos e gameplay imersiva
  56. Greyson3
    Jun 24, 2023
    6
    I was going in with absolutely nothing seen since the reveal trailer, I did not play the demo, watched or read anything to keep myself spoiler free and fully minded to get mind blown like I was by FFX and all who came before. Unfortunately, this is not the game for me.

    The story and the writing is good, cinematic and the big moments make you feel that you are living something epic. The    I was going in with absolutely nothing seen since the reveal trailer, I did not play the demo, watched or read anything to keep myself spoiler free and fully minded to get mind blown like I was by FFX and all who came before. Unfortunately, this is not the game for me.

    The story and the writing is good, cinematic and the big moments make you feel that you are living something epic.
    The Combat gameplay is great, probably the best thing here.

    Now the issue is everything else. You could say what is there left, gameplay is good, story is good, where does it go wrong...

    Well, the game never find rhythm. You are doing "missions" and once finished, you have a map where you select the next mission and you go. The pacing of the story feels completely off, you are getting bored when you should not. The character animation of fights are slow as F. You cannot sprint. in 2023.

    The game is also 30h long, with 20h of cinematic, with half of what's left walking around.
    They removed every single RPG Elements.
    No more farming XP, crafting is a joke (20 items total to craft), side quests are MMO quests.
    You level up by doing the story and going straight to the next objectives.

    When you reach halfway, this feeling of waste and regret for what could have been is hitting you. The game looks stunning, the fights are really fun, the cinematic are perfect but still, they messed up the core of the game.

    Side note:
    You can tell they watched Game of thrones so here's a little game for you all.

    These characters are in the game, find them:

    House Stark
    House Lannister
    Cercei
    John Snow
    Bran (three eyed raven)
    White walkers
    Night King
    Euron Greyjoy

    If you enjoy the game, good on you !
    I didn't like it and I was expecting a Final Fantasy, which this is not.    … Expand
  57. PirateMike86
    Jun 24, 2023
    6
    I LOVE FINAL FANTASY. I've played every single one. FF11 and FF14 for years. Origins, Tactics, 10-2, 13- whatever, the mobile ones. I've played them all. 6 and 8 being my favorites. (i know 8 right? the ending made me tear up what can I say?)
    That said....
    Is this a Final Fantasy Game? Yeah, at least the name says so. Should it be a Final Fantasy 16? I don't think so. When I play a    I LOVE FINAL FANTASY. I've played every single one. FF11 and FF14 for years. Origins, Tactics, 10-2, 13- whatever, the mobile ones. I've played them all. 6 and 8 being my favorites. (i know 8 right? the ending made me tear up what can I say?)
    That said....
    Is this a Final Fantasy Game? Yeah, at least the name says so. Should it be a Final Fantasy 16? I don't think so. When I play a numbered Final Fantasy, I want a party of 4 or more. I want to customize my characters with different jobs or skills or Materia and equipment. I want variety and choice and FF16 does not give me that. the story is great so far I'm at the second Mother Crystal. The Eikon battles and some Boss battles seem more like I'm watching Dancing With the Stars. It's entertaining and disappointing at the same time. I'm already kind of bored with how repetitive it is and I'm guessing I'm halfway through. Only finishing it because I spent 70$ on it. I have no desire to New Game+ it or finish all the Achievements.
    Story 9/10: Graphics 9/10: Gameplay 6/10: Sound 9/10 Replay-ability 2/10.

    guess I'll have to wait for Rebirth for a true Final Fantasy experience    … Expand
  58. CallmeLucifer
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One of the best games that PS5 can have, it is a game that all you need to have is the powerful PS5 to play this gem. It is a game that we can play all the time, some on PS5, others through YouTube.… Expand
  59. OthoGx
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Muy buen juego , el mejor desde Final Fantasy 10, con muchas cosas buenas, y si crítico algo es solo que ya no ahí efectos negativos en molbol y varios más… Expand
  60. Slicebraver
    Jun 25, 2023
    9
    I think it's a very good game. I can say also that is a good FF, but this game surely has some lack, i can't understand why elemental weaknesses/resistances and statuses are not present. I would also more secrets, minigames and quests. But i can say that not all FF of the past are perfect (i've played all the FF except the 6). So, for me this game is Final Fantasy (not like XIII and XV)I think it's a very good game. I can say also that is a good FF, but this game surely has some lack, i can't understand why elemental weaknesses/resistances and statuses are not present. I would also more secrets, minigames and quests. But i can say that not all FF of the past are perfect (i've played all the FF except the 6). So, for me this game is Final Fantasy (not like XIII and XV) with his highs and lows.
    It's a very good game, but not perfect and neither excellent.
    Vote: 9    … Expand
  61. 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
  62. DaveZarek
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Just finished this game on 47 hour mark. And im gonna say the quality and the care thats been put into this is over the top. Excelent story, Voice Acting, Combat Desings, Soundtracks, Visuals, etc. Im not usually put to tears with a story, but this made me even tear in a sidequest. You can tell the lovie and care and effort that CBU3 put into this. 10/10 Experience.
  63. mgsa31
    Jun 28, 2023
    9
    I've been a final fantasy fan since 97 with the 7th game and I love the direction the series is taking. The combat is engaging and dynamic, the story is gripping and entertaining, and I've enjoyed both aspects more in this game than in some of the previous FFs. The dialogue and voice acting is possibly the best in the series. The game would be a 10 if some of the RPG elements likeI've been a final fantasy fan since 97 with the 7th game and I love the direction the series is taking. The combat is engaging and dynamic, the story is gripping and entertaining, and I've enjoyed both aspects more in this game than in some of the previous FFs. The dialogue and voice acting is possibly the best in the series. The game would be a 10 if some of the RPG elements like exploration, gear system, and side quests were a bit deeper. All together this is my favorite FF game in quite a while and I love that we have a darker more mature installment.… Expand
  64. justasandfox
    Jun 29, 2023
    9
    *MINOR SPOILERS*

    Definitely not a perfect game, I would say quite far from one, the flaws others have mentioned with I also agree with, however my rating is not a mistake - details below. Pros: - Battles: man, some of these were way over the top, in a very good way. I found myself experiencing new emotions during some of them - not knowing whether to laugh at the ridiculousness of    *MINOR SPOILERS*

    Definitely not a perfect game, I would say quite far from one, the flaws others have mentioned with I also agree with, however my rating is not a mistake - details below.

    Pros:
    - Battles: man, some of these were way over the top, in a very good way. I found myself experiencing new emotions during some of them - not knowing whether to laugh at the ridiculousness of what I'm seeing on-screen, cry at the music, or be awestruck. Definitely had more than a couple "what the hell is this game?" moments, and needing to take a break before playing again.
    - Sound: there were absolutely some bangers and orchestral masterpieces in here. Soken has really taken up Uematsu's mantle well. Some of my now all-time favorite battle/boss themes are in this game. There was a "music producer" in the reviews talking about how combat is louder than idle music... Yes... This was by design... And the cool thing about this is that regular enemy combat music is just another louder rendition of the zone/area music that doesn't break a single beat in transitioning in/out - felt that this was really cool and added to the immersive experience.
    - Combat: don't agree with others saying that this is just hack and slash. The combat can go as deep as you want, or as shallow. Once you unlock the final Eikon, there is literally a button that allows you to do all sorts of crazy combos and another one that makes parrying slightly easier but much more rewarding. Parrying in this game is not an easy feat when you're trying to do it intentionally but it is VERY FUN and the dopamine reward is well worth the risk for players like me. But yes, you can beat the game by pressing one button, if you're into that. You can equip accessories that play the game for you too, if you're into that. Or you could actually learn the combat system and take a deep dive and find out why Suzuki says that the combat in this game is his magnum opus.
    - World building/lore: side quests could have been done better, but the good ones did really well to immerse you in the world. I was afraid of the Active Time Lore breaking immersion, but it didn't, and I appreciated the in-game lore book, which definitely ADDED to the story but is not required at all to understand what's going on.
    - VA: mostly amazing.

    Cons:
    - Story: started off strong, but ended a bit weak in my opinion, and we all know what CBU3 is capable of story-wise, so this was disappointing. Not sure if they ran out of time or what, but the latter parts of the story feel rushed and not well fleshed-out.
    - Difficulty: first playthrough is on the easier side - NG+ addresses this but I wish some of the features were in the base game, e.g. no button prompt for QTEs. A big disappointment from me is that the no-damage challenge medals are still awarded even if the player puts on all Timeless Accessories or plays on story-mode. This completely invalidates the reward for it being a supposed challenge.
    - RPG elements: they've taken the XIV approach to systems like dungeons (mobs -> boss -> mobs -> boss -> mobs -> big boss, which works in an MMO but was monotonous here), elemental weaknesses (none, though I can understand this would have been weird to balance and also for lore reasons), status ailments (none), equipment upgrades (none, this was such an EASY thing to flesh out, but they didn't), exploration almost none. I wouldn't say the game is linear - some have compared this to XIII and I would heavily disagree. However, exploration is rarely rewarded meaningfully, except to find hunts I suppose. Would have loved to see better rewards or secrets.
    - Side quests: they went with the XIV flavor for this which meant a lot of them were fetch or go here kill this type quests. Rewards were basically meaningless, but as mentioned above, some did bring more story and world/character building which was good, others... well I think about half of them could have easily been culled and some other ones could have been made less tedious. Definitely needed some work here.

    I feel like they didn't have enough time to make the story better, and wish they delayed the game and forced the original plan of having it on 2 discs instead of trying to fit everything on 1. HOWEVER, all-in-all, I am still giving this game a 9/10 purely due to how ridiculously spectacular and epic some of these fights were. Along with the music, they had me tearing up - did not know that it was possible to feel such emotion from shear epic-ness. This is, in some ways, the most FF game of all FF games, and I'm not talking about the combat or RPG elements. Some of the experiences really brought out the little kid glee in me, and would have been something my younger self might have imagined inside his head and would have LOVED to play. Definitely a must-play for any FF fan, if you can look past the flaws and see XVI for what it is - it is more (and yes sometimes, less) than a game, but it is still an EXPERIENCE that you don't want to miss.    … Expand
  65. cringeOpinion
    Jul 2, 2023
    8
    This is a very average Final Fantasy game that lacks polish.
    Pros:
    - Clive is a great protagonist, one of the best in the series. Jill is a good love interest and Cid is one of the best characters in the series. - Graphics are incredible. - Eikon fights are an awe inspiring spectacle. - Real time action combat is an improvement over some of the hybrid approaches attempted in the past.    This is a very average Final Fantasy game that lacks polish.
    Pros:
    - Clive is a great protagonist, one of the best in the series. Jill is a good love interest and Cid is one of the best characters in the series.
    - Graphics are incredible.
    - Eikon fights are an awe inspiring spectacle.
    - Real time action combat is an improvement over some of the hybrid approaches attempted in the past.
    - The game is a finished product. Its not obvious that some parts were released in an incomplete state.
    - Active time lore is a nice system and implemented well. The text is very brief and digestible and adds to game.

    Cons:
    - The lack of a party that you can switch between in combat makes it not feel like a FF title. Characters not commenting, talking or doing skits while exploring ruin immersion.
    - The ability system is stupid. You can at level 40 unlock everything and respec at will to have whatever loadout you want. Any additional leveling is just for stats.
    - Sidequest & Journal UI ruin suspension of disbelief. Older titles had quests but they where given that taxonomy by their nature. Making a distinction between types of quests in the UI ruin the suspension of disbelief and distract from the roleplaying in the game.
    - Sidequest pacing is just bad. Having a bunch of busywork to do right before an interesting story point ruins the fun.
    - The small mob variety ruins immersion. There's like 10 types of enemies that get re-used throughout the game. It gets boring relly quickly.
    - Treasure in the game tends to be crafting materials you will never use.
    - The story is really not that memorable and the ending is not satisfying.

    Overall I would not recommend someone purchase a PS5 to play the game like I did. It might be nice to get if you have nothing to play, but watching someone else play it will probably be just as satisfying if you only care about the plot. Then you can atleast skip the annoying sidequests.    … Expand
  66. kentDup
    Jul 15, 2023
    2
    C'est desservant de voir ça avec peu d'heures sur le jeu mais bon je mis prendrais à 2 fois It's serving to see that with few hours on the game but hey I would take 2 times
  67. Boko399
    Jul 15, 2023
    2
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. One point for Jill character design, and another point for the Devil may Cry action alike combo. Ekion fights are epic, but the rest of the game direction is so bad. Overall experience is worse than early PS2 game with a glitchy story plot twist.

    Still it's the best ps exclusive in the last two, a little better than ghost of Tsushima. Way entertaining than HFW and GoWR for sure. But, if you're into action arpg and didn't against anime style character and story. TOA, Xenoblade are just better choice with a lower price point and more interesting combat and story.    … Expand
  68. dide6
    Jul 16, 2023
    10
    Absolument magnifique. Une histoire, un gameplay et de la musique fantastiques !!
  69. Mungo_Park
    Jul 16, 2023
    10
    I loved every FF game, this one makes no exception and for now it’s the best I’ve played. I’m totally immersed in this world, combat (I play action mode without any rings) is fantastic, graphics (in performance mode) and boss fights are so epic. After 32 hours I don’t want it to end. I don’t understand why side quests have bad reviews : they allow to understand and deepen many charactersI loved every FF game, this one makes no exception and for now it’s the best I’ve played. I’m totally immersed in this world, combat (I play action mode without any rings) is fantastic, graphics (in performance mode) and boss fights are so epic. After 32 hours I don’t want it to end. I don’t understand why side quests have bad reviews : they allow to understand and deepen many characters and aspects of this world. This game is all I love from video games.… Expand
  70. Israel11
    Jul 16, 2023
    10
    I cried like a baby. Beautiful story
    this game is absolutely amazing!! .
  71. LunarKnight
    Jul 17, 2023
    9
    Amazing story. Amazing gameplay. Amazing cast and characters.
    Side quests could be better.
    Exploration wasn’t bad but it wasn’t the best either and could’ve been to be more rewarding. Having played other entries in the series I couldn’t help but compare XVI to the others so I am trying to review this game from the perspective of a newcomer (which I might add was not easy). That being said    Amazing story. Amazing gameplay. Amazing cast and characters.
    Side quests could be better.
    Exploration wasn’t bad but it wasn’t the best either and could’ve been to be more rewarding.
    Having played other entries in the series I couldn’t help but compare XVI to the others so I am trying to review this game from the perspective of a newcomer (which I might add was not easy). That being said I noticed many common mechanics were missing like elemental weakness, secret bosses, secret challenges, etc, which left me wanting more by the time I finished the game and all of its side quests.
    All in all the game is amazing for what it is and I enjoyed the experience.    … Expand
  72. DanmaMax
    Jul 18, 2023
    9
    Игра понравилась. Музыка шикарна, катсцены тоже красивые. Гемплей в целом за 32 часа прохождения не душил. Да, открытый мир не особо интересен, да и дополнительные квесты не привлекли. Да, игра линейная и местами однообразная. Но впечатление осталось очень положительное. Не так много игр хочется пройти до конца, но эта одна из них.Игра понравилась. Музыка шикарна, катсцены тоже красивые. Гемплей в целом за 32 часа прохождения не душил. Да, открытый мир не особо интересен, да и дополнительные квесты не привлекли. Да, игра линейная и местами однообразная. Но впечатление осталось очень положительное. Не так много игр хочется пройти до конца, но эта одна из них.
  73. Mainiamanic
    Jul 19, 2023
    8
    Very fun game overall, more so action-oriented than rpg but had a lot of fun with it
  74. Virtuso
    Jul 26, 2023
    1
    Long time Final Fantasy fan starting with the Ps1era and played the older games as well. This is easily the most disappointing mainline release. The only real strong points are graphics and music. But the heart and soul of past games for me was story telling. Which this game fails horribly. Trope heavy with non of the lovable characters or world. Dark and edgy like trying too hard toLong time Final Fantasy fan starting with the Ps1era and played the older games as well. This is easily the most disappointing mainline release. The only real strong points are graphics and music. But the heart and soul of past games for me was story telling. Which this game fails horribly. Trope heavy with non of the lovable characters or world. Dark and edgy like trying too hard to appeal to a new audience at the cost of leaving older fans behind. Made worst by the games devs encouraging hateful trolls to defend the game. Making taking part of the community that much harder as they make it clear certain groups of people aren't welcomed to be part of their "new" community. Which for me is the most heart breaking aspect of xvi.… Expand
  75. guiletheguiles
    Aug 7, 2023
    8
    I've been saying that Final Fantasy XV is the best FF to come out since FFX. FFXVI is here to challenge this thought.

    I absolutely loved my 68 hours spent with FFXVI. I was skeptical at first because, honestly, it looked nothing like I hoped a new mainline Final Fantasy would be. But I'm glad Square proved me wrong. The first thing that gripped me into the world of FFXVI was the    I've been saying that Final Fantasy XV is the best FF to come out since FFX. FFXVI is here to challenge this thought.

    I absolutely loved my 68 hours spent with FFXVI. I was skeptical at first because, honestly, it looked nothing like I hoped a new mainline Final Fantasy would be. But I'm glad Square proved me wrong.

    The first thing that gripped me into the world of FFXVI was the story and its presentation. I loved the blend and tone between this dark medieval war story and the fantastical mythos of the franchise. The world building and overall conflict took a while to connect, but the strong emphasis on a character-driven plot kept me going. Mostly, from beginning to end, the story is fantastic. It is as epic as a FF game should be, it's bleak (at times a bit too bleak), joyful, well written, deep and gets crazy by the end.

    But what really drives the story forward are the characters and their dialogues. FFXVI has some of the best written characters and exchanges in the franchise. Clive is a great protagonist, Jill has an impressive backstory, Gav is one of the coolest characters, Dion is complex enough and even Torgal, the dog, gets to shine. Not to mention Cid - the greatest character in the game. Probably the best Cid in the whole franchise. Voice acting, charisma and vivid well-written conversations were key to all this.

    As for gameplay, it may not be as deep as FFVII or innovative as FFX, but it gets the job done better than the likes of FFXV or FFXII. You see, the action mechanics are pretty simple, but they're very accessible, excelling in substance, intensity AND style. It's quite addictive, actually. Especially when it comes to boss fights. Whether you're fighting as an Eikon or going against a tough enemy, this is where the spectacle lies.

    This game looks absolutely beautiful. Probably one of the best looking games out there, currently. It is quite impressive and it keeps throwing new shockingly beautiful things at the screen until the very last scene. And it all comes together with what must be the best Final Fantasy soundtrack since FFXIII. Simply remarkable!

    But for a game that gets so much right, when something goes wrong, it becomes crystal clear.

    It may have an incredible story, but its pacing is all over the place. At one moment you're fighting a god, the other you're collecting flowers. And, yes, this is usually how RPGs goes, but it feels glaring on a game so focused in its own plot. As a result, the writing and rhythm kinda goes a bit off by the final act.

    The ending, for example, it's not bad, but with a tale as depressing as this one, it'd be better for a more direct and sunny finale option. Being bittersweet and ambiguous can work, sure, but not always.

    The amount of sidequests were a low point as well. They're usually very interesting, with some even gifting you with cool scenes, world building and interactions between characters. In fact, some sidequests at the ending are A MUST, for example. The problem is, if you want to experience them, you have to go through the same repetitive objectives and places over and over again. And there are A LOT of them, coming up at the worst times possible during the main quest. There's simply no verticality. You can see this on enemy variety, which is a joke. Even the hunts get stale.

    And last, but not least, FFXVI's biggest flaw is not deciding whether it wants to be an action game or an RPG.

    I miss customization, statuses, skill variety, secret dungeons. It is mostly there, but it's just... not enough. It's different. A party system could've fixed part of that. You have very charming characters helping Clive on his quest, but they're barely there during gameplay and are barely useful. You can't even mess around with Torgal's skills and he's always present.

    Still, in my opinion, Final Fantasy XVI is an amazing game back to back. Its flaws are clear and I get that it looks and plays different enough to avert a few fans. But it is definitely a great entry in the mainline series and might be the best one since FFX.

    Only time will tell. Play it and find out for yourself.    … Expand
  76. Picoman
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    Very well acted and presented. A very strong opening sequence sets the tone. Once the option to turn off motion blur is added, I will be starting NG+. Incredible.
  77. Matttwidale
    Jun 28, 2023
    6
    Long time FF fan since 7 original. I've never felt a mainline final fantasy has ever let me down. Always found the story to be so good it sours me to continue playing. This is no exception. It's beautiful, cinematic, engrossing. The combat is where it lets me down though. I'm ok with the shift to action but this is too simplistic. You pretty much charge in tap one button repeatedly, tapLong time FF fan since 7 original. I've never felt a mainline final fantasy has ever let me down. Always found the story to be so good it sours me to continue playing. This is no exception. It's beautiful, cinematic, engrossing. The combat is where it lets me down though. I'm ok with the shift to action but this is too simplistic. You pretty much charge in tap one button repeatedly, tap another once in a while, dodge. And that's it.

    Im still to finish but it's lacking in the tactical nuances like elemental weaknesses, world exploration, spells and classes.

    A good game but even without the accessibility accessories, it's too simple and easy in terms of gameplay.    … Expand
  78. Krakyyn
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Have played through about 3/4 the story and I have done every single side quest along the way, explored as much as I could without deviating from the path too much and I have to say that I have genuinely enjoyed this game from everything the story has to offer to the gameplay. I have been playing FF for a long long time and I have always understood that “oh man this character is a badass”,Have played through about 3/4 the story and I have done every single side quest along the way, explored as much as I could without deviating from the path too much and I have to say that I have genuinely enjoyed this game from everything the story has to offer to the gameplay. I have been playing FF for a long long time and I have always understood that “oh man this character is a badass”, but XVI is the first mainline FF game that makes you actually feel like your character is a badass while you play him and not just inside of cutscenes.

    Turn based FF will always be fondly remembered but the seamless combat that XVI showed that it can do is so welcome, and the only people that complain about it don’t know how to work their camera stick at all. I cannot wait to 100% this game.    … Expand
  79. Haraxmant
    Jun 28, 2023
    7
    Tbh, It's a really good story, it's dramatically held back by its gameplay though.
    7 Isn't bad, comparatively it's even good.
    But compared to a lot of the 2020's Action games on PS5, XVI's gameplay just leaves a lot to be desired.
  80. meny82
    Aug 7, 2023
    9
    Heart says: 10.
    Brain says: 8,5.
    The Hand of Enceladus: 0
    .................
  81. BotherSome
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    At this time of remakes and complaints about the lack of new ideas, we got a modern AAA game taking a huge risk, trying to do something new in the existing franchise for decades. The most important advantage of the new part is that despite the huge number of innovations and the rejection of the so-called "canons", the game still looks like Final Fantasy, preserving its identity. It may notAt this time of remakes and complaints about the lack of new ideas, we got a modern AAA game taking a huge risk, trying to do something new in the existing franchise for decades. The most important advantage of the new part is that despite the huge number of innovations and the rejection of the so-called "canons", the game still looks like Final Fantasy, preserving its identity. It may not be the greatest game of all time, but it's definitely one of the best games in the series that will be discussed for many years to come. It is very sad to see how people have turned the discourse into a circle of a game of mathematics, looking only at its meta score, and not at the whole game.… Expand
  82. Jaxgunna
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Its different...... Itd Incredible!! such a refreshing final fantasy and the combat wow
  83. framptHERO
    Jun 26, 2023
    7
    A great game with strong music and a spectacular combat system, but too much repetitive. Game is hella easy, 0 challenge at all.

    Никакой левой лгбт повестки, все барнаульцы должны быть довольны.
  84. Brianscott13
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    Jogo com um sistema de combate excepcional, história brutal e cheia de reviravoltas. Um masterpiece. Um colosso do mundo dos games.
  85. RubenRL1996
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. El mejor final fantasy de las últimas décadas.

    Banda sonora de 10
    Combate de 10
    Historia de 10
    Gráficos 10

    Lastima que algunos lo verán por YouTube    … Expand
  86. Zandrokaki
    Jun 25, 2023
    9
    This game is completely awesome. As a fan of FF I must say:

    History and characters are very consistent (Clive is one of the best main characters of all franchise) and been linear is a plus. Combat system is not rpg (nothing new having in mind the last games) but works really really good, the same way that in Devil May Cry series. Soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks that I've ever    This game is completely awesome. As a fan of FF I must say:

    History and characters are very consistent (Clive is one of the best main characters of all franchise) and been linear is a plus.

    Combat system is not rpg (nothing new having in mind the last games) but works really really good, the same way that in Devil May Cry series.

    Soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks that I've ever heard in a videogame.

    Is not perfect, secondary quests are poor, rpg content is too limited (no elements, no stats like poison, freeze, burning, etc) and performance mode needs a bit of fixes.

    In a nutshell, its an incredible game that is a must if you like action/adventure games with a very good combat system. If you are looking for an intense JRPG buy another game, you have many other options available.

    Finally, one of the most spectacular games I've ever played. Good job Square Enix!    … Expand
  87. GreenBoots_
    Jun 27, 2023
    9
    A true Final Fantasy in spirit and spectacle, Final Fantasy XVI embodies the hopeful humanism of the series amidst a bleak world. Though the RPG elements that the series is known for take a backseat in this entry, the music, characters, themes, and sense of adventure are second to none in the series, tied together by an incredible action combat system. A must-play for longtime fans and newA true Final Fantasy in spirit and spectacle, Final Fantasy XVI embodies the hopeful humanism of the series amidst a bleak world. Though the RPG elements that the series is known for take a backseat in this entry, the music, characters, themes, and sense of adventure are second to none in the series, tied together by an incredible action combat system. A must-play for longtime fans and new players alike.… Expand
  88. xDeadmanshandx
    Jun 25, 2023
    9
    The game is as expected but I miss the open world. The early side missions are pick this up here and take 10 meters to finish. Maybe leave these out next time.
  89. WitcherBruce
    Aug 27, 2023
    10
    A fun new way to experience the universe of final fantasy. I highly recommend buying this game especially if you liked FF7 remake. It improves the combat from FF15 and even FF7 remake
  90. roysom
    Jul 14, 2023
    9
    As a long time fan of the series, I felt like Final Fantasy was struggling to deliver for a long time now. How long? I find FFX to be the last good mainline game. Until now.

    I'm happy to say that Final Fantasy 16 puts the series back on the map. It has an amazing cast of characters, beautiful visuals, terrific music and a story that hits home. The good: 1. The characters. Just Wow.    As a long time fan of the series, I felt like Final Fantasy was struggling to deliver for a long time now. How long? I find FFX to be the last good mainline game. Until now.

    I'm happy to say that Final Fantasy 16 puts the series back on the map. It has an amazing cast of characters, beautiful visuals, terrific music and a story that hits home.

    The good:
    1. The characters. Just Wow. The main cast is amazing and lovable; Clive feels as real as it gets (despite being an overpowered "chosen one" type), Jill is an amazing strong individual that offers a lot more than being "the female lead", Cid is the daddy we all needed, Joshua's influence is felt throughout the story despite what basically takes place during the demo segment and Dion's struggle between his duty and his sense of justice really gets you thinking. The villains are written well too, making you either understand them or enjoy to hate on them, and even the secondary characters have their own story arcs (via sidequests) and are just so well fleshed out that getting lost in their own tales is a bliss.

    2. The story: perfect world building, mostly good pacing, and the ACTIVE LORE SYSTEM is just PERFECT. Did the characters mention a place or a person you're not sure about? Hit that touchpad and read all about them.

    3. Presentation is TOP NOTCH, especially during cutscenes and Eikon battles

    4. Music is amazing. Feels right at home as Final Fantasy OST.

    5. The voice acting. I cannot stress enough how good it is.

    6. Battle system is hella fun

    7. Sidequest storylines are amazing, especially the ones in the last third of the game which provide both background for events that occur and context for the MSQ. Don't miss on them!

    The not as good:
    1. The game is TOO DANG EASY. At first it's not too bad, but by the end of the game I got so overpowered from doing side content that even the S rated hunts were a breeze, let alone the final boss fight. You do have a "hard mode" once you finish it, but WHY? Let us challenge ourselves the first time around!

    2. Animations outside of cutscenes (especially facial animations) are not good, jarring even. You can do better than that, Square.

    3. Performance is bad. I played the game on performance mode and it barely ever hit 60fps, except for combat. Sorry, Square, that is unacceptable for a next-gen only game. I would've played on quality mode if it would've kept the battles at 60fps, but it unfortunately does not.

    4. When doing side quests, party members are completely ignored. Would've added much to the immersion if they actually spoke.

    5. The map could've been bigger

    6. While side quest stories are good, most of them are basic fetch quests. Could've enjoyed some innovation.

    Bottom line, square is on a stride. First FF7R was a blast, now this. Can't wait for Rebirth, and maybe even a story DLC for 16 ;)    … Expand
  91. Henriquee97
    Jun 27, 2023
    9
    Juego casi perfecto, si no fuera por problemas de rendimiento. A destacar su historia, de las mejores de PS5.
  92. jpotrido
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    This game is amazing! It is a clear product of passion and love! I'm going to play this game from the start again after I've finished the story.
  93. Minty777
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    Wonderful game, the story and "vibe" is as Final fantasy as you can get.

    Yoshi-P was very clear from the start that it was an action RPG, he delivered in spades.

    Play it
  94. mnhattt080902
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I really enjoyed the story and music in the game, it reminds me of playing FFX and earlier, although the game no longer has turn based mechanics, the change is appropriate because the game doesn't have a loading screen… Expand
  95. tyco_08
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    Bust FF in ages. And CBU3 where really good at transparency. The battles where fun.
  96. RedSwagDragon
    Jun 26, 2023
    9
    15 hours in. The story is great visual perfection, great action and boss fights definitely GOTY contender.
  97. Ruskste
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Didn’t really like the previous game but this one is awesome, the story is engaging the graphics look good
  98. Thisdidudgr
    Jul 13, 2023
    10
    Absolut wunderbares Spiel. Trotzdem neu Kampfsystem es ist ein Abenteuer. Sehr empfehlenswert
  99. Playtest67
    Jul 6, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy XVI represents everything I look for in a game, and more specifically in a Final Fantasy.
    The story is fascinating and so well written!
    The staging is epic and each character, from the most important to the most secondary, brings something and makes an impression. No doubt, Final Fantasy XVI is one of the best games I've played and goes straight into the best Final Fantasy.    Final Fantasy XVI represents everything I look for in a game, and more specifically in a Final Fantasy.
    The story is fascinating and so well written!
    The staging is epic and each character, from the most important to the most secondary, brings something and makes an impression.
    No doubt, Final Fantasy XVI is one of the best games I've played and goes straight into the best Final Fantasy.
    Congratulations and thank you Square Enix for giving us this unforgettable adventure !    … Expand
  100. Conmanus
    Aug 30, 2023
    4
    So disappointing. This game is very boring. I actually find my mind wandering while playing the game. The world feels pointless and dead. The gameplay is far too easy and braindead with no way to up the difficulty. The 'performance' mode runs like crap- literally looks/feels like a 30fps game. Quests are simply npc's saying "go see ___", walk 30 steps, press x to talk to npc, walk back toSo disappointing. This game is very boring. I actually find my mind wandering while playing the game. The world feels pointless and dead. The gameplay is far too easy and braindead with no way to up the difficulty. The 'performance' mode runs like crap- literally looks/feels like a 30fps game. Quests are simply npc's saying "go see ___", walk 30 steps, press x to talk to npc, walk back to first npc. Everything about the way this game plays is paint-by-numbers and goes beyond boring into the realm of irritating.

    I'm usually into narrative-driven, cinematic games, and since that's what people kept saying was this game's strength, I spent the $95 CAD... I feel ripped off. This game proves to me that a big cinematic story doesn't save, or even help, when the gameplay and tech aspects are this boring/bad. Even the demo section made the game seem like it had some promise because they obviously put more time into polishing it- but soon after you pass that section you'll notice things like character models, cinematics, and sidequests drop off dramatically in quality. This feels like a game an indie studio would make in 2015, but with plagarized high-budget cinematics spliced in every 30 seconds to pad it out.

    I wouldn't like this game if it had been made by a small team of indie devs, but the fact that Sqaure Enix and CBUIII made this with the budget they had does make me hate it a little more. This is because they have no excuse for how lazy this game feels. i feel like the writers of the game really tried to do their job, but everyone else on the dev/publisher teams just couldn't care less. Square Enix sucks, and I should have known better. Why would I pay $95 to a company whose last release was Forspoken!? Because I thought CBUIII had some integrity.

    The people giving this 10's are either devs who worked on it or their family and friends. No one could play this for more than 6 hours and not be bored to tears.    … Expand
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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

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]
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