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. Skye47
    Jul 1, 2023
    3
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. My review is delivered at 25 hours play time, as that is when I finally gave up hope that Final Fantasy XVI could turn it around.

    This is a bad game, plain and simple. There are some positives, but not nearly enough to outweigh the negatives.
    I do not agree with the 0 ratings being doled out as Final Fantasy XVI is not unplayable; however it does not deserve the 9's and 10's either.

    My main problem with this game is the story which is supposed to be the heart of Final Fantasy. The story is a complete downer. After the first hour or so it's just death and depression and everyone hates you and everything sucks and it doesn't deviate from that path. I prefer mature stories but this one is just depressing.

    Spoilers here:
    Literally everyone dies, and when you get the faintest glimmer of hope everyone dies again.

    The story is also poorly told. It's broken up, the supporting cast is not fleshed out at all and the whole time skipping thing is just lazy. It removes any chance the game could have had to develop backstories or give you any opportunity to care about what's going on.

    Sidebar; time skipping / time travel in video game stories is the ultimate hallmark of bad writing.

    The combat is a massive disappointment, as it had so much potential. There's just so much more that could have been done with it. It's all one note; there's no complexity whatsoever. Were the devs afraid that any shred of depth would send the masses of brainwashed weebs running for the hills at the first sign of an elemental weakness?

    Spoilers again as I am going to get specific:

    Ifrit is done dirty in this game. For all the hype around Ifrit and the fact that Clive is his Dominant, all you get for him is 2 crappy abilities and Limit Break which just gives you a strength boost. You don't even get a third ultimate like Judgement Bolt or Tornado; yes you read that right-- no Hellfire for Clive. It would have been so much better in my opinion if Limit Break activated an ultimate ability for whatever Eikon you were using. It would have made them special.

    I did mention positives so I will say that the cutscenes are beautifully rendered and soundtrack / voice performances are excellent. It's a true shame that they were all wasted on this lackluster game.

    Now lets get to the straight up lies. "RPG"; nope. This is not an RPG, this is Game of Thrones the action game wearing a few bits of Final Fantasy's decaying flesh as armour. "Adventure" is a word used to sell this game; nope. There is no adventure here. There is a linear slog through an awful story with nothing to discover in the world aside from the odd chest or item pickup that gives you either 2 gil or some more useless crafting material.

    I'll rapid fire the rest as I am ready now to forget this game ever took my time and money so here we go.

    The sidequests are pathetic, the crafting / gear system is a joke, and the Performance mode is terrible.

    I will close by saying do not be fooled by the demo; I was. It's all downhill after that first hour.    … Expand
  2. Thauan
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    You know a game is divisive when you scroll the user reviews and 90% of the scores are 10s or 0s. That aside, the game is amazing, you can see how much the developers loved what they were doing. The combat is addicting as hell, the music is top tier as expected from Soken, story is not the usual JRPG shonen cringe. Can't to play this on PC.
  3. ziffgetsmeta
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    6 hours in, and the game is amazing so far! The story is like GOT when it was still good. World building is solid, characters complex and compelling. Even the item descriptions are written from a fun POV. The Active Time Lore system feels innovative and should be added to every new game with so many characters and locations.

    It’s not really an RPG, but that’s ok! It’s an evolution of    6 hours in, and the game is amazing so far! The story is like GOT when it was still good. World building is solid, characters complex and compelling. Even the item descriptions are written from a fun POV. The Active Time Lore system feels innovative and should be added to every new game with so many characters and locations.

    It’s not really an RPG, but that’s ok! It’s an evolution of the series where you can spend more time actually playing than tweaking your team’s build out in menus. Combat feels fun and your character gains new abilities often enough to keep things fresh. The game looks beautiful on a PS5 in graphics mode. Locations feel alive, with so much diverse terrain. There has been no shortage of epic battles and big spectacles. I haven’t played a game this hard to put down in a long time. The review bombers are plain wrong. Trust the critics on this one and everyone else who is giving actual reviews.    … Expand
  4. MrKingConker1
    Jun 23, 2023
    5
    The game is basically very good, but there are some negative points that I find difficult to overlook.
    1. The performance is really bad for a PS5 exclusive game.
    The graphics are also not above average for a Final Fantasy/PS5 exclusive game. 2. the side missions are really soulless and boring. 3. That may be complaining on a high level, but I still noticed negatively that the lip    The game is basically very good, but there are some negative points that I find difficult to overlook.
    1. The performance is really bad for a PS5 exclusive game.
    The graphics are also not above average for a Final Fantasy/PS5 exclusive game.
    2. the side missions are really soulless and boring.
    3. That may be complaining on a high level, but I still noticed negatively that the lip synchro is not very good, regardless of the language. This is especially noticeable in NPC conversations.    … Expand
  5. SpookyManIvan
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    This is one of the best if not the best FF game. Absolutely recommend it to everyone
  6. Belior
    Jul 3, 2023
    0
    This isnt a Final Fantasy! Its a casual dumb ass action button smasher. Boring and not a JRPG!
  7. Kenshin_Cloud
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    This game is dang near perfection. The action, the story, the characters, the world. It's takes everything to a whole new level.

    People trolling this by giving it low scores are just trolling and are most likely just trying to guarantee TotK wins GOTY because they know how good this game actually is!
  8. mike-
    Jun 30, 2023
    1
    Terrible combat direction for the franchise. Mindless rinse repeating of the same combos over and over. No reason to switch up abilities because elements don't matter, so just pick the skills with the biggest damage. No RPG element/system are left, everything has been reduce to the most minimal possible to the point of have no reason to be remaining in the game. No reason to explore, noTerrible combat direction for the franchise. Mindless rinse repeating of the same combos over and over. No reason to switch up abilities because elements don't matter, so just pick the skills with the biggest damage. No RPG element/system are left, everything has been reduce to the most minimal possible to the point of have no reason to be remaining in the game. No reason to explore, no special hidden treasures, no special hidden bosses, no interesting loot, no status effects. The story is good but extremely predicable if you ever played a FF game before.
    The pacing of the game is completely off due to the ridiculous amount of slowly presented dialog.    … Expand
  9. OriginalDrGonzo
    Jun 27, 2023
    0
    This game is Final Fantasy in name only. Absolutely nothing about it hearkens back to what Final Fantasy used to be. There are no party members, it is not an RPG and they say the F word more times than a Limp Bizkit song. Final Fantasy XIV is the last great Final Fantasy to ever be made if this is the direction the series is going.

    It would make more sense to call this game something    This game is Final Fantasy in name only. Absolutely nothing about it hearkens back to what Final Fantasy used to be. There are no party members, it is not an RPG and they say the F word more times than a Limp Bizkit song. Final Fantasy XIV is the last great Final Fantasy to ever be made if this is the direction the series is going.

    It would make more sense to call this game something completely else because Final Fantasy it is not. Do not waste your time or your money. You can't manipulate stats to make "builds", it's extremely linear and is filled to the brim with gore. You can't equip new weapons or armor, there are no side activities, no secret bosses or anything like that. It's basically the Last of Us, everything to look at and nothing to do. I remember when one of the developers said they were concerned about the direction Final Fantasy gameplay was going. They were correct.

    Imagine taking Kingdom Hearts and doing to that what they have done to this game. Naoki Yoshida, I expected better from you.    … Expand
  10. Daniel_Campbell
    Jun 28, 2023
    4
    I'm super happy that most of the fanbase loves this game...but I honestly can't bring myself to like it.

    I was excited after seeing all of the positive buzz but I am super disappointed in the final product. It's like they have all of the ingredients except for one... Fun. The game is impressive and so many ways except for the gameplay. It could be some of the most bland and uninspired    I'm super happy that most of the fanbase loves this game...but I honestly can't bring myself to like it.

    I was excited after seeing all of the positive buzz but I am super disappointed in the final product. It's like they have all of the ingredients except for one... Fun. The game is impressive and so many ways except for the gameplay. It could be some of the most bland and uninspired trite I've ever encountered in a AAA game. The environments, music, SFX, ect. All that stuff is great... But, the actual game part sucks. Everything cool that happens in a fight is literally handled with a QTE. Like it's 2006 or something. There's entire boss fights that are 90% super long cutscenes with QTEs. I seriously have no idea what game all these reviewers were playing.

    And this is completely glossing over the fact that they give you these "cheat" items at the start of the game that completely trivialize combat. Items that automatically pull off the optimal combos, auto dodge attacks, auto heal you, etc. There's literally no incentive NOT to use them. At the start of the game they've ask you if you're okay with action, or if you'd rather just enjoy the story. Even if you pick "Action" they STILL give you the items. The story started off strong, VERY clearly trying to copy Game of Thrones. Hell, there's even a Dire Wolf that was "found on a journey from the northern region". But after a few hours it turns into Final Fantasy melodramatic drivel. Deaths mean nothing, huge plot holes, confusing character dialogue, etc.

    There are various "eras" of Square history. There's the 2D classics, the early 3D offerings, the "1000 spin-offs" era, and now we appear to be in the "VFX" era. I certainly hope you like sparks, smoke, explosions, and other various VFX. Because you're going to see them EVERYWHERE in combat. To the point where you can barely see what is happening on screen sometimes.

    Overall the game is pretty...but that's all. It's all flash, no substance. A high budget version of a bargain bin action adventure.    … Expand
  11. RaiTheNoblesse
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    9.5-10/10
    it's not perfect, could use more Rpg elements & exploration.., but the action, story, characters, pacing and whole feeling is something truly special.., only few games like TLOU1/2 have achieved in the past years of narrative driving action-adventures such hights
  12. andreangel
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Jogo magnífico
    Jogabilidade gráficos história trilha sonora tudo muito bom
  13. Phipehx
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Increíble, awesome, beyond the espectacion, game of the Year, and top 3 of the decade, the only one contender to Zelda TOTK
  14. SymGotSkills
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Simply Brilliant! Intuitive Gameplay, Stunning Graphics and breathtaking Story, Totally Recommended 10/10 of Playstation's MasterClass
  15. Umjogador
    Jul 22, 2023
    0
    A trash!! Very generic, dated graphics, nothing new generation.
    There are RPG games a thousand times better than this one.Obsolete, repetitive, tiring, too many scenes, linear. Most of the positive comments are from people who are afraid to speak the truth of the game and not receive it to play, hilarious haha
  16. Just_oK
    Jun 23, 2023
    10
    Easily goty.
  17. Jorjack17
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    The game isn't a traditional final fantasy, that does not mean its bad. 30 hours in. Hooked.
  18. Jay8K
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    This game may not play like a traditional RPG, but the game is epic on so many levels.
    The eikon fights are a spectacular. Highly recommend this game if you own a PS5.
  19. jddgsd
    Jun 25, 2023
    5
    Please for the love of god play the demo first and dont let them tell you that it is any different than that and then you make your decision whether you want to play a movie or a game. This is literally point A to point B there is not even an effort to tell you otherwise. The story is great but the game is a INTERACTIVE MOVIE please dont waste your 80 FREAKING DOLLARS on this unless youPlease for the love of god play the demo first and dont let them tell you that it is any different than that and then you make your decision whether you want to play a movie or a game. This is literally point A to point B there is not even an effort to tell you otherwise. The story is great but the game is a INTERACTIVE MOVIE please dont waste your 80 FREAKING DOLLARS on this unless you like playing a movie. IGN said akin to God of War they have been deleted from my shortcut list.… Expand
  20. feathercave
    Jun 27, 2023
    2
    A game that suffers from the judgment of the creator.

    good point -Graphics are beautiful. Cons -The story is insidious from beginning to end. The player's mood is not uplifted. -The action is so boring. It just repeats routine tasks. - Summoned beast battles are so boring. It's long. Too long. -The music is not as good as the previous FF. -The character's psychological    A game that suffers from the judgment of the creator.

    good point
    -Graphics are beautiful.
    Cons
    -The story is insidious from beginning to end. The player's mood is not uplifted.
    -The action is so boring. It just repeats routine tasks.
    - Summoned beast battles are so boring. It's long. Too long.
    -The music is not as good as the previous FF.
    -The character's psychological description is inconsistent.
    - The main character's purpose cannot be sympathized with the player.
    - Sub-quests, are like MMO. Poor quality.
    -It's all about cut-scenes Half of the game is cut-scenes.
    - The lowest level of gaming experience.    … Expand
  21. noexist
    Jun 27, 2023
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Let's start with the good parts:
    The OST is phenomenal, I'll be buying it because of how good it is. One of the best music in FF series. The battles are also interesting change. There's also many of interesting characters but..

    and here're the worse parts
    while the characters are interesting, most of the fate of the characters is ...not good. So anyone who plays games for the characters and the story having a happy end, should double check if they want to play it.
    The story don't have a lot of twist. It's all pretty much straightforward and predictable from start to finish. I'll be more surprised with characters living than them dying every minute. It came to this point that a moment that was supposed to be emotional made me immune and numb to it. I felt nothing because of how many deaths Yoshi-P decided to include in this game. I stopped caring about the characters fate

    The ending ..is not done in a good way. It's sad that they took ideas from FFXV for the ending and by this I mean, how bad it is.

    There's a weird blur in the game that can make you dizzy sometimes. I played with the "graphics" setting, so I don't know if it only exist in this setting. When monsters (most of the time the flying ones) are far away from you, it looks like they're moving in 15 FPS.
    In one scene it was very obvious the FPS dropped below 30 FPS

    I don't think I'll be interested in FF17 if the atmosphere is going to be similir to FF16. I play games to uplifting me but this game sadly did the opposite. I'm a long time FF fan, so this saddens me to be honest
    It's not a bad game per se and if someone loves games like this, they're going to love it    … Expand
  22. Rosfield-bsac
    Jul 5, 2023
    10
    Me fascino el juego, y lo volvería a jugar muchas veces mas. Espero que haya algun contenido extra mas adelante que complemente aun mas este juego maravilloso
  23. Fabiank2
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    This is such a brilliant game! Seriously, the story made me CRY like a baby but also made had some smiles and scream of excitment! The boss battles are among the best EVER in EVERY media, games, movies, comics, you name it, FFXVI has some moments that are EPIC beyond words! The combat is great, the graphics are MESMERIZING! Seriously, best ive ever played and i finished every single one since VI!
  24. kellcooz
    Jun 26, 2023
    10
    Combat biggest draw for Devil May Cry, Bayonetta or God of War fans. Lovely epic story. Modern Masterpiece. Best Final Fantasy since FFX.
  25. rmndjsdz
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    Un Final Fantasy maduro y el mejor de la últimas dos décadas, una historia brillante que te atrapa desde el principio, recuerda mucho Juego de Tronos, la jugabilidad es impecable como los mejores Hack & Slash, que decir de la banda sonora con altísimo nivel, como nos tiene acostumbrado la saga, buen contenido el cuál dan muchas horas de juego el cual está bien amortizado, en cuanto aUn Final Fantasy maduro y el mejor de la últimas dos décadas, una historia brillante que te atrapa desde el principio, recuerda mucho Juego de Tronos, la jugabilidad es impecable como los mejores Hack & Slash, que decir de la banda sonora con altísimo nivel, como nos tiene acostumbrado la saga, buen contenido el cuál dan muchas horas de juego el cual está bien amortizado, en cuanto a misiones secundarias, muchas don de recadero alineado mucho a la realidad de los jrpg pro la jugabilidad lo compensa, el diseño artístico es sobresaliente y a nivel de gráficos están bien, algo a destacar es que el juego funciona muy bien no he encontrado Bugs y el rendimiento corre mayormente bien, en momentos d mucha acción caen los FPS pero no sé s una situación demasido recurrente. Se agradece también el dobjale en latino felicito a square enix.… Expand
  26. porcodepre
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    Action rpg, com uma história, visual, gameplay e personagens incríveis.
    História madura e bem desenvolvida.
    Batalha dos Eikons são sensacionais.
    Trilha sonora do mais alto nível.
    Nota 10 pela coragem da Square em trazer uma história digna de série HBO.
  27. snes
    Jun 26, 2023
    6
    Yeesh, after 15 this one feels a bit lackluster. Heck after the recent FF7 remake it especially feels lackluster. I do get what the devs were trying to shoot for but the main story is just... Meh, nothing about it calls out to me. Nor did they make very likeable characters, though imo FF never makes very likeable characters so maybe that's just on me. Also the side quests are incrediblyYeesh, after 15 this one feels a bit lackluster. Heck after the recent FF7 remake it especially feels lackluster. I do get what the devs were trying to shoot for but the main story is just... Meh, nothing about it calls out to me. Nor did they make very likeable characters, though imo FF never makes very likeable characters so maybe that's just on me. Also the side quests are incredibly mediocre, like FF14 has better side quests and it's an mmo. Combine that with the terrible exploration and lack of minigames and there's just very little reason to explore this world. Zero reason to ever replay this game unless you're a sucker for the story, which lol, I'm not... I do like the combat, and it's of course polished to the standard FF levels. If this game is your jam then more power to you, have some fun in my stead cause this game aint it for me chief.… Expand
  28. Jeremie198630
    Jul 1, 2023
    10
    Quel jeux époustouflant. Je dois dire que j'en attendais pas autant. Le jeu est épique. L'histoire est tellement bien écrit. L'audio 3D est fabuleux avec un casque. Les musiques : WOWWW
  29. trues
    Jun 29, 2023
    9
    Overall an epic instalment and enjoyable for any final fantasy actionRPG lover. Come in with some patience for the cutscenes, and relax while enjoying the story and you will have a good time. Pros: Dark edgy fantasy/mystery story
    Epic visuals
    Giant summons and spectacles Fun combat Likeable protagonist Easy to get invested in emotionally Cons: Pacing could use a bit of work Needed a bit    Overall an epic instalment and enjoyable for any final fantasy actionRPG lover. Come in with some patience for the cutscenes, and relax while enjoying the story and you will have a good time. Pros: Dark edgy fantasy/mystery story
    Epic visuals
    Giant summons and spectacles
    Fun combat
    Likeable protagonist
    Easy to get invested in emotionally Cons:
    Pacing could use a bit of work Needed a bit of story editing with some of the lulls throughout the game
    Maybe a few less cutscenes could help but I didn’t really have any issues with it personally    … Expand
  30. Lamorak87
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    I’m giving this game a ‘10’ to balance out some of the nonsensical review bombs this game is getting from incel neckbeards, but my “real” rating is a 9 for this game. Giving any game a 0/10 means that game is nonfunctional which is NOT at all what’s going on here.
  31. GuitarJester
    Jul 2, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy XVI is an absolutely phenomenal game. The action combat is very fun and engaging. And with many different Eikon options. People will certainly be playing in different ways. But the combat flows very smoothly even when mixing any and all Eikon Abilities seamlessly. However, The combat as fun as it is. The story is without a doubt XVIs strongest attribute. Its genuinelyFinal Fantasy XVI is an absolutely phenomenal game. The action combat is very fun and engaging. And with many different Eikon options. People will certainly be playing in different ways. But the combat flows very smoothly even when mixing any and all Eikon Abilities seamlessly. However, The combat as fun as it is. The story is without a doubt XVIs strongest attribute. Its genuinely interesting and exciting. And you'll always be hungry for the next big event. Side quests arnt to crazy, But can be finished very quickly and that's all I really ask for. 99% of the time in RPGs, Side quests tend to be dull moments anyway. But with them being so quick and efficient here. It's not a hassle to knock them all out. The Eikon battles are an absolute spectacle to behold. And not like something I've really experienced in other games. Some people are unhappy the game isn't turn based. However, Final Fantasy hasn't been turn based since FFX-2. Which I believe was in like 2003? So, Idk why that still comes up so much. But since then, FF has been constantly trying to innovate and evolve itself with each new title. Which honestly started with FF7 to a degree. And the change of direction here will not be a surprise to most who have still been enjoying the franchise. The more mature rating and tone to the game is actually a very nice change of pace. We will still get the FF goofiness in Rebirth I'm sure. But having a more mature title with 16 really adds to the story being told here. The world and areas arnt small. But they arnt huge either. It feels very fitting and the amount of detail and the draw distance with the detail makes the maps look incredible. Now, The performance mode is inconsistent when exploring. Which I question if the draw distance is partially to blame here. But the framerate on performance mode stabilizes in combat. Which I preferred performance mode. But for those who want a more locked FPS. Quality mode has you covered. The game may be different. But still feels incredibly Final Fantasy to me. And is a nice breath of fresh air for the series. Even if you are unsure. Or want to wait till it's cheaper. It is not an experience you should miss. *Have played all the main FF games except 3. Though can admit I have not 100% finished them all. I have experience with the franchise since I was a child. But everyone's experience with this franchise seems to differ. But you don't have to take my word for it. Even if for the story. Just don't sleep on this game.*… Expand
  32. 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
  33. DinaSousa
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Great Final fantasy title. Story is well done. VA works is consistent enough that it keeps you drawn in. - Combat is far more than "2 buttons" that people clearly havent experimented with. Doing epic juggle combos with Torgal and swapping through 3 weapon types feels amazing.
  34. StillbornSpider
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    С детства питаю тёплые чувства к серии Final Fantasy и новая номерная часть вновь вернула меня во времена, когда я проходил FF XII на PS2. Оторваться практически невозможно.
    Невероятная работа сценаристов, головокружительный размах и экшен, великолепная музыка и боевая система прямиком из DMC.
    Из минусов отмечу плохо проработанные побочные задания, преобладание роликов над геймплеем и    С детства питаю тёплые чувства к серии Final Fantasy и новая номерная часть вновь вернула меня во времена, когда я проходил FF XII на PS2. Оторваться практически невозможно.
    Невероятная работа сценаристов, головокружительный размах и экшен, великолепная музыка и боевая система прямиком из DMC.
    Из минусов отмечу плохо проработанные побочные задания, преобладание роликов над геймплеем и медленное введение в боевую систему, от чего первые часы боёвка кажется очень однообразной и приходится тыкаться в квадратик.

    Спасибо Square Enix и Sony за одну из лучших игр года и одну из лучших видеоигровых историй. Такие проекты в наше время на весь золота, так что закрою глаза на недостатки. С нетерпением жду продолжение FF VII. Жаль только, что русских субтитров там не будет..    … Expand
  35. Kazeminia
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    The best ff game ever. Amazing voice cast... Iconic battles and music... Amazing story
  36. LordBarco
    Jul 2, 2023
    10
    FINAL FANTASY 16 REVIEW

    Final Fantasy 16 will be remembered in the years to come as a fantastic entry on a loved franchise, because of its incredible musical score, spectacular cinematic encounters, an addictive combat system that never grows old, and an emblematic ensemble of characters which provide a rich story. SETTING Valisthea, a medieval setting I was longing for. Throughout    FINAL FANTASY 16 REVIEW

    Final Fantasy 16 will be remembered in the years to come as a fantastic entry on a loved franchise, because of its incredible musical score, spectacular cinematic encounters, an addictive combat system that never grows old, and an emblematic ensemble of characters which provide a rich story.

    SETTING
    Valisthea, a medieval setting I was longing for. Throughout the years, Final Fantasy has introduced steam punnk, SciFi, and medieval themes on their games; some of the games rely more heavily on specific genres, but of late (and not taking into consideration the online games) they have become more SciFi and I had become tired of it. People like to compare to things, and many folks out there are saying this game is like a “Game of Thrones”, but as I have never seen that show nor read those books, I will tell you that Final Fantasy 16 and the realm of Valisthea give a serious “The Silmarillion” vibes, because of the Eikons, and the characters. Yes, this game gives me a heavy vibe into Tolkien’s age of the sun first era.

    MECHANICS
    • Exploration:
    No open world game, and you know what? It is GOOD! I am getting tired of open world games as they can be overwhelming due to their massive scale. This game has big areas that connect themselves. If you have played MMORPG games, think of the areas as HUB areas where you do a lot of stuff, but if you need to go to another HUB area, you need to transport there, and even if it’s not a seamless transition, it does not matter. The game has plenty of areas to explore.

    • Combat:
    Action packed, no button smashing. This combat system is addictive, you will never get tired, as there are multiple approaches to slay your foes. You can use Eikonic abilities or “magic”, you can perform combos with your sword, you can unleash a flurry of slashed with your limit break, and you can summon specific Eikon abilities in battle. Combat is hard, but it is not unfair. If you are familiar with FromSoftware’s Dark Souls games, you will feel that the enemies are that hard, but you are a total badass that can move around. Tactically avoiding enemies’ attacks to counterattack has never been so cool, you will feel that you have power, something I never felt from the Dark Souls games. you will want to combat more enemies, and every time you face a new foe, you feel that you can take them down, as yes, you are a total kick ass.

    • Questing
    After the many cinematic clashes you will have to encounter, it is always refreshing to see some minor quests being added. Yes, you have to fetch herbs to cure someone, yes, you need to find items for others. Not sure why people complain about this, side content is not for you to engage, and I do not find it boring at all. Actually, side content provides some very nice perks for your journey, and to me, it is a refreshing change from the vivid battles.

    VISUALS
    In the cutscenes, everything looks gorgeous and incredible. When you are not in cutscenes characters may feel a bit weird if you compare them to other games like God of War or Horizon Zero series, but it is never a bother to me, as the game is spectacular. The Eikon battles, the boss battles. This is Square-Enix as its best.

    To me, this is the best final fantasy to date, and I hope that final fantasy XVII continues this trend. Thank you Square-Enix to bring back the love I had for this franchise, and now I’m going to dive into Final Fantasy XIV as I want more medieval content =)
    don't wait, go and buy this game, you won't regret it!    … Expand
  37. miragebym
    Jun 25, 2023
    6
    Ok so I am about 20 hours into the new Final Fantasy 16, and I am throwing in the towel on it. I've tried to like it and push through hoping that it would get its hooks into me but it just doesn't do it for me. I'm really sad because I am a die hard FF fan, and have played ALL the numbered games and enjoyed the vast majority of them. But this game just isn't for me. It may actually be aOk so I am about 20 hours into the new Final Fantasy 16, and I am throwing in the towel on it. I've tried to like it and push through hoping that it would get its hooks into me but it just doesn't do it for me. I'm really sad because I am a die hard FF fan, and have played ALL the numbered games and enjoyed the vast majority of them. But this game just isn't for me. It may actually be a fantastic game for a TON of other people though.

    I'll start with the good and the great: Amazing production value. Graphics are gorgeous. Voice acting is some of the absolute best I have heard in a game. (The guy that voiced Lorath in Diablo 4 voices a main character in this game too). The cinematic moments are jaw dropping, and have some truly HOLY **** moments. The story from what I have seen in the first 20 hours is very good, and intriguing.

    Where the game loses me, is that this is NOT an RPG or a JRPG or really any variation of an RPG in my opinion. There is no stat management or upgrade system for stats other than an auto-level up, there is barely any gear to be found in the game, and only three gear slots to equip, and three accessories slots, and the gear that you do get is just very small incremental upgrades that equate to literally a couple percentage points at most. There is no party management in the game (It's just you, that you manage, and fight with, while occasionally commanding your dog to attack). There is no real exploration, all the areas that I have seen are super small, on rails paths with a handful of small enemies, and a couple bullet sponge ones that you just beat on for a a few minutes. Occasionally there is a slightly larger map, but still, almost no exploration.

    Every FF game is different, yes. Each game is a reinvention of game mechanics. No two games are alike and that has always been a staple of the series. But, there are a few core staples of almost all FF games; party management, character development and upgrades, stat management/upgrades, a sense of exploration, and a feeling of reward when you explore or do side things. This game has none of that. Actually after 20 hours I found that I literally spent just as much time with my controller next to me on the couch, as I did actually playing. Even in big epic boss fights, you are in the thick of the fight, and then they cut-scene away for several minutes, do a few quick time events, and then all of a sudden the fight is over without you doing anything to finish off the boss.

    To simplify it all; it’s basically an interactive movie, where you occasionally button mash some fights, move through a few spaces, watch a lot of cutscenes, are blown away by some cinematic moments and story developments, and then slog through some more enemy corridors until you repeat the process. This would be fine if there was a huge open world to explore and dive into in between these amazing moments, or a fun gear and character system where you can tweak and customize and manage your party and skills, but there’s just not.

    The best I could compare it, is if you took Harry Potter Hogwarts Legacy, took away the open world, the exploration, sense of discovery and sense of agency, and put a mature rating on it, gave it a bigger darker story with political intrigue, and better voice acting. This would be that.

    So there’s nothing inherently WRONG with the game. It’s getting AMAZING reviews, and I am sure that MANY people will enjoy it. It just doesn't have any RPG elements or gameplay loops that intrigue or hook me. It’s an action game, that guides you slowly through it, that tells a fantastic story that you occasionally interact with. And for some people that might be just what they love and want, but it unfortunately isn’t for me.

    Long review, but I wanted to be sure to make the distinction that this isn’t a BAD game in any stretch. It’s just not a game that was made for me.    … Expand
  38. ekeiyoung
    Jul 1, 2023
    10
    Great story! But wanted it to be much more in depth, though I realize it would be 20 hours more gameplay, which is what I want. Love the game. Personally love more ff7 remake style action fights
  39. JuanFFG
    Jul 5, 2023
    10
    the best game in the history of final fantasy and RPG games.

    The soundtrack is a 10, accompanied by a story worthy of holliwod, without a doubt enters my top 1, and I've played all the final fantasy so far.
  40. RyeMoo
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    This game is an absolute banger! Great music, story and action. I like the new action style too. This is a system seller!
  41. Lencho
    Jul 2, 2023
    10
    El videojuego está increíble, tiene sus cosas como todo pero en general está excelente... su historia, banda sonora y como luce el juego en general... tiene unos gráficos increíbles, el diseño y desarrollo de personajes es sublime!
  42. Jamesdc
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    Excelente juego, el último FF que jugué fue el XII y este me volvió a llevar a lo grandioso de la saga con el último gran FF que para mí existió, el FFX.
  43. sonnyson01
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    Top tier story, amazing visuals, and god tier music. This was what final fantasy has always been about, and this 16th installment has delivered.
  44. Betoc99
    Jul 1, 2023
    9
    Great game! Granted I have not yet finished, I have put in a solid 20 hours and am having a blast. The game introduces new mechanics at later stages and keeps things fresh. The Eikon battle are simple epic and sonic fun, there is a lot to do and explore and enjoy with the game. As a newcomer to FF, I simply loved the combat and looks of it all. The story can be a little bit confusing, butGreat game! Granted I have not yet finished, I have put in a solid 20 hours and am having a blast. The game introduces new mechanics at later stages and keeps things fresh. The Eikon battle are simple epic and sonic fun, there is a lot to do and explore and enjoy with the game. As a newcomer to FF, I simply loved the combat and looks of it all. The story can be a little bit confusing, but there is a mechanic that allows you to pause at any point and read more about the current lore, which já awesome. Highly recommend.… Expand
  45. mister7
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    The people who dont like this game have either 1. Never played a Devil May Cry game and dont understand how to combi.
    2. Mad there are no black people in a slavery video game.
    Now that that's out of the way. This is point blank period, a 10/10 game. Characters, story, gameplay, music, you name it. Just bc there arent 100 boring minigames like Grand Theft Aito doesnt mean that what is    The people who dont like this game have either 1. Never played a Devil May Cry game and dont understand how to combi.
    2. Mad there are no black people in a slavery video game.

    Now that that's out of the way. This is point blank period, a 10/10 game. Characters, story, gameplay, music, you name it. Just bc there arent 100 boring minigames like Grand Theft Aito doesnt mean that what is offered here gets undervalued or diminished. The base, standalone game, is a 10/10, Elden Ring level experience. This is my 4th favorite game Ive ever played in history. The others for context

    1. Elden Ring
    2. Dmc5
    3. FF7 original
    4. Hollow knight/Hades/ Legend of Zelda Tears    … Expand
  46. Lionhart
    Jul 2, 2023
    10
    This was a masterpiece in the making, started out with FFXV, then Ff7 upgraded the faults of FFXV's battle system... FFXVI is definitely a contender for ONE of the best Final Fantasy Installments!!!
  47. Thiagogoslaw
    Jul 1, 2023
    8
    I really wanted to give this game a 9. But it has too many issues. This is a good game with so much potential. The highs go high and the lows very low. Highs: Story, combat, music, lore, graphics, protagonist. Lows: Performance, the game is too linear, poor RPG elements, lack of rewarding exploration, repetitive activities, uninspired side content, lack of a true FF party ( except Cid,I really wanted to give this game a 9. But it has too many issues. This is a good game with so much potential. The highs go high and the lows very low. Highs: Story, combat, music, lore, graphics, protagonist. Lows: Performance, the game is too linear, poor RPG elements, lack of rewarding exploration, repetitive activities, uninspired side content, lack of a true FF party ( except Cid, he's awesome) among others. I hope we'll truly have a 10/10 FF game again as we had in the ps1/ps2 generation. ( FF VII,IX and X)… Expand
  48. Seth842
    Jul 5, 2023
    10
    I will admit going into this that I may be fully biased. Final Fantasy is one of my favorite game series of all time with 10 being my favorite game. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed 16. The story, the combat, the music. All of it was a home run for me.

    The combat director formerly worked on Devil May Cry 6 and it shows. It feels fluid and clean just like the former. It can feel    I will admit going into this that I may be fully biased. Final Fantasy is one of my favorite game series of all time with 10 being my favorite game. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed 16. The story, the combat, the music. All of it was a home run for me.

    The combat director formerly worked on Devil May Cry 6 and it shows. It feels fluid and clean just like the former. It can feel simple yet as you progress and become more comfortable with it; you can pull of more complicated combos and weave together more powers. I found it a much more engaging solution to FF15's leave from the more original combat of Final Fantasy. Eikon battles are absolutely insane and truly take the game to a higher level. There are plenty of accessibility accessories you can equip that modify the combat to be easier. This is great for those either newly interested players or those that struggle with this gameplay. The story is absolute dynamite. A fantastic cast comes together to bring this to life. Clive's actor definitely understood the character and added so much subtext to it all that came through. The relationships between all the characters as they progressed were wonderful to watch. Even comedic relief was incredibly well done and well timed. As always, the strongest suit of Final Fantasy is a story that engages you and makes you feel many emotions while playing. Simply a fantastic cast of characters.

    Overall, some may be upset with the combat changes or diversion from the FF norm. Lots of reviews claiming that the game is too easy!! (While playing with every easy modifier). This is a Final Fantasy that anyone can truly get into and enjoy. As always, fantastic work to Square Enix, congratulations to the production and cast, and, finally, enjoy the journey.    … Expand
  49. Chris08
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    This is one of the best games of 2023 and also one of the best games ever made. Very likely GOTY, unless Spider-Man 2 does something incredible.
  50. andnotmetoo
    Jul 1, 2023
    10
    Great game! Probably the best in the series.
    Performance mode is perfectly balanced.

    I was expecting something worse, but this game surprised me and exceeded my expectations. I would advise anyone to play it.
  51. Kiryttho
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    O jogo é sensacional. A muito tempo eu não sentia a sensação do meu coração bater tão forte durante uma gameplay. O jogo não muitos atributos de nova geração, mas não tem defeitos. A única incômodo é que gostaria de ter todas as dificuldades disponíveis e não apenas depois de finalizar.
  52. Couchp
    Jul 5, 2023
    10
    Great game. It does exactly what it wants to, and it does so well. The combat is very fun and responsive. If you're a fan of the genre, you'll like the game.
  53. MadCuzBad
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This review is subject to change as I don’t believe I am anywhere near the end but it’s **** perfect. It’s like game of thrones meets final fantasy meets devil may cry. Don’t bother getting attached to characters. right off rip they “kill” joshua and then also kill clive’s father. honestly the events of the game are depressing and i love it.… Expand
  54. Ff7ff
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    It's not necessarily a ten out of ten, but I believe that I should put this score so that the review bombers don't win.
  55. freedesu
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    FFシリーズの中で一番好きな作品になりました。
    従来のFF15やFF7Rのシステムなどを活かされた部分も多々あり気合の入っている続編と言えます。
    良い点 ストーリーが少し大人向けではあるが細かい所の解説サポートがあるので素晴らしいと思いました。 演出が素晴らしかった。これ以上の作品は見たことがないほど楽しませてくれました。 音楽が場面のイメージと一致し盛り上げてくれた。珍しくサウンドトラックなど購入し聞きたくなるほどであった。 声優の演技が良く気になる点はほぼなかった。 気になった点 モーションブラーがあるので見ずらい場面がありましたがこちらは後日パッチで修正され選べるようになる予定だそうです。 スキルの演出がド派手すぎて相手の行動が読めない場合がある。    FFシリーズの中で一番好きな作品になりました。
    従来のFF15やFF7Rのシステムなどを活かされた部分も多々あり気合の入っている続編と言えます。

    良い点
    ストーリーが少し大人向けではあるが細かい所の解説サポートがあるので素晴らしいと思いました。
    演出が素晴らしかった。これ以上の作品は見たことがないほど楽しませてくれました。
    音楽が場面のイメージと一致し盛り上げてくれた。珍しくサウンドトラックなど購入し聞きたくなるほどであった。
    声優の演技が良く気になる点はほぼなかった。
    気になった点
    モーションブラーがあるので見ずらい場面がありましたがこちらは後日パッチで修正され選べるようになる予定だそうです。
    スキルの演出がド派手すぎて相手の行動が読めない場合がある。
  56. lovejina83
    Jul 5, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is the game that make me buy my first PS.
    This is the game that make me play FF.    … Expand
  57. mpop
    Jul 17, 2023
    8
    Nice story. some of the issues, is it to much of an action game, it would have been more fun if it was turn based. The story is the thing that saves this game, if the story was not as good as it was I would not have finished the game.
  58. Ludus1
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    The story, characters, combat, music and Eikon battles are phenomenal. This is a great Final Fantasy game and just an amazing game in general.

    Of course even though it is an amazing game it does have some flaws, early game side quests are a little boring but the late game side quests are great and really build upon the side characters. The RPG elements are lacking but even with some of    The story, characters, combat, music and Eikon battles are phenomenal. This is a great Final Fantasy game and just an amazing game in general.

    Of course even though it is an amazing game it does have some flaws, early game side quests are a little boring but the late game side quests are great and really build upon the side characters.
    The RPG elements are lacking but even with some of these flaws the pros are just so high. The spectacles of the boss fights are just awe inspiring and will be remembered for a long time.    … Expand
  59. NotAFFfan
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    IF when i was a child someone had told me that in the future i could play the cutscene of the summons in FFIX i wouldn’t believe them. This game is the sweet dream of every ffix player and ffxiv. Of course it’s not the “ff that every child should play because they grow up better” and the structure of subquest it’s a lot similar to ffxiv (MMO) so i guess someone could not like it, but geezIF when i was a child someone had told me that in the future i could play the cutscene of the summons in FFIX i wouldn’t believe them. This game is the sweet dream of every ffix player and ffxiv. Of course it’s not the “ff that every child should play because they grow up better” and the structure of subquest it’s a lot similar to ffxiv (MMO) so i guess someone could not like it, but geez the writing is so good. The Eikon battle are a mixed feeling if final fantasy and dragon ball. In this FF the RPG component is the build of the skills and accessories, it’s not like previous ff with materia system or Junction. Some build are good to clear easily, others are helpful to kill bosses. And the combat system is super funny, pls stop using rings for noobs and wait for FF mode in ng+.
    Boss fights are always unique.
    OST are a masterpiece.
    The cities live.
    Can’t believe how good this game is.
    Cons: don’t have minigames. I guess was not too hard to implement a chocobo treasure quest like ff9. Or a Gold Saucer in the end game.
    That’s it, pls do a favor to yourself and play the game    … Expand
  60. errundell
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    i LOVE this game. Final Fantasy, to me, is an amazing story, game play, music, atmosphere, and characters. This game has it all. With that said, it does take an open mind, like really every FF game. This is a unique game that you may have expectations and assumptions about, and that's fine, but to put it into a box would be a disservice to the scale of consideration put into this game.i LOVE this game. Final Fantasy, to me, is an amazing story, game play, music, atmosphere, and characters. This game has it all. With that said, it does take an open mind, like really every FF game. This is a unique game that you may have expectations and assumptions about, and that's fine, but to put it into a box would be a disservice to the scale of consideration put into this game. There is something to love for anyone, from hardcore strategy types, to cinematic and dialogue heavy shtuff. Meaning, if you only play certain games and genres for one reason or another, you may feel disappointed, but if you love gaming as a whole, as an interactive medium, and can appreciate everything from, say, Elden Ring to Life is Strange, then you're in for a well-rounded treat.… Expand
  61. healler2083
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    This is actually a REALLY Easy Fix....Play the Demo...it is the First 2 Hours of the Game plus a Taste of the Combat later on....I literally had No Intention of purchasing FF16, skipping a Mainline entry for the 1st time since i started playing FF...then I played the Demo...that sold me.
    The Negative Reviews, i am not going to waste my time reading. The game is not What They Wanted...so    This is actually a REALLY Easy Fix....Play the Demo...it is the First 2 Hours of the Game plus a Taste of the Combat later on....I literally had No Intention of purchasing FF16, skipping a Mainline entry for the 1st time since i started playing FF...then I played the Demo...that sold me.
    The Negative Reviews, i am not going to waste my time reading. The game is not What They Wanted...so they have decided that it is bad....that is a weak mindset.
    Guess what...I did Not Know I Wanted FF16 UNTIL I Played it for myself...Ignore the Reviews that Highlight reasons to Love or Hate it. This is a situation you can LITERALLY Play a Fantastic Demo and then do what I did and instantly go to the Purchase Screen lol.    … Expand
  62. Urodith
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Un juego espectacular, un gran final fantasy que vuelve a sus orígenes. Combate de 10 y la ost una maravilla de soken. Recomendado para usuarios de Xbox incluso
  63. Misharasapu
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    One of the best games Iv ever seen in my life. It’s such a waste that metacritic allows useless fake review bombers trying to ruin the hard work and effort the game devs have put into this game.
  64. Lakerjon23
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Best FF and if you don’t agree your wrong cloud can’t hold Clive’s jock stripe… Expand
  65. TriplEEE13
    Jun 24, 2023
    10
    Currently 30 hours into the game and I love it so far. It's no Tears of the Kingdom, but I definitely would give it a 9.5 (rounded to 10).
  66. Kriskobra1
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    I was like mmmm I bought ff15 day one just bc I needed to play ff again after my least fav 13. It was good. Not a masterpiece but did what it had to do to carry the ff flag. Then I saw royal edition at 20$ and thought I should’ve def bought this game after a while I wasn’t missing anything spectacular just a good ff experience. I spent 40$ more to play it day one and yeah it wasn’tI was like mmmm I bought ff15 day one just bc I needed to play ff again after my least fav 13. It was good. Not a masterpiece but did what it had to do to carry the ff flag. Then I saw royal edition at 20$ and thought I should’ve def bought this game after a while I wasn’t missing anything spectacular just a good ff experience. I spent 40$ more to play it day one and yeah it wasn’t necessary at all. Game was awesome I’d give it an 8.5

    And due to that experience I thought the same about 16. I said mmmmm I’ll buy it in Black Friday maybe when it’s at 39.99 most likely. Not paying full price day one on ff again. I was just gonna try the demo to see what things I may like or not. Read that your progress would carry over to a full game if purchased. And that you would continue playing right after the end of this demo/prologue of the game.

    I was amazed at the polish level this demo has just to be a demo and then the demo ends in such a cliffhanger. The story was very focused in want I played and graphics are top notch. And thought that if this demo has this level of gameplay and they not afraid to show it then I’m getting the full game cone tomorrow Then following day I went and bought the game and folks I haven’t stopped playing ever since. I was playing dead island 2 and had to put that game aside completely.

    This 16 ff
    Is
    The best ff has been in a long time. It feels like a ff story through and through
    And if I were to describe the feelings I get from the game and it’s source inspiration Game of Thrones for character development and story
    Attack on titan for the use and purposes of how Summons / Eikons are used in the world God of war 3 for sense of scale and epic boss fights
    God of war 2018 and Ragnarok for gameplay use of the powers abilities mechanics FF15 as a previous gameplay model

    But all in all it’s a masterpiece of its own
    Graphics are 10/10 and runs smooth every second

    I don’t regret paying full price for it and jumping into Valisthea world. Only downside for me is I have to work Sunday to Sunday and I don’t get enough time to put into it but best guess I’ll have it finished in the next ten days. So …

    You go and if you like ff16 become a fan and support it, I had to come leave a review bc fakers are posting bad reviews and this game deserves none.

    And of course will become a goty contender even if tears end up winning well to me this will be the best to come out in 23’

    I’ll give 10 points to this marvel ff game.

    10 out if 10 for everything that accomplishes the right way    … Expand
  67. Thorhof
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    TLDR: honestly one of if not the best final fantasy game todate and this is coming from someone who played the old games on SNES and PS1 games.

    The gameplay: is great and yes it's action combat not turn base (but it's 2023 and turn base games are dead with the exception on mobile or handhelds) Music: good God did they do an amazing job on the music, every score fits the scene perfectly.    TLDR: honestly one of if not the best final fantasy game todate and this is coming from someone who played the old games on SNES and PS1 games.

    The gameplay: is great and yes it's action combat not turn base (but it's 2023 and turn base games are dead with the exception on mobile or handhelds)

    Music: good God did they do an amazing job on the music, every score fits the scene perfectly.

    Story: In true Final Fantasy style the story is confusing at first but becomes clear as you progress though it, and progressing through it feels exciting and fulfilling.

    PS5 hardware issues: I'll be lying if I don't acknowledge there are a few minor issues due to the hardware limitations, specifically occasional stuttering and the inability to turn off motion blur (but overall these are minor and I won't deduct them from the score because of the unnecessary haters giving it a 0 out of 10)

    It's going to be funny watching the haters cry when FFXVI wins game of the year.    … Expand
  68. EasonChen
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Boss fight really perfect , great story description,ff is back, but as jrpg isn’t that good… Expand
  69. MasamuneKenshin
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    If you are invested in the story like me, this game is a banger. I would play/watch the demo first before considering buying this game, so you have an understanding if the gameplay mechanic and the story are for you.
    The story and spectacle alone sells me on this game. As a DMC fan the gameplay hooked me in easily.
  70. zetroxzero
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    Outstanding cinematic gameplay, but for game story, FFX is better than this, 16 feel like an improve of FF13.
  71. cloudynoct
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    As a big fan of the Final Fantasy series, I can easily say it’s one of the best game I’ve played so far.
    The characters are endearing and touching, the story is incredible with breathtaking cutscenes. The gameplay is really fun to play. Can’t even remember the last time I had so much fun while playing and was so invested in a game.
    Also there’s many accessibility options and in-game help    As a big fan of the Final Fantasy series, I can easily say it’s one of the best game I’ve played so far.
    The characters are endearing and touching, the story is incredible with breathtaking cutscenes. The gameplay is really fun to play. Can’t even remember the last time I had so much fun while playing and was so invested in a game.
    Also there’s many accessibility options and in-game help available to facilitate the experience for people who need it so that everyone can enjoy the game in the best possible way, and it's a good thing to have thought about accessibility in FFXVI because often this is not the case in other games.
    I loved everything in FFXVI, it’s a 10/10. My 2023 goty for sure!    … Expand
  72. Stuart81
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    An absolutely amazing game that has a very Game of Thrones feel to it. Storyline is well written and the combat and boss battles are really well done. Looks fantastic too.
  73. Nunera
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    I love this game. One of the best final fantasy of all time. Clive is so badass. Finally the Eikons have the spotlight they deserved. The history is very dark and have many surprises. The combat is fast and furious
  74. tortie
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    This is the best Final Fantasy game.

    Best soundtrack, best story, best voice acting, best combat.

    The series is back.
  75. CullenM
    Jun 25, 2023
    10
    Great game. Would rate a 9 if not for review bombing. Side quests in the first half are mostly mediocre, and the pacing could be better, but the story and gameplay are great.
  76. dreyajavi
    Jul 21, 2023
    9
    Not done with the game yet (45+ hours in atm) but the visuals and the voice acting are spectacular. Sure there’s a lot of cutscenes in the beginning but that’s always been one of my favorite things. Yes it’s more of an adventure game than any other FF entry but it still has a lot of things that make it true to itself. But the best part of this game is the fact you actually get to fight asNot done with the game yet (45+ hours in atm) but the visuals and the voice acting are spectacular. Sure there’s a lot of cutscenes in the beginning but that’s always been one of my favorite things. Yes it’s more of an adventure game than any other FF entry but it still has a lot of things that make it true to itself. But the best part of this game is the fact you actually get to fight as an aeon/eikon. The story is so truly final fantasy especially towards the end.… Expand
  77. Bepo
    Jun 27, 2023
    9
    So far I am 15 hours into the game. The new combat system, music, character designs are all very well put together. I can't give the game a perfect score due to the lacking RPG/gear elements and performance.
  78. hmiraval
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    I was waiting for a final fantasy, that is up to final fantasy x and I found it!
    10/10!
  79. Kismetatron666
    Jun 27, 2023
    9
    Things I like: The central protagonist is down to earth and relatable. The combat is fast paced, engaging, and almost never boring. The Eikonic battles feel like my very beloved kaiju fights. It’s a visually stunning presentation with a world that feels real and lived in. The voice acting is excellent with a lot of emotional high points that don’t feel forced or cringey. Things I don’tThings I like: The central protagonist is down to earth and relatable. The combat is fast paced, engaging, and almost never boring. The Eikonic battles feel like my very beloved kaiju fights. It’s a visually stunning presentation with a world that feels real and lived in. The voice acting is excellent with a lot of emotional high points that don’t feel forced or cringey. Things I don’t like: While it doesn’t bother me as much as others the lack of diversity is still an issue but it doesn’t ruin the game. Diversity is good as long as you’re not doing so because you’re just trying to check off all the boxes. The side quests can be a mixed bag with some being kind of dull to others leaving your jaw dropping or shaking your head in disgust (in a good way).

    Overall this is probably the best Final Fantasy I’ve played since X and maybe in the top 3 of all time. That remains to be seen as I finish this and will update my thoughts on this later.    … Expand
  80. Sora25
    Jul 1, 2023
    10
    After ff14 my favourite game. Outstanding VA, great storytelling, amazing visuals, best soundtrack. Havent had so much fun playing a game in a while.
  81. theSteesh
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    After being cautiously optimistic about this, I found I couldn't stop playing it.

    This really cleared the bad taste out of my mouth after playing day 1 release FFXV.

    The story is captivating and some of the fights are sheer spectacles. The combat feels fluid and satisfyin
  82. longta115
    Jun 30, 2023
    9
    I played the game on Graphic Mode and I have zero problem with it, smooth and stable transition between gameplay and cutscenes, this is recommended setting for the game since Performance sucks by Digital Foundry. My overall experience is 10/10, but only downside is the side quest system, there are many but few of them really engaging.

    Main story is excellent! The boss fights are    I played the game on Graphic Mode and I have zero problem with it, smooth and stable transition between gameplay and cutscenes, this is recommended setting for the game since Performance sucks by Digital Foundry. My overall experience is 10/10, but only downside is the side quest system, there are many but few of them really engaging.

    Main story is excellent! The boss fights are unspeakably crazy and satisfied, Square Enix really brought this to new level. Definitely my BEST GAME in 2023 so far!    … Expand
  83. mc0030
    Aug 2, 2023
    0
    Metacritic has now deleted 3 of my accounts because I called out this game for dropping to 720p and sub 30 fps. At least I now know for a fact this site is paid off
  84. GregoryDQ
    Jun 27, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy XVI was my first game in the series
    Characters: 10/10
    Music: 10/10
    Graphics/Audio: 10/10
    Content: 9/10
  85. lmwpitt
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    Has what I enjoy from a FF game! More please!

    > Fun simple gameplay, adds layers of complexity at the right time. > Ways to vary difficulty level with timeless accessories, very fun and personal. > Eikon fights are used sparingly, tense and suspenseful, and feel epic in scale. > Compelling story and characters, with fun side quests and overall good-to-great VA. > Story is on rails,    Has what I enjoy from a FF game! More please!

    > Fun simple gameplay, adds layers of complexity at the right time.
    > Ways to vary difficulty level with timeless accessories, very fun and personal.
    > Eikon fights are used sparingly, tense and suspenseful, and feel epic in scale.
    > Compelling story and characters, with fun side quests and overall good-to-great VA.
    > Story is on rails, which is what I expect from FF.
    > Worldbuilding is insane. So much lore, I am very grateful for the ATL system and the other lore/recap features within the Hideaway.
    > Gameplay elements are added in alignment with the story.
    > Music, Score & SFX are amazing as with all FF games.
    > Graphics are great, not as great as FF7R, but still great.
    > Never had any noticeable framerate issues, but I hear some people did.

    Disclaimer: Not quite finished the game yet, so I cannot speak to story end nor to any post-credits content.    … Expand
  86. Sabtiz181
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    It is my first FF game and it is a very amazing game. Better than what I expected.
  87. Alexfalcon02
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    Tiempo jugado +50 Hrs. Un gran juego, Tiene una historia muy interesante con grandes personajes, un gameplay con estilo Hack and slash muy divertido con diferentes estilos de combate por los diferentes eikons, una música que probablemente sea el soundtrack del año, misiones secundarias mejorables, pero con algunas interesantes y un rendimiento mejorable pero que sea prometido mejorar conTiempo jugado +50 Hrs. Un gran juego, Tiene una historia muy interesante con grandes personajes, un gameplay con estilo Hack and slash muy divertido con diferentes estilos de combate por los diferentes eikons, una música que probablemente sea el soundtrack del año, misiones secundarias mejorables, pero con algunas interesantes y un rendimiento mejorable pero que sea prometido mejorar con futuras actualizaciones.… Expand
  88. TriMagic
    Jun 28, 2023
    10
    Final Fantasy XVI will undoubtedly withstand the test of time and take its place as one of the best games to ever grace a home new generation system

    Also ignore those hate reviews spamming 0 that’s Xbox and Nintendo fans that have nothing to do with their life stay salty
  89. unfinished88
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    Simply an astounding achievement. Only gamers stuck in nostalgia for turn based FF’s will review this badly. This is a wonderfully crafted game - with a ton of memorable moments. FF is back!
  90. Wizar
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    Excellent action rpg, whilst it may not appeal to all classic turn-based Final Fantasy fans it does absolutely have a FF story, it's full of the same charm you'll see from the heavier bits of FFXIV.
  91. xreo
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. the process in which we progress in the story and the way you can see at which point u are at, the graphics, the dioalogues, the protagonist, the characters and the best part the fighting and the cinematics are just perfect, it really deserves the game of the year… Expand
  92. Skydude
    Jun 29, 2023
    9
    This game delivers an incredibly compelling story, fantastic combat and gameplay, and a brilliant voice cast. This has game has quickly become one of my favorite games of all time. My only issue with it is the side quests they feel kind of have baked and lifeless, other than that though this game is a work of art.
  93. Alanff
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    Definitely one on best final fantasy, the history is amazing , and the battle engine awesome!
  94. AzureAgst
    Jun 29, 2023
    10
    FFXVI is one hell of an RPG. With an in-depth world & narrative, a wide array of well-written characters, addicting combat, and a banger of a soundtrack, this game has quickly skyrocketed to become one of my all-time favorites. Great job, CBUIII.
  95. Anthony_strife
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    This game story took me back to the good final fantasy coming out in the west days 90s era.
    The combat is pure fun DMC style, the NG+ Final Fantasy mode and Ultimaniac are amazing.
    Game of the year for me.
  96. Sebv87
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This is an amazing story driven AAA game, on of the best FF games in my opinion and definitely better than any trash xbox has dropped in the last 4 yrs … Expand
  97. BigWooders
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    This is easily the best FF title I have ever played. I don't think I've ever felt more invested in a story. A must play for fans of the series. Highly recommend.
  98. LaFleur786
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Spoilers ahead.
    Has the highest high points of any game I've ever played, but also certain decisions that crushed me and annoyed me more than anything. I'm giving it a 10 despite the inconsistency, as it gave me the things it took away in the first place, and those characters and moments illicit feelings that come rarely in stories. The decision to kill off a certain major character, along with the ambiguity of the ending, crushed me but not in a "good" way that other games such as Nier Automata did. It left me feeling heartbroken and confused in a way no other story has, and although I was so frustrated in the moment, it's made for an unforgettable experience. It has the greatest boss fights in gaming, largely due to the unbridled spectacle and genius music, yet it also manages to interweave the climax of a story arc with those fights in such a cathartic and hype way. The soundtrack is masterful, and now I'm inclined to get into Final Fantasy 14 just to experience Masayoshi Soken's genius work again. Despite some of the feelings this game gave me, I'm completely in love with it and couldn't recommend it enough.    … Expand
  99. Kingofminds
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    A wonderful entry to the Final Fantasy series. Taking it in a brave new direction, this game gets just about as many things right as humanly possible in a game while also simultaneously raising the expectations for the series. Creative business Unit III brings their magic over from Final Fantasy XIV and implements it here with memorable characters, a banging soundtrack, and an immersiveA wonderful entry to the Final Fantasy series. Taking it in a brave new direction, this game gets just about as many things right as humanly possible in a game while also simultaneously raising the expectations for the series. Creative business Unit III brings their magic over from Final Fantasy XIV and implements it here with memorable characters, a banging soundtrack, and an immersive world. The key stand out feature in this game is the Active Time Lore button that allows players to get contextual information in many cutscenes, allowing characters to speak naturally and fluently as if they've lived in the world for years, while simultaneously giving you the information you need to understand those conversations. This effectively does away with awkward insertions in conversations, such as reintroducing someone that everyone should already know, or defining terms that someone would learn as a child. At the end of the day, the game feels very much like a final fantasy title, while allowing it to grow up and mature just like the content it provides.… Expand
  100. Keyfly
    Jun 30, 2023
    10
    In terms of direction and storytelling the game is fantastic, in addition to having a compelling story it also has an aesthetic level that has not yet been reached. The various open maps as far as level design is concerned could be shabby but from an aesthetic point of view they convince me a lot and give a sense of life that immerses you in the game world. The gameplay, especially sinceIn terms of direction and storytelling the game is fantastic, in addition to having a compelling story it also has an aesthetic level that has not yet been reached. The various open maps as far as level design is concerned could be shabby but from an aesthetic point of view they convince me a lot and give a sense of life that immerses you in the game world. The gameplay, especially since you start having the third eikon, is fantastic and very fun and the bossfights are all a feast for the eyes, each structured in a completely different way. The defects of this game, however, are the underdeveloped level design of the maps, the secondary missions which, despite being very interesting at a pure narrative level, do not have bosses or unique and interesting areas and the equipment in some moments could be very undemanding without needing to overexert themselves on which sword, belt and bracer to use or upgrade. Basically, like all games, this one has its flaws which can be considered more or less serious but the positive aspects it has, in addition to being abundant, far exceed the average.… 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

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Metascore
87

Generally favorable reviews - based on 146 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 134 out of 146
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 146
  3. Negative: 0 out of 146
  1. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 22, 2024
    100
    Final Fantasy XVI is an excellent game in every way. If you're a fan of the series for the stories and characters, you won't go wrong here, and if you've avoided the series for, say, turn-based combat, the sixteenth installment offers the perfect opportunity to get started with this legend of the gaming industry. [Issue#329]
  2. Riot Pixels
    Oct 30, 2023
    73
    This is a solid RPG/action game. Some elements of the game are unusual and fresh for single-player parts of the Final Fantasy series, but some are too dull and rudimentary.
    Read full review
  3. PLAY
    Sep 17, 2023
    90
    New numbered FFs are good again. Stunning to look at, with new, punchy combat, and a great yarn, it is, if anything, too focussed, lacking a bit of the weird. [Issue#30, p.78]
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