Final Fantasy XVI Review Thread

Game Information

Game Title: Final Fantasy XVI

Platforms:

PlayStation 5 (Jun 22, 2023)

Trailers:

Developer: Square Enix

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - -90 average - -95% recommended - 64 reviews

Critic Reviews

Attack of the Fanboy - Diego Perez - 5 / 5

Final Fantasy XVI is an outstanding achievement. Every part of it, from its characters to its combat, was put there with a purpose. Not only does it deliver satisfyingly slick action RPG combat in between masterfully directed cutscenes, but also a story with real heart. Most importantly, it’s incredibly clear that a team of creative individuals was behind every decision. There’s a human element that permeates every aspect of Final Fantasy XVI, and it’ll end up becoming a lot of people’s favorite Final Fantasy because of that.

But Why Tho? - Kyle Foley - 10 / 10

In a world full of games trying to stand out, Final Fantasy XVI has no problem rising above the rest. Wonderfully fun combat and beautiful presentation help make the excellent story even more impactful in an adventure well worth the price of admission.

CGMagazine - Chris De Hoog - 10 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI melds the best of the series’ themes with a modern, malleable take on combat—creating a heartrending, generation-defining tale of revenge, fate, and freedom.

DASHGAMER.com - Dan Rizzo - 10 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI proposes a new foundation for finding a masterclass of perfection in action role-playing, and cements a prime legacy founded on past iterations, capitalising on a formula that’s seen inarguable successes throughout its years in this medium, and has promulgated an establishment of extravagance that will indeed be hard to surpass.

Dexerto - Patrick Dane - 5 / 5

With a cast of characters that are easy to invest in, a story that pays off the promise of its impossible scale, and one of the best action combat systems ever committed to disk, Final Fantasy XVI is a game that you owe it to yourself to indulge in.

Digital Chumps - Will Silberman - 10 / 10

In short, Final Fantasy XVI is a breath of fresh air for the Final Fantasy franchise despite its first steps into its grittiest, darkest, and most mature space yet. Its combat showcases action-forward combat held together by a backbone of RPG-similar ability management. Its highs truly showcase phenomenal displays of power in many forms, while its lows effectively strike emotional chords in the hearts of players. This might not be a Final Fantasy fans expect, but boy, it’s what Final Fantasy games SHOULD be going forward. FFXVI doesn’t have a strongest asset, per se, because its entire presentation is a gripping and fun compilation of the best parts of gaming without the filler and frivolity. PS5 owners, I implore you, don’t miss out on what is currently my favorite game of the PS5 generation thus far.

Digitally Downloaded - Matt Sainsbury - 5 / 5

It’s far too early to determine where Final Fantasy XVI sits in the ranks of Square Enix’s venerable series. However, this is an engrossing, entertaining and, most importantly, fiercely intelligent game. The developers have taken the AAA-blockbuster budget they had to work with, and used it to craft an experience with a strong, provocative and timely message, and then backed it up with some of the most entertaining action combat we’ve ever seen. Not a second of the game’s runtime is wasted, there’s not a single dud character, moment, or scene, and the plot is a riveting epic “page-turner.” If only more blockbuster games were like this, game development would be a far more mature art form.

GamingBolt - Ravi Sinha - 10 / 10

Final Fantasy 16 isn’t just a stellar video game with gorgeous graphics and incredible combat. It’s also an emotionally engaging experience and the absolute peak of everything the series stands for.

GamingTrend - David Flynn - 100 / 100

Final Fantasy XVI features excellent action combat and an intricate story, both with incredible depth. It combines gameplay, story, sound, and music together into one form all inextricably linked. It sets a new standard for action RPGs, and is quite possibly the pinnacle of the series.

Hardcore Gamer - Adam Beck - 5 / 5

Final Fantasy XVI will change what we think of the franchise moving forward.

PSX Brasil - Thiago de Alencar Moura - Portuguese - 100 / 100

Inspired by the past but modern at every turn, Final Fantasy XVI is the overhaul the series needed with unparalleled quality. Driven by a fantastic story and charismatic characters, built on accessible, exciting gameplay and impressive graphics on the PS5, it consolidates itself as one of the best games in the franchise history.

Screen Rant - Cody Gravelle - 5 / 5

With an incredible score, an enthralling story, and an eccentric and electric gameplay approach, Final Fantasy 16 is, quite simply, a modern masterpiece.

Too Much Gaming - Carlos Hernandez - 10 / 10

I was worried about the series shedding more of its JRPG roots when this title was first introduced, as recent entries have been straying away from more traditional forms for years. But my fears faded in the first five chapters of FFXIV; the essence of what makes Final Fantasy so great shines brightly here, and as such, this is one of my favorite high fantasy adventures this generation.

Twinfinite - Hayes Madsen - 5 / 5

Final Fantasy XVI is a bold and ambitious new vision for the franchise, that succeeds on almost every level.

RPG Fan - Zach Wilkerson - 97%

Final Fantasy XVI is a stone-cold masterpiece, and the new high-water mark for the series.

Infinite Start - Mark Fajardo - 9.5 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is a well-crafted experience and a strong Game of the Year contender. Not only does it have a gripping narrative that restored my faith in Square Enix’s ability to tell a gripping story, but it also features several improvements that fans and newcomers alike will enjoy. This isn’t just improved visuals that scream Final Fantasy and a combat system balanced with players of various skill levels in mind. Hardcore players have a robust system to explore that expands on higher difficulties, with less skilled individuals having various paths to experience all that Final Fantasy XVI has to offer.

Multiplayer First - James Lara - 9.5 / 10

Regardless if FFXVI is your first Final Fantasy game or you’re returning to the series, Square Enix’s latest game in the franchise lives up to the hype. Forget about JRPG’s or how action-RPGs nowadays need an open world, side quests that last for ages, co-op or whatever gimmick. FFXVI just throws all that out of the table and proves a tightly woven narrative-driven game –when built right — can make up for all those.

The minor issues the game has doesn’t detract from the incredible experience Clive & Co. bring to the table. Players will be treated to a compelling tale, stunning visual spectacles, and a fluid and fun combat system. What’s even more impressive is, Square Enix manages to make the franchise “grow up” alongside the players who grew up playing the series. FFXVI deals with more mature themes and manages to make it matter without being overly preachy about it.

Those looking for the series’ return to glory, rejoice! Final Fantasy XVI is that game, and this is one fantasy you’ll want to make sure you’re a part of.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9.5 / 10

Players will experience a superbly told and presented story, which is decorated with visually beautiful and exquisitely dynamic duels. From time to time, the writers serve us unnecessary breaks that knock out the rhythm, but when the story falls on the right track, it’s hard to tear yourself away from the screen.

PlayStation Universe - Timothy Nunes - 9.5 / 10

Very little gets in the way of the success that Final Fantasy XVI creates. The strength of combat on top of a compelling, deep narrative steal the show. Despite little need for world exploration and the occasional lower resolution texture, Final Fantasy XVI stats true to the namesake while forging its own path forward.

Rectify Gaming - 9.5 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is a triumph that firmly moves Final Fantasy forward for a new generation.

TechRaptor - Andrew Stretch - 9.5 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is everything I could have hoped for and more. Combat is fast paced and rewarding as you master combos and abilities. Eikon fights, while not as interesting to play, are gorgeous to witness. All of this is wrapped up into a deep story and fully fleshed out world that you’ll want to be protecting.

Geek Culture - Wong Si Jia - 9.3 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is a lot of things. It’s ambitious, gritty, and beautiful, but more importantly, it dares to dream. A sobering tale disguised as a dazzling visual spectacle, the almost-masterpiece presents a nuanced, clever take on all-too-familiar elements, and turns them into fresh experiences that devastate as much as they delight, before delivering the biggest reward – a well-executed emotional payoff.

Worth Playing - Chris “Atom” DeAngelus - 9.3 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is by no means a perfect game, but it is an exceptionally good one. The engaging plot, beautiful visuals, and enjoyable gameplay all combine to create something that feels special. It can occasionally be a little long for its own good, and the combat system is slow to get going, but once it hits all the right marks, it knocks them out of the park. I left Final Fantasy XV disappointed by how unfinished it felt, but Final Fantasy XVI is a true rarity these days: a fully finished game that is satisfying from start to finish.

XGN.nl - Chris Boers - Dutch - 9.3 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is a complete package with a refreshingly mature storyline, full of surprises that keeps raising the stakes. The switch to real-time fights is daring step, but works most of the time, as long as the graphical effects don’t blur what’s going on. The game can be greatily adapted to facilitate those that mostly play for the story, but also those that are looking for a real challenge. The most epic fights, those between the Eikons, are visually impressive, but a bit too hands-off.

Impulsegamer - Gareth Newnham - 4.6 / 5

Final Fantasy XVI is one of this year’s best games that flawlessly marries the design and narrative sensibilities of Japanese and Western RPGs in a manner that is simply spell-binding.

Checkpoint Gaming - Charlie Kelly - 9 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is a weirdo black-sheep entry for the series. It won’t be for all nor what all fans necessarily want for the franchise, but I also love it for that boldness. It’s a gripping and harrowing page-turner of an epic high-fantasy story with plenty of heart the series is known for. Complex too are the characters, even if not all see their justice by the end. Valisthea is an eerily gorgeous setting, providing some of the most memorable vistas you’ll have seen in a Final Fantasy game yet. Accessibility might not be at the forefront of the combat in-game but on offer is some of the most stylistic, and satisfying gameplay we’ve ever seen in an Action RPG. Even if you take further umbrage with its small flaws, there’s no denying that Final Fantasy XVI is a special and memorable event. Through thick and thin, that franchise magic is captured once again. Frankly, you can’t ask for anything better than that.

Easy Allies - Michael Damiani - 9 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI boldly dares to defy series norms and forge a new path forward, resulting in the most satisfying single-player Final Fantasy in nearly two decades.

GGRecon - Harry Boulton - 4.5 / 5

Despite the weight of expectations from a series full of gaming hallmarks, Final Fantasy 16 stands tall as an outstanding experience that you won’t want to miss out on.

GameSpot - Michael Higham - 9 / 10

FFXVI is a bold shift in both gameplay and narrative, yet captures the Final Fantasy magic in stunning fashion, earning a place within the pantheon of incredible entries in the beloved franchise.

Gamer Escape - Josh McGrath - 9 / 10

Stellar and surprisingly customizable combat, a masterfully written and engaging storyline, and a beautiful audio visual presentation. It’s nearly a complete package, but with a few annoyances that keep it from being a perfect game. That said, even with those frustrations in mind, Final Fantasy XVI is an absolute return to form for the mainline franchise, and easily a reason to get yourself a PlayStation 5 if you’ve yet to.

GamesRadar+ - Iain Harris - 4.5 / 5

It’s the kind of gamble that Final Fantasy has happily made in the past so that the series may reinvent itself to execute the type of story its creatives want to tell. Time will tell if Final Fantasy 16 pays off, but history certainly supports it.

IGN - Mitchell Saltzman - 9 / 10

Featuring fast, reflex driven, action heavy combat, Final Fantasy 16 is certainly a departure from what fans may expect out of a Final Fantasy game, but its excellent story, characters, and world building are right up there with the best the series has to offer, and the innovative Active Time Lore feature should set a new standard for how lengthy, story-heavy games keep players invested in its world.

INVEN - Kwangseok Park - Korean - 9 / 10

An epic that closes its magnificent ending in a single piece. You can still feel and sense the taste of its creators, Naoki Yoshida and Creative Business Unit 3. Even in both strengths and its flaws.

Kakuchopurei - Jonathan Leo - 90 / 100

Final Fantasy 16 is a stellar and noteworthy entry in the series that’s just as impactful as Final Fantasy 6 and Final Fantasy 7’s debut back in their respective heydays. And that is not a statement I make lightly.

Noisy Pixel - Bailey Seemangal - 9 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is an action JRPG polished to an iridescent sheen. Its well-designed combat system and enemies, outstanding character writing and worldbuilding, and consistently stellar side content make it a standout entry in this legendary franchise. Even when accounting for the weak villains and a lukewarm conclusion, this was a journey that truly gripped me from beginning to end. This is a must-play game of the year and a Final Fantasy adventure you won’t forget.

Post Arcade (National Post) - Chad Sapieha - 9 / 10

Square Enix’s latest Final Fantasy borrows liberally from Western fantasy, including Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings. Read more.

PowerUp! - Adam Mathew - 9 / 10

I could barely put my controller down during my 57 hours with Final Fantasy XVI. It represents a huge milestone for this franchise, thanks to its bold shift to more adult story-telling (and language), addictive real-time combat, and gargantuan VFX spectacles that are best in class. Marry all that with what the series is already known for — epic orchestral OSTs and phenomenal world-building — and Final Fantasy XVI is nothing short of a must-own.

Press Start - Harry Kalogirou - 9 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is an epic in every sense of the word. Consistently sharp writing, a captivating cast of characters, exhilarating combat, and a timeless soundtrack coalesce into an experience that showcases what the PlayStation 5 is capable of at the highest level. It constantly finds ways to top its own scale in remarkable fashion, but never loses sight of the intimate journey its built around.

Prima Games - Jesse Vitelli - 9 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI’s grander narrative takes wild turns, evokes plenty of heartfelt emotions, and has given me a new cast of characters to fall in love with all over again. It’s a bold direction that Creative Business Unit 3 has taken the franchise, but one well worth the journey.

Push Square - Robert Ramsey - 9 / 10

At its best, Final Fantasy 16 is a jaw-dropping epic of rarely seen proportions. It’s pretty much the pinnacle of cinematic spectacle in modern games, and its often gripping, emotional story is only matched by its fantastic combat system. While its overall quality does dip outside of the main plot, this is still a must-play action RPG, and the best single-player Final Fantasy in over a decade.

Sirus Gaming - Noel Lontoc - 9 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI may offer daring adjustments, but it is in this spirit of creativity that the genre flourishes. The game is not perfect, yet Naoki Yoshida, the game’s director, held faithful to his promise to deliver a compelling experience and bring Final Fantasy back to the must-have games again.

TheSixthAxis - Nic Bunce - 9 / 10

If you’re a fan of strong narrative experiences, Final Fantasy lore, breath-taking graphics and a particularly sassy Moogle, and you don’t mind a sprinkling of The Witcher, The Handmaids Tale and the many accents of Old Blighty, then Final Fantasy XVI is the game for you. Heck, it might just be the best Final Fantasy yet!

WayTooManyGames - Leonardo Faria - 9 / 10

Purists might feel this game is way too different from anything that had come before it, be it for its vastly darker tone or emphasis on hack and slash action. Others might not enjoy how long it takes for the game to stop being Final Fantasy XIII levels of linear before finally opening up for exploration. My position on it is simple: I loved it. I loved its gameplay loop, and I fell in utter love with its setting and story.

Wccftech - Kai Powell - 9 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI heralds in a new standard for Japanese role-playing games and while the RPG components themselves are limited by Square-Enix standards, it’s the narrative and gameplay that exceed all expectations.

Everyeye.it - Antonello Bello - Italian - 8.8 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is an excellent continuation point for the Square Enix saga, which, after several missteps, seems to have found the right balance between the tradition of the franchise and a new unabashedly more mature ethic.

Game Informer - Wesley LeBlanc - 8.5 / 10

When I look back at my time with Clive, his friends, his enemies, and Valisthea, it’s those highs that I vividly remember. FFXVI is very different from its predecessors, but in many ways, very familiar; And it’s still a Final Fantasy, through and through, reminding me why I love this series so much.

UnGeek - Renzo Guevara - 8.5 / 10

This is one of the most polished AAA releases we have in recent memory. I encountered no major bugs, major performance issues, or even visual pop-ins. Final Fantasy 16 feels like a game that was made the way the creators intended it to be with the utmost care. There are no compromises made here for artificial extensions or hidden profit-making agendas. Final Fantasy 16 is a complete experience from start to finish and it is one that I’d say is worth taking.

GamePro - Eleen Reinke, Markus Schwerdtel - German - 84 / 100

Final Fantasy 16 does a great job modernizing its gameplay with its combat system, but the story has weaknesses.

GamesHub - Edmond Tran - 4 / 5

Final Fantasy 16 largely shines as an epic-length action game, though the places where it attempts to find a comfortable compromise between action game and RPG feel largely unambitious, and certainly fade into the background against aspects that are approached with gusto. But it’s difficult not to get swept up by the earnest saga that Final Fantasy 16 eagerly lays out for you, and the egregious heights of spectacle it displays.

RPG Site - Cullen Black - 8 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is a confident game with amazing combat, an earnest narrative, and unbridled spectacle. Faults in pacing, RPG depth, quest design, and all those other nagging criticisms be damned - this game is special.

Saudi Gamer - عصام الشهوان - Arabic - 8 / 10

Great worldbuilding and a peerless battle system, albeit one that rarely gets challenged, set in a static world with competent storytelling but of a cliched story. Still great fun but it could’ve been oh so much more.

Shacknews - Lucas White - 8 / 10

The latest marquee RPG from Square Enix goes for broke at every opportunity and then some.

Siliconera - Jenni Lada - 8 / 10

Final Fantasy XVI is technically impressive and an amazing action game, though the Game of Throne elements do hinder it a bit. However when the team does get to be original, the story can be absolutely engrossing.

Spaziogames - Domenico Musicò - Italian - 8 / 10

Spectacular, with an epic story and astonishing graphics: and yet, Final Fantasy XVI forgets what is really important for the series. It’s impossibile to create a build and there’s nothing important left for you to manage through the menus. Proper RPG options are gone, dungeons are just banal corridors, players are forced to play the entire game in easy mode and you can beat the game with literally no effort. There’s a decent base for the future, but it’s not enough to see a real rebirth for the saga.

VG247 - Alex Donaldson - 4 / 5

But it’s not that simple. It never is. In FF16, Clive, Cid, and the others ultimately derive their power from the same mysterious origins as the crystals themselves. To complete their objective, they need the very thing they seek to destroy. And so too does FF16 need that history, those traditions, leveraging some even as it drives a dagger through others. That is the duality of the game. A dichotomy at the heart of its structure, its triumphs, and its failures alike. It’s a fascinating piece of work, a wholly imperfect but nevertheless enthralling experience.

WellPlayed - Nathan Hennessy - 7 / 10

While Final Fantasy XVI didn’t meet this fan’s expectations for a new series entry, newcomers to epic fantasy and action games will be swept away by the eye-melting combat and enormous-yet-approachable scale.

Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 3 / 5

Final Fantasy XVI delivers on the “action” side of its action-RPG formula. A fierce and fast-paced combat system makes for the series’ most exciting stab at real-time swordplay yet, while its blockbuster Eikon fights rank among some of gaming’s most awe-inspiring battles. But there’s a general flatness surrounding those exhilarating highs, as shallow RPG hooks and dated design leave a promising evolution for the series stuck in the past.

ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

A game in a series known for massive changes, easily changes the most, focusing on a tighter story, very specific combat type and arts like DMC, and delivers a beautiful, if truncated world. Well worth getting"

Kotaku - Corey Plante - Unscored

A bold shift to action and a stirring fantasy tale make this the best Final Fantasy in ages

Polygon - Gita Jackson - Unscored

Final Fantasy 16 is incredible when it doesn’t try to say anything meaningful