Final Fantasy XVI

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"Final Fantasy XVI" is a single-player Fantasy Role Playing game with an interesting plot, good graphics, and a wonderful soundtrack. The game is set in a dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them. The player follows the story of Clive Rosfield, a warrior seeking revenge against the Dark Eikon Ifrit, after a great tragedy befalls him and his brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

80%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,226 reviews

story1,175 positive mentions

optimization295 negative mentions

Incredible graphics and stunning visuals that enhance the overall experience.
Engaging story with well-developed characters that evoke strong emotions.
Fun and satisfying combat system that allows for extensive customization of abilities.

Poor optimization on PC, leading to frequent crashes and performance issues.
Excessive cutscenes that disrupt gameplay and pacing, making it feel more like a movie.
Repetitive side quests that often feel like busywork with little reward or impact on the main story.

story
3,018 mentions
39 % positive mentions
56 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story of Final Fantasy XVI is widely praised for its engaging narrative, mature themes, and character development, often drawing comparisons to series like Game of Thrones. While the main plot is compelling and filled with emotional depth, many players find the pacing uneven, particularly due to the abundance of mundane side quests that detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, the game's cinematic presentation, voice acting, and soundtrack contribute to a rich storytelling experience that resonates with fans of the franchise.
- “The story is captivating and memorable with a fantastic cast of characters, and while at points predictable, it did a good job shaking up the narrative.”
- “The story is very well done, even if its not the most compelling in the series. The characters are well-developed, and the plot twists keep you on the edge of your seat.”
- “The story is dark, gritty, and engaging, exploring themes of power, destiny, and sacrifice, making it a must-play for anyone who appreciates great storytelling.”
- “Dumb story, forgettable characters, boring, repetitive combat, zero character progression.”
- “The story is disjointed and jumps all over the place.”
- “The side quests are terrible and boring.”
optimization
992 mentions
16 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
30 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, including stuttering, frame drops, and crashes, even on high-end hardware. While some users have managed to achieve decent performance with specific settings or mods, the general consensus is that the game is poorly optimized for PC, requiring significant patches to improve stability and performance. Overall, many reviewers recommend waiting for optimization updates before purchasing.
- “The optimization is solid, with smooth framerates and crisp graphics even on mid-range PCs.”
- “Visually, the game is stunning, with beautiful graphics and smooth performance that truly enhance the experience.”
- “Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly, with minimal issues in frame rates, and load times are barely noticeable, letting you focus on the action.”
- “Yet, the game runs terribly and it's the game with the worst performance I have played this year.”
- “The game is a complete mess on the performance side and will need you to have a high-end GPU to run it at 40-60 fps or even at 15 fps.”
- “Performance is simply unacceptably poor for the hardware - but still superior to both performance and graphics modes on PS5 in my opinion (I'm on a 3080 at 3440x1440).”
gameplay
864 mentions
34 % positive mentions
59 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Final Fantasy XVI has received mixed reviews, with many praising its fast-paced, action-oriented combat reminiscent of titles like Devil May Cry, while others criticize its simplicity and lack of depth compared to traditional RPG mechanics. Players appreciate the engaging boss battles and fluid mechanics, but some feel the game is overly cinematic, with a significant ratio of cutscenes to actual gameplay, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, while the gameplay is enjoyable for those who favor action over strategy, it may disappoint fans seeking the intricate systems characteristic of earlier Final Fantasy titles.
- “The gameplay is fun, the combat is very engaging, the story is well-written, the music is incredible, and the overall message is very timely.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and runs well, which is what you need for an action RPG that has seemingly taken pointers from games like Asura's Wrath.”
- “The gameplay is simple but more fun than FF7 or any other FF game I've played.”
- “My biggest complaint about gameplay is the combat; in this game, you're either watching a cutscene to further the story or fighting for you, but when you get to fight, you just spam the exact same button for a minute or so in a usual battle, then 10+ minutes for a boss battle.”
- “The gameplay itself is brainless (combat), linear (progression), anaemic (exploration), and padded (side quests).”
- “The gameplay is simplistic enough for anyone to enjoy, but for hardcore character action fans, you might find the combat boring and repetitive after a couple of hours.”
graphics
704 mentions
48 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals, detailed character designs, and impressive cutscenes that showcase the game's artistic direction. However, numerous players have reported significant performance issues, including low frame rates and poor optimization, particularly on mid-range systems, which detracts from the overall experience. While the graphics are often described as breathtaking, the inconsistent performance and high system requirements have left some players frustrated.
- “The graphics are beautiful, and the voice acting is top-notch, with Cid and Clive’s performances standing out as particularly impressive.”
- “The visuals are absolutely outstanding and top of the line in quality, especially in the big fights.”
- “This game has some of the single most impressive visuals I have ever seen, and it's not just for boss battles.”
- “Unfortunately, the graphics are another letdown.”
- “I do not understand how a game that is blurry and lacking in detail, with graphics comparable to nearly ten-year-old games, can run at 30 frames with DLSS upscaling on a 2080.”
- “The graphics look like 2015 graphics.”
music
634 mentions
57 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
1 % negative mentions
The music in Final Fantasy XVI has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its orchestral compositions and emotional depth, particularly during key moments and boss battles. Composed by Masayoshi Soken, the soundtrack is noted for its ability to enhance the game's atmosphere and storytelling, although some players feel it lacks the memorability of earlier titles in the series. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's epic narrative and immersive experience.
- “The music is fantastic and is, in my opinion, the best part of this game.”
- “The soundtrack is full of orchestral bangers that suit the utterly epic & legendary battles you will encounter.”
- “The music enhances every scene, whether it’s a quiet, emotional moment or a bombastic battle.”
- “The soundtrack is the first one in the series I don't like. It feels repetitive and doesn't have that certain je ne sais quoi that other Final Fantasy soundtracks had.”
- “Worst thing is that there is basically only one music track for each of the 5 major regions, so you will be hearing the same music track over and over, and for me, it even became annoying because of that.”
- “The music is decent, though sometimes it doesn’t match the game’s mood.”
emotional
106 mentions
97 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
3 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is widely praised, with many players highlighting its ability to evoke strong feelings through a gripping narrative, character development, and a powerful soundtrack. The protagonist, Clive, embarks on a deeply personal journey filled with emotional highs and lows, resonating with players and often leading to tears by the end. While some side quests may detract from the overall experience, the game's darker themes and mature storytelling create a compelling emotional rollercoaster that many find unforgettable.
- “The tone is darker than previous entries, filled with mature themes, but it never loses that signature Final Fantasy heart and emotional depth.”
- “Clive, the protagonist, is a character you genuinely root for, and his journey is full of emotional highs and lows that keep you invested.”
- “The story is deeply engaging, hitting emotional beats that resonate, and the action-based combat system is both amazing and incredibly fun.”
- “Boring story that has been repeated over and over again in this series of man vs. a superior being, yet somehow the man wins.”
- “Boring story and world in mid and semi-late game, with FPS drops everywhere in mid and late game.”
grinding
77 mentions
4 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding the side quests and combat to be tedious and repetitive. While some appreciate the depth of certain quests, the majority feel that they are often pointless fetch tasks that detract from the overall pacing and enjoyment of the game. Overall, players suggest that grinding is largely unnecessary for progression, as the game can be completed without extensive farming or side quest engagement.
- “No farming in the open world needed.”
- “Side quests were also not too tedious and were paced well, in my opinion.”
- “No grinding, both a story mode and an action mode, and the people that rebuilt the controls for keyboard/mouse did a great job.”
- “The side quests in general are mostly just go here, speak to a person, come back; it was tedious and annoying.”
- “The overwhelming majority of the side quests are very boring and tedious fetch quests and not really worth the time, which is a bit of a shame.”
- “Combat is tedious and boring.”
stability
75 mentions
35 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
65 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting smooth performance and minimal issues, particularly on high-end hardware, while others experience frequent crashes, freezes, and graphical glitches regardless of their system specifications. Many users recommend installing the game on an SSD to mitigate freezing during cutscenes, but overall, the game appears to suffer from significant optimization problems, especially on lower-end setups.
- “A complete, bug-free, well-written experience.”
- “Big yes from me, they fixed the stuttering issues, runs great now for me.”
- “The game looks good, runs great, and sounds fantastic.”
- “Not one single session of the game goes without at least one crash, stuttering, frame rate drops, freezes, and other bugs.”
- “Crashed every 30-60 minutes to begin with, but crashing has gotten worse as the story progressed, and now my game freezes and crashes every 5-10 minutes.”
- “The game constantly freezes and crashes even on the lowest settings.”
character development
46 mentions
37 % positive mentions
54 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising the depth and emotional engagement of main characters like Clive, while others criticize the lack of development for supporting characters and the uneven pacing of their arcs. While the game features stunning visuals and compelling interactions, many players feel that certain characters, such as Jill, are underdeveloped, leading to a disjointed narrative experience. Overall, the character development is seen as a slow burn that can be rewarding for those willing to invest time, but it often falls short of the expectations set by previous titles in the series.
- “The character development is strong, and while the pacing can be uneven at times, the deep lore and emotional engagements keep players invested in the unfolding drama.”
- “Following Clive Rosfield through a gripping narrative filled with political intrigue and eikons, the game excels in character development, making Clive's journey relatable and compelling.”
- “The story is heartfelt, the character development is good and actually made sense throughout the story.”
- “Like, besides the plank that is the protagonist, you got a couple of fembois, eccentric characters, tragic characters, and scheming characters with compelling backgrounds that are dragged down by either their half-baked personalities or half-baked character development.”
- “The ending felt rushed and the deaths of certain characters weren't really necessary because of no build-up on character development.”
- “Character development is terrible, the story isn't great, and gameplay is boring and repetitive.”
humor
32 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as inconsistent, with some players finding moments of absurdity and character-driven comedy, particularly with the character Cid, while others note a lack of witty dialogue and engaging side quests compared to previous titles. Many reviews highlight the game's grimdark tone, which often overshadows the humor, leading to a mix of genuine laughs and unintentional comedy from awkward moments and character interactions. Overall, while there are some funny moments, the humor does not consistently resonate, leaving players divided on its effectiveness.
- “But, it's so out of place I started laughing at the absurdity.”
- “Cid is an amazing character with an amazing personality; he’s funny as hell.”
- “It's also worth saying that this is one of the only JRPGs that I have ever played that somehow avoids the lost-in-translation cringe (especially when it comes to humor) that is present in most Japanese-to-English scripts.”
replayability
19 mentions
21 % positive mentions
58 % neutral mentions
21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag. While it offers some features like New Game Plus, arcade modes, and DLC content that can enhance replay value, many players feel that its linear gameplay and lack of exploration diminish the overall experience. Some users express frustration with the need to redo side quests for specific rewards, leading to a perception of limited replayability despite the presence of various modes and challenges.
- “The replayability value is also through the roof with: the possibility to replay stages of the game, arcade mode, Kairos Gate, and DLCs.”
- “Game offers great replayability with New Game Plus increasing level cap, offering new items and challenges.”
- “I still believe this game has a lot of replayable value with the different modes they give you and the DLCs.”
- “While I replay classics like FF6, FF7, and FF9, this game suffers from a lack of replayability for me, due to its linear gameplay and absence of a true open world.”
- “After beating the game once, you unlock 'Final Fantasy mode,' which is a NG+-exclusive challenge mode, but I've never cared for NG+ and I don't see this game having much replay value anyway.”
- “Overall, the game looks great and plays well, but it feels rushed and lacks the depth, replayability, and the magic of what makes Final Fantasy so special.”
atmosphere
13 mentions
62 % positive mentions
15 % neutral mentions
23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, gritty tone that immerses players in a mature world filled with heavy themes like slavery and discrimination. The music enhances this experience, with memorable tracks that complement the setting and evoke a sense of nostalgia reminiscent of earlier titles in the series. Overall, the combination of compelling storytelling, rich environments, and impactful sound design creates a captivating atmosphere that stands out in the gaming landscape.
- “It’s calming, and you can just feel the change in atmosphere.”
- “Love the dark and gritty atmosphere, a return to dark ages medieval fantasy, and you can pet the dog.”
- “The music perfectly complements the game’s atmosphere, blending classic themes with fresh compositions that resonate throughout the experience.”
- “The atmosphere has a more mature tone where heavy topics, such as slavery, are ingrained in the world.”
- “It bears a dark, gritty atmosphere right from the get-go; blood, gruesome death, and discrimination are apparent from the start, and you immediately know this isn't going to be your typical Final Fantasy game.”
- “Love the dark and gritty atmosphere; a return to dark ages medieval fantasy, and you can pet the dog.”
monetization
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with players expressing frustration over the presence of ads in a single-player experience despite having paid full price. While some find the game enjoyable, the overall sentiment reflects dissatisfaction with the monetization strategy.
- “It feels like a soulless cash grab on the name, but at least it's fun.”
- “Good luck finding them in the right order without spoilers and ads after you paid full price for the game that won't load them.”
- “I do not appreciate ads in my single-player games.”