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  • July 2, 2019

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

Shadowbringers is more than just a masterful arc in a beloved tale; it's one of the best Final Fantasy stories ever realized, showcasing an MMORPG at the apex of its craft.
78%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:story, music
Most mentioned negative aspects:graphics, grinding
87% User Score Based on 18 reviews
Critic Score 91%Based on 15 reviews

Platforms

PCPlaystation 5Playstation 4PlayStation

About

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is a single player action game. It received very positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Take part in the next saga of the critically acclaimed FINAL FANTASY® XIV Online with the next legendary expansion pack—SHADOWBRINGERS! Explore breathtaking new environments, encounter exotic new races, master exciting new jobs, and fight alongside prominent characters with the new Trust system as you embark on a new journey as the Warrior of Darkness! With over 14 million adventurers worldwid…

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87%Audience ScoreBased on 18 reviews
story12 positive mentions
graphics3 negative mentions

  • Final Fantasy XIV offers an engaging narrative with over 100 hours of story content and numerous side quests, making it a rich experience for players.
  • The game has a thriving community and is welcoming to new players, with constant updates and seasonal events that keep the content fresh.
  • The introduction of new classes and the Trust system enhances gameplay, allowing for solo dungeon runs and a more accessible experience.
  • Purchasing used copies can lead to issues with missing activation codes, rendering the game unplayable without a valid code.
  • Some players find the quest design repetitive, with too many fetch quests and a lack of evolution in gameplay mechanics.
  • The game can be grind-heavy at times, requiring significant time investment to progress through the story and unlock content.
  • story

    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is expansive, offering over 100 hours of content filled with emotional depth and engaging quests, though some players find the quest design repetitive with too many fetch tasks. The Shadowbringers expansion is particularly praised for its well-crafted narrative, character development, and the introduction of a trust system that enhances solo play, making it one of the best stories in the MMORPG genre. Overall, the storytelling is complemented by a beautiful soundtrack and a rich world, though some aspects may feel grind-heavy or require significant time investment.

    • “Full of emotion and high adventure, Final Fantasy XIV’s Shadowbringers expansion brings MMORPG storytelling out of the shadows.”
    • “Coupled with a striking new world to explore, Shadowbringers' poignant and character-driven story is one of the best in the entire series.”
    • “The best story I've played in an MMORPG to date, story threads from the initial release of 2.0 are still paying off in Shadowbringers.”
    • “Too much fetch and carry quests and too many go talk to this guy quests for my liking.”
    • “Balance issues persist across roles as the new classes feel unbalanced at launch; quest design sometimes suffers from baffling requirements.”
    • “Can be grind-heavy at times, forcing you to earn levels to progress through the story.”
  • music

    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its beautiful and powerful score, which enhances the storytelling and exploration experience. Reviewers highlight how the soundtrack complements the narrative and the game's captivating environments, contributing to an overall engaging atmosphere. Additionally, the focus on voice acting and the emotional depth of the story further enrich the musical experience.

    • “Beautiful musical score that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “Gorgeous new areas and music that elevate the gameplay.”
    • “The soundtrack slaps, adding a vibrant layer to the game's atmosphere.”
  • graphics

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics have been noted as aging, suggesting that they may not meet the current standards of visual fidelity expected by players. This could detract from the overall immersion and appeal of the game.

    • “The graphics feel outdated and lack the polish expected from modern games.”
    • “The character models look flat and lifeless, making it hard to immerse myself in the game.”
    • “The environments are bland and repetitive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • emotional

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartfelt storyline, which draws inspiration from real-world experiences, complemented by strong voice acting. Players appreciate the meaningful class reworks and the introduction of new skills, alongside the addition of two new playable races and beautifully crafted areas and music that enhance the overall emotional experience.

    • “The voice acting is incredibly moving, and the heartfelt storyline draws clear inspiration from real-world experiences, making it resonate deeply.”
    • “The emotional depth of the characters is enhanced by meaningful class reworks and interesting new skills that add layers to the gameplay.”
    • “The gorgeous new areas and music create an immersive atmosphere that amplifies the emotional impact of the story.”
  • grinding

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players note that the grinding aspect of the game is typical of MMOs, often feeling excessive, with smaller side quests perceived as unnecessary filler. Additionally, unlocking appealing features like new jobs requires significant effort or real-money purchases, making them less accessible to newcomers.

    • “The game has inherent MMO baggage, making it grindy. Smaller side quests often feel like pointless padding, and cool features like new jobs have lofty requirements that are inaccessible to new players without making real money purchases.”
    • “Grinding feels excessive, and the rewards often don't justify the time spent. It can be frustrating to see progress locked behind repetitive tasks.”
    • “The grind is relentless, and it often feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game. It detracts from the overall experience.”
  • gameplay

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by a rich and highly developed system that supports varied play styles and offers substantial end-game and optional content. However, some users feel that despite a good story and numerous cut scenes, the gameplay itself has not significantly evolved over time. Regular patches and updates help maintain the experience.

    • “Massive story, rich, highly developed gameplay systems enable varied play styles, plenty of end-game and optional content, receives constant patches and updates.”
    • “Good story, with plenty of cut scenes, but gameplay hasn't evolved.”
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Frequently Asked Questions

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is a action game.

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation.

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers was released on July 2, 2019.

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers has received very positive reviews from players and very positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers for its story but disliked it for its graphics.

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is a single player game.

Similar games include Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward, FINAL FANTASY XIV Online, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH DEMO, The Elder Scrolls Online, MU: Dark Epoch and others.