Final Fantasy XVI Reviews
An excellent battle system shackled to a dispiritingly dull and long-winded fantasy adventure, that takes an inordinate amount of time to say nothing of value.
Final Fantasy XVI remains an eloquent, sturdy work that achieves almost everything its creators hoped. It is not the most innovative Final Fantasy ever made. It’s just one of the best.
A hallmark of excellence. There may be flaws, but they are negligible and won't cause massive damage.
Like the Phoenix, Final Fantasy XVI rises from the ashes to regain its throne among the best RPGs. It is a game that exudes a confidence and firmness when it comes to carrying out everything that is proposed that we had not seen in the saga for years, proving that Final Fantasy does not need to wait its turn to shine like a star.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Final Fantasy XVI is a gift to the fans, it's a gift to the world of video games. Friends, enjoy it, enjoy it very much.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
An amazing proof of narrative maturity, as well as cohesion between worldbuilding and gameplay.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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!
The latest marquee RPG from Square Enix goes for broke at every opportunity and then some.
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.
Final Fantasy XVI is all over the place. It’s a game of incredible highs and distasteful lows, boasting such a narrative trainwreck of disarranged ideas it’s borderline incompatible with itself. Endeavoring to tackle themes of fascism and slavery would be laudable if the result wasn’t inelegant at best and offensive at worst. The frustrating, exhausting nature of XVI’s miserable narrative is countered by notably enjoyable combat, impressive setpieces, and truly stunning boss encounters. When it’s not boring, it’s exhilarating. When it’s not exhilarating, it’s insulting. When it’s not insulting, it’s delightful.
Square Enix's latest Final Fantasy borrows liberally from Western fantasy, including Game of Thrones and The Lord of the Rings. Read more.
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.
A more mature and realistic tone, stunning performances, a rounded likeable hero and a fully realised world make up for moments when this epic 40-hour game becomes a chore
Final Fantasy has never played better, and 16’s cast is destined to be fan favourites. We just wish that when they are outside of the Hollywood blockbuster-tier adventures of the main quest, they were given some more interesting adventures to pursue.
While not everyone agrees that Final Fantasy XVI is the best entry in the series, it was certainly one of the standout games of 2023. With its absorbing narrative, memorable characters, great acting, and engaging real-time action combat, Final Fantasy XVI brings to the PC a thrilling experience that does nothing but improve an already stellar game.
The team at Creative Business Unit III has found their spark, and managed to use it to turn Final Fantasy XVI into unyielding flame. One that shines more than many others.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Final Fantasy XVI is a hard-to-judge beast, a divisive experiment that would have been more comfortable as a spin-off, rather than in the uncomfortable shoes of the last official chapter of a much-loved series. A passionate plot and a successful combat system keep the attention high for the approximately 30 hours necessary to finish the game, but unfortunately they are forced to divide the scene with rosewater "role-playing" mechanics and a sadly arid and artificial world, net of a commendable artistic direction. On the JRPG front we are facing a very controversial result, but overall a more than decent game.
Review in Italian | Read full review
In many ways, XVI hardly resembles the usual FF experience. There’s no massive party of adventurers, no MP-based magic system, and no open world map traversal, among other things. And yet, I got the quintessential Final Fantasy experience. There’s a sweeping, epic story. The stakes are incredibly high. Clive is beset by tragedy and hardship. He experiences character growth, moments of joy, companionship, and love. The battles go from mundane to impossibly epic. Clive is given all the power, special moves, and responsibilities of a capital ‘P’ Protagonist. The game is gorgeous, the music is incredible, and the story got its hooks deep into my flesh. Despite my initial misgivings, I’ve come to love this game completely. Long-time fans, series newcomers, RPG enthusiasts, hear me now: Final Fantasy XVI is the platonic ideal of FF games. They don’t get better than this.
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.