Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Reviews
Dawntrail is maddeningly both a fresh start with excellent gameplay and bit of a story letdown after two excellent expansions.
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is very messy, but still greatly enjoyable. Wuk Lamat is a lovable character who I hope sticks around, with a satisfying character arc tying in with the expansion's themes. Viper is a blast to play, and every dungeon or trial holds something new and unique. While the expansion isn't the best FFXIv has to offer, it has so much heart you can't help but smile.
If you wanted more of the same ol’ same ol’ online Final Fantasy, this is what you’ll get. But I wanted something more. If Dawntrail is to be a new chapter, a potential start of a new saga, it needed a better opening, not this boring thing. Time will tell what will become of this.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Dawntrail has the benefit of years of gameplay and graphical improvements, and puts them to great use in designing some of the best dungeons and trials we've seen to date. However, its confused story prevents it from reaching its full potential, and will likely bump Dawntrail down to the bottom-to-middle of most player's tier lists. These issues aren't enough to ruin the experience though, so it's still a good time for Final Fantasy XIV players.
Dawntrail goes exactly where Final Fantasy XIV needed to go, experimenting with the player character's role in this world as its borders expand.
FFXIV Dawntrail starts with a trip to the New World, and it sets up the next narrative journey for the Warrior of Light.
The launch of new saga isn't easy start for Yoshi-P or players. But continueing the previous events is calling for change of pace, new characters or environments ' and Danwtrail delivers them all. With two different halves, great dungeons and atmospheric soundtrack, this one is still fantasy joy to play.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
The plot is one of the most important components of each add-on for FF XIV and the content that the vast majority of users go through. The expansion made combat more fun, and dungeons and raids more dynamic, but the disgusting pace of the narrative and the way it spends a lot of time on unnecessary things greatly blur the impression. Especially considering the fact that this is the start of a new storyline.
Review in Russian | Read full review
With Dawntrail, we take the first steps of the next decade in the story, but we have to honestly admit that it is a bit of a weak start. We will see what kind of story web they will weave over this.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Overall, Dawntrail is a great expansion that features a story with ups and downs, but that sets the stage well for what could become the new saga of Final Fantasy XIV.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Dawntrail may have the slowest start of any expansion since A Realm Reborn, but it ultimately won the race with it's smooth queue free launch, noticeable graphical updates and an intriguing new plot which is the fresh start Final Fantasy XIV needed to be at the top of the MMORPG genre once again
Review in Arabic | Read full review
It’s not a perfect new beginning, but new beginnings rarely are. Instead, it has the growing pains of every long form story that has taken a shift into uncharted territory. We’re only just diving into a big new mythology, and there’s a certain excitement to that uncertainty.
I already considered Final Fantasy XIV a must-play title for franchise fans since Shadowbringers, due to its high-quality story and the incredibly rewarding fanservice. However, with the release of Dawntrail, this recommendation becomes even stronger, solidifying XIV's place in the conversation among the best Final Fantasy games of all time.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Final Fantasy XIV is a top-class MMORPG that sets new standards in the MMO genre with its outstanding story. Final Fantasy XIV casts a spell over newcomers and impresses with a fantastic amount of content. There is a hell of a lot to do in Final Fantasy XIV and, especially as a newcomer, there is an incredible amount of content so that you will never get bored. The fact that Final Fantasy XIV focusses on the story is a big plus point, as it consistently impresses with an exciting plot.
Review in German | Read full review
Dawntrail is a fresh start for Final Fantasy XIV. After wrapping up its 10-year arc, Square Enix's MMORPG kicks off into the unknown. The narrative is flawed, its pacing is awkward, but Yoshi-P and co. still manage to deliver a story that is at least competent and can go in many directions. The QoL, graphics upgrade and combat improvements are the highlights of this expansion.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Final Fantasy XIV's fifth expansion represents both a sequel and a new beginning for the franchise, but it fails to shine in the narrative component that had distinguished it so far in the MMORPG scene. However, there are many new features and the gameplay has benefited from the new additions, pending the additional content that will be released in the coming months.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Despite a midpoint lull, Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail is a stunning expansion with an evocative soundtrack, challenging dungeons, and emotional story. An exciting kick-off that leaves you hungry for the future of FFXIV.
Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail had a lot to live up to following the excellent legacy left behind by Shadowbringers and Endwalker. It doesn’t always hit the mark with incredibly slow opening hours and odd choices that permeate the entire expansion but there’s a lot to like about it as well. The battle content, soundtrack, and some impactful moments all come together to help push up an otherwise struggling expansion and this makes it a mostly excellent addition.
While it doesn't take major steps forward mechanically, and its story may not hit the same highs as Shadowbringers and Endwalker, Dawntrail offers plenty of memorable and tear-jerking moments while digging deeper into Final Fantasy XIV's lore in exciting ways. The seeds have only just begun to be planted for the future of Final Fantasy XIV, but this expansion makes it easy to feel confident about where the franchise is going and how much it has left to explore.
Dawntrail does the job it needed to do by giving players the new adventure they need to get going once again. It takes a little while to get there, but when the payoff comes it shows how the narrative team behind Final Fantasy XIV is at hitting the emotional highs.