Final Fantasy XIV has been one of the best and most well-known MMORPGs on the market for many years. MeinMMO author Nico Scheibel now sees it the same way. But he had to overcome some initial hurdles.
With just an axe in hand, I was brought to the harbor city of Limsa Lominsa. My first impression was rather disappointing. The many cold and colorless stones hardly gave me the feeling of being in a fanciful world.
Skeptically, I walked to the first quests of the main story and, unfortunately, had to realize that many cutscenes were missing voice acting. This unfortunately did not help identify with my character and get to know the world of Final Fantasy XIV.
After taking on the first quests, I ventured into the vast regions of Eorzea, and again I noticed something bothering me. The so-called tab-targeting felt slow and sluggish.
Pressing a skill in the right order every 2.5 seconds was boring. Especially coming from another MMORPG like New World, which has a fun action combat system. When I realized that the generic story beginning of “A Realm Reborn” left me cold, I put FFXIV aside again. A second attempt came only a few weeks later.
The trailer for the current patch 7.2 for Final Fantasy XIV:
The second and final attempt
When I got bored in the endgame area of New World, friends convinced me to give FFXIV a second chance. “It gets better,” they said. But I wanted to judge that for myself, and since I’m happy to give a second chance, I started the MMORPG again.
Due to my initial aversion to the harbor city and because I aimed to take on the healer role for our group, my buddies advised me to travel to the forest city of Gridania.
When I arrived there, I was immediately overwhelmed: The music, the tree houses, the green ground, and the entire atmosphere felt just homely, almost like the Shire from “The Lord of the Rings.” With my new job as a White Mage, I found much more enjoyment in the combat system. Healing and supporting the group was exactly my thing.
Although I still didn’t find the story of “A Realm Reborn” captivating, Final Fantasy XIV was able to truly grab me at one point. The last cutscene of the base game, followed by the iconic Heavensward trailer, made my eyes shine. Now it really gets going!
The first experiences with the community
While the stories of Heavensward and Stormblood were up next, I started dealing with the content outside the main story. Raiding, crafting, gathering, or rather heading to the next house party in the neighborhood?
While I was searching for every opportunity to grind something, I noticed how caring the community in FFXIV is. At every corner, someone is there to briefly help you with something or simply gives away minions, mounts, or gil.
These little interactions between players make the world feel so alive; be it just a quick exchange of emotes or a whole group of small Lalafell looking for the next petting session.
This week, exciting articles about MMORPGs are expected every day. Included: a journey through the history of online role-playing games, nostalgic retrospectives, streaming nights, interviews, columns, and analyses.
Here’s the program for the big MMORPG theme week 2025 from MeinMMO
Eorzea is more than a game world
Many video games have beautiful and great worlds, but with Final Fantasy XIV, Square Enix has created something that many developers can still learn from. I have never experienced such an immersive world.
After I learned that there was a disastrous version 1.0 of the MMORPG and that it was not simply thrown in the trash, my curiosity was awakened. While I was reading about the stories of the Seventh Umbral Era in Eorzea, I realized how intricate and deep the world actually is.
With the help of a three-part encyclopedia, almost every little detail is adorned with lore and new details. A multitude of short stories provide more background information about our beloved characters, and the cookbook lets you dine as if you were in the kitchen of Limsa Lominsa.
The world with all its stories simply fascinates me. After more than 3,000 hours, I still like to log into FFXIV and feel a sense of comfort and home. Even the harbor city of Limsa Lominsa has grown dear to me over time, and every visit feels like a nice trip to the big city when you usually just wander around cozy Gridania.
If an MMORPG evokes such a feeling, the developers can gladly pat themselves on the back.
One brings shadow, one brings the light
With the Shadowbringers expansion, I believe the creatives at Square Enix have outdone themselves. The entire drama and development of characters like Ardbert or the Crystal Exarch to the antagonist Emet-Selch and the fate of the first shard is something truly special.
Through the newly gained knowledge of the Ascians’ motivations and backstory, they were no longer just the big bads who want to destroy everything, but rather human-like.
The entire adventure of the first shard ended in a finale that I still like to look back on. The dungeon “The Battle for Norvrandt,” where you must fight alongside all the familiar characters from Norvrandt against the Warriors of Light from Elidibus, is a true cinematic experience. I was even more overwhelmed by the subsequent trial against the first of all Warriors of Light.
Music that tells stories
Many of the soundtracks by lead composer Masayoshi Soken are more than just music; they tell a story about characters or the world. If you listen closely, there is a lot to discover between the lines and notes.
The soundtrack “To the Edge” tells the inner conflict of the character Elidibus and shows what has happened to the once-hero of the Ascians over time. Soken revealed at a fan festival that he was hospitalized and fighting against cancer while writing “To the Edge.” Many players and fans thanked him afterward for his great work, despite his health crisis.
In addition to the stories told by the lyrics, there are also purely musical Easter eggs to be heard. For example, certain melodies from earlier soundtracks can be found in new works, or the music contains light foreshadowing, which you only notice when the story reaches a certain point.
With emotional piano tones, epic battle music, and rocking guitars, the composers have turned Final Fantasy XIV into a musical masterpiece that I have joyfully listened to for years.
Advance until the end
The crowning conclusion of the Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga in Endwalker is rightly placed second in our ranking of all expansions for Final Fantasy XIV.
Whether it was the first trial where almost everyone thought, “Now already?” or the long path to the end. Endwalker simply captivated me. The story ends with a great and emotional conclusion that cost me a tear or two.
After hundreds of hours with the beloved characters, I was truly sad that it was over.
Endgame for everyone
Aside from the story, I particularly enjoyed raiding. After the tab-targeting initially felt dull and boring, I must admit that I really like it today. The fixed jobs with their optimal rotations just feel right and are easy to learn but difficult to master.
In addition to raiding, there is still incredibly much to do in Eorzea. It’s up to you whether you want to mindlessly grind for the next glowing weapon, try your luck at the Gold Saucer, or simply go on the next big fishing trip with your friends. In our endgame guide, you’ll definitely find the next big grind.
Final Fantasy XIV has something to offer for everyone and a world where one can feel at home.
Thank you for this great MMORPG
Not only the director Yoshi-P or Square Enix make Final Fantasy XIV the best MMORPG I have ever played, but also the players, that is, you.
FFXIV is like a big playground full of wonderful play equipment and attractions – a place that evokes memories of the best childhood days with friends. It is all the more astonishing that a simple MMORPG allows me to experience similar feelings once again. Fortunately, I gave the game a second chance back then!
Feel free to share your own thoughts on Final Fantasy XIV in the comments and why you like or dislike the MMORPG!
After the last huge success of Endwalker, the latest expansion Dawntrail did not convince players as much. On Steam, the rating is merely balanced, but the latest patch 7.2 gives hope: After 8 tough months, Final Fantasy XIV is finally recovering on Steam, but it is still too early to celebrate
