In a survey, you told us what is important to you in MMORPGs. Based on your answers, MeinMMO editor Karsten Scholz has now determined the perfect online role-playing game for you: Final Fantasy XIV!
A few days ago, I looked at the results of our survey “What is most important to you in MMOs?” My first thought: The last place doesn’t surprise me at all. My second thought: Hmm, which current online role-playing game actually best fulfills the priorities of the MeinMMO community?
Several favorites immediately came to my mind that could rightly be mentioned here. In the end, however, I ended up quite clearly with one of the best MMORPGs of all time: Final Fantasy XIV. Let’s quickly go through the individual points of the survey.
Number 1: Story, Exploration & Atmosphere
Over the years, Final Fantasy XIV has not only managed to become one of the MMORPGs with the best stories, but also to deliver historical moments. The authors succeeded in magnificently concluding the story arc to Hydaelyn and Zodiark, built up over more than 10 years, with the expansions Shadowbringers and Endwalker, much to the delight of many fans.
How difficult that is can be seen across many projects. Just think of the series Game of Thrones, the current phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, or some WoW expansions.
Square Enix, on the other hand, created a saga with exciting characters, emotional peaks, and a rollercoaster of feelings that leaves no one cold who has been involved in the story over the years.
In addition, there is the huge, diverse Eorzea, which sometimes seems a bit sterile, but exudes Final Fantasy flair from every pore. It’s just a pity that the latest expansion Dawntrail could not keep up with this epic finale at any time. This is also reflected in our ranking of the FFXIV expansions.
Number 2: Character Progression, Loot & Crafting
Final Fantasy XIV relies on the item spiral typical of many theme park MMORPGs, which continues to turn further and further with each update and provides sufficient motivation to participate in the various contents of the MMORPG. In my opinion, however, there are two elements that distinguish Final Fantasy XIV from direct competitors like WoW:
- You can master all jobs of the game with one character and freely switch between them.
- The professions have always been treated like real classes, with their own level experience, equipment, skills, quests, and more.
Anyone who levels all jobs with a character in Final Fantasy XIV and masters professions is sure to create a bond that lasts a lifetime.
Number 3: Challenging PvE & Endgame
While there have been discussions in WoW since the introduction of the dungeon and raid finders that Blizzard is dumbing down the content for random groups, Square Enix has avoided this despite comparable comfort systems.
Instead, I have always appreciated Final Fantasy XIV for designing dungeon and raid content for random groups to be achievable, while nonetheless always feeling that one has accomplished something for success.
The developers managed to achieve this because the group content in FFXIV logically builds from level 1 to the current maximum level – and there are many mandatory contents that must be mastered before one can tackle the latest challenges. Whoever stands there together in the instance usually has had the same tough journey behind them and brings corresponding experience with them.
Also cool: Due to the way group search works in FFXIV, old dungeon and raid content remains relevant for years, and players can find partners for these comparatively quickly.
And for those looking for particularly challenging content in an MMORPG, for which an established group is needed, Final Fantasy XIV also has a lot to offer. This is a very strong package for PvE fans.
Number 4: Fair Business Model & Support
Square Enix has already proven with the labor-intensive “A Realm Reborn” relaunch how important the current MMORPG is to Final Fantasy. The subsequent updates and expansions were so packed with content that players still felt the Japanese wanted to make amends for the poor launch after years.
For a time, Final Fantasy XIV not only made the more successful WoW look old in terms of content updates, but it also improved from expansion to expansion – until the previous peak with Shadowbringers and Endwalker. Only with Dawntrail did this impressive run hit a snag. With Evercold, the next addon is already around the corner. The support through new content continues to be present.
Anyone who wants to play the very latest content must buy the latest expansions and subscribe. This model is accompanied by one of the probably most extensive free trial versions among paid MMORPGs. You can now play up to level 80 through the Free Trial and experience all contents of A Realm Reborn as well as the expansions Heavensward, Stormblood, and Shadowbringers.
Number 5: Community, Guilds & Socializing
Although this point is in 5th place, Final Fantasy XIV certainly provides the foundation to be part of a great community that masters raid challenges together, expands its home, celebrates weddings, or meets at one of the fan festivals.
The point is: In Final Fantasy XIV, you can experience the entire story and most of the content solo without a disadvantage. Quite the opposite, tools like the group search in FFXIV work even better than with the competition, so you can – as already mentioned – find partners quickly even for old dungeon or raid content.
Number 6: Exciting PvP & Competition
The PvP area has always been the big Achilles’ heel of Final Fantasy XIV. Although there are instanced modes like arenas and battlefields, and seasons and tournaments also take place, these have never reached the scale or popularity of, for example, their WoW counterparts.
On the contrary: For some PvP content in the content search, in my experience, it is nearly impossible to find enough partners to open a match within an acceptable time frame. This is supported by the fact that Square Enix seems to only throw new PvP content onto the servers every few years. Of course, this doesn’t bother those who don’t care about PvP.
So, is there really no “but”?
Unfortunately, yes. Final Fantasy XIV still requires you to level linearly through the expansions, which inevitably means that you must traverse the sometimes very tedious staged and playfully still very bland phases of A Realm Reborn. Those who persevere will be rewarded with all the benefits praised in this article. However, it may take some torturous hours until then.
What do you think? Do you agree with my assessment or do you have another MMORPG that might fit even better with the MeinMMO community’s survey results? Feel free to let me know in the comments! Speaking of regular content updates: A taco is the star of the new update from Final Fantasy XIV, even though there is a new tough raid
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