Final Fantasy XIV
Developer: Square Enix | Platform: PC, PlayStation, Xbox | Release Date: September 30, 2010 | Model: Buy2Play with subscription and free trial | Combat System: Tab-targeting
What kind of game is this? Final Fantasy XIV launched in 2010 with a version that was not well received by players. However, after a complete restart in 2013, this MMORPG has developed into one of the most popular games of all time. Year after year, the content and game systems improved, and now there are even four major expansions.
Today, you can enjoy dozens of hours of story, countless areas, challenging dungeons and raids, as well as a robust crafting system. Fans of other Final Fantasy titles will also find joy, as the imaginative world is filled with familiar characters, Easter eggs, and Chocobos.
However, MMORPG veterans should not underestimate the game. With its races and jobs – basically classes that you can switch and level with any character at any time – you have a choice of various play styles. With these, you can learn challenging rotations to later compete in raids for the best loot.
One of the central aspects of FFXIV is clearly the story of the MMORPG. The storytelling is epic and unfolds further throughout the expansions. Players start as simple adventurers and slowly work their way up to a true hero. Along the way, you will uncover ancient secrets, find new friends among the NPCs, and battle powerful enemies.
In recent years, the free-to-play version of FFXIV has been significantly expanded. You can now level your hero up to level 70 (out of a maximum of 100) and experience all story and side quests until the end of the Stormblood expansion. If you want to continue playing, you will need a subscription and the appropriate expansions.
Who is this interesting for? Final Fantasy XIV is primarily aimed at fans of JRPGs. It has an Asian style, with races that have cat ears or tails, a colorful game world, and a deep story with many cutscenes. The story is particularly in focus during the leveling process.
In the endgame, however, it also appeals to players who want to experience challenging dungeons and raids but are not interested in WoW or Lost Ark. Casual players can also engage in side activities such as housing, composing their own songs, mini-games, or the island paradise.
By the way, if you don’t feel like going through the leveling process, you can skip it using level-up potions.
Is there a catch? In the first hours of gameplay, some problems can be noticed that Final Fantasy XIV had to struggle with at release. While the introduction has been adjusted multiple times and is now much smoother, it still plays slower than, for example, WoW, ESO, or Guild Wars 2.
This is partly due to the high cooldowns on abilities, the many travel distances and travel times, and the somewhat sluggish dungeons, which can be completed with NPCs, but many appear particularly in the early story. The combat system becomes significantly more dynamic later on, but at the beginning, it feels rather basic.
Moreover, one must follow the linear story, whether one wants to or not. Here, especially in modern MMORPGs, alternative paths are offered.
Final Fantasy XIV is also not a real home for PvP fans. In 2022, new content was introduced that is also fun, but those who want to dive deep into PvP have better alternatives, such as GW2 or arena PvP in WoW.
Is it still worth starting in 2026? Yes, as Final Fantasy XIV offers something for almost every type of player. One can explore the game world alone and engage with side quests or experience the raids with their regular group.
In addition, there are constant updates that bring new content to the game, and strong communication from director Naoki Yoshida. In the summer of 2024, the expansion Dawntrail launched a completely new story arc and brought many fresh features – such as a graphics update, two new jobs, a new continent, and much more. We should learn more about the next expansion in the course of 2026.
