Final Fantasy XVI Critic Reviews

Final Fantasy XVI melds the best of the series’ themes with a modern, malleable take on combat—creating a heartrending, generation-defining tale of revenge, fate, and freedom.

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 were 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.

In a world full of games trying to stand out, Final Fantasy XVI has no problem rising above the rest. Wonderfully fun combat and beautiful presentation help make the excellent story even more impactful in an adventure well worth the price of admission. This is one that will surely sit with players for many years to come and will surely be one for the history books.

With a cast of characters that are easy to invest in, a story that pays off the promise of its impossible scale, and one of the best action combat systems ever committed to disk, Final Fantasy XVI is a game that you owe it to yourself to indulge in.

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.

It's far too early to determine where Final Fantasy XVI sits in the ranks of Square Enix’s venerable series. However, this is an engrossing, entertaining and, most importantly, fiercely intelligent game. The developers have taken the AAA-blockbuster budget they had to work with, and used it to craft an experience with a strong, provocative and timely message, and then have that backed up with some of the most entertaining action combat we’ve ever seen. Not a second of the game’s runtime is wasted, there’s not a single dud character, moment, or scene, and the plot is a riveting epic "page-turner.” If only more blockbuster games were like this, game development would be a far more mature art form.

Final Fantasy XVI features excellent action combat and an intricate story, both with incredible depth. It combines gameplay, story, sound, and music together into one form all inextricably linked. It sets a new standard for action RPGs, and is quite possibly the pinnacle of the series.

Final Fantasy XVI sets a new benchmark in action-RPGs, featuring a rich and fascinating story, and a layered and enjoyable combat system.

Final Fantasy XVI will change what we think of the franchise moving forward. It’s groundbreaking on so many levels, elevating the thirty-five-year old series to new heights. The combat is highly engaging and invites creativity and experimentation by giving players a bevy of tools to play around with. The story is beautifully written, and although it takes nods from other fantasy properties, it builds its own unique universe to immerse one in.

Epic. It's as simple as that when it comes to Final Fantasy XVI. Narrative, graphics, game design, combat. It's a flawless experience for both newcomers and hardcore fans. Innovative but also true to the franchise's roots, it's for sure one of the main titles of a really stacked 2023 for gaming.

Final Fantasy XVI is a game from the franchise worthy of a new generation of consoles, and its combination of classic and modern brings everything we love with what we didn't know we needed. It's strong, tense, exciting, revealing, it's a mix of feelings, places and stories. Clive's (anti-)hero journey, the people he encounters along the way, the weight of decisions, all culminate in a tale that moves and excites. And all that combined with a diverse and fun combat, and the beauty of the whole that this game is makes this a necessary title for any fan of the franchise or a good action RPG.

Final Fantasy XVI is a tale of loss, sorrow, revenge, and hope. It’s a story that feels human and down to earth, yet still retains the essence of what makes Final Fantasy so great. Final Fantasy XVI is a masterpiece. From its stellar writing, music, world-building and incredible cast, this has easily taken the mantle as my favorite Final Fantasy in the series to date.

Inspired by the past but modern at every turn, Final Fantasy XVI is the overhaul the series needed with unparalleled quality. Driven by a fantastic story and charismatic characters, built on accessible, exciting gameplay and impressive graphics on the PS5, it consolidates itself as one of the best games in the franchise history.

By no means perfect, it's as beguilingly flawed as its characters and world, and equally delightful as a result. With an incredible score, an enthralling story, and an eccentric and electric gameplay approach, Final Fantasy 16 is, quite simply, a modern masterpiece.

Blending brutal and flashy combat, a visually-impressive lore-filled world, and a story that offers intrigue and character-driven moments, Final Fantasy 16 is a completely fresh take on the series, despite having the heart of previous entries. It deserves every ounce of praise it will surely get, and in my view is a GOTY contender.

After 80 hours, what I find most fascinating about Final Fantasy XVI is its complete commitment to redefine what it means to be a Final Fantasy game, while also still staying true to the roots and themes of the series. This is a prime example of how Final Fantasy doesn't have to be bound by one idea or system, and I sincerely hope it serves as inspiration for future developers to take the series in their own, completely new, direction.

Final Fantasy 16 is an incredible journey and easily one of the best games ever made.

Final Fantasy 16 is a shining example of narrative-focused games at their best, boasting immersive storytelling and cinematic action that invites you into its richly detailed world. The expansive, deeply immersive setting and cast of lovable, fully realized characters sets a gold standard for Final Fantasy titles, offering something that is more than the sum of its parts.

The game is by no means perfect – its pacing is inconsistent and side quests can be hit or miss – but the combination of the combat and the story at large are strong enough to reduce any complaints to minor quibbles. Recently, Square Enix has come out to say that Final Fantasy can take on many different forms depending on the team behind it, and the folks at Creative Business Unit III have found a way to make this latest game their own. There is so much joy and care put into making sure that this experience feels epic and rewards its fan base, even though it’s doing a lot of new things. Final Fantasy 16 is proof that the unexpected can be just as enjoyable as the tried and true.

Final Fantasy XVI is the perfect combination of narrative, visuals, pacing, tension and combat and tells the most adult story in the series. The game is, without a doubt, one of the year's best, as well as one of the best Final Fantasy titles to date.