Final Fantasy is easily one of the biggest franchises in gaming. These role-playing titles have spanned decades and accumulated countless fans the world over. It's not all that surprising, then, that Final Fantasy XIV has built a sizeable online community.
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Wide-eyed devotees and newcomers alike have steadily flocked to this game, engaging with its myriad of customizable content and losing themselves in its exotic world. This has helped sustain the title for years, a feat not many online pastimes can boast. Naturally, Final Fantasy XIV's popularity attracts new players every day. Before jumping in, however, you should know a few things about its history, gameplay, and place within the larger Final Fantasy mythos.
Updated August 13, 2021 by Joseph Heindl: Final Fantasy is easily one of the biggest franchises in gaming. These role-playing titles have spanned decades and accumulated countless fans the world over. It's not all that surprising, then, that Final Fantasy XIV has built a sizeable online community. Wide-eyed devotees and newcomers alike have steadily flocked to this game, engaging with its myriad of customizable content and losing themselves in its exotic world. This has helped sustain the title for years, a feat not many online pastimes can boast. Naturally, Final Fantasy XIV's popularity attracts new players every day. Before jumping in, however, you should know a few things about its history, gameplay, and place within the larger Final Fantasy mythos.
14 It's an MMO
While it maintains the role-playing of the series, Final Fantasy XIV is also a massively multiplayer online game. This means it comes with all the trappings of that genre.
You have a million different commands at the bottom of the screen; it's structured to be a long-term time-sink, and you're surrounded by countless other world saviors. Succeeding in missions and raids often depends on these other heroes, as teamwork is the only way to topple the tougher bosses. Those hoping for a more personal experience should look elsewhere.
13 It's Not A Sequel To The Other Final Fantasy Games
This is common knowledge to fans, but there's always that layman who's unaware of a franchise's conventions before jumping in. Most entries in the Final Fantasy series come with their own worlds and characters.
Sure, they have recurring elements like chocobos and moogles, but the stories don't connect to each other in any way. The only exceptions to this come with subtitles or hyphens, such as Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy X-2. As silly as they are, these title quirks clearly indicate which mainline game they connect to. Just count your blessings that this MMO doesn't follow the abysmal Final Fantasy XIII.
12 It's Joined In The Crossover Fun
Although the narrative itself exists separately from Midgar and other series settings, certain characters have shown up in the odd crossover title. These include Dissidia Final Fantasy NT and World of Final Fantasy.
If you ever want to see Y'shtola Rhul interact with Squall Leonhart or Cloud Strife, then those are the way to do it. Keep in mind, though, that these side entries are also set in their own little worlds. They don't connect to the larger narrative of any mainline title, and the characters don't remember any exchanges that occur. They are strictly there for momentary fan service.
11 It's Really Version 2.0
The first release of Final Fantasy XIV came all the way back in 2010. Sadly, the game was such an unmitigated disaster that Square Enix had to issue an apology, eventually shutting down the servers.
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It was later rebranded and rereleased in 2013 as A Realm Reborn, and it was this version that spawned Heavensward and the other expansions that followed. Reception for the new game has generally been more positive, and its longevity thus far speaks to its success in maintaining a player base. However, one mustn't forget that this was built on a foundation of failure. At least the developers learned from their mistakes.
10 No Voice Acting For Side Quests
The dialogue and cutscenes in the main story are fully voiced like most Final Fantasy titles in the 2000s, but the side quests are not. Instead, they're conveyed through the standard text boxes that MMO players know all to well.
Games like Guild Wars 2 and Elder Scrolls Online have moved past this impersonal approach. Plus, fans have come to expect high production values from Final Fantasy titles, even the bad ones. When you take that into consideration, the side quests' silent treatment seems like a step backward.
9 It Hasn't Come To Xbox
The reason for this has never been definitively given. A common theory is that Square Enix and Microsoft were split about how to implement free-to-play and subscription-based games on Xbox Live Gold, which has a paywall itself. The current explanation comes down to producers not wanting to divide their resources by adding another platform. Whatever the case, it remains an odd omission in an otherwise popular game.
8 It's Free To Play…To A Point
Some MMOs operate on a subscription basis, and Final Fantasy XIV is one of them. Entry players must pay $12.99 for 30 days of play. That's not even counting the individual prices for the base game and its numerous expansions.
Those who take advantage of the free trial, however, have a lot to look forward to. Your level caps at 60, and you can tackle all story quests through the Heavensward expansion. In terms of character customization, the options for this free trial have expanded to the Au Ra race and the Dark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist classes. Not bad for no charge. Most full-price games don't have half this much content.
7 You Gain EXP By Eating And Resting
Levelling up in an RPG typically involves slaying enemies and completing quests, be they story missions or side tasks. These net you experience points to make your character more powerful. It's ground well-tread.
Final Fantasy XIV, however, grants additional experience for simply take care of yourself. Food gives players an EXP boost for a limited time after consuming it. On top of that, if you log out or go AFK at a sanctuary, then you gain Rested EXP. This is doled out as EXP boosts for any quests that you complete afterwards. Kingdom Come: Deliverance and Red Dead Redemption 2 place similar emphasis on nourishment and resting as paths to success, but it's surprising to see a stylized series like Final Fantasy go this route.
6 You Don't Choose Your Job Until Level 30
Like with its other oddball mechanics, Square Enix has opted for an unconventional approach to character customization. At the beginning, you select a Class, which is a general category that serves as the foundation for further advancement.
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You don't narrow this down until you reach Level 30 in the Class. Only then can you pick a Job, a more specific character type for those who have honed their skills. Players then level this up to qualify for more advanced Jobs. Needless to say, subscribers must keep track of a lot of levels. Some will doubtless jump ship and go back to simpler times with Pokémon and other straightforward progression systems.
5 You Can Change Your Job At Any Time
Many gamers see role-playing games as long-term commitments. That goes doubly so for MMOs. You choose your appearance, class, and other attributes at the start, and you spend the rest of the time expanding on those aspects through level progression. In essence, you set your character in stone and then decorate that stone.
Final Fantasy XIV downplays that commitment. At a certain point, players can switch between Jobs and Classes whenever they want. By leveling these up, they can essentially have multiple specialties for on character. Hardcore RPG fans might roll their eyes at this since it undermines consequence and eliminates the incentive for multiple playthroughs. However, in a game where different enemies call for different approaches (hinging on having the right people to play with), this all-in-one approach makes some sense. Hence, one of the most important things to consider about Final Fantasy XIV comes at the beginning.
4 PvP Isn't A Big Focus
Many MMOs emphasize Player vs. Player modes and gameplay. Gamers can go against each other in competitive matches for EXP and prizes. Unfortunately, Final Fantasy XIV isn't one of those MMOs.
While PvP is an option, it lacks the polish found in other titles. The frame rate and connectivity aren't as consistent as the other modes. Those looking for competitive play should go to the Golden Saucer or deal in some Triple Triad. The developers clearly put more thought into these than standard PvP matches.
3 Don't Feel Overwhelmed With Words
MMOs can be overwhelming enough to any player, and Final Fantasy XIV does little to diminish that feeling. To go along with the lack of voice acting, gamers must deal with a vast amount of text from the start.
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The developers bombard beginners with massive text boxes explaining the world and mechanics. Even once they get past these, players must still juggle a plethora of textual info onscreen at any given time. The UI can definitely seem cluttered at first glance. Once fans adjust to it, though, they'll likely become addicted like so many others before.
2 It's Mostly Fetch Quests Until You Reach The Expansions
The Realm Reborn relaunch may have fixed many of the technical issues plaguing the original release, but that doesn't mean that it's as compelling as other Final Fantasy entries. Most of the tasks in this initial package are mundane fetch quests. While this is standard for MMOs, fans might be disappointed in the lack of innovation.
Those willing to stick with the game thankfully have a lot to look forward to. Expansions like Heavensward and Stormblood come with countless compelling story quests to suck in avid fans. Whether or not they think the grind is worth it depends on the player.
1 It's Still Being Updated
One question that troubles onlookers of a popular MMO is whether or not it's too late to start. Will the players and developers soon abandon the game in lieu of the next big title? Well, that's not the case with Final Fantasy XIV yet.
Since A Realm Reborn, Square Enix has continued to update the game through patches and expansions. The latest of these–Endwalker–is set for November. The creators clearly support the project and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Anyone looking to dive in will have more than enough time to enjoy it before the day is done.
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