FINAL FANTASY XVI
Last updated: 2025-03-18
- Engaging mature story and well-developed characters.
- Stunning graphics and immersive world design.
- Fluid, dynamic, and satisfying combat system.
- Exceptional, memorable musical score.
- Tedious, unrewarding side content.
- Poor optimization and frequent crashes.
- Reviews
(sample size) - 2000
- Helpful reviews
- 77%
- Unhelpful reviews
- 22%
- Protest reviews
- 1%
- 68%Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
- 32%Helpful reviews with negative sentiment
- Positive points
- 4435
- Negative points
- 4152
- Gameplay points
- 958
- Perf. points
- 687
- Rec. points
- 1464
- Misc points
- 332
| Point | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
| Engaging, mature story and characters | The game features a well-crafted, mature story with engaging characters, drawing comparisons to Game of Thrones in its themes and political intrigue. Side quests contribute meaningfully to world-building and character development, enhancing immersion. The narrative is praised for its emotional depth, twists, and satisfying conclusion. | 97% |
| Stunning graphics and world design | The game boasts stunning graphics, detailed environments, and impressive visual effects, creating a beautiful and immersive world. The art direction is consistently praised, with special attention given to character models, landscapes, and the overall aesthetic. The game's visuals contribute significantly to its atmosphere and cinematic presentation. | 89% |
| Fluid, dynamic, satisfying combat | The combat system is dynamic, fluid, and satisfying, offering a variety of abilities and customization options. Players can experiment with different Eikon powers and combos, creating a personalized playstyle. The action-oriented combat is often compared to Devil May Cry, emphasizing skill-based gameplay and rewarding mastery of mechanics. | 88% |
| Compelling protagonist and cast | Clive Rosfield is a well-developed and compelling protagonist, supported by a strong cast of memorable characters. The voice acting is consistently praised, with Ben Starr's performance as Clive being a particular highlight. The relationships between characters are explored in depth, adding emotional weight to the story. | 88% |
| Exceptional and memorable soundtrack | The game features an exceptional soundtrack composed by Masayoshi Soken, enhancing the emotional impact of key scenes and battles. The music is praised for its memorable melodies, diverse range, and seamless integration with the gameplay. Many reviewers consider it one of the best soundtracks in video games. | 84% |
| Epic and visually stunning boss fights | The game features visually stunning and epic boss fights, particularly the Eikon battles, which are described as cinematic spectacles. These battles showcase the game's graphical capabilities, intense music, and over-the-top action sequences. The scale and presentation of these fights are often compared to blockbuster movies and anime. | 40% |
| Faithful to Final Fantasy roots | The game is a love letter to the Final Fantasy series, with numerous references, Easter eggs, and familiar elements that will resonate with long-time fans. It successfully retains the essence of Final Fantasy while introducing new and innovative ideas. The game's world-building and lore are also praised for their depth and detail. | 29% |
| Enjoyable and worth purchasing | The game is generally enjoyable and worth purchasing, with smooth gameplay and impressive visuals when running without technical issues. The combat is responsive and spectacular, and the game is well-optimized for newer hardware. The reviewer enjoyed the game overall. | 25% |
| Mature themes and cinematic action | The game embraces mature themes and content, including violence, blood, and mild eroticism, setting it apart from previous entries in the series. The combat is fast-paced and visually impressive, drawing comparisons to Devil May Cry in its flashy and cinematic style. The game offers customizable difficulty options to cater to a wide range of players. | 14% |
| Compelling voice acting performances | The voice cast delivers compelling performances, especially where emotion was necessary to carry the weight of certain plot points. The Latin Spanish dubbing is excellent, with actors conveying the emotions and dramatic weight of the characters impeccably. The dialogues are rich and the conversations feel authentic with significant emotional weight. | 7% |