Final Fantasy XVI had an immense amount of hype ahead of its release. It’s a PlayStation 5 exclusive, the first original mainline Final Fantasy entry in over a decade, and the first single-player title from developer Creative Business Unit III, the team behind the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV. It also firmly pushed the series away further from its turn-based roots into the action RPG genre with fast-paced, Devil May Cry-like battles built around combos, flashy attacks, and more.
Between its excellent combat, which carries the “RPG” descriptor of the game on its back with Eikonic power customization and unique moveset combinations, the best video game score of 2023 courtesy of composer Masayoshi Soken, and gorgeous visual sequences in some of the best boss fights in the entire series, FFXVI is, for the most part, a great success. The whole package is bolstered by protagonist Clive Rosfield, who contains layers of depth often not seen in the series of late thanks to an incredibly memorable performance by actor Ben Starr, and a story about brotherhood, love, and, of course, killing gods.
Though it falters in some ways, like its failed attempt to say anything new or remarkable on slavery despite a heavy-handed yet oversimplistic focus on its place in the world of Valisthea, FFXVI is the best new entry this franchise has received in nearly a decade. And for that reason, it belongs in Game Informer’s top 10 of the Final Fantasy series. | Our Review
