Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy XVI, released in June 2023 for PlayStation 5, marks a bold shift for the long-running series. Developed and published by Square Enix, this action role-playing game ditches traditional turn-based combat for fast-paced, real-time battles. Players control Clive Rosfield, wielding a combination of sword strikes and magic, with the ability to channel the power of colossal summoned monsters called Eikons. The world of Valisthea is split into segmented open zones, connected by fast travel and familiar series staples like Chocobos. A Windows version arrived in September 2024, followed by an Xbox Series X/S release in June 2025.

Set on the twin continents of Valisthea, the story revolves around six nations vying for control of magical Mothercrystals and Dominants, humans who host Eikons. A creeping blight is consuming the land, escalating tensions into war. Clive, initially a shield to his younger brother Joshua, sees his kingdom fall and gets pulled into a conflict that hides a sinister force manipulating events from the shadows. The narrative leans into dark fantasy, a deliberate choice by producer Naoki Yoshida to broaden the series' appeal.

Development began in 2015, with a team including director Hiroshi Takai, artists Hiroshi Minagawa and Kazuya Takahashi, creative director and lead writer Kazutoyo Maehiro, composer Masayoshi Soken, and battle designer Ryota Suzuki, a Capcom veteran. The COVID-19 pandemic and the Russo-Ukrainian war impacted production and promotion. Critics praised the story, graphics, music, and gameplay, but noted weak role-playing elements, technical issues, and tedious side quests. The game sold over three million units in its first week, though it fell short of Square Enix's expectations. Post-launch, it received story-focused DLC and smaller updates adding new features and items.[edit]

Combat is real-time and combo-driven, designed by Ryota Suzuki of Devil May Cry fame. Clive can switch between different Eikonic abilities on the fly, each tied to a specific elemental power. The Phoenix offers healing and mobility, Garuda provides aerial grabs, Titan delivers heavy defensive strikes, and Bahamut unleashes devastating beam attacks. A stagger meter fills as you land hits, leaving enemies vulnerable to massive damage. Parrying and dodging are essential, with precise timing rewarding players with counterattacks.

The world is divided into large, open areas like the Dhalmekian Republic and the Holy Empire of Sanbreque, filled with side quests, hunts for notorious marks, and hidden treasures. A "Semi-Automatic" mode simplifies inputs for accessibility, while a New Game+ option unlocks harder difficulties and additional Eikonic upgrades. Exploration is aided by Chocobo mounts and fast travel points.[edit]

Clive Rosfield, firstborn of the Archduke of Rosaria, is raised to protect his younger brother Joshua, the Dominant of the Phoenix. During a siege by the rival nation of Waloed, Joshua is killed and Clive is captured. He spends the next thirteen years as a slave soldier, burning with revenge. Freed during an attack on the Imperial capital, he allies with the outlaw Cidolfus Telamon and a mysterious woman named Jill Warrick.

Their quest uncovers that the Mothercrystals are draining the land's life force, causing the Blight. The true villain is Ultima, an ancient being who engineered humanity to create a vessel for his resurrection. Clive absorbs multiple Eikons, including Ifrit, and ultimately confronts Ultima. In the ending, Clive destroys the last Mothercrystal, sacrificing himself to free the world from magic, while his friends believe he died. A post-credits scene shows a child with a book titled "Final Fantasy" by Joshua, leaving Clive's fate ambiguous.[edit]