
FFXIV ARR DESIGNED AS A TIME SINK SERIES
Saying FFXIV has the best story in the entire series is admittedly a bold statement, but there are few Final Fantasy games more narratively ambitious than this one. Whether you pursue crafting or combat, FFXIV has a wealth of engaging stories and content. The game’s director, Naoki “Yoshi-P” Yoshida, has even been vocal about wanting players to take breaks and go at their own pace, without fear of missing out. You could rush through the dramatic story or spend your time perfecting your cooking as a Culinarian, feeling a sense of accomplishment either way. Things like the Challenge Log and Wondrous Trails are structured in a way that they don’t force players to go out of their way to complete specific tasks, but they reward players for doing whatever they want to. Contrary to what most games do, however, FFXIV veritably encourages players to take it slow and go at their own pace. There’s a metric ton of content to wade through between dungeons, raids, alliance raids, beast tribe quests, and more. This applies to both gameplay mechanics and stories. As you progress through each expansion, you can practically see the development team becoming more confident, more willing to experiment in wild new ways. While the main scenario of A Realm Reborn can be a bit of a slog to get through, once you reach the first expansion, Heavensward, things kick into high gear and never slow down. The world of FFXIV is an absolute joy to explore, packed with lore and interesting characters. The first expansion, Heavensward, is when FFXIV really finds its groove in terms of design and story. There are multiple tutorials for playing each role, and story elements demonstrate mechanics like crafting. The game has a great way of easing you into its mechanics. Yes, there are balancing adjustments, but any of them presents a viable option for players. With the release of the Endwalker expansion, there are now 19 combat classes and 8 crafting classes. Past that, however, it also has one of the best narratives in the entire Final Fantasy series, which is really something considering this is a franchise known for its storytelling.

There are countless options for exploring its world, characters, and systems. The freedom it gives players is astounding. There’s a lot to love about FFXIV, but perhaps what’s most fascinating is the stellar single-player elements that make it one of the most accessible MMOs out there. That’s especially true with the game getting a brand new data center and going back on sale as of January 25, 2022. Having to sink hundreds of hours into a game can seem inconceivable, but there’s never been a better time to jump on board with Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, currently the most-played MMO in the world.

Especially if you’re not already familiar with how the subgenre works, getting into Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) is a daunting task.
