Back in 2021, I was asked by my colleagues to check out Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) during its sudden burst in popularity when World of Warcraft players migrated to Final Fantasy XIV during the controversial World of Warcraft: Shadowlands expansion and when Blizzard Entertainment was getting into legal hot water.
Almost immediately, FFXIV had me hooked from A Realm Reborn all the way to the climactic finale of Endwalker (which I loved when I reviewed it many moons ago) for many reasons. It treated the player like they’re the main protagonist of the story, it had a fun tab-target-based combat system that served as a good introduction for players new to MMORPGs, and compelling storylines and characters that paid homage to Final Fantasy’s legacy while standing on their own merits. Not to mention it had some of the most awesome and catchy music in the entire Final Fantasy franchise.
