What role does a Warrior of Light have in a world bereft of any darkness? The third expansion to Final Fantasy XIV quite literally forces the player to confront their role in the fate of a dying world and the need for balance in all things. After years of casting players in the role of the Warrior of Light, Shadowbringers’ opening hours work to break down the player and their expectations of what the successful hero’s journey looks like. This idea is beaten into the player through the game’s first dungeon, which culminates in one of the most stunning moments in the entire franchise’s history: the coming of darkness.
