Final Fantasyis easily one of the biggest franchises in gaming. These role-playing titles have spanned decades and accumulated countless fans the world over. It’s not all that surprising, then, thatFinal Fantasy XIVhas built a sizeable online community.
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Wide-eyed devotees and newcomers alike have steadily flocked to this game, engaging with its myriad of customizable content and losing themselves in its exotic world. This has helped sustain the title for years, a feat not many online pastimes can boast. Naturally,Final Fantasy XIV’s popularity attracts new players every day. Before jumping in, however, you should know a few things about its history, gameplay, and place within the largerFinal Fantasymythos.
Updated Jul 09, 2025 by Joseph Heindl:Final Fantasy is easily one of the biggest franchises in gaming. These role-playing titles have spanned decades and accumulated countless fans the world over. It’s not all that surprising, then, that Final Fantasy XIV has built a sizeable online community.Wide-eyed devotees and newcomers alike have steadily flocked to this game, engaging with its myriad of customizable content and losing themselves in its exotic world. This has helped sustain the title for years, a feat not many online pastimes can boast. Naturally, Final Fantasy XIV’s popularity attracts new players every day. Before jumping in, however, you should know a few things about its history, gameplay, and place within the larger Final Fantasy mythos.
14It’s an MMO
While it maintains the role-playing of the series,Final Fantasy XIVis alsoa massively multiplayer online game. This means it comes with all the trappings of that genre.
You have a million different commands at the bottom of the screen; it’s structured to be a long-term time-sink, and you’re surrounded by countless other world saviors. Succeeding in missions and raids often depends on these other heroes, as teamwork is the only way to topple the tougher bosses. Those hoping for a more personal experience should look elsewhere.
13It’s Not A Sequel To The Other Final Fantasy Games
This is common knowledge to fans, but there’s always that layman who’s unaware of a franchise’s conventions before jumping in. Most entries in theFinal Fantasyseries come with their own worlds and characters.
Sure,they have recurring elementslike chocobos and moogles, but the stories don’t connect to each other in any way. The only exceptions to this come with subtitles or hyphens, such asCrisis Core: Final Fantasy VIIandFinal Fantasy X-2. As silly as they are, these title quirks clearly indicate which mainline game they connect to. Just count your blessings that this MMO doesn’t follow the abysmalFinal Fantasy XIII.
12It’s Joined In The Crossover Fun
Although the narrative itself exists separately from Midgar and other series settings, certain characters have shown up in the odd crossover title. These includeDissidia Final Fantasy NTandWorld of Final Fantasy.
If you ever want to see Y’shtola Rhul interact with Squall Leonhart orCloud Strife, then those are the way to do it. Keep in mind, though, that these side entries are also set in their own little worlds. They don’t connect to the larger narrative of any mainline title, and the characters don’t remember any exchanges that occur. They are strictly there for momentary fan service.
11It’s Really Version 2.0
The first release ofFinal Fantasy XIVcame all the way back in 2010. Sadly, the game wassuch an unmitigated disasterthat Square Enix had to issue an apology, eventually shutting down the servers.
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It was later rebranded and rereleased in 2013 asA Realm Reborn, and it was this version that spawnedHeavenswardand the other expansions that followed. Reception for the new game has generally been more positive, and its longevity thus far speaks to its success in maintaining a player base. However, one mustn’t forget that this was built on a foundation of failure. At least the developers learned from their mistakes.
10No Voice Acting For Side Quests
The dialogue and cutscenes in the main story are fully voiced like mostFinal Fantasytitles in the 2000s, but the side quests are not. Instead, they’re conveyed through the standard text boxes that MMO players know all to well.
Games likeGuild Wars 2andElder Scrolls Onlinehave moved past this impersonal approach. Plus, fans have come to expect high production values fromFinal Fantasytitles, even the bad ones. When you take that into consideration, the side quests' silent treatment seems like a step backward.
9It Hasn’t Come To Xbox
The reason for this has never been definitively given. A common theory is that Square Enix and Microsoft were split about how to implement free-to-play and subscription-based games on Xbox Live Gold, which has a paywall itself. The current explanation comes down toproducers not wanting to divide their resources by adding another platform. Whatever the case, it remains an odd omission in an otherwise popular game.
8It’s Free To Play…To A Point
Some MMOs operate on a subscription basis, andFinal Fantasy XIVis one of them. Entry players must pay $12.99 for 30 days of play. That’s not even counting the individual prices for the base game and its numerous expansions.
Those who take advantage of the free trial, however, have a lot to look forward to. Your level caps at 60, and you can tackle all story quests through theHeavenswardexpansion. In terms of character customization, the options for this free trial have expanded to the Au Ra race and theDark Knight, Astrologian, and Machinist classes. Not bad for no charge. Most full-price games don’t have half this much content.
7You Gain EXP By Eating And Resting
Levelling up in an RPG typically involves slaying enemies and completing quests, be they story missions or side tasks. These net you experience points to make your character more powerful. It’s ground well-tread.
Final Fantasy XIV, however, grants additional experience for simply take care of yourself. Food gives players an EXP boost for a limited time after consuming it. On top of that, if you log out or go AFK at a sanctuary, then you gain Rested EXP. This is doled out as EXP boosts for any quests that you complete afterwards.Kingdom Come: DeliveranceandRed Dead Redemption 2place similar emphasis on nourishment and resting as paths to success, but it’s surprising to see a stylized series likeFinal Fantasygo this route.
6You Don’t Choose Your Job Until Level 30
Like with its other oddball mechanics, Square Enix has opted for an unconventional approach to character customization. At the beginning, you select a Class, which is a general category that serves as the foundation for further advancement.
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5You Can Change Your Job At Any Time
Many gamers see role-playing games as long-term commitments. That goes doubly so for MMOs. You choose your appearance, class, and other attributes at the start, and you spend the rest of the time expanding on those aspects through level progression. In essence, you set your character in stone and then decorate that stone.
Final Fantasy XIVdownplays that commitment. At a certain point, players can switch between Jobs and Classes whenever they want. By leveling these up, they can essentially have multiple specialties for on character. Hardcore RPG fans might roll their eyes at this since it undermines consequence and eliminates the incentive for multiple playthroughs. However, in a game where different enemies call for different approaches (hinging on having the right people to play with), this all-in-one approach makes some sense. Hence, one of the most important things to consider aboutFinal Fantasy XIVcomes at the beginning.
