Final Fantasy XVI first impressions: Kaiju, just add royal politics

Final Fantasy XVI is just around the corner. Square Enix’s beloved franchise is leaning heavily into the action RPG format. Another hallmark for the series is its complex narratives and beloved cast of characters. Recently, I played the first four hours or so of the title before its debut next month.

Unlike Mike Minotti — who dove into FFXVI’s combat — I’m not as familiar with the franchise beyond FFVII and spin-off series, Bravely Default. As a result, my impressions are from the perspective of a series newcomer. Important to note, the version I played was built specifically for this media preview so content may be different compared to the final release.