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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Final Fantasy XI

Generally favorable reviews
Based on 25 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 61 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Square Enix
Developer: Square Enix
Genre(s): Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game
Players: Thousands
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Release Date: October 28, 2003
Summary
The world of Vana'diel stands at the brink of war. Three powerful nations, united in their plight against the beastmen forces, look to their last hope -- brave adventurers like you! Will the beastmen gain the upper hand, and thrust the once-peaceful Vana'diel into another war? Step into the world of Vana'diel and journey forth on grand adventures with players from all across the globe! Final Fantasy XI is the first online game in the award-winning FINAL FANTASY series. How you play is up to you, with limitless possibilities for adventure. Set out on your own to discover the countless secrets of Vana'diel, or form a party with your friends to purge the beastman forces and bring home sensational spoils! [Square Enix]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Final Fantasy XI: Chains of Promathia
Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central
Also On The Web: Adrenaline Vault Preview GameSpot Preview(s) GameSpy Preview IGN Hands-On Official Website
What The Critics Said
All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...
Gaming Age
FFXI manages to mend the idea of a persistent online community with a story, graphics, and an intuitive interface that begs to be played when other responsibilities rear their ugly head.
Read Full Review >Play Magazine
Online RPGs are not supposed to have characters that look this good, nor are they supposed to have the sort of atmospheric brilliance exhibited here. [Dec 2003, p.90]
Playboy
It's so engaging that fans may never leave the house, much less visit a theater again. [Dec 2003, p.44]
GameShark
Graphically, the game is a masterpiece. It is, without hyperbole, the most gorgeous MMORPG I have ever played. Characters look richly detailed, and the environment seems alive.
Read Full Review >PC Gamer
A better version of everything the MMORPG community has cooked up so far, and more. [Feb 2004, p.60]
Adrenaline Vault
It could be compared to "Morrowind" in its depth and scope, but the real people that fill the town squares and gathering halls give Final Fantasy XI a living soul that Bethesda’s hallmark title never had.
Read Full Review >GameZone
MMORPG fans should find a deep game with a versatile job system and an detailed universe, and open-minded Final Fantasy fans should enjoy the Final Fantasy nuances and great multiplayer gameplay.
Read Full Review >Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
You don't buy any MMORPG lightly, least of all this one. It imperiously demands massive chunks of your time, patience and dedication but the rewards are commensurately high. The fierce sense of satisfaction as your fame grows and coffers swell is hard to match. [PC Gamer UK]
Read Full Review >Just RPG
Perhaps the most annoying thing in the game was the focus on gaining experience.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
It's beautiful, it's well-designed, and I can't wait to spend more time in it.
Read Full Review >ActionTrip
In all, the pros of Final Fantasy XI greatly outweigh the cons. The graphics, job and skill system, as well as the overall polish make it an enjoyable experience.
Read Full Review >PC Format
Naturally wanting to be played with a PS2 joypad, the controls are difficult to use and can’t be changed, although a secondary keymap allows for the more familiar [W], [A], [S], [D] combination.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
One of those games that will probably appeal to any RPG fan, simply by the sheer scope of Vana’Diel and its ever-changing world.
Read Full Review >GameNow
The most beautiful MMORPG currently available. Its environments are second to none, and the character models are elegant and, frankly, a pleasure to behold. The world also feels more alive than any other.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
An online RPG that manages to break the mold, if just barely--but, actually, that's no mean feat.
Read Full Review >Computer and Video Games
You're not going to find another MMOG that's anywhere near as welcoming as this. While the whole PlayOnline front-end interface might initially seem a cumbersome folly, it's not long before you're wishing all your online games could be handled through such a console-style browser.
Read Full Review >Computer Gaming World
Square took the best things about single-player console RPGs and applied them to an MMO - a world densely populated by talkative NPCs, interesting, well-conceived quests, and a whole lot of visual gloss. [Feb 2004, p.84]
GMR Magazine
Offers great rewards to gamers willing to commit the time to it (player-vs.-player between warring nations is coming in January), and the community is filled with surprisingly helpful players, which makes for a deep, compelling, and perpetual gaming environment.
Read Full Review >Boomtown
It has more good points than bad though, at the least it will tide you over until the next generation of MMORPGs hits the streets and at best you will have fun for months, even years to come.
Read Full Review >IGN
Things are only going to get better as they add new content, so you can expect to see this game living a long and healthy life.
Read Full Review >Game Informer
Overall, the game does feel rather slow in comparison to overall MMORPGs I have played, but I is still addicting. [Jan 2004, p.154]
Read Full Review >Computer Games Magazine
Because of the high reliance on other people, diplomacy is a coveted real-world skill as well, and those who can use it wisely always have the most fun. [Feb 2004, p.62]
eToychest
There is a tremendous community established that is very helpful for the most part, and nothing quite surpasses the feeling of adventuring with friends throughout a world as vast as the one Square-Enix has put together here.
Read Full Review >G4 TV
While Final Fantasy XI doesn't currently offer quite as much variety and depth as competing games --especially on the PC -- its superb graphics, sound, and dedicated community make it a match for the competition.
Read Full Review >games(TM)
If it weren't for a few titles like "City Of Heroes" taking the genre in interesting new directions, we'd find it far easier to recommend this more traditional life-consuming abyss of a game.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.0 (out of 10) based on 61 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
jack attack gave it a0:
Tried it in 2003, not too bad. played white mage and bard to around 40. then i tried it again in later 2008. my god almost nothing has changed in 5 years. how is that possible? if anyone has read the developer interviews, they refused to change anything that would "make it too easy." what in gods name is enjoyable about being raped by a reskinned lizard. yeah, the community is nice, but the absolute refusal to make improvements to the game is what turned me off. i mean those developers were jerks about it too, they wouldn't even consider changes.
Tim H. gave it a10:
Not only a fantastic endeavor of gorgeously detailed graphics and strategic gameplay, but a true success in terms of multiplayer comradely. Time consuming as it is, you won't feel like a seconds been wasted after playing it. If you want a tactical, fun, and vastly open-ended game, look no further. FFXI allows the complete game experience to any one character!
JOsh C. gave it a10:
I have never played any of the Final Fantasy games but this one. It is by far the most interesting and addicting game i have ever played. The story line is awesome and is constantly being extended by updates. I could seriously waste my whole life playing this game.
Killa K. gave it a10:
Best game ever made IMHO. Still keeps me entertained after 3 years.
Zach D. gave it a10:
This is by far the best game i have ever played its most addicting, nice graphics, good storylines, and awsome chars and spells and specialskills too.everyone should play......NOW!
David G. gave it a10:
This game is the most addicting game I have ever played with seemingly infinite things to be done in a artistically dramatic world.
Axel G. gave it a10:
this game is the most amzing game ever they did somin grate still a bit repetitive but still amazing if i only could play it right now i woould be on 24 freaking 7.
