- Publisher: Square Enix
- Release Date: Dec 7, 2021
- Also On: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
- Unscored
-
Jan 14, 2022Endwalker is not the end, but it is very definitely an end. In the game, it is the end of the tale of Hydaelyn and Zodiark, the Ascians, and the Scions of the Seventh Dawn who rose to challenge them. In our universe, it is the end of the second era of Final Fantasy XIV, a midnight that transitions into a bright and new day for the players and developers, in which anything could happen. But for now, the clock is still striking twelve, and I’m absolutely thrilled to see what will happen at 12:01.
-
Jan 11, 2022There is so much more I could praise Endwalker for – Masayoshi Soken’s incredible music, or the top-notch design of new character jobs, Reaper and Sage, are just a couple that spring to mind. Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and when this story ends, you’ll find another one just waiting to begin.
-
Dec 30, 2021Not only does Endwalker offer a satisfying conclusion to one chapter of Final Fantasy XIV, but it creates an amazing foundation for the MMO’s future.
-
Dec 22, 2021Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker caps off a lengthy story arc in the best way possible. The main quest has tons of unexpected twists and turns with satisfying payoff for fans both new and old. Sage and Reaper are a ton of fun to play and the new dungeons and trials will put your skills to the test. If you’re not already playing, you should be.
-
Dec 21, 2021Endwalker, and Final Fantasy 14 as a whole, is an inspiring feat. Over a decade later, Square Enix has told an unforgettable tale and managed to deliver a satisfying, beautiful end to the Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga. This is a story you’ll be thinking about for years to come.
-
Jan 18, 2022Wrapping up a story is never easy, even in a single-player game. Wrapping up a near decade-long arc and meeting the high bar set by previous expansions is even more difficult, but Endwalker manages both with aplomb. Even with the promise of a new adventure on the horizon, I was still sad things were over when I reached the end credits and immediately wanted to start a replay. By my reckoning, this is the sign of an exceptional, unforgettable experience, and I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in FFXIV.
-
Feb 9, 2022FFXIV is currently the best MMORPG available. The main reason is because it’s RPG first, MMO second. The story isn’t just an afterthought, but an integral part of the experience, and everything else revolves around the tale of the Warrior of Light. It’s logical, well-planned, and presented with great, voiced (or not) cut-scenes.
-
Jan 24, 2022Final Fantasy XIV closes its first colossal story arc with an exceptional expansion.
-
Jan 13, 2022Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker will tick every box for returning Warriors of Light. Between two fun, distinct new classes to play as, a wealth of new areas to explore, and an often surprising conclusion to a story arc that’s been running for years, Endwalker cements FFXIV’s place at the top of the MMO pyramid. We’re desperate to see where the title goes next, but if you need us, you can find us leveling those new jobs.
-
Dec 22, 2021[Endwalker] is a lofty, ambitious epic that ties together story threads, characters, and powerful themes in a way that only a story so trusting of its players can pull off. It’s not perfect, but Endwalker’s tale feels so authentically conveyed, even despite how big FFXIV has become, that many players will feel like it might as well be.
-
Dec 16, 2021Endwalker exudes excellence. The minor shortcomings pale in comparison to the sheer magnitude of its achievements. It’s one of the most ambitious MMO expansions ever made, and a magnificent conclusion to a journey that boasts some of the best storytelling in this medium. Those harboring reservations about the time commitment should carefully consider that you’re missing out on one of the best experiences in gaming. It’s been a remarkable eleven-year journey, and here’s to many more adventures to come.
-
Jan 20, 2022Endwalker caps off a story over a decade in the making in spectacular fashion and cements it as one of the series' best entries.
-
Dec 17, 2021Endwalker is the perfect ending for an unforgettable decade of FFXIV. A truly masterpiece to go back to the currently best MMORPG.
-
Mar 28, 2022If you didn’t like FFXIV before now, Endwalker will do nothing to change your mind. But if you’re in, this emotional rollercoaster will be rolling towards a satisfying conclusion, that absolutely will not disappoint.
-
Jan 19, 2022Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is a fantastic expansion that pays homage to the series' legacy and is a beautiful send-off to a ten-year-long story arc. The plot me had engaged throughout its entirety, the characters are memorable, and the new dungeons and Trials are satisfying to conquer. While some Job changes could be improved with future patches, many of them are welcome additions to the game.
-
Jan 3, 2022It’s obvious that Endwalker is going to be a favorite of many Final Fantasy XIV, while for others, it might not have hit that high bar that was raised with Shadowbringers. Regardless, Endwalker is still a fantastic addition to a game that was originally one of the worst received in the series. It truly is the comeback story of video gaming. Naoki Yoshida and his team should be commended for the incredible amount of world building and story telling that they’ve been able to pull off for, now, over ten years. Final Fantasy XIV continues to be a game that we would recommend everyone experiences. That is, as soon as the game stops being so popular that it’s able to resumes sales.
-
Dec 29, 2021Endwalker is the best expansion to the Final Fantasy XIV mmorpg so far. Its history is very careful, the playable news to match and the soundtrack is superb. The closing of a plot saga that every player asked for.
-
Dec 21, 2021Final Fantasy XIV's Endwalker expansion brings its longest story arc to a satisfying close and cements its place as one of the best Final Fantasy stories ever told.
-
Dec 17, 2021Endwalker may not outdo the previous expansion, Shadowbringers — a high point for the entire Final Fantasy series — but it ultimately has very different aims. Even as it ends the game’s first story arc, it has me looking forward to what’s next. For all its lofty ambitions, this operatic conclusion to a decade-long story peaks when focusing on how its core characters keep each other standing, even as the world falls down around them.
-
Dec 15, 2021It’s something that delves deep into the existential question regarding life and death, and our reason for living under suffering. It also goes in an immensely different direction, one that it felt impossible to see coming. This is all enhanced thanks to the original soundtrack that goes well beyond what we could have hoped for, immersing us in a tale we will never forget. That’s not to say there aren’t flaws, though, as there’s a few moments throughout the campaign that felt like padding, and some of the solo instances, as creative as they may be, killed the flow of events. This is on top of a good chunk of gear being reused assets. Thankfully, all of this pales in comparison to the rest of the adventure, witnessing one of the most well-written RPG stories ever told. Truly, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker is like nothing you’ve ever experienced before, in an MMO or otherwise.
-
Dec 15, 2021An expansion that's better than it has any right to be, Endwalker succeeds at wrapping up a decade-long story arc providing a satisfying send-off for players.
-
Dec 15, 2021With Endwalker, Final Fantasy XIV definitely proves that it deserves its place in the pantheon of the best episodes of the saga. It's simple, this new expansion brilliantly succeeds in concluding the narrative arc of Hydaelyn and Zordiarche thanks to strong moments sublimated by dungeons and epic challenges. Despite a rhythm that knows a few lengths, the adventure provides many satisfactory answers and benefits from visually successful environments as well as a high-end soundtrack that allow us to forget the dated technique inherent in this kind of game. extension which therefore does not include any major new features, but rather additions such as new jobs and many more than welcome adjustments. Now, we can't wait: to find out what Naoki Yoshida and his teams are preparing for the next patches and the future of Final Fantasy XIV.
-
Dec 14, 2021Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker caps off the Hydaelyn and Zodiark saga in a near perfect fashion. The storytelling on display vastly outshines the hit or miss quest design. The English voice acting deserve praise for consistent performances of both old and new characters backed by great directing. The dungeons and trials are some of the best in the game that continue to offer escalating challenges while keeping to consistent visual language. Each zone has a unique visual style and tale to tell in this final chapter, despite one or two having a rather slow introduction. All rounded out by a masterwork soundtrack, this MMORPG continues to prove that it shouldn't be missed.
-
Dec 10, 2021It's impressive that the team is still able to take FF14's trappings and crystalise them into new forms even so many years on, from the way jobs and dungeons feel like the best they've ever been, to their confidence when it comes to experimenting with the relationship between gameplay and storytelling. But while there are some stunning vistas and lighting effects, and the detailing on new armour designs are enchanting, the age of the core game can't help but show, smooth as it is to play. This is a great final chapter to a story that'll stick with me, and I'm excited to see the team tell a new one—but I'm eager for some bigger changes to shake up Eorzea when they do.
-
Dec 29, 2021The crowning glory of a ten-year saga.
-
Jan 20, 2022It sounds contradictory, but the new storyline is both the ultimate asset and the great weakness of the game. After all, Endwalker builds on a story that has been going on for eight years. To fully understand and experience everything, you need all that background. Endwalker is the pinnacle for existing players of Final Fantasy XIV, but not so accessible for new players who only now want to catch up. And that gets in the way of an absolute top score.
-
Dec 29, 2021Ultimately, Final Fantasy XIV Endwalker marked the end of an era. Plot threads from A Realm Reborn onward come to a close. The story is rife with fanfare, paying homage to past expansions in ways that sometimes feel overmuch or hit in just the right way. While the story isn’t as effective as it could be, the combat adjustments and quality-of-life improvements make Endwalker a strong expansion.
-
Dec 21, 2021For all that Endwalker suffers from pacing issues and the sheer amount of plot lines it lobs at us, an earnestness carries the entire story. Endwalker is jubilant in its sincerity, and tender in the way it treats life and death, mankinds' inevitable failing and flaws. It doesn't shy away from grand proclamations that would come across as cheesy if it was any other game, with any other cast of characters. But because it's FFXIV and because the Scions are people who accompanied us through Ala Mhigo's revolution, averting the apocalypse on the First, and much more, Endwalker's loud and bold demands for hope, light, and love fall more on the endearing side rather than hamfisted sentimentality. Endwalker is a fitting, emotional conclusion to a years-long journey for us adventurers, and I can't wait to see what's next.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews. | |
This publication has not posted a final review score yet. | |
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation. |
-
Dec 20, 2021In short: it sure is an MMO expansion. Endwalker walks (pardon the pun) a thin line between providing more of what players already like, along with something new and different. When it works, it feels great. When it doesn’t, it’s often a reminder of the game’s frequent aversion to risk or significant change. It may be that breaking this hold is what FF14 will need in the future.
-
Dec 9, 2021Endwalker isn’t quite as tight of an experience as the previous expansion Shadowbringers and definitely suffers from a few pacing issues, but it’s still a must for Final Fantasy fans and exceeded all of my expectations. It’s also showing its age graphically now (the grapes memes attests to that), but if you love the main FF games and still haven’t tried this MMO yet, then you really need to fix that (when the game goes back on sale again of course) as you’re missing out on one of the greatest FF tales of all time. A genuine must play despite its flaws.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 1,526 out of 1697
-
Mixed: 32 out of 1697
-
Negative: 139 out of 1697
-
Dec 8, 2021
-
Dec 8, 2021It seemed impossible, but they surprised us again. So many good references to Final Fantasy IV.
-
Dec 8, 2021