Forgot password
Enter the email address you used when you joined and we'll send you instructions to reset your password.
If you used Apple or Google to create your account, this process will create a password for your existing account.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Reset password instructions sent. If you have an account with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or contact support if the problem persists.
Final Fantasy XVI World

Is Final Fantasy 16 Open World? Answered

Final Fantasy 16 is the latest installment in the extremely popular and long-running franchise. Final Fantasy 15 took the series in a different direction by making the game open-world, allowing players to explore every nook and cranny. While some players loved this change in direction, some thought it didn’t work as well as the base formula. So this begs the question about the newest installment — is Final Fantasy 16 open-world? This guide has the answer for you.

Recommended Videos

Does Final Fantasy 16 Have an Open World?

Final Fantasy 16 is not an open-world game. Instead, the game features open-zone areas similar to how God of War does its format. These large areas will have main quests and side quests for the players to complete, and you can come back to these large areas in the future as much as you would like. These giant areas are known as “Kingdoms” across the land of Valisthea. Square Enix, the developer behind the game, shows off in its latest gameplay trailer that the world is huge and there will be much to discover through exploration and storytelling.

Related: Is Final Fantasy XVI an ARPG? Explained

Final Fantasy 16 features a central hub location. This location is called the Hideaway, and players will return here whenever they complete the main quest in the larger branching areas. The Hideaway will be the best place to upgrade gear, prepare for the following main quest, and more.

So, even though Final Fantasy 16 is more linear than its predecessor, it still offers deep exploration in its large areas. If you are bummed about Square Enix confirming a more linear format, it will be easy to look past it, as the early previews look great for the game. There seems to be tons of content to love for both fans of open-world and linear. The decision to return to the more linear format for the world is a great move, as 15 felt less like Final Fantasy due to its structure — but that is just my opinion.


Attack of the Fanboy is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
Author
Image of Christian Bognar
Christian Bognar
Christian has been a writer of Attack of the Fanboy for over a year and has covered Shadows of Rose, Lords of the Fallen, Remnant 2, Lies of P, and more; his favorite genre is Survival Horror. He has a business degree but felt the need to take his love for video games to the gaming community. Outside of writing, you can find him listening to all types of podcasts, especially Always Sunny Podcast and Morbid True Crime.