I don't always care for an MMORPG, though I do care greatly for Final Fantasy 14. While that may seem paradoxical, as FF14 is itself an MMO, it's primarily because you can enjoy it solely as an RPG, just like any other entry in the beloved FF series. That, and because the free trial remains one of the most generous try-before-you-buy propositions in the gaming space.
"This is your story. It all begins here."
Final Fantasy 14 tells an array of stories across its numerous expansions that would feel right at home in a standalone Final Fantasy game. Heavensward's conflict between man and dragon unfolds against a medieval backdrop that evokes the series at its earliest, whereas later expansions add sci-fi stylings to the mix that'll please any fan of Final Fantasy 7, 8, and more. Also, the narrative thread that stitches all of them together isn't to be missed once you reach the grand conclusion of Endwalker.
What's an immediate standout from A Realm Reborn's opening minutes, though, is a sense of immersion. Final Fantasy 14 offers you the chance to create your Warrior of Light in a way that would delight any long-standing tabletop-gaming fan, right down to the race you'll play and the class you'll carry forward, all with class-specific gear that really lets your colors fly.
You're immediately bonded to your character, too, as you both enter an Eorzea that's already been through plenty. Final Fantasy 14's story is set in motion by a catastrophic event that reshapes the world's very being. It's a new world, and one of which your Warrior of Light enters as a mysterious stranger not fully aware of what's come before. It's not too dissimilar to your own entry. Final Fantasy 14 is populated by oodles of players with various tenure going about their daily tasks. Both you and your Warrior of Light are entering a world already rich in history and memories.
The feeling of immersion has strengthened over the years, too. Moment-to-moment gameplay in Final Fantasy 14 resembles adventuring out, meeting characters from diverse backgrounds, and contributing to a grander story unfolding. Where all of that really ups in tempo, though, is the combat throughout Final Fantasy 14's many dungeon encounters and boss melees.
At one point, these breaks in the story would be experienced with other players. Now, thanks to the Duty Support feature, you can choose to tackle these encounters with NPCs relevant to that point of the story. It's a welcome option if you want to learn the mechanics of each challenging boss encounter without being in the company of others, but it also adds some punchy highs to the story. While I enjoy seeing a friendly Warrior of Light, swatting foes to the side and overcoming a demanding boss with beloved story companions pulls me into the story all the greater.
And better yet, the opening chapters of this saga can be played for free.
Have you heard of the critically acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy 14 . . .
The biggest barrier buster Final Fantasy 14 offers is the free trial itself. For the lowly sum of nothing, you have access to Final Fantasy 14's base A Realm Reborn offering alongside the Heavensward and Stormblood expansions. Each offering of content has enough to match that of a 60-hour RPG, meaning that you have a whole trilogy of games to play for free before choosing if a subscription is something you want to spend your money on.
And what's an RPG without side content? When you're not enjoying the story, you can learn more of the world through an additional quest or relax through a bit of fishing – a staple all good RPGs have.
And that's not all, Final Fantasy 14's free trial also comes without a restriction on playtime, so you can take as long as you like playing through all the content in front of you. And there's plenty of it. You'll also gain access to the new classes introduced in each expansion, allowing you to change up your roleplay.
Final Fantasy 14's free trial does come with some restrictions, such as a cap on in-game currency and the inability to trade, though what shines through is a glimpse of the MMORPG at its best. You can use the Duty Support system to play through a generous helping of content totally solo. Whether you try multiplayer content after that, such as a raid, or stick to the tranquil life of fishing or crafting, is up to you. If you feel compelled to continue the story after three games worth of content, only then do you need to think of spending the money for a subscription.
