Final Fantasy XVI is here exclusively on PlayStation 5, and the action-RPG marks a fresh take on a mainline entry for the long-running franchise. Historically, Final Fantasy games have had quite a long runtime because they’re story-driven and usually feature tons of optional content. FFXVI follows suit, but with this one leaning heavily towards action gameplay and a somewhat linear structure, so it may be a shorter effort depending on your approach. Whether you focus on story quests, embark on side quests, or participate in the various forms of optional content, here’s how long it will take FFXVI to complete.
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If you strictly follow the main quests of FFXVI, those marked with a red quest icon, you can browse the game by about 30 hours. It’s a cinematic experience with low-key quest objectives interspersed with action-packed dungeons, boss fights, and Eikon battles, so the game takes time to deliver those elements.
However, side quests are relatively important to the Final Fantasy experience and FFXVI has plenty of them between the major story beats. In your home base called The Hideaway and in the various open regions throughout the game, green quest markers will appear, indicating a side quest. Those with plus signs in the marker indicate side quests that unlock new gameplay features, such as unlocking the Chocobo mount. If you do all side quests and main storycompleting FFXVI would take between 45 and 50 hours.
Then there’s the Hunt Board, which is a list of optional boss bounties you need to find in open hub areas of the game. Sometimes these targets are related to side quests, but most of them are simply there to offer a combat challenge, chunks of XP, and the materials needed to craft better gear. If you include eliminate all targets on the Hunt Board as I did for my exam, you can add a few extra hours for a total of about 50-55 hours.
There are also battle-only challenges such as Arcade Mode, which are graded series of main story dungeons, and Chronolith Battles, which are wave-based battles that challenge you to use Eikons specific. Depending on your skill level and desire for high scores, these can last up to an additional dozen hours. There’s even a New Game+ mode that takes you back through the main story with tougher, higher level enemies, additional combat, and new combat mechanics, which would also add a few dozen extra hours. If you want discover all the features that FFXVI has to offeryou could approximately complete everything after more than 80 hours of play.
For more on this new entry in the long-running RPG franchise, check out our Final Fantasy XVI review. And if you’re looking for a lore guide or primer to acquaint yourself with the intricate web of politics in Valisthea, check out our FFXVI lore explained video.
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