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Is Final Fantasy 16 open world?

Updated: Jun 14, 2023 11:06 am
Is Final Fantasy 16 open world?

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Final Fantasy is a game series that likes to change things up. Square Enix usually switches how each game plays throughout the series. Not every game in the series is an open world game. Some are linear while others offer expansive worlds to explore.

The world of Valisthea in Final Fantasy 16 is a pretty large place with plenty to see. During the game, you may want to explore the entire globe. Does the game have an open world design? Is Final Fantasy 16 open world?

Will Final Fantasy 16 be open world?

In an interview, the game’s producer Naoki Yoshida confirmed that Final Fantasy 16 is not an open world game. They specifically stated, “To bring a story that feels like it spans an entire globe and beyond, we decided to avoid an open world design that limits us to a single open world space.”

Instead, Final Fantasy 16 has an independent area-based game design that was confirmed during the demo. This type of world design allows players to choose different zones to travel to instead of having a large open-world space.

Instead of staying in one area throughout the main quest, you will travel the land of Valisthea by going to the map and selecting the area you wish to travel. This enhances the game experience and allows Square Enix to tell a story that spans the globe instead of one location.

This is a large change from the world design that many got used to during Final Fantasy 15 which allowed players to explore a large location filled with dungeons, cities, and other points of interest. The change allows Square Enix to offer a wide variety of environments instead of blending different environments together in an open world.

Don’t worry, after completing an area, you are allowed to return later on. This way you can explore every nook and cranny of a map if you didn’t get the chance the first time around.

This is not the first time Square Enix has changed the style of a Final Fantasy game. Many games in the series were turn-based before the developers changed the combat style to better reflect an action RPG.


Aden is an avid gamer with a love for RPGs. He isn't afraid to scour the dungeon or raid the castle.

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