How Long Is Final Fantasy XIV Online? A Comprehensive Guide
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The question of how long Final Fantasy XIV (FFXIV) online is doesn’t have a simple answer. It’s a game of immense scope and depth, designed to be both a sprawling adventure and a persistent online world. The time you’ll spend in Eorzea varies wildly based on your playstyle, goals, and whether you are a new player or a veteran. However, let’s break it down to give you a clearer understanding. If you focus solely on the main story quests (MSQ) of the base game, A Realm Reborn (ARR), you’re looking at approximately 120 hours of playtime. But that is just the tip of the iceberg.
The time significantly expands when you consider the various expansions, side content, and the game’s social aspects. A typical player, delving into the main story of all currently available expansions, including Heavensward, Stormblood, Shadowbringers, and Endwalker, could easily spend hundreds of hours, potentially 500 or more, before reaching the latest content. A completionist, seeking to explore every nook and cranny, level every job, and acquire every item, could easily see their playtime reach well over 1000 hours. Final Fantasy XIV is not a game you can rush, and for many players, that’s part of its appeal. The developers have designed a world where a lot of your fun will come from the process of leveling up and going through the storyline, as well as playing with your friends.
Main Story vs. Total Playtime
It’s crucial to distinguish between completing the main storyline and experiencing all that FFXIV has to offer. The main story quests are the backbone of the game, guiding you through the narrative and unlocking new areas and content. While completing ARR can be done in about 120 hours, each expansion adds a significant amount of MSQ content. For example, to reach the end of the most recent expansion, Endwalker, it will require a very large commitment.
Beyond the main quests, FFXIV boasts a wealth of side quests, dungeons, trials, raids, crafting, gathering, and social activities. You can spend hours simply decorating your in-game house, playing in the Gold Saucer, or participating in community events. This additional content can extend your playtime indefinitely, making FFXIV a potentially bottomless well of entertainment.
Understanding the Free Trial and Subscription
One crucial aspect to consider is the game’s free trial. The FFXIV free trial is incredibly generous, allowing players to experience A Realm Reborn, Heavensward, and Stormblood up to level 70 without any playtime restrictions. This means you can play hundreds of hours before even considering a purchase, provided you stay within those expansion areas. However, this also means that if you want to play the expansions that are not part of the free trial you will need to purchase them, as well as buy a monthly subscription.
Once you move beyond the free trial content, you’ll need to purchase the game and subscribe to play. The game requires a recurring subscription of at least 30 days. These costs need to be factored in when thinking about how long you’ll play the game, as they will add up if you decide to go to the highest level. This also comes into play as far as if you will have access to the expansions. For example, once you buy the main game, or any expansion, you will then need to start the monthly subscription, which will cancel the benefits of the free trial, so you would then need to pay to access the content.
Long-Term Engagement
FFXIV is designed for long-term engagement. Its developers release regular updates and expansions, continuously adding new content and keeping the world feeling fresh. This means that the game is likely to feel just as long if not longer than when it first came out, due to the increase of content. Many players have been enjoying the game for years, building their characters, honing their skills, and connecting with the game’s vibrant community.
The sense of community is a significant part of FFXIV’s appeal. Many players spend countless hours not just completing quests, but also participating in social events, joining Free Companies (guilds), and making friends. This social aspect often extends the playtime far beyond what is required to simply complete the story. It is also important to note that the game can be played solo or with friends, so you can choose your own type of fun.
FAQs: Additional Insights into FFXIV Playtime
1. How many hours is required to finish the main story of Final Fantasy XIV (all expansions)?
Completing the main story of A Realm Reborn takes about 120 hours. However, including all the expansions, players will usually spend 500 hours or more.
2. Is Final Fantasy 14 online a one-time purchase?
No. In order to access SQUARE ENIX’s servers to play the game, you must agree to a recurring subscription, usually on a monthly basis.
3. How long is the Final Fantasy 14 free trial?
The free trial is unlimited in terms of playtime and allows you to play up to level 70 and access the content up to the end of the Stormblood expansion. However, once you buy the game or any expansions you will no longer have access to the free trial.
4. How big is Final Fantasy 14 on PC and PlayStation?
The game requires 80 GB of storage space on your PC or console.
5. Is Final Fantasy 14 worth playing in 2023?
Yes! It is a content-rich game with a great story, and frequent updates, making it a very rewarding experience for new and veteran players. The regular updates also means that the game will have new content added every few months, as well as holiday events.
6. Can you play Final Fantasy 14 for free indefinitely?
Yes, you can play the free trial indefinitely, but only up to level 70 and the Stormblood expansion, but if you buy the game or an expansion, you lose access to the free trial benefits.
7. What is the max level in Final Fantasy XIV?
The current max level is 90, but it will increase to 100 in the next major expansion, 7.0.
8. How long does the Final Fantasy 14 free trial last?
The free trial has no time restrictions. You can play it for as long as you like until you purchase the game or the expansions.
9. How do I play Final Fantasy 14 without paying?
You can play without paying by downloading the free trial software and creating a free trial account.
10. Is Final Fantasy 14 pay-to-win?
No, it is not a pay-to-win game. You cannot gain advantages with real money, only cosmetic items or boosts to your level or story progression, which are really only useful for people who have already done these things in the past or just want to catch up to their friends.
11. How much of Final Fantasy 14 is free?
The free trial includes the base game A Realm Reborn, and the Heavensward and Stormblood expansions, and allows you to level up to level 70.
12. What is the longest Final Fantasy game?
According to most statistics, Final Fantasy 11 is the longest at around 707 hours, followed by Final Fantasy 14 at around 231 hours on average. However, this can vary significantly on a player-by-player basis, and is almost always more than stated if you wish to explore everything that the game has to offer.
13. How many hours does Final Fantasy 16 take?
Focusing on the main story, it takes about 35.5 hours, and 78 hours for a 100% completionist run. This is significantly less than FFXIV, due to it being a single-player experience.
14. Can you solo dungeons in Final Fantasy XIV?
Yes, you can solo many dungeons, particularly those from A Realm Reborn and Heavensward once you have leveled past them.
15. Why does Final Fantasy 14 have a monthly fee?
The monthly fee helps to pay for initial development, maintain the servers, and fund the regular updates and new content releases. This is a common business model for MMORPGs, as it ensures a constant stream of revenue so they can continue their development efforts.
Final Fantasy XIV is a game that rewards patience and exploration. It’s not a quick experience, but rather a journey to be savored. Whether you’re a casual player looking to enjoy the story or a dedicated adventurer aiming for 100% completion, there is a plethora of content to keep you busy for a long time to come.