What can I say, FFXIV has consumed my free time for years and continues to annoy all my friends because I evangelize this game so hard. But it was so worth it, 10 out of 5 stars. Would become the hero of this realm yet again.

But in all seriousness, where do I begin with a game I've played more than any other? Leave it to final fantasy to create the best MMORPG on the market. The game provides varied content and engaging classes. The world design is great and gets better with every expansion. The music is incredible. The story is one of the best ever told in a game, let alone an MMO. I frequently watch it played again by streamers or friends just to feed off their first-time reactions like some kind of emotional vampire. It really feels like a world and game that you can invest your time into because it's so expansive and it's regularly added to. The subscription is worth it.

The Story:
Yes, as many will say, the base game may drag a little if you're not an MMO aficionado. (I personally enjoyed the hell out of it) It's slow because it's teaching you what you need to know later. If you actually READ the story though, you may find it to be an intriguing tale of sociopolitical conflict. Various kingdoms working together or fighting for dominance. (with some fetch quests along the way, but, push through them) Once you get into the first expansion though, Heavensward, (which is part of the free to play offering) the story becomes more focused, and only gets exponentially better from there. Everyone says this, and there's a reason they do. That's because the base game really just sets up a lot of things and builds the world out for you. The subsequent expansions focus on specific areas or peoples of the world after the base game.

The Characters:
The characters and their development in this game is excellent. There's someone relatable or enjoyable for everyone. The main group has all sorts of characters; smart, bubbly, confident, snarky, bold, mysterious, heroic. With countless side characters filling every other possible personality.

The Developers:
The game developers are also some of the most wholesome, honest, and earnest devs in the industry. They really care about their game, and their players. The mechanics and systems of the game RESPECT YOU and your time. You pay a subscription so that it can be this way, remember that. That's the reason so many games suck these days, because they're designed to squeeze money out of you. This game already gets your money if you are playing, so the pressure is relieved. (although there is a cash shop and the prices are a bit high for those cosmetics)

The Classes (Jobs):
I have leveled all classes (called jobs in this game) to max level, and I can say they are all enjoyable, and all viable at the high level. This game is actually balanced. No one will ever criticize the choice of class you decide to play. The vast majority of the player base is nice and supportive, to new players especially. So pick what you are interested in, watch Larryzaur's "Basically which job to play" video before starting. Note: about 1/2 of the jobs in the game are only accessible through leveling up other jobs first, they are also attached to the expansion packs. Specifically: Astrologian, Machinist, Dark Knight (Heavensward lvl 35), Red Mage, Samurai (Stormblood lvl 50), Dancer, Gunbreaker (Shadowbringers lvl 60), Reaper, and Sage (Endwalker lvl 70). But there are 10 other jobs you can start with.

PRO TIP:
Do yourself a favor and spend some time customizing your UI and keybindings, as the default ones are really rough. I highly suggest installing something like "FR4NSSON's FFXIV Config" to get the best experience. It's not really a mod (wont break TOS) as much as it's just a configuration file you replace and you'll be good to go.

ENJOY

Update at over 6,000 hours:
It's still fantastic.

What can I say, FFXIV has consumed my free time for years and continues to annoy all my friends because I evangelize this game so hard. But it was so worth it, 10 out of 5 stars. Would become the hero of this realm yet again. But in all seriousness, where do I begin with a game I've played more than any other? Leave it to final fantasy to create the best MMORPG on the market. The game provides varied content and engaging classes. The world design is great and gets better with every expansion. The music is incredible. The story is one of the best ever told in a game, let alone an MMO. I frequently watch it played again by streamers or friends just to feed off their first-time reactions like some kind of emotional vampire. It really feels like a world and game that you can invest your time into because it's so expansive and it's regularly added to. The subscription is worth it. The Story: Yes, as many will say, the base game may drag a little if you're not an MMO aficionado. (I personally enjoyed the hell out of it) It's slow because it's teaching you what you need to know later. If you actually READ the story though, you may find it to be an intriguing tale of sociopolitical conflict. Various kingdoms working together or fighting for dominance. (with some fetch quests along the way, but, push through them) Once you get into the first expansion though, Heavensward, (which is part of the free to play offering) the story becomes more focused, and only gets exponentially better from there. Everyone says this, and there's a reason they do. That's because the base game really just sets up a lot of things and builds the world out for you. The subsequent expansions focus on specific areas or peoples of the world after the base game. The Characters: The characters and their development in this game is excellent. There's someone relatable or enjoyable for everyone. The main group has all sorts of characters; smart, bubbly, confident, snarky, bold, mysterious, heroic. With countless side characters filling every other possible personality. The Developers: The game developers are also some of the most wholesome, honest, and earnest devs in the industry. They really care about their game, and their players. The mechanics and systems of the game RESPECT YOU and your time. You pay a subscription so that it can be this way, remember that. That's the reason so many games suck these days, because they're designed to squeeze money out of you. This game already gets your money if you are playing, so the pressure is relieved. (although there is a cash shop and the prices are a bit high for those cosmetics) The Classes (Jobs): I have leveled all classes (called jobs in this game) to max level, and I can say they are all enjoyable, and all viable at the high level. This game is actually balanced. No one will ever criticize the choice of class you decide to play. The vast majority of the player base is nice and supportive, to new players especially. So pick what you are interested in, watch Larryzaur's "Basically which job to play" video before starting. Note: about 1/2 of the jobs in the game are only accessible through leveling up other jobs first, they are also attached to the expansion packs. Specifically: Astrologian, Machinist, Dark Knight (Heavensward lvl 35), Red Mage, Samurai (Stormblood lvl 50), Dancer, Gunbreaker (Shadowbringers lvl 60), Reaper, and Sage (Endwalker lvl 70). But there are 10 other jobs you can start with. PRO TIP: Do yourself a favor and spend some time customizing your UI and keybindings, as the default ones are really rough. I highly suggest installing something like "FR4NSSON's FFXIV Config" to get the best experience. It's not really a mod (wont break TOS) as much as it's just a configuration file you replace and you'll be good to go. ENJOY Update at over 6,000 hours: It's still fantastic.