238.2 hours in at the time of updating this review, and I've only just finished Stormblood, the third of six storylines present in this game. And that's not counting all the sidequests I have yet to do, levels yet to grind, and gambling at the Manderville Gold Saucer I have yet to waste all my other free time at.

A Realm Reborn was a bit of a slog, and nearly made me drop the game, admittedly. After about 50 hours though, I had finally completed it and was stunned as I watched the transitional cutscene between A Realm Reborn and its succeeding story, Heavensward. This was the turning point that made me a lifelong fan of the game.

Although starting slow, Heavensward's stakes did ramp up, making sure I was never bored for long as it told its dramatic tale of Dragons and Elezen. Although I won't get into the nitty gritty, this expansion did a lot that I think will stay with me forever, even were my opinion on the game as a whole to shift in the future - which is, quite plainly, unlikely.

Unfortunately, Stormblood didn't really hit those same peaks... Before getting to the patch quests leading into Shadowbringers, that is. Although I have yet to actually begin Shadowbringers, my time in Eorzea has been an excellent one, and I can't recommend it enough to fans of Final Fantasy, well-written stories and MMOs alike.

The good news is, the game has a free trial which lets you play entirely for free up to level 70 with no restrictions on play time - meaning you get about a good 230 hours (or more, if you go for the sidequests and level all you can) before you have to decide whether or not you like the game enough to buy it. If you're unsure, go for it! No harm in trying.

337th Hour Edit:
I've beaten Shadowbringers. I'm just starting Endwalker.
It's peak.

238.2 hours in at the time of updating this review, and I've only just finished Stormblood, the third of six storylines present in this game. And that's not counting all the sidequests I have yet to do, levels yet to grind, and gambling at the Manderville Gold Saucer I have yet to waste all my other free time at. A Realm Reborn was a bit of a slog, and nearly made me drop the game, admittedly. After about 50 hours though, I had finally completed it and was stunned as I watched the transitional cutscene between A Realm Reborn and its succeeding story, Heavensward. This was the turning point that made me a lifelong fan of the game. Although starting slow, Heavensward's stakes did ramp up, making sure I was never bored for long as it told its dramatic tale of Dragons and Elezen. Although I won't get into the nitty gritty, this expansion did a lot that I think will stay with me forever, even were my opinion on the game as a whole to shift in the future - which is, quite plainly, unlikely. Unfortunately, Stormblood didn't really hit those same peaks... Before getting to the patch quests leading into Shadowbringers, that is. Although I have yet to actually begin Shadowbringers, my time in Eorzea has been an excellent one, and I can't recommend it enough to fans of Final Fantasy, well-written stories and MMOs alike. The good news is, the game has a free trial which lets you play entirely for free up to level 70 with no restrictions on play time - meaning you get about a good 230 hours (or more, if you go for the sidequests and level all you can) before you have to decide whether or not you like the game enough to buy it. If you're unsure, go for it! No harm in trying. 337th Hour Edit: I've beaten Shadowbringers. I'm just starting Endwalker. It's peak.