Is It Worth Playing Final Fantasy XV in 2026? The Definitive Guide

Hello fellow gamer! If you‘re wondering whether Final Fantasy XV is still worth playing in 2024, I‘m here to provide the definitive guide to help you decide.

After analyzing the game‘s strengths, weaknesses, and long-term appeal, my verdict is: Yes, absolutely give FF15 a shot in 2024! It remains one of the most engrossing and memorable RPG experiences of the past decade.

Now let me walk you through the details…

What is Final Fantasy XV? A Primer

For those unfamiliar, Final Fantasy XV is an open-world action RPG developed and published by Square Enix. It first launched in 2016 as the fifteenth mainline installment in the legendary Final Fantasy franchise.

You play as Prince Noctis as he embarks on an epic road trip across the world with his three best friends. His kingdom has been invaded, so his quest is to reclaim the throne and fulfill his destiny as the True King.

FFXV takes the real-time combat of action RPGs but seamlessly blends it with Final Fantasy staples like magic spells, summon monsters, character progression, and an emotional storyline.

Key Features That Make FF15 Special

Here are some of the major features that set Final Fantasy XV apart:

• Jaw-dropping Visuals: FFXV was a technical showcase when it first launched in 2016. High resolution textures, detailed character models, vast draw distances, and cinematic cameras bring the world to life. These visuals still impress in 2024.

• Captivating Open World: The world of Eos offers breathtaking vistas and rewarding exploration. Drive the Regalia across sweeping highways and rocky backroads. Discover hidden dungeons and take in urban cityscapes. Few open worlds feel as stylish and alive.

• Thrilling Real-Time Combat: Gone are the turn-based battles of old. FFXV pioneered an exciting real-time combat system for the franchise. Warp strike enemies, link up with your buddies for coordinated attacks, and unleash over-the-top spectacle moves. Fighting monsters is a visceral highlight.

• Memorable Road Trip Vibe: Much of FFXV‘s appeal comes from the banter and brotherly bonds between Noctis and his best pals Gladiolus, Prompto, and Ignis. Their road trip adventure creates an experience that‘s nostalgic, fun, and emotional all at once.

• Tons of Content: With the Royal Edition, you get the base game plus every DLC expansion. This amounts to well over 50 hours of quests, dungeons, gear and more. A meaty adventure!

How Does FF15 Hold Up in 2024?

Now 6 years after launch, how does Final Fantasy XV hold up? Here‘s my take:

The positives that make FF15 absolutely still worth playing:

• The real-time combat remains immensely fun and satisfying, combining action with strategic play. Warp strikes and linked attacks with your buds feels great.

• Driving the Regalia or your own car across the sweeping world of Eos is picturesque and chill. The atmosphere is unmatched.

• Visuals and art direction have aged wonderfully. Some textures are lower resolution but the stylish world, effects, and creatures look fantastic.

• The bromance road trip story is endearing, helped by the excellent English voice acting. You really grow attached to Noctis and his loyal crew.

• Next-gen console upgrades on PS5 and Xbox Series X enhance frame rate and loading times. This improves an already smooth experience.

However, there are some drawbacks to mention:

• The overall narrative is hurt by strange pacing choices and important details left unexplained in-game. It feels disjointed at times.

• Quest quality is hit or miss. The open world includes generic filler hunts and fetch quests among some memorable missions.

• Long load times can still occur in some dense areas, especially on base PS4/Xbox One. Thankfully reduced on PS5/Series X.

• The magic system is simplistic. Crafting spells from elements offers limited variety.

• The linear final chapters disrupt the open world flow. The structure could definitely be better paced.

The Verdict: FF15 Is Still Worth Playing in 2024

Despite a flawed story presentation, in my opinion the strengths of Final Fantasy XV far outweigh its weaknesses.

The exciting real-time combat, stylish open world, fun bromance road trip vibe, visual spectacle, and amount of content come together to deliver an incredibly enjoyable RPG adventure.

For JRPG fans who haven‘t experienced FFXV yet, it remains a must-play single-player experience. And even for FF veterans, the game is absolutely worth revisiting or playing again on new generation consoles.

Six years later, Final Fantasy XV still shines as one of the most ambitious, feature-rich, and unforgettable RPGs of the past decade. Don‘t sleep on giving this classic road trip adventure a shot in 2024!

Final Fantasy XV By the Numbers

To give some objective scale, here are some key figures about FF15:

• 85: The average Metacritic critic score across PS4, Xbox One, and PC. Generally favorable reviews.

• Over 8 million: Total units sold worldwide as of 2019 across all platforms. Strong sales for a single player focused game.

• #8: Ranking on IGN‘s Top 25 PS4 Games list. FF15 is in prestigious company.

• 170+: The number of cumulative hours of main story, side quests, and extras according to HowLongToBeat. Offers a meaty adventure.

• #1: Final Fantasy XV was the best selling game in the US in 2016. The long-awaited title had tremendous hype.

Should You Play the Original or Royal Edition?

Square Enix released the Royal Edition of FF15 in 2018 which bundled the Season Pass DLC content into the base game.

I highly recommend grabbing the Royal Edition in 2024 to experience the full expansive adventure. It adds:

• New gear and side quests
• More story cutscenes and character interactions
• Off-road driving for more open world freedom
• First person mode for immersive gameplay
• The Royal Vessel boat for ocean exploration
• New bosses like Cerberus and Omega

The extra content rounds out an already packed experience into one of the meatiest single-player RPGs ever created.

Closing Thoughts

And there you have it! The definitive guide on whether Final Fantasy XV is still worth playing in 2024.

Let me know if you have any other questions! I‘m happy to offer additional tips and insights from my playthroughs over the years.

FFXV isn‘t flawless, but its ambition, style, memorable roadtrip vibes, fun real-time combat and staggering amount of content come together into something special. It remains one of the most engrossing RPG experiences in recent memory.

So don‘t hesitate on joining Noctis and crew on their immortal road trip adventure! Just make sure to grab the Royal Edition. You‘re in for an wonderful time.

Happy gaming!