Given the title, you may wonder if Final Fantasy 16 is a sequel. At the very least, you might think you need to play the other games first. After all, when a series has been around for 35 years, it’s sometimes hard to start with the latest entry. We’ll let you know whether FF16 is a good first Final Fantasy game or not below.
Is Final Fantasy 16 a sequel, and should I play the other games first?
Final Fantasy 16 is not a sequel; you don’t have to play the other games first.
Final Fantasy 16, like its predecessors, is a standalone experience. While it carries the name and retains common elements and themes from the franchise, it presents a brand-new story, world, and characters independent of the other games. So, it’s not a sequel to any previous title, and there’s no need to play the previous games to enjoy and fully understand FF16.
Each numbered Final Fantasy game is set in its own distinct universe, with unique lore, history, geography, and cast. The narrative of Final Fantasy 16, for instance, unfolds in the land of Valisthea, a realm divided among six rival nations, a setting unique to this game. The story revolves around the protagonist, Clive Rosfield, and his journey, which doesn’t intersect with any character or plotline from previous Final Fantasy games.
Despite containing independent narratives, Final Fantasy games typically share common thematic elements and motifs. These include the use of magic, the existence of powerful beings known as summons or Eikons, and a story that often grapples with themes of destiny, friendship, sacrifice, and the struggle between good and evil. Other elements like the job system, iconic creatures like Chocobos and Moogles, and signature spells like “Fire,” “Cure,” and “Ultima,” form a part of the shared identity of the series, despite each game being set in a unique universe.
However, these elements don’t interconnect the games regarding continuity or storyline. Instead, they create a familiar atmosphere and a sense of connection between each game in the franchise.
In essence, each game in the series, including Final Fantasy 16, offers a standalone epic that welcomes newcomers without requiring any prior knowledge of the series. So, you can start with FF16 without missing out on anything.
