Thanks to a big update in Final Fantasy 14’s latest patch, now is the perfect time to start the game.
The base game, A Realm Reborn, has had its main scenario quests cut down by 13%, trimming a lot of the excess fetch quests out of the game. For many, A Realm Reborn’s story, while good, was dauntingly long and hard to get through. Like many MMORPGs, there were a ton of filler fetch quests, some of which have since been removed. (Though honestly, there’s still a ton of quests in the base game, so don’t expect it to go by quickly.)
In addition to this, the free trial version of the game has now expanded dramatically. Rather than cutting off at level 35, players can go beyond A Realm Reborn and even complete the first expansion, Heavensward, which goes up to level 60. Heavensward is seen by players as some of the best story writing in the game, so it’s definitely worth checking out if you haven’t already. You can play all of that without having to subscribe or pay for the game.
Do note that players under the trial version will not have access to the marketboard, as well as some social features, a measure Square Enix has taken to prevent botting.
Players who have bought the game in any form will still need a subscription to play, even if they have not completed A Realm Reborn or Heavensward, unfortunately.
Tons of other smaller changes in the latest patch streamlined things, too. Players won’t get their inventories flooded with useless dungeon items anymore, and one dungeon boss that was notoriously known for killing newbies has been changed to make his attacks easier to see. Square Enix wants you to play Final Fantasy 14 so badly. (So do I.)
Final Fantasy 14 has something for everyone, whether that’s endgame raiding, unique character fashions, or even boat fishing. If you have not dabbled in the MMORPG, which was one of our best games of the decade, then now is the time.