The long road ahead
A new Final Fantasy is here. And with Final Fantasy XVI eschewing the more traditional aspects of an RPG for an action-focused approach, players might be wondering about how long Final Fantasy XVI will be.
After rolling credits, we can give you a good estimation. But that answer gets a bit more complicated when we start incorporating all the side activities one can undertake. Let’s dive into it.
How long does it take to beat Final Fantasy XVI?
In estimates we’ve seen, a speedy playthrough of Final Fantasy XVI should take about 35 to 40 hours, while a more completionist run could take up to 70 or 80 hours or more, depending on your playstyle.
From my own experience, I rolled credits at around 55 hours in, with a decent chunk of side quests left unfinished. For those looking to do a little bit of it all but maybe not everything, I think 40 to 50 hours feels like a safe bet.
The side quests are worth doing though, at least for the extra bits of lore if nothing else, so I do recommend making some time for them. Some also give you upgrades to your potions or special recipes, or just a bundle of decent crafting materials.
Is there a New Game Plus?
Yes, there is also a New Game Plus mode, which can extend your time with Final Fantasy XVI even further. The “Final Fantasy Mode” lets you replay the story with progression carried over, including a bumped-up level cap, more powerful enemies, and other new twists. So even the main hour count of one playthrough could be doubled with a run of a seemingly robust New Game Plus route.
Basically, there are a lot of hours to be spent in Valisthea. So don’t sweat the count, and just have a good time saving the world for however many hours it takes.
