Play it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows (Steam Deck YMMV)
Current goal: Become the Warrior of Light
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I’ve dipped my toes into Final Fantasy XIV a few times in the past, but quickly fell off when tackling its widely praised main story quests felt a bit too casual and chill to me. With no real demand put upon me as a player, there was nothing for me to push back against, no enjoyable texture or sense of accomplishment, and so I moved on. Now, however, I’m in a different place, one where a pleasant, low-key journey through a vast and beautiful world sounds appealing, so I’m approaching it with a different mindset. I’m thinking of it more as a way to unwind after a long day at work like I might with a good book, rather than as a game I come to for challenges I can overcome. (I’m well aware that the game, with its tough dungeons and raids, has plenty of challenging encounters and opportunities for skillful play if that’s what you want. But it’s the quality of the story campaigns that I’ve heard so much about, so that’s primarily what I want to experience, at least to start.)
And so far, Final Fantasy XIV is proving to be a lovely, pleasantly low-pressure experience. I log on sometime in the evenings, play a few main story quests (and whatever side quests I can gather along the way), and just enjoy being in Eorzea and seeing my marauder continue her journey to becoming the Warrior of Light. The world, with its elegant cities and vast countryside, is distinctive and fun to explore, and though I mostly tend to keep to myself, the community seems very pleasant and positive. I don’t know yet if I’m going to keep making my way through all the stories the game has to offer with its existing expansions so that I can hop into this summer’s Dawntrail soon after launch, or if I’m going to space it out over the coming months or years, but for now, at least, I’m glad to finally be enjoying a game I’ve heard so many good things about in recent years. — Carolyn Petit
