Final Fantasy 16has proven to be a divisive entry in theFinal Fantasyseries, largely due to its Mature rating and departure from the franchise’s traditional turn-based and party-oriented combat. Despite criticism, however, it has stood the test of time, now being over a year old and still receiving attention. Since its release, it has received two fairly sizable DLC packs, with its Rising Tide DLC arguably taking the cake as its best. It was initially confirmed thatFinal Fantasy 16wouldn’t be receiving more DLC after The Rising Tide, but that might not be true, as the developer has remained open to the idea of doing more. Still, there may be a better route for it to take, andFinal Fantasy 10andFinal Fantasy 13have both already paved the way.
Final Fantasy 10is one of the most importantinstallments in theFinal Fantasyfranchisebecause it introduced fully-voiced characters to the series for the first time. Since then, each mainlineFinal Fantasyinstallment has included voiced characters, and it’s likely to never go back.Final Fantasy 13, on the other hand, likeFinal Fantasy 16, was a hotly debated title for several reasons. The most prominent reason involves its linear and restrictive gameplay, which primarily preferred style to substance. Even with all of that said, bothFinal Fantasy 10andFinal Fantasy 13did something that was previously unorthodox for theFinal Fantasyseries, andFinal Fantasy 16could stand to follow in their footsteps.
Like FF10 and FF13, Final Fantasy 16 Could Use a Direct Sequel or Two
Regardless of what they did right or wrong,Final Fantasy 10andFinal Fantasy 13had direct sequels— the former had one sequel and the latter, two. Two years after the release ofFinal Fantasy 10, Square Enix made history with the launch of its direct sequel,Final Fantasy 10-2, starring Yuna from the first game. Initially met with some criticism aimed at its lighter tone,Final Fantasy 10-2went on to become a cult classic among theFinal Fantasycommunity, with some swearing by it as an excellent addition to the franchise and others refusing to ever pick it up again.
UnlikeFinal Fantasy 10,Final Fantasy 13had two direct sequels. Following the release ofFinal Fantasy 13in 2009,Final Fantasy 13-2launched two years later, with the third game following two years after that.Final Fantasy 13has gone down in history as one of the most controversialFinal Fantasytrilogies to date due to its neglect of the series' established formula, butits protagonist, Lightning, has simultaneously been recognized as one of the franchise’s best protagonists.
Final Fantasy 16 Could Use a Sequel to Clear Up Its Ending and Advance Its Plot
LikeFinal Fantasy 10andFinal Fantasy 13,Final Fantasy 16dared to be different. That alone might make it worthy of a sequel, but its open-ended conclusion also makes it a great candidate for continuation. The ending’s biggest cliffhanger involves whether Clive actually died, as he is seen being consumed by the Bearer’s Curse as his left arm slowly turns to stone. He then collapses on the beach, and it is assumed he is dead, especially as Jill is then shown wiping tears from her eyes, all but confirming it. However, a sequel could either confirm or deny this, along with advancing the plot.
If it turns out that Clive is alive, a sequel could see him reunited with Jill, as well as moving on to whatever adventure might come next. If it turns out he died, perhaps the story could continue with the children who are introduced in the post-credits scene. Either way, while it could certainly be argued thatFinal Fantasy 16’s endingis ambiguous for a reason, that doesn’t mean it’s undeserving of some closure.
Final Fantasy 16
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An epic dark fantasy world where the fate of the land is decided by the mighty Eikons and the Dominants who wield them.This is the tale of Clive Rosfield, a warrior granted the title “First Shield of Rosaria” and sworn to protect his younger brother Joshua, the dominant of the Phoenix. Before long, Clive will be caught up in a great tragedy and swear revenge on the Dark Eikon Ifrit, a mysterious entity that brings calamity in its wake.
