The Final Fantasy franchise is thriving with Final Fantasy 16 just around the corner. While Crisis Core: Final Fantasy 7 Reunion is leading the charge at the end of 2022, Final Fantasy 16 will release only about half a year later, followed by Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth in 2023’s closing months. It's going to be a wild year for Final Fantasy fans, especially those who enjoy the action-oriented direction this long-running series has been taking.
Final Fantasy 16 looks to be the most action-packed entry yet. The game is taking heavy inspiration from the hack-and-slash genre, although classic Final Fantasy tropes have not been left behind. The usual iconography of Chocobos, Moogles, and crystals will be around, as will FF16’s takes on various classic jobs and a leveling system. However, among recent interviews detailing side quests and other content, it has come out that there will be a New Game+ mode in the final game. This may not sound significant, but it's a big deal for the Final Fantasy franchise.
New Game+ Is a Great Value Add For RPGs
In the grand scheme of the RPG genre, New Game+ is a common mode. It's not a constant, and there are good reasons for why. New Game+ is a bonus feature that typically unlocks after the player has beaten a game, or at least seen one ending. Some form of progress from the first playthrough is carried over into the second, whether that's statistics and equipment or specific quest completion. New Game+ can extend the time a player spends with a game, although if nothing else is changed there is no benefit beyond tackling early challenges with later skills.
A number of games try to make their second playthroughs worthwhile, and various methods can be seen throughout the RPG genre. The Tales games are highly regarded for New Game+, as most modes allow players to exchange a special currency for various modifiers in their next playthrough. Few other RPGs match this, but some still put their best foot forward with added content in New Game+. Sometimes this takes the form of a new difficulty mode, which justifies carrying over the player's accumulated strength. Other New Game+ modes add new bosses, challenges, or other assorted extras.
Final Fantasy Has a Short History With New Game+
With all that said, Final Fantasy doesn't use New Game+ often. The first instance in the franchise comes from Final Fantasy 10-2, with the DS remake of Final Fantasy 4 following shortly afterward. The aforementioned games have fairly simple New Game+ forms, although extra features are added to each. The International Zodiac Job System release of Final Fantasy 12 added a New Game+ where characters start at level 90, as well as a New Game- where characters start at minimum levels and cannot gain experience. The only other numbered FF that has a "plain" New Game+ is Final Fantasy 15, although that came in a patch.
Other titles get more creative in their implementation. Final Fantasy 7 Remake has a New Game+ in function, as FF7R's chapter select and hard mode offer similar ideas presented differently, with hard mode dramatically altering gameplay. Then there is Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy 13, which has a New Game+ accessible even if the prior playthrough ended in failure. Once again hard mode is unlocked, and a fair number of mechanical changes are applied. Final Fantasy 14 also got a chapter select patched in late in life, which was eventually expanded to include some side quests. Finally, one of the most significant New Game+ modes in the franchise comes with Final Fantasy Type-0, which adds new Code Crimson story missions and a true ending.
How New Game+ Could Work in Final Fantasy 16
Final Fantasy 16 is the first time a mainline Final Fantasy title will have New Game+ at launch, which may come as a surprise to longtime fans. The mode is expected to do the usual tasks of bringing forward protagonist Clive Rosfield’s levels, abilities, and equipment. There was also mention of adjusting enemies to match the player’s raised level, though how this interacts with difficulty options is unclear.
It's especially strange for Final Fantasy 16 to be the recipient of the series' first mainline New Game+ mode because it isn't a typical RPG. By the sound of it, it's going to follow a wide-linear structure similar to its action-RPG brethren in the Final Fantasy 7 Remake trilogy. Clive will move through various areas and story beats, with progression often taking the form of linear battles. As the game takes some inspiration from games like Devil May Cry, Clive's abilities and the player's skills matter more than the usual statistical advantages of a New Game+.
Coming in with endgame experience and most Eikons’ abilities will imbalance early gameplay, so players may be looking at a remixed New Game+ in the vein of Final Fantasy 7 Remake’s hard mode. It will be interesting to see how this feature is handled, but New Game+ and the other difficulty settings should add replay value to Final Fantasy 16’s action-oriented adventure.
Final Fantasy 16 will be released in Summer 2023 for PS5.