Distilling such a huge adventure into its best bits is a huge task. This list would have been at least 50 entries long, but we’ve only got ten pages so had to narrow it down to 14 of our absolute favourites (after a lot of arguing and wishing for more space). These picks are the absolute best of the best of what Final Fantasy XIV has to offer. If you’ve just started playing, turn back now – spoilers ahead!
XIV Meeting Ifrit
Fire in the hole
After spending a fair chunk of the start of the game getting to grips with everything and doing typical adventurer things like seeing off angry wildlife and getting a few dungeons under your belt, the game finally hits you with your first proper ‘Oh [blorp!]’ moment.
After an attempt to stop some crystal thieves ends in betrayal you find yourself on your knees as a god appears before you. The fire Primal Ifrit bursts forth from a ball of flame and crashes, before enslaving your comrades and turning them into his disciples. However, his flames don’t affect you and now you have your first proper big fight on your hands. As the music swells, you pick up your weapon and are forced to face the biggest threat you’ve ever known. A truly epic early battle.
XIII Playing Dark Knight
The Job worth doing for the quests
The big stories in FFXIV aren’t the only ones worth playing; the side-quests are too. In particular, the Dark Knight quests are worth doing even if you’re not a fan of tanking.
It’s a class that calls for giant swords and knowing how to take a hit. You need to channel your inner darkness and rage to make the most of your strikes. Luckily you have a teacher to show you the way – Fray. She shows you how to commune with the darkness inside yourself as you find yourself becoming frustrated by people relying on you and your blade thirsts for blood. But as you finally confront it you realise it is Fray and she was dead all along – she manifested as a teacher for you and now resides within you. And that’s just the early
