FINAL FANTASY XIV: Shadowbringers

Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers is one of the best MMO expansions I’ve ever played. The story is incredibly good, the new jobs are ridiculously good fun, and the mechanical updates work well. The word of the First is a beautiful treat, and music is top-notch. If this sounds like your jam, you should absolutely play it.

Final Fantasy 14 set a high bar with its previous expansions, but Shadowbringers stands above the rest. Expected additions come in the form of new regions and the new jobs, Dancer and Gunbreaker. Both bring their own flavor to the game, though the Dancer is the standout. More importantly, Shadowbringers tells a tale that not only contains some meaningful real-world connections, but also provides an experience that's firmly Final Fantasy-esque. Great writing, solid voice acting, and an excellent soundtrack wrap Shadowbringers up in a package that should satisfy Final Fantasy 14 fans and neophytes alike.

While the combat rework does detract somewhat from the expansion in varying degrees, Shadowbringers remains a stellar experience, the absolute best that Final Fantasy XIV has brought by a long margin. If you’ve never played XIV, now is a great time to get started; and if you put the game aside, it’s a great time to jump back in. Shadowbringers stands as proof that subscription MMOs can still deliver content worth the monetary value, with the right team behind the curtains.