Is Final Fantasy 11 Worth Playing in 2025?

Eight years before the release of the original Final Fantasy 14, Final Fantasy 11 was the first online game that offered players a chance to be a part of the famous RPG series. Many features that players adore during their Eorzean adventure were first found when exploring FF11's Vana'diel. Customizable characters belonging to specific races, real-time battles, and even a personalized mount chocobo were all features Final Fantasy 11 passed down to Final Fantasy 14. FF14 may have taken the torch somewhat, but FF11 is still going strong and is looking to celebrate its 23rd anniversary soon.

Despite its age, Final Fantasy 11 isn't an MMORPG that should be underestimated. Not only has it been running since 2002, but it was the first cross-platform game of the genre and has outlived its console versions. Considering the title's longevity and how Final Fantasy 14 is so widely beloved by tons of players, it'd be understandable if some fans of the series have never tried FF11 and are wondering if it's worth picking up so late in the game's lifespan. Not only is the answer a strong yes, 2025 may be the best time for players to continue journeying across Vana'diel.

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By Josh Cotts

Final Fantasy 11 is Showing Its Tenacity in 2025

Due to how old Final Fantasy 11 is, there may be some wondering how the developers kept the game and its world evolving for over two decades. They didn't; the production of expansions and add-ons halted as of 2015. However, five years later, new story content, expansions, and frequent updates to Final Fantasy 11 would be added starting in 2020 all the way to the present day.

The game still has regular events such as log-in campaigns, and a 23rd anniversary event is currently live for players to enjoy. After many players have criticized the PlayOnline system that used to be required to play the game, fans can now migrate PlayOnline accounts to Square Enix accounts for easier access. To help with the switch, players who transfer their accounts will be allowed to play the Final Fantasy MMO for free, provided they played before May 13, 2025.

How the Vana'diel adventure has managed to live on beyond its console releases and even its original account management system comes down to one factor: player support. In a recent interview, game director Yoji Fujito revealed that 2024 nearly marked the end of Final Fantasy 11. There were plans to set FF11 into maintenance mode, making it playable while fixing bugs, yet not adding new content, while possibly shutting it down entirely if the game's players didn't log in enough. Thankfully, for the game and its fans, the number of regular players logging in made Square Enix change its mind and continue creating content for those gamers to enjoy.

Final Fantasy 11 is Still Getting Content in 2025

Part of that content sees Final Fantasy 14 returning the favor to the title it learned so much from. Players can change their race in Final Fantasy 11 now, for a price, in a similar fashion to FF14's own Fantasia bottles. FF14 has also given plenty of love to Final Fantasy 11 in its own spaces with the recent Echoes of Vana'diel Alliance Raids added as part of Dawntrail. No matter what FF MMORPG fans are fond of, there are plenty of similarities between the two that make it clear that if they enjoy one, they'll love the other. There's still time for new and old players alike to experience what FF11 has to offer with full support from Square Enix, and that shouldn't be taken for granted.

There's no telling how long Final Fantasy 11 will be around for, but the fact that it's around thanks to a small yet loyal player base says that it's still worth checking out even today. While it won't be for everyone as the game shows its age in places, it's bound to be able to worm its way into a few late adopters' hearts. Even if there have been years that fans have missed out on with Final Fantasy 11, there's no better time than the present to start.

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