Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for Final Fantasy 16. Proceed at your own risk.
Final Fantasy 16 marks a number of series' firsts. While the title breaks ground in a number of areas, Final Fantasy 16's most obvious departure from the classic formula is its dark and mature take on the Final Fantasy universe. Many fans were surprised when developer Square Enix announced that Final Fantasy 16 would be rated M, due to nudity, language, gore, and sexual themes. With Final Fantasy 16's release this week, fans have been shocked to discover just how prevalent these elements are, with the title drawing a thin line between the ESRB's M and AO ratings. In order to skirt an AO rating, Final Fantasy 16 employs some clever tricks, depicting just enough of each element at a time to avoid crossing the line for too long.
Final Fantasy 16 takes place in Valisthea, a land torn apart by conflicts over its greatest resource, crystals. The Kingdoms and Realms of Valisthea are situated next to immense crystalline structures called Mothercrystals, whose shards instill the world with magic. The Mothercrystals are also believed to gift unique individuals, called Dominants, with the ability to control powerful entities, called Eikons. Final Fantasy 16's core narrative follows Clive Rosfield, Dominant of the Dark Fire Eikon, Ifrit, as he attempts to destroy the Mothercrystals and free humanity from their influence.
Final Fantasy 16 Features Heavy Sexual Themes and Nudity
Final Fantasy 16's approach to dark fantasy is similar to Game of Thrones, as seen in how the title's characters form alliances, deceive enemies, and fight to survive. Benedikta, Hugo, Anabella, Clive, Jill, and Barnabas all find themselves in sexual situations, with one or both members depicted as completely naked. Ultima deceives characters by appearing as someone they know, and, in one sensual scene with Barnabas, takes on the naked form of a variety of characters, including Barnabas' own mother. Final Fantasy 16 also features multiple instances of situational nudity, including a particularly impactful moment in which Clive acquires an Eikon from his closest friend.
Despite its mature content, Final Fantasy 16 avoids an AO rating by never actually depicting sexual contact. Naked characters embrace, seduce, and taunt each other, but all contact is suggested, with acts having just happened or about to happen. Even when Clive and his Uncle Byron venture into multiple brothels on a mission, no sexual situations are depicted. Rather, Final Fantasy 16 uses audio to suggest what is happening in the locations' rooms.
Final Fantasy 16 Depicts Multiple Instances of Graphic Violence
Final Fantasy 16 doesn't shy away from violence in its wartime setting. Entire cities are slaughtered at the hands of the Eikons and their Dominants, and characters are tortured and used as bait on multiple occasions. In one scene, Clive discovers that all of a town's Bearers, Final Fantasy 16's magic-wielding slaves, were strung up to poles and tortured to death. He discovers their bodies on display soon after, having arrived in the town to provide those very people with a means to achieve freedom. The title also depicts graphic acts of individual violence, such as a woman slitting her throat in front of her children.
While the title finds a way to shield its more mature content, Final Fantasy 16's violence is laid bare. However, Final Fantasy 16's acts of violence help it to tell a more grounded story than its predecessors. This characteristic helps to separate Final Fantasy 16 violence and torture from titles like Indigo Prophecy: Director's Cut. Final Fantasy 16's mature content and violence haven't deterred the title from receiving both critical and commercial praise, upon release. With Square Enix's new approach to the Final Fantasy series paying off, longtime fans may see future entries continue to explore the mature concepts and explicit storytelling introduced in Final Fantasy 16.
Final Fantasy 16 is available now for PS5.