Final Fantasy 16 Expansion Pass Review
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Final Fantasy 16 released on the 22nd June 2023, offering up an action-heavy RPG that greatly deviates from the more traditional blueprints of past Final Fantasy titles. Initially, Square Enix had no plans to expand the game with DLC, but several months after its launch, in September 2023, the publisher confirmed that it was working on not one, but two expansions, both of which would be part of an upcoming 'Expansion Pass'. What a twist!

In this Final Fantasy 16 Expansion Pass review, we'll be going over what's included and whether we think it's worth paying for.

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Oh, and you can read our full Final Fantasy 16 review if you're looking for more information on the base game:

Final Fantasy 16 Expansion Pass Overview

Final Fantasy 16 Expansion Pass

As mentioned, the Final Fantasy 16 Expansion Pass includes two expansions, and we're going to provide a quick overview of the whole thing before we delve into the details.

Final Fantasy 16 Expansion Pass

Release Date: 8th December 2023
Price: £19.99 / $24.99

Final Fantasy 16: Echoes of the Fallen

Release Date: 8th December 2023
Price Without Expansion Pass: £7.99 / $9.99

Final Fantasy 16: The Rising Tide

Release Date: 18th April 2024
Price Without Expansion Pass: £15.99 / $19.99

Naturally, it's cheaper to buy the Expansion Pass than it is to buy the two expansions individually.

Final Fantasy 16: Echoes of the Fallen

Final Fantasy 16 Echoes of the Fallen

The first expansion, Echoes of the Fallen, is the smaller of Final Fantasy 16's two DLCs, which is reflected in its price point. It adds a new chapter to the game that takes place later in Clive's adventure, as our hero investigates an ancient tower alongside his allies.

In terms of actual length, Echoes of the Fallen will last around three hours for most players. In truth, it's not the most ambitious expansion, essentially just offering up a new dungeon, which is very linear in its design. That said, it's got a couple of fantastic boss fights, which help carry the experience.

But what about the story? Well, this is more of a side quest as opposed to a crucial plot point, but it does flesh out Final Fantasy 16's world just a little bit. It gives us slightly more insight into the mysterious Fallen civilisation, and it features some enjoyable moments between the main characters.

If we're comparing Echoes of the Fallen to the game's other chapters, it's a pretty good one, and it's well paced. It's certainly not the kind of expansion that people will be raving about for years to come, but purely as an addition to Final Fantasy 16 as a whole, it's an enjoyable excursion, and worthy of a place in the game's canon.

You can read our full Final Fantasy 16: Echoes of the Fallen review right here:

Final Fantasy 16: The Rising Tide

Final Fantasy 16 The Rising Tide

Square Enix promised something bigger for Final Fantasy 16's second DLC, and on that front, The Rising Tide delivers. This feels like your more traditional RPG expansion, adding a new story with new characters, a new setting, and a bunch of side quests. It takes around four or five hours to blast through the main narrative, but if you want to do everything, you're looking at ten hours of content, or thereabouts.

The Rising Tide sees Clive and the gang travel to an absolutely gorgeous region called Mysidia, which isn't explored at all in the base game. There, our gruff protagonist is tasked with assisting the local populace, who are trying to right the heinous wrongs of their ancestors.

Story-wise, the expansion ties into Final Fantasy 16's existing narrative really well, offering up a different perspective on what it means to be a Dominant. Canonically, the adventure takes place just before the game's final chapter — and with that in mind, it's worth noting that it's one of the title's more challenging scenarios.

Once again, you can expect a smattering of superb boss encounters, and Clive is given new Eikonic abilities, which can also be used in the base game — although you'll obviously be doing a New Game+ run if you want to get the most out of them.

Meanwhile, the side quests aren't hugely exciting, but they do flow better than the ones in the main release, probably because they exist in and around an area that's unique to the DLC. There's almost no backtracking, and you get to have some great fights with fresh enemies.

But The Rising Tide doesn't stop there. If you really enjoy Final Fantasy 16's combat, you'll definitely want to check out Kairos Gate, which is made available after you complete the DLC's story. It serves up a series of replayable combat trials, and unlocks yet more Eikonic abilities for Clive. Kairos Gate adds a good chunk of value to the expansion.

You can read our full Final Fantasy 16: The Rising Tide review through here:

Conclusion: Is Final Fantasy 16's Expansion Pass Worth Buying?

Final Fantasy 16 Expansion Pass Review Conclusion

On its own, Final Fantasy 16 feels like a complete release, but its two expansions do add a bit of extra spice to Clive's adventure. They're not game-changing additions, and they don't necessarily showcase the action RPG at its absolute peak, but they're fairly difficult to fault.

At £19.99 / $24.99, the Expansion Pass feels reasonably priced. You're getting roughly 12 more hours of Final Fantasy 16, and because the DLCs don't really deviate from what the base game gets right, they're very easy to recommend if you're already a fan.

What are your thoughts on the Final Fantasy 16 Expansion Pass? Vote in our poll, and then give us your own review in the comments section below.

Has Final Fantasy 16's Expansion Pass been worth it? (386 votes)

  1. Yes, I think the DLC has been great73%
  2. Kind of, the DLC has been hit and miss14%
  3. No, I think the DLC has been poor12%