Final Fantasy XIV is Square Enix's persistent online role-playing game, rebuilt in 2013 as A Realm Reborn and expanded into one of the defining modern MMORPGs.
Final Fantasy XIV began its modern life with A Realm Reborn, a full relaunch that replaced the troubled 2010 version with a new world state, a clearer quest structure, redesigned combat systems, and a long-form story centered on Eorzea's recovery after calamity. The 2013 release kept the subscription MMORPG shape while bringing the presentation, job identity, music, and dramatic pacing closer to the rest of the Final Fantasy series.
Players create an adventurer, follow scenario quests, switch between combat jobs and crafting or gathering classes, and move through dungeons, trials, raids, and seasonal events with other players. Its party roles are familiar, but the game is built around accessibility, matchmaking, readable encounter design, and a steady cadence of updates that give both casual players and dedicated raid groups long-term reasons to return.
The game's identity is unusually tied to repair and continuity. A Realm Reborn reframed the failed original launch as in-universe history, then used expansions and patches to grow a single ongoing narrative across new regions, jobs, and social spaces. That structure made the game as much a serialized Final Fantasy entry as a conventional MMO, with character arcs and musical motifs carrying through years of updates.
Final Fantasy XIV's reputation has been reinforced by major all-time lists and ongoing-game awards. It appears on IGN, GQ, and USA Today lists, won The Game Awards for Best Ongoing Game and Best Community Support in 2021 and 2022, and won BAFTA's Evolving Game award in 2022, reflecting both the strength of the relaunch and the durability of the live game that followed.