Final Fantasy 16's Shocking Body Count Revealed: The Game of Thrones of Gaming!

Final Fantasy 16 has achieved immense success as it enters the action RPG genre, which is a daring move among many other risks taken by Square Enix in recent years. This latest installment in the renowned JRPG franchise has incorporated popular elements from modern media, following years of development and reflection following the groundbreaking experimentation of Final Fantasy 15. While its dynamic combat resembles that of Square Enix's Kingdom Hearts series, Final Fantasy 16 draws inspiration from darker, more western sources to shape its world.

While FromSoftware's Elden Ring benefited from George R.R. Martin's direct involvement in crafting its lore, it is not the only recent game to draw influence from the author's style. In the world of Valisthea, players will encounter grim realities such as geopolitical struggles and complicated family dynamics, reminiscent of the tone prominently featured in HBO's Game of Thrones. As the story of Clive Rosfield unfolds, players can expect tragic events and the loss of beloved characters, mirroring the infamous bloodshed that has always been associated with Westeros.

The Tragedy of Final Fantasy 16's Deaths

In Valisthea, different kingdoms engage in battles, wielding the destructive power of Eikons. The world is portrayed as harsh and unforgiving for its struggling inhabitants. While the demise of supporting characters like Biast or Murdoch is expected in the realm of dark fantasy, there are moments that further emphasize the dismal atmosphere created by Final Fantasy 16. Cid losing his life or Clive being forced to kill Tiamat are particularly significant instances. The game also humanizes antagonistic forces like Benedikta and Kupka by offering multiple perspectives on the global conflict before their deaths occur due to massive Eikon conflicts.

Final Fantasy 16 takes a bold narrative approach similar to Game of Thrones, where almost all of its central cast meets their respective ends by the conclusion of the game's storyline. This echoes the violence often witnessed in the eight seasons of the renowned HBO series. However, Final Fantasy 16 differentiates itself by incorporating an open-ended ending that allows for individual interpretation. Although Dion, Joshua, and Clive appear to have perished by the story's final moments, the circumstances surrounding their deaths are ambiguous, lending a hopeful undertone to the overall tone.

Game of Thrones' Iconic Character Deaths Draw Several Parallels to FF16's

The darkness in Final Fantasy 16's new direction bears similarities to the violence of Westeros in Game of Thrones, although the HBO series is undoubtedly more depraved. Elwin Rosfield and Eddard Stark, both seeking peace, can be seen as counterparts, while a character like Anabella draws from Catelyn Stark and Cersei Lannister to establish herself as a wicked force in her world. This makes her demise truly cathartic. While Final Fantasy 16 may capture some of the shocking and sad deaths from Game of Thrones, it has a smaller main cast with fewer named tragedies. Final Fantasy 16 kills off 8-11 major characters, depending on how the ending is interpreted, while Game of Thrones kills over 100 significant characters over its runtime.

Although Game of Thrones surpasses Square Enix's latest RPG in terms of its dark tone, it still deserves praise for exploring riskier subject matter such as deaths. Final Fantasy, a series that initially focused on cute and stylized traditional fantasy, has come a long way in its sixteen mainline entries. The presence of death in a high-budget, current generation Final Fantasy game sets a promising example for more morally complex and mature experiences in future gaming.

Final Fantasy 16 was released on June 22, 2023, and is available on PS5.