Unveiling the Ingenious Tactics that Help Final Fantasy 16 Avoid an AO Rating

Caution: This article contains slight spoilers for Final Fantasy 16. Proceed at your own risk.

Final Fantasy 16 introduces several new elements to the series. While it breaks ground in various aspects, one notable deviation from the traditional formula is its darker and more mature portrayal of the Final Fantasy universe. Square Enix surprised many fans by announcing that Final Fantasy 16 would receive an M rating, attributed to the inclusion of nudity, explicit language, graphic violence, and sexual themes. As the game is released this week, fans are taken aback to find these elements playing a prominent role, blurring the line between the ESRB's M and AO ratings. To avoid an AO rating, Final Fantasy 16 cleverly employs tactics to portray each element briefly enough to avoid prolonged crossing of boundaries.

Final Fantasy 16 Features Heavy Sexual Themes and Nudity

Valisthea, a land ravaged by conflicts over its most precious resource, crystals, sets the stage for the epic tale of Final Fantasy 16. This mesmerizing realm is home to the Kingdoms and Realms of Valisthea, located in close proximity to the majestic crystalline edifices known as Mothercrystals. These tremendous structures exude magical energy, infusing the entire world with its enchanting power. Moreover, it is widely believed that the Mothercrystals bestow incredible abilities upon a select few known as Dominants, enabling them to command extraordinary creatures known as Eikons. Our protagonist, Clive Rosfield, happens to be a Dominant, endowed with control over the formidable Dark Fire Eikon, Ifrit. Join Clive on his quest to dismantle the Mothercrystals and liberate humanity from their grasp.

Final Fantasy 16 presents a dark fantasy narrative reminiscent of Game of Thrones. The characters in the game strategically form alliances, manipulate their enemies, and fight against all odds to stay alive. Within the story, Benedikta, Hugo, Anabella, Clive, Jill, and Barnabas find themselves in intimate encounters, where one or both individuals may be portrayed in a state of nudity. A notable act of deception occurs when Ultima assumes the guise of someone known to the characters. In a provocative scene involving Barnabas, Ultima transforms into various characters, including Barnabas' own mother, while being bare-skinned. Additionally, Final Fantasy 16 includes instances of nudity that align with the context of the situations, with one particularly impactful moment when Clive obtains an Eikon from his closest companion.

Despite its mature content, Final Fantasy 16 manages to avoid an AO rating by never explicitly portraying any sexual contact. Instead, the game showcases naked characters engaging in embraces, seductive behavior, and taunting gestures, while leaving the actual physical contact to the imagination, either implying that it has just occurred or is about to occur. Even during Clive and his Uncle Byron's visit to multiple brothels as part of their mission, no explicit sexual situations are depicted. Instead, Final Fantasy 16 employs audio cues to provide suggestive hints about the activities taking place in the rooms of these locations.

Final Fantasy 16 Depicts Multiple Instances of Graphic Violence

In the wartime setting of Final Fantasy 16, violence is abundant. The Eikons and their Dominants mercilessly slaughter entire cities, while characters endure torture and serve as bait. One haunting scene reveals Clive's grim discovery - the lifeless bodies of the town's Bearers, the enslaved wielders of magic in the game, cruelly strung up on poles. It is a tragic sight for Clive, who had arrived in the town to offer these very individuals a chance at freedom. The game doesn't shy away from portraying explicit acts of violence either, including the disturbing image of a desperate woman slitting her own throat in front of her children.

While the title tactfully conceals its mature content, Final Fantasy 16's violence is starkly portrayed. However, the acts of violence in Final Fantasy 16 contribute to a more grounded narrative compared to its predecessors. This characteristic distinguishes Final Fantasy 16's violence and torture from titles like Indigo Prophecy: Director's Cut. Despite its mature content and violence, Final Fantasy 16 has garnered both critical and commercial acclaim since its release. With Square Enix's successful new approach to the Final Fantasy series, loyal fans can look forward to future installments delving further into mature themes and explicit storytelling introduced in Final Fantasy 16.

Final Fantasy 16 is currently available for the PS5.