Final Fantasy XIV

Play it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows (Steam Deck: YMMV)
Current goal: Adventure into the Thirteenth

I’m playing more Final Fantasy XIV this weekend, big surprise. As I’ve written about many times in the past handful of weeks, I am marathoning through Square Enix’s MMO in order to catch up to Dawntrail, the new expansion that was released this week. Despite lofty goals to complete all of the post-Endwalker patch quests, over last weekend I fell down on the job (in my defense I had to go see the Mets play some baseball). That just means I’m here again talking about how this will be the weekend I finally get to Dawntrail. Except, I’m not actually here for that.

Rather than focus on catching up, I want to take it slow through what I have left before Dawntrail, because I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how great the post-Endwalker patch quests are. Reuniting with my beloved Scions, and going on a new adventure with ties to some of the game’s oldest mysteries, has been a delight. I am fascinated by returning to the Thirteenth (the world completely flooded with darkness) and am already deeply in love with Zero—she’s an incredibly compelling character who has somehow made my least favorite villain in the MMO more interesting by association. All that to say, I am fine taking it slow this weekend and letting everybody else rush through Dawntrail. I know it’ll be waiting for me. — Willa Rowe