Square Enix has made no bones about Final Fantasy 16 being a darker, more mature role-playing game than its predecessors. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has rated the title Mature 17+ due to “Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Themes, Strong Language,” and, of course, “Violence.”
The rating provides new details, like protagonist Clive fighting against Trolls and Orcs. There are also “cinematic attacks” or finishing moves performed by pressing the on-screen button prompts. In addition to blood-splatter effects in combat, you’ll see some pretty gruesome violence in cutscenes, including a character’s hands being cut off, throats slit, and even an interrogator stabbing and twisting a prisoner’s shoulder.
Overall, it’s something to keep in mind if you’re buying this for kids or not used to this level of gore in a Final Fantasy game. Final Fantasy 16 is out on June 22nd, 2023, for PS5. You can check out the latest trailer here. For more details on companions (like Torgal, Clive’s dog) and Eikon abilities, head here.
