The endless carousel of games coming to and leaving PlayStation Plus continues, and June’s Game Catalog newcomers brings a modern classic Final Fantasy to subscribers of the Extra and Premium tiers. It’s quite impressive how the iconic RPG series continues to offer varied gameplay. Newly announced Final Fantasy Resonance is taking the series back to its roots, while Final Fantasy 7 Revelation was finally revealed with its continued evolution of the ATB combat system.
One of the most transformative Final Fantasy games yet will come to PlayStation Plus this month. Final Fantasy 16 is joining the Game Catalog on June 16, per the announcement from PlayStation Blog. FF16 has an admirable 87 aggregate review score on Metacritic, and its user score – from more than 10,000 reviews – isn’t far below at 8.4. The former PlayStation 5 exclusive will soon be free to download for those who are subscribed to the Extra and Premium PlayStation Plus tiers.
We’re big fans of Final Fantasy 16 here at ScreenRant. Our FF16 review gave it a perfect 10/10, saying it has “The best Final Fantasy boss fights ever made,” and that “With an incredible score, an enthralling story, and an eccentric and electric gameplay approach, Final Fantasy 16 is, quite simply, a modern masterpiece.” It shirks many of its predecessors’ roleplaying elements in favor of action combat that’s as flashy as it is satisfying.
FF16‘s combat has received criticism for a lack of depth, which is fair, but its strong points heavily outweigh the areas where it’s a little thin. My favorite aspects of Final Fantasy 16 are the world-building and production value. Valisthea is a fascinating spin on classic FF setting tropes, where the series’ iconic summons, now known as Eikons, are only available to a select few Dominants who transform into them. Clive’s adventure across Valisthea takes him through each of the continent’s major kingdoms, each with a cadre of characters who boast large personalities and refreshingly varied environments.
Clive’s quest is made all that much better by how gorgeous the game and how stunningly rendered Valisthea is. The animation and voice work are top-notch (Ralph Ineson as Cid is a real treat), and some of the more bombastic set pieces are jaw-dropping. Final Fantasy 16 is narrative-heavy in the best way, with many smaller vignettes and side stories woven around its main plot.
Final Fantasy 16 is a huge addition to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, joining the June 2026 lineup alongside Kingdom Come: Deliverance, Sonic x Shadow Generations, Life Is Strange: Double Exposure, Farming Simulator 25, Blades of Fire, Black Desert, and the Premium-only classic Gitaroo Man.
Most die-hard series fans have likely checked it out already, but Final Fantasy 16 is a great entry point for newcomers. The series is largely an anthology, and FF16 is refreshingly straightforward while still including many Final Fantasy staples. It’s a great deal for PlayStation Plus subscribers to get a sprawling, cinematic adventure at no extra charge.
- Brand
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Sony
- Original Release Date
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June 29, 2010
- Original MSRP (USD)
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$59.99 (Essential), $99.99 (Extra), $119.99 (Premium) – Per Year
- App Store
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PlayStation Store
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