The third expansion to the massively popular MMORPG Final Fantasy 14, Shadowbringers introduces new jobs, mechanics, and rewards to the core gameplay of Final Fantasy 14 while also continuing the “Return to Ivalice” storyline. Many of the story events that occur in Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers help to set up the thrilling conclusion awaiting players in Final Fantasy 14‘s fourth expansion, Endwalker. A fifth expansion, Dawntrail, was recently announced at the Final Fantasy 14 “FanFest” and will introduce a brand new storyline taking place somewhat separately from the MMORPG’s first four story expansions.
Shadowbringers‘ arrival also coincided with the release of Patch 5.3. This significant update provides overhauls to the game’s crafting and job systems, as well as adding in a New Game Plus mode that allows players to revisit previous story content. One of the more significant additions that Shadowbringers introduces is the inclusion of “Trust” companions. Rather than needing to squad up with real-life party members for large-scale dungeons, players can recruit computer-controlled supports that aid the player in battle. Players can also acquire extra experience from using these supports, making the climb to the new level cap of 80 easier.
Shadowbringers initially released as a standalone expansion for current players and as part of an updated “Complete Edition” of Final Fantasy 14 for new players. It is now available as part of the new “Complete Edition” and “Complete Collector’s Editions” of Final Fantasy 14, which include the base game plus all currently available expansions. Shadowbringers marks a new era for Final Fantasy, being the highest-rated game in the series upon the time of its release since Final Fantasy XII and many considering it to contain some of the best story content available in Final Fantasy 14.
Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers Premise
Continuing the story that Final Fantasy 14: A Realm Reborn introduced in the course of its main quest, Shadowbringers takes place on the First. The First is a parallel universe that split from the Source (the original setting) long ago in order to avoid destruction. Following the events of Heavensward, in which the Oracle of Light sacrifices herself to prevent a Calamity befalling the world of Eorzea, Shadowbringers‘ main setting of Norvrandt remains untouched. When a Crystal Tower mysteriously appears, the player character and some of the main story companions travel to it to decipher its mysteries, kicking off a tale of warring gods and Ancients.
Gameplay in Shadowbringers is exactly what one might expect after playing any of Final Fantasy 14, with characters traversing and interacting with a persistently online fantasy world. Although Final Fantasy 14 is an MMORPG that typically sees gameplay elements reliant on other players, Shadowbringers introduces plenty of new features that cater to solo players as a way to introduce and acclimate them to the world of Final Fantasy 14. Additionally, the game adds a plethora of new jobs and job-related quests and activities while raising the level cap from 70 to 80.
Shadowbringers also establishes Emet Selch as one of the best villains in the entire Final Fantasy franchise, with the game’s writers explicitly modeling him after some of pop cultures best and most enigmatic antagonists across multiple mediums. The game’s story and characters have plenty of influence from the works of Yasumi Matsuno, who is the driving force behind classics such as Final Fantasy Tactics and Tactics Ogre. In fact, both Matsuno and Yoko Taro (of NieR: Automata fame) are some of Shadowbringers‘ scenario and story writers.
Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers Main Characters
Although the protagonist of Final Fantasy 14 is a player-created character on which one can imprint their own appearance and personality, there are several other characters that make return appearances as either friend or foe in Shadowbringers. The main characters in Shadowbringers include:
- Warrior of Light – The protagonist of Final Fantasy 14, the Warrior of Light is the player’s avatar. This character has no set appearance, race, or job, but is instead a creation of the player for their ideal MMORPG experience.
- Alphinaud Leveilleur – Alphinaud is one of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn and one of the Warrior of Light’s most constant companions. He awaits the arrival of the Warrior of Light on the First for a year before the events of Shadowbringers.
- Ryne Waters – Ryne is the human reincarnation of the Orcale of Light, otherwise known as Minfilia. Her role as a companion to the player and important character in the narrative make her one of the game’s primary protagonists.
- Y’shtola Rhul – Y’shtola, sometimes going by the name Master Matoya, is an extremely powerful sorceress and companion to the Warrior of Light. Y’shtola is also the face of Final Fantasy 14 in pop culture, often appearing as a character in crossovers and promotions.
- Ardbert Hylfyst – Ardbert is the counterpart to the player character and the Warrior of Darkness. he is one of the three primary antagonists of Shadowbringers and features heavily in the game’s promotional material.
- Emet Selch – Emet Selch is one of the last surviging members of the Ascians and the primary antagonist of Final Fantasy 14. In Shadowbringers, Emet Selch forms an uneasy alliance with the party in order to observe and study their actions and effect on the First.
Games in the Final Fantasy Series
The Final Fantasy series continues to be one of the premier RPG franchises more than 35 years since its inception. Although the games are primarily single-player, story-driven experiences, Final Fantasy 14 (and, to a lesser extent, Final Fantasy 11) have proven that the characters and universe of Final Fantasy work well in an MMORPG setting. Whether playing single-player or online in a massively online RPG, Final Fantasy is one of the most important franchises in gaming. The main games in the Final Fantasy series include:
- Final Fantasy (1987)
- Final Fantasy II (1988)
- Final Fantasy III (1990)
- Final Fantasy IV (1991)
- Final Fantasy V (1992)
- Final Fantasy VI (1994)
- Final Fantasy VII (1997)
- Final Fantasy VIII (1999)
- Final Fantasy IX (2000)
- Final Fantasy X (2001)
- Final Fantasy XI (2002)
- Final Fantasy XII (2006)
- Final Fantasy XIII (2009)
- Final Fantasy XIV (2013)
- Final Fantasy XV (2016)
- Final Fantasy XVI (2023)
Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers Cheats & Secrets
Because Final Fantasy 14 is an MMORPG that involves millions of players competing on a level playing field, the title employs a strict no-cheating policy for online play. In fact, the community regularly reports players who are found to be using cheat mods or software when playing online in order to preserve the integrity and balance of the game’s world. As a result, there are no official cheats for Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers or any of the other story expansions for the title. There are unofficial cheats and hacks that players might be able to find, but these are not sanctioned by Square Enix and can result in player accounts getting banned.
Final Fantasy 14: Shadowbringers Cheat FAQs
Where is the download code for Shadowbringers?
The download code for the expansion is the 20-digit code that is either printed on the inside of a physical package or sent via email in the case of a digital game download. Simply follow the instructions accompanying the code in order to register the product and use it as part of playing Final Fantasy 14.
How long does it take to beat Shadowbringers?
Shadowbringers is a fairly large expansion, with just completing the main story missions averaging around 59 hours. To see and do everything the game has to offer in both single-player and co-op, that number escalates to well over 300 hours.