Yes but they also suffer in areas that a lot of players will not tolerate. Free MMO's give you what you want in exchange for the things are needed suffering.
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As a game and as an MMOrpg experience, it is only as good as the fans behind it, i don't believe this game would be what it is if it weren't for the world of Final Fantasy itself, and whether people care to say or not, it relies heavily on how the consumer feels about the franchise; if they are a FF veteran or not, and if they are willing to indulge the deep world that's been built over the last... 32 years?(and thats for those who really REALLY care to enjoy this to it's fullest)
Final Fantasy XIV Online isn't just a mmorpg, it's a commitment; it's a marriage one never asked for, but often glad had been endured.
But i'm not ready to say something is great and wonderful just because it's currently trending via google analytics;
Shadowbringers Google Analytics:
https://i.imgur.com/NA3K38v.gif
Final Fantasy XIV Google Analytics:
https://i.imgur.com/j1d5CU2.gif
FFXIV for me personally earned this spot because of what it has gone through, what it has achieved both financially and critically, and how it has touched so many fans around the world. It can't be so easily binary.
As a critic who might look at a MMORPG trending, experience what they can of it; make a choice of how they feel about it, -doesn't come close to evaluating the scope and magnitude surrounding FFXIV- The fandom alone around the world dwarfs just about any other video game fandom out there- except for Final Fantasy itself.
That brings me back to the main point, this is first and foremost a Final Fantasy game, and that is what helps drive it's success and perseverance.
And of course a MMOrpg entry in the franchise is always an easy way to pick up new Final Fantasy fans.
Sorry not into RMT advocates so ill pass on your video. Shame on you.
I don't know if FFXIV is the best MMORPG right now, but I do know that there are others which do some things way better than FFXIV.
And I do know that FFXIV is doing some things very very wrong (oh hello housing system ! How've you been ?)
Still, even if sometimes I leave, sometimes I come back. Until when ? I don't know...