Still the Warrior of Light in 6.x and beyond? [Spoilers through ShB]

[Cilia]

While Final Fantasy can (and often does) touch heavy subject matter, it has never been grimdark. There is always hope and a happy ending waiting for the protagonists, even if it takes a ton of effort and there's no guarantee said happy ending will last. Grimdark is typically given a "the world is shit, nothing you can do will improve it, just try to survive" feel.

... which I can't objectively speak to, but XIV has never felt that way. A Realm Reborn has being instrumental in saving Eorzea from Garlean conquest, later repelling primal threats while working with Alphinaud to build a non-political military force that can act freely. That goes south due to Teledji, but after that it's been nothing but up - we expose the lies behind and stop the perpetuation of the Dragonsong War, liberate Doma and Ala Mhigo from Imperial oppression, and drag the First back from the brink - saving the Source in the process. Endwalker sees it climax with us saving not just Etheriys but the universe not only from a premature heat death but from Meteion hoarding souls in Ultima Thule so new life outside Etheirys could instantiate once more.

That's not to say the story has no grim or dark moments, but tonally it's never gone there. Costs are paid but hope lives on.

[KizuyaKatogami]

While Final Fantasy can (and often does) touch heavy subject matter, it has never been grimdark. There is always hope and a happy ending waiting for the protagonists, even if it takes a ton of effort and there's no guarantee said happy ending will last. Grimdark is typically given a "the world is shit, nothing you can do will improve it, just try to survive" feel.

... which I can't objectively speak to, but XIV has never felt that way. A Realm Reborn has being instrumental in saving Eorzea from Garlean conquest, later repelling primal threats while working with Alphinaud to build a non-political military force that can act freely. That goes south due to Teledji, but after that it's been nothing but up - we expose the lies behind and stop the perpetuation of the Dragonsong War, liberate Doma and Ala Mhigo from Imperial oppression, and drag the First back from the brink - saving the Source in the process. Endwalker sees it climax with us saving not just Etheriys but the universe not only from a premature heat death but from Meteion hoarding souls in Ultima Thule so new life outside Etheirys could instantiate once more.

That's not to say the story has no grim or dark moments, but tonally it's never gone there. Costs are paid but hope lives on.

ff13-2 doesn’t have a very happy ending tbf. I disagree that the tone has never been dark. I definitely think it was there in ARR and HW. Yes while hope lives on, many don’t live to see that. That’s one of the harsh realities that used to be in the game. No one is safe, everyone is human. We see this fairly early on with ARR with the invasion of the waking sands. We see it with Edda as well. Peoples own stories cut short in horrible ways. Not to mention there’s a ton of the messed up things on the side, like Uldah zombifying an entire city state etc.

[Cleretic]

While Final Fantasy can (and often does) touch heavy subject matter, it has never been grimdark. There is always hope and a happy ending waiting for the protagonists, even if it takes a ton of effort and there's no guarantee said happy ending will last. Grimdark is typically given a "the world is shit, nothing you can do will improve it, just try to survive" feel.

... which I can't objectively speak to, but XIV has never felt that way. A Realm Reborn has being instrumental in saving Eorzea from Garlean conquest, later repelling primal threats while working with Alphinaud to build a non-political military force that can act freely. That goes south due to Teledji, but after that it's been nothing but up - we expose the lies behind and stop the perpetuation of the Dragonsong War, liberate Doma and Ala Mhigo from Imperial oppression, and drag the First back from the brink - saving the Source in the process. Endwalker sees it climax with us saving not just Etheriys but the universe not only from a premature heat death but from Meteion hoarding souls in Ultima Thule so new life outside Etheirys could instantiate once more.

That's not to say the story has no grim or dark moments, but tonally it's never gone there. Costs are paid but hope lives on.

Yeah, 'grimdark' is a term coined to describe Warhammer 40k. Trying to use it to describe any Final Fantasy, which are all ultimately hopeful and positive even when extremely bad things happen, is either completely misusing the term or dreadfully misreading Final Fantasy.