How open is the game world??

[Anova]

Story and quest-wise, I suppose FFXIV is closer to Kingdoms of Amalur in that it directs you from quest hub to quest hub through the story and each hub has level-appropriate content. You may choose to ignore these guideposts and travel through the world map at any point, although some monsters may make it more difficult to travel through certain areas than others and you will eventually have to return and finish the main story quests to unlock content. Some areas can only be unlocked through quests or story quests. The story doesn't allow as many meaningful choices as the above games either, and the consequences of your choices are largely superficial. There are achievements and some bonuses for exploring, but it is not as rewarding as either of the games you mentioned.

Gameplay-wise, I would really have a hard time comparing it to either. I would really suggest you play a little more. There's nothing we can say that will help explain the game better to you. Just know that the game is definitely different from both of the games you listed.