Linear, linear, linear

[TheDecay]

This misconception that non-linear is somehow always superior to a linear game needs to die. There are plenty of linear games that have proven to be masterpieces.

Like???

God of War?

And how did they make their linear dungeons? With puzzles. Alternating paths. Varied enemies that require the player to use different tactics. Environmental interactions. Verticality. I can go on and on. All of these, FF14 and FF16 have not achieved.

That's why GoW is a 94 and a 9.1 in User Score while FF16 has a 7.9 User Score.

Because they mastered the art of non-linear design in linear dungeons: that is, breaking the gameplay loop into chunks of walk forward, do puzzle, attack enemy, dodge, interact with environment, attack enemy, do puzzle, find hidden path etc. What you're actually engaged in while in a GoW dungeon that is actually incredibly linear when you look at the map, is highly non-linear gameplay.

What is there in FF14/FF16? Press W and smash Square/AoE combo.