Happy Alternatives

[Sivante]

Gonna try bringing the positive junk out again

Yoshida has commented about playing other games, and encourages players to step away from FFXIV and return later as necessary. We also know Yoshi tried Elden Ring, WoW, EQ, and others. I've seen it said on these forums, often in fact, 'go play something else then.' It's a popular dismissal. I've seen people say that for the quality of content received at the pace we get it we 'might as well' play Genshin Impact, which has no sub by comparison but provides comparable (apparently?) experience and enjoyment.

So what is it you play in your down-time, or when FFXIV isn't making you happy? I'll list some of the alternatives I've seen mentioned below: Is yours missing? Why do you love the one(s) you play? What's special about them to you? Gush a little, convince me to give it a try! I'm curious to see what everyone's passionate about, and what brings them some joy when it can't be found here.

I'll add some of my own with asterisks, to out myself sufficiently.

Ze List

· World of Warcraft
· Monster Hunter
· Guild Wars 2
· Warframe
· Genshin Impact
· Honkai Starrail
· Baldur's Gate
· Death Must Die*
· Rimworld*
· Elden Ring*
· Lies of P*




Please, as always, try to be civil: this isn't an invitation to start flaming other games out of FFXIV pride or vice versa. We have enough friction in the other threads to fuel a fusion reactor as it is.

[Tunda]

I am really thinking of monster hunter but there is no magic

[LynxDubh]

I am really thinking of monster hunter but there is no magic

There is the the big doot Hunting Horn. Buff your allies with songs from your big honking battle instrument.

[Boblawblah]

There is the the big doot Hunting Horn. Buff your allies with songs from your big honking battle instrument.

The hunting horn experience

(a video of Jack black playing a toy saxophone)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRSpaLObDL4

[Hanayumi]

I am really thinking of monster hunter but there is no magic

Well.. there kinda is magic in monster hunter... just more in form of elements... Coming from a FFXIV stand point think of Eureka element str and wkn, not only that but statuses are very much a thing. If folks haven't tried MHW by now its definitely a huge recommendation, its playerbase is fairly strong, mostly because players are waiting on Wilds next year.

[Tunda]

Well.. there kinda is magic in monster hunter... just more in form of elements... Coming from a FFXIV stand point think of Eureka element str and wkn, not only that but statuses are very much a thing. If folks haven't tried MHW by now its definitely a huge recommendation, its playerbase is fairly strong, mostly because players are waiting on Wilds next year.

maybe.. but I never played FFXI before Idk if it is welcoming new players

[koko-on-da-forumz]

maybe.. but I never played FFXI before Idk if it is welcoming new players

The community is, the systems are not.

Well, the systems kind of are if you go into it with a 2002 mindset. If you go in expecting to shovel through waves of mobs single-handedly without any effort and understand every menu intuitively, you're going to have a bit of a bad time. That said, the XP boosts and trusts kind of turn it into that experience, difficulty-wise. The menus are still pretty archaic, though. Try playing on Horizon, it's wonderful.

[AnimaAnimus]

maybe.. but I never played FFXI before Idk if it is welcoming new players

After you get it downloaded and install the overhauls its going to start off really slow. But if you just use shout to ask about linkshells (ffxi versions of fc) you should be able to find a group easily. There are a lot of beginner friendly ls out there who are more than happy to help guide you on your journey. If you are NA I would suggest Bahamut server, its the second largest server, but the largest, Asura, is packed to the gills with bots making it hard to do anything without mercs. Once you get used to the slower pace and navigating the menus it becomes a quite enjoyable experience, esp with all the qol impovements made to the game over the years.

And imo the story telling in XI is leaps and bounds better than XIV. They were not so focused on making everything light and happy so while there are moments of levity, there are also a lot of dark themes that get explored and resolved in a lot more interesting ways than the power of friendship trope xiv leans heavily into. The expansions are also all stand alone experiences that you can play at your own pace and in any order, so you are not locked into having to slog through hundreds of hours of msq to get around.

Also you get the best version of blue mage that has ever existed and pet jobs in summoner, beast master and puppetmaster that are true and well done pet jobs. Bards and Corsairs are true and amazing support jobs and mages are so much more interesting than lay lines and fire spells.

[Boblawblah]

Playing right now:

• Like a Dragon (the first one)

• The Planet Crafter

• Final Fantasy 2 still

• Diablo 4 a..bit

• FFXIV a very little bit

Thinking about playing:

• Cyberpunk 2077 again

• ESO and/or SWTOR

• Lost Ark just for giggles

[Lizvette]

path of exile
new league is pretty fun and melee is somewhat relevant again