Final Fantasy II vs Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
Final Fantasy II is a JRPG RPG game from Square (1988) while Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is an RPG game from Square Enix (2013).
Quick answer: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has the higher Metacritic, 83 to 63.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn
What each one is
Final Fantasy II is filed under JRPG and RPG. In contrast, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn under RPG.
The original FINAL FANTASY II comes to life with completely new graphics and audio! A remodeled 2D take on the second game in the world-renowned FINAL FANTASY series! Enjoy the timeless story told through charming retro graphics.
Final Fantasy XIV is a subscription-based massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed and published by Square Enix. Directed and produced by Naoki Yoshida and released worldwide for PlayStation 3 and Windows in August 2013, it replaced the failed 2010 version, with subsequent support for PlayStation 4 in April 2014, macOS in July 2015, PlayStation 5 in May 2021, Xbox Series X/S in March 2024, and Nintendo Switch 2 in August 2026. Final Fantasy XIV is set in the fantasy region of Eorzea, five years after the devastating Seventh Umbral Calamity which ended the original version. In the Calamity, the elder primal Bahamut escaped from his prison, an ancient space station called Dalamud, unleashing an apocalypse across Eorzea. Through temporal magic, the player character of the original version escaped, reappearing at the start of A Realm Reborn. As Eorzea cements its recovery, the player must fend off a reignited invasion from the Garlean Empire.
Story, characters and reception
Plot
Setting and characters Yoshitaka Amano 's artwork of the main characters Leon, Firion, Maria, and Guy Final Fantasy II is set in a fantasy world divided between multiple nations, including the Palamecian Empire and the kingdom of Fynn. During the game's events, the Palamecian Empire has begun a ruthless expansion, conquering or destroying its neighbours including the kingdom of Kashuan and the dragoon homeland of Deist. A rebellion is formed to fight… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception According to Square, the original Famicom release sold 800,000 copies. As of March 2003, the game, including all re-releases at the time, had shipped 1. 28 million copies worldwide, with 1. (Wikipedia)
Plot
Setting See also: Final Fantasy XIV (2010 video game) § Synopsis Final Fantasy XIV is set on Hydaelyn, a fictional world of diverse environments across multiple continents, focused on the region of Eorzea. Eorzea features four prominent city-states : Gridania, in the heavily forested Black Shroud; Ul'dah, a trade-centric sultanate in arid Thanalan; Limsa Lominsa, a thalassocracy on the island of Vylbrand; and Ishgard, an isolationist theocracy in snowy,… (Wikipedia)
Characters
The player character is an Eorzean adventurer during the Seventh Umbral Era who joins one of the Grand Companies: Gridania's Order of the Twin Adder, under Elder Seedseer Kan-E-Senna; Ul'dah's Immortal Flames, under Flame General Raubahn Aldynn; and the Maelstrom of Limsa Lominsa under Admiral Merlwyb Bloefhiswyn. Their allies include Minfilia and her Scions of the Seventh Dawn, a rebuilt Sixth Astral Era organization uniting Louisoix's Circle of Knowing… (Wikipedia)
Reception
Reception In contrast to the original version, Final Fantasy XIV has earned a generally positive reception and robust sales numbers. Prior to release, both the game's press and fans were surprised by its quality and level of polish. IGN s Charles Onyett cited many specific improvements over aspects of the initial game and recognized that "it seems like Square's doing the right things to fix the many mistakes made with Final Fantasy XIV' s original… (Wikipedia)
At a glance
| Final Fantasy II | Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn | |
|---|---|---|
| GamingPickz Score | 6.9/10 | — |
| Steam rating | Very Positive (82%, 3,501) | — |
| Critic aggregate | 63/100 | 83/100 |
| Price | $11.99 | Unknown |
| Install size | 1 GB | — |
| Steam Deck | verified | Untested |
| Released | 1988 | 2013 |
| Developer | Square | Square Enix |
Prices and Steam ratings are read live and move over time.
Final Fantasy II vs Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, point by point
Each facet side by side. A round is marked won only where a figure settles it; feel and "which is better" carry no mark, because no number we hold decides them.
Genre and premise
Final Fantasy IIJRPG RPG gameFinal Fantasy XIV: A Realm RebornRPG gameWhat each is filed as. Each game describes itself in full above; we do not judge a premise.
How it plays
Final Fantasy IIRPG, JRPG, Party-Based RPGFinal Fantasy XIV: A Realm RebornNo descriptive tagsThe tags players apply most, in order of votes. A read on feel, not a verdict.
Reception
Final Fantasy IIMetacritic 63Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn ✓Metacritic 83Metacritic's critic aggregate, from the game's Wikipedia reception where it was never on Steam.
Content and scale
Final Fantasy II3,501 reviews · 1 add-on · 1 GBFinal Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn—Reach and footprint, not quality: more reviews or a bigger install is not a better game.
Price
Final Fantasy II$11.99Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm RebornUnknownRead live from Steam and subject to change.
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn takes 1 of the marked rounds to 0. That is only what a number can decide, not which you will enjoy more.
Which to pick, by what you want
- The better reviewed of the two: Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn (Metacritic 83)
Where they differ
RPGJRPGParty-Based RPGExploration2DTurn-Based Combat
Tags players apply to one game and not the other.
Difficulty and who each is for
By the tags players apply, Final Fantasy II is middle-of-the-road on difficulty. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is middle-of-the-road on difficulty.
Accessibility features
Steam store pages declare 6 accessibility features for Final Fantasy II and 0 for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. A declaration is a floor, not a review.
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Common questions
How different are Final Fantasy II and Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn in scope?
Final Fantasy II has drawn 3,501 Steam reviews, ships 1 add-on and installs in 1 GB. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn lists little scope data.
Is Final Fantasy II or Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn better?
Neither carries enough reviews for us to score it reliably, so we do not call a winner. The table above shows what each does have.
Which is cheaper, Final Fantasy II or Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn?
One or both do not have a current listed price, so a straight comparison is not possible. See the table above.
Should I get Final Fantasy II or Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn?
Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has the higher Metacritic, 83 to 63. It also depends on what you want: the "which to pick" section above calls out which is cheaper, lighter on storage, better on a Steam Deck and the safer bet by weight of reviews.
Do you rank one above the other for a fee?
No. Neither game, nor anyone else, pays for placement or a verdict here. The order and every figure come out of the same public data the rest of the site uses.
Related comparisons
All comparisonsHow we compare, and what we will not do
The GamingPickz Score is a composite of player sentiment (adjusted for sample size), the critic aggregate and popularity, computed by the same code every ranked list on this site uses. The Steam rating label is Valve's own, reconstructed from the positive percentage and review count. Prices are read live. We do not write an opinion of which game is "better": we report the numbers and say which wins each measurable question above.