Final Fantasy 16 Hard Mode or Final Fantasy Mode, Explained

Final Fantasy XVI has really reinvented the franchise in this newest iteration; combat gameplay has received a complete overhaul, with its signature turn-based tactical gameplay taking a step back in favor of live combat RPG action. But immediately upon starting the game, I noticed that there was no way to adapt game difficulty. In this guide, we will discuss Final Fantasy XVI, if there even is one.

Is there a hard mode difficulty in Final Fantasy XVI?

Final Fantasy 16 does have a hard mode, but the setting isn't available at the start. To unlock hard mode, otherwise called Final Fantasy mode, you must complete the game and enter New Game Plus.

The two options that can somewhat influence your game experience are given to you initially. Those are the following:

• Story-focused mode: choosing this option gives you a defacto easy-mode gameplay experience.
• Action-Focused mode: this option gives you a more personalized approach to combat, such as allowing you to equip Timely Accessories yourself and initiating combos at your own discretion.

Related: Does Final Fantasy 16 have a party system?

What is the Final Fantasy mode in Final Fantasy XVI?

After completing the first campaign playthrough of Final Fantasy 16, a game mode called Final Fantasy will be available to players, appearing below the previous two modes we discussed. It's a New Game+ experience in FFXVI, much like the game's predecessor, Final Fantasy 7 Remake.

The Final Fantasy difficulty mode will raise the campaign level cap to 100, but the enemies will become much more powerful, with the legendary Ultima Weapon also becoming craftable. If you're a completionist like me and would like to see that shiny FF16 Platinum trophy in your gallery, finishing the game in Final Fantasy mode will be one of the trophy requirements that you must complete.

Looking for more Final Fantasy 16 guides? Check out Is Final Fantasy 16 open-world? and Are summons in Final Fantasy 16? here on Pro Game Guides!