Howdy!

I'm a bit of a maximalist, and I love diving into whole worlds of games. I tried FFXV years ago, but fell off when I got a new job.

I got obsessed with the recent Final Fantasy MtG crossover and pulled a Noctis card :)

I also recently bought the Royal Edition, but I also want to experience the whole story in the best possible order. I know there's a manga and anime (is it a movie?)

With all of the material in addition to the game, what is the best way to experience this game and world?

    1. Watch the ff15 brotherhood series on youtube
    2. Watch the first 45 minutes or so of the Kingsglaive movie. (Up until the part where Luna was talking to Nix on top of the building during the party, then it cuts to the next day, stop there.)
    3. Play through chapter one of the game to the point where Dino says you should sleep and he'll get you onto the boat the next day
    4. Watch the rest of Kingsglaive
    5. Play the game up to the part where Gladio returns after disappearing for a bit (Chapter 7)
    6. Play Gladio DLC
    7. Play the game up until the part where Prompto rejoins the party then go and save at the nearest save spot
    8. Play Prompto DLC
    9. Finish chapter 13, you'll be taken into chapter 14 but just save immediately and start the comrades DLC, make your character and do the tutorial
    10. Get a gist of what's happening then watch the comrades ending on youtube because getting there in game takes a massive amount of time and is not worth the grind if you're just experiencing the story
    11. Finish the game
    12. Play the Ignis DLC (it takes place around chapter 9 but spoils the ending)
    13. Watch the Episode Ardyn: Prologue on youtube
    14. Play through episode Ardyn
    15. Optional: There's the dawn of the future book aswell. This is all ofcourse if you want the complete narrative experience.

    In general, if you want to learn more about the game as you go along, take your time, do the sidequests and hunts, freely explore. Kingsglaive is not so important, but it's worth watching the brotherhood series on youtube atleast.
    Probably the worst way to play the game is to just blast through the main story, you probably won't have an excellent time with it if that's the case.

    parent

    Saving for later

    parent root

    The fact that there's a guide like this to play a game is ridiculous.

    parent root

    I can understand your disdain, but I wrote this as a fan for a more linear and complete narrative experience, which in my opinion makes it the most enjoyable. There's no actual need to do all this and you'd be fine also just playing the game then doing the DLCs after

    parent root

    Nothing against you, I really like the game but I'm frustrated that a guide is somewhat necessary.

    parent root

    Understandable, friend

    parent root

    Thank you for reminding me why I refuse to play this game

    parent root

    The game is pretty good. I’ve never played the DLCs yet though.

    parent root

  • If you're a maximalist, I'm sorry, you can't have everything about this game if you're starting blindingly in 2026. But you can enjoy most of its content (other comments will list the FFXV Universe medias that you can consume and the order tk do so)

    Let me list what you can't have/obtain/play in 2026:

    • you can't play Platinum Demo. It's a prologue demo that was shut down in 2017, but it's canon and it unlocks something in the main game. You can't obtain it anymore. You can play it if you download it in your account back then or if you know someone who got it. By extent, if you're playing on consoles and don't have Platinum Demo, you won't have Carbuncle in the main game (at least not fully).
    • if you're playing on Xbox or PC, you won't have FFXV Monster of the Deep, the PS VR exclusive game. Like PD, it's canon, but it doesn't affect the main game, the storyline nor anything like that. Still, it's part of the FFXV Universe and a great fishing game for VR. You can play it if you have the first VR for PS4/5.
    • you can't play Kings Knight Wrath of the Dragon, a mobile revival of an old NES title. It exists and is mentioned in universe by the characters of FFXV, and it even has an DLC (console exclusive) crossovering King's Knight app and FFXV, adding a Regalia skin, music and an outfit for Noctis in the main game, while having the bros appearing as first players in the app. The king's knight app was shut down, and it had chat logs with the bros talking about a lot of things and it happened concurrently with the main game, and it's canon.
    • same with King's Knight, you can't play the Justice Monster V app because it was shut down. However, this one didn't had much crossovering like items or DLCs. You can play a smaller and simpler version of JMV on FFXV pinball machines tho, so this one isn't as big of a loss.
    • you can't play Terra Wars crossover on mobile, just like King's Knight and Justice Monster V, because its app was shut down. It also had crossover qursts both game and app, the FFXV quest about Terra Wars is still playable, along with the OST of the series present as a Regalia radio playlist, but the mobile app is long gone together with Noctis and company presence there.
    • you can't play the Assassin's Festival no more. It was a great crossover with an actual story and, like the other items above, canon to the main game. The festival was time limited and ended in 2017 or 2018. It unlocked some items that are long gone, like the Assassin's Medjat Shield, outfit, some skins and stickers for Regalia etc. It was full of great moments, humor and extended the story a minor villain of the main game. You can still play a FFXV theme quest in AC Origins tho.
    • you can't play the Moogle Chocobo Festival on consoles (legally), because it was also a time limited event like Assassin's Festival. And it also unlocked exclusive items. You can download a mod for this one on PC tho.
    • two games, A New Empire and War for Eos, released for mobile a few years back. They both were horrible cash grab farm simulators using FFXV skin. However, War for Eos did have a story, with the main game cast voicing the characters in a what if alternate scenario of the game, which was really cool. Unfortunately, both of them were shut down last year or so. War for Eos what if story was never concluded.
    • You can't play A King's Tale on PC. It's a console exclusive short game. A 2D cute game telling a bedtime told by Noct's father for him before sleeping. It has strong ties with the Kingsglaive movie and the Comrades DLCs regarding a minor character. It's free on consoles.

    There are probably more games, apps, contents in general that were delisted, discontinued or time limited that I forgot. Some things are limited for some plataforma only too (Monster of the Deep is PS VR exclusive, Moogle Chocobo Carnival is now back on PC), and some of the contents can still be playable via darker methods, but generally speaking, the contents are inaccessible for the majority of the players.

    parent

    Because of what I said above, you need to choose carefully where you are going to play.

    Windows Edition features Carbuncle fully working as if you have played the Platinum Demo (you won't have him fully integrated on consoles without Platinum Demo), but it lacks some DLCs compared to consoles (there's a mod for this tho). PlayStation has the VR game (if you own a VR), but if you don't have Platinum Demo, you'll miss that. Xbox doesn't have any vantage compared to those versions regarding exclusive content for fresh players, but it has the same downsides as PlayStation version. Both consoles have A King's Tale, PC don't.

    The PC version can be modded to restore Moogle Chocobo and the consoles exclusive DLCs (King's Knight, Cup Noodles helmet), so it's the best version for fresh players looking for the most content. However, you'll be missing the VR game and A King's Tale.

    PlayStation has the VR game.

    Both PlayStation and Xbox have A King's Tale. If you don't have mods, PlayStation consoles have exclusive DLCs the PC doesn't have.

    parent root
  • parent

    1. Play the main game

    2. Play the DLCs best in release order Gladio-> Prompto->Ignis-> Ardyn.

    3. Out of game stuff ( movie, anime, book)

    The big list you got linked is better suited for a replay. Do not play Episode Ignis before finishing the main game, it contains spoilers

    parent

    I agree with this approach. I did the very same and did 100% on everything for this game (including comrades base edition and stand-alone!)

    parent root

    For a first time playthrough, does watching the movie first make sense or nah?

    parent root

    Movie provides additional context for the beginning of the game but it's not necessary to understand the story.  It's an alright movie on its own, watching it can't hurt, I just don't like prescribing new players too much homework before starting the game. 

    parent root

  • the most vital things in order:

    play the prologue

    watch kingsglaive

    play game till chapter 6 and occasionally watch brotherhood short series (6 episodes)

    after Gladiolus leave the party play his dlc

    go on playing

    after fight with Leviathan on your train trip play Ignis dlc (but don’t play alternative story that is unlocking after first completion)

    after Prompto leaves the party play Prompto dlc

    at the beginning if chapter 14 when Noctis wakes up on island play Ardyn dlc

    the most important don’t rush first chilling part of the game. it is designed to be your honeymoon

    parent

  • What I would do is:

    Watch the movie (yes there is a movie, it's called Kingsglaive and should still be free on youtube)

    Play the game until chapter 3.

    Watch the 5 episode Brotherhood anime (makes more sense to do so in the early chapters)

    Play the game until chapter 8, then play Episode Gladio

    After that, play until a very specific spot in chapter 13 (you'll know it when you get there), then play Episode Prompto.

    Beat the game, then go play Episode Ignis (you could play it after chapter 9 but you will get spoilers if you do), after that you will unlock a new route for the episode and can play that as well.

    watch the Episode Ardyn Prologue, then play Episode Ardyn.

    And then read Dawn of the Future, as it has the rest of the canceled DLC. Hope this helps!

    parent

    And screenshotted.. thanks for your services

    parent root

    And don’t forget about the Comrades DLC thing too. I’ve heard it has story fi it AFTER the base game.

    parent root

    Can you play comrades offline?

    parent root

    Yep, but the AI companions can be kinda sucky and wonky at times. It’s still fun to play!

    parent root

    oh man I forgot about Comrades lol, thanks

    parent root

    Thank you very much :)

    parent root

  • I just started my first playthrough and I'm just casually taking it all in

    parent

  • Honestly? It's hard to say.

    As someone who played at launch, I want to say the best experience is to get a PS4 original copy and play before updates.

    Problem is, some updates were really good, and some were really bad.

    At this point it's impossible to play the least-glitchy and altered version....so just go with Royal Edition.

    Beat the main game, THEN play the DLCs.

    Episode Ardyn is horseshit though, sorry.

    parent

  • From a technical standpoint the PC/Steam version has a 4K texture pack that makes it look gorgeous, if you have options on where to play.

    parent

  • Finish the game normally. Find the best weapons & secret dungeons & bosses (best part), farm AP/ EXP (after finishing the game) with timed quests. Oh and beat omega after beating the game. Its the hardest boss.

    Then ng + and do it all over again. Good days 😔

    parent

  • Saved for later 

    parent

  • It’s hard to say what the best way to experience the game would be, I’d say you largely have 2 options: release date order & chronological order. Personally I played the release date order. The main story has multiple holes within where the DLC chapters slot in, The Kingsglaive movie occurs almost immediately after the beginning of the game. Not sure about exactly where some of the other media bits slot in as I haven’t experienced them. Despite its flaws, it’s in my top 5 Final Fantasy games because of its strong emotional core & the comaraderie of the Chocobros. Enjoy the experience!

    parent

  • As far as I know the PlayStation version still has microstuttering, some pc players report the problem there too. If you are sensitive to that the Xbox version doesn't have that problem.

    There's a Reddit post on this subreddit linking to a steam post with the order. Should come up in a Google search.

    parent