Final Fantasy XVI has two different game modes that are available when you first begin the game. They are the “Story Focused” and “Action Focused” modes of play. You will eventually gain access to even more Gameplay Modes after you complete the game for the first time, but let’s focus on these two modes to start.

Story Focused / Action Focused

What is the difference between “Story Focused” and “Action Focused” gameplay modes? The game provides the following explanation:

Gameplay Focus	Explanation
Story Focused	Begin the game equipped with several accessories that simplify gameplay. Recommended for those players who are less comfortable with action games and wish to focus more on the game’s story elements.
Action Focused	Begin the game with standard equipment. Recommended for those players who are comfortable with action games.

So we’ve just started the game, but we already have a lot to cover!

Final Fantasy XVI is one of the most action-oriented games ever created in the series. It is comparable to Final Fantasy XV and the new Final Fantasy VII remake games, but it differs from the older turn-based games in the series. The development team did a great job creating an action-oriented game. Still, for those players who aren’t interested in fast-paced action-focused games, the “Story Focused” mode allows them to play through the game more easily.

“Standard Equipment”

What does the game mean when it says you will begin the game with “standard equipment?” What equipment changes depending on the gameplay mode? Unfortunately, this is where the in-game explanation adds to the confusion.

Even if you select the “Action Focused” gameplay mode, you will still receive the ‘accessories that simplify gameplay.’ (No, you didn’t accidentally select the wrong mode!). You’ll still have the accessories so that you can swap them in and use them at any time if you’re struggling with some aspect of the game. These accessories are:

Accessory	Effect	Notes
Ring of Timely Strikes	When equipped, complex ability combinations can be executed by simply pressing .	Automates things like Magic Burst to make it easier to deal damage.
Ring of Timely Evasion	When equipped, Clive will automatically evade attacks, as long as the attack can be evaded.	Automates the process of Clive needing to Dodge attacks.
Ring of Timely Focus	When equipped, time slows before an evadable enemy attack strikes Clive. No effect when equipped with the ring of timely evasion.	Slows down time to make it easier to see when you should dodge so that you can execute a Precision Dodge.
Ring of Timely Healing	When equipped, Clive will automatically use a potion when his HP falls below a certain point. Potions will be used before high potions.	Clive will automatically use a Potion or a High Potion when his HP gets low.
Ring of Timely Assistance	When equipped, pet commands are executed automatically, and Torgal’s actions will adapt to Clive’s. The ring of timely assistance’s effects are included in the ring of timely strikes.	Causes Torgal to attack and heal more often on his own.

These rings are your “easy mode” options, and in terms of how easy they make the gameplay, the ones at the top (Timely Strikes and Timely Evasion) make the game significantly easier. In contrast, the ones at the bottom (Timely Healing and Timely Assistance) automate some basic gameplay elements. For example, you don’t have to rely on Torgal that heavily, so if you’re sometimes forgetting to give him commands, it’s not that big of a deal…

It’s worth noting that, certainly at the beginning of the game, you may struggle to execute combo attacks or to dodge powerful boss attacks, but this is to be expected! It takes some time to get used to the gameplay elements, so don’t get frustrated and reach for these ‘easy mode’ rings at the first sign of trouble.

New Game +

After you’ve completed the game for the first time, you’ll gain access to a new mode called “New Game +” which allows you to carry over your character’s possessions, abilities, and level progression into a brand new game, making the game much easier to complete. You’ll start off with all of your Eikonic Abilities right from the beginning, allowing you to go back and defeat some of the tougher battles with some of Clive’s strongest abilities.

However, you also gain access to a new game mode called…

Final Fantasy Mode

The game describes the mode as…

“Replay the game in Final Fantasy mode with data carried over from a previous playthrough. In this mode, the level cap is raised to 110 but enemies are far more powerful. To aid you in your journey, the legendary “Ultima Weapon” is available for crafting. After starting, you will be unable to switch over to Story or Action Focused mode.”

But what does this mean in practice? In summary, this is Final Fantasy XVI’s “hard mode.” Enemies are more numerous and more difficult to take down, with bosses being more challenging to defeat. However, you’ll still get to carry over your Eikonic Ability Sets and start with the exact setup that you had when you completed the normal mode of the game.

As the game mentions, you’ll also get access to the Gotterdammerung, which is a brand new weapon, but you’ll also get access to a whole host of new upgrades to your weapons and gear, making “Final Fantasy Mode” an enjoyable experience for those who enjoyed the standard version of the game.

Other Game Modes

The items listed in the chart aren’t official “game modes” in the same way that the ones listed above are, but you may have heard of different types of play, and this section helps to outline what they are.

Gameplay	Description
Arcade Mode	You can access “Arcade Mode” at the Arete Stone in the Hideaway. Arcade mode allows you to replay certain sections of the game and be awarded a score based on how well you do.
Stage Replay Mode	You can also access “Stage Replay Mode” at the Arete Stone in the Hideaway. You can use this option to return to stages of the game that are no longer accessible, and you can use it to retrieve any items that you may have missed while you were traveling through the area (none of the accessories are missable).
Chronolith Trials	The Chronolith Trials is a gameplay mode associated with the Chronolith Trials side quest. Each of the trials requires you to defeat several stages of enemies using only one Eikon’s abilities.
Ultimaniac Mode	The hardest difficulty mode in the game. This can be unlocked within “Arcade Mode” while playing on the “Final Fantasy Mode” difficulty setting.