Square Enix has hinted multiple times that we should expect the "open world" to be the norm with mainline series going forward. Personally, I don't that it was necessary for Square Enix to say that, as open world is the logical replacement for the classic world map. World maps serve as symbols for the games world as a whole, but with where we are at with technology, there is no need to symbolize. We can Realize now. 

Final Fantasy XV was SE's first attempt at a open world Final Fantasy, and you know what, I think they passed. At the same time I am sure that much more could be done, but I don't know what that much more is because I don't play enough open world games to know what XV is missing or could be better at.

What did XV do well? What did it not succeed at? What could future Final Fantasy titles learn/improve upon?

I would rather they make a concise and greatly directed linear FF instead of open world.

I think that my biggest criticism of XV's open world is the lack of non combat activities. When you are not fighting, what is there to do? Previous Final Fantasy games have been filled with side activities and in comparison XV is lacking. The return of Hot Cold Chocobo would be awesome in a open world environment. I was fan of the Pitoss Ruins just because of how unique it is in comparison to the rest of the game. It was devilish as fuck, but satisfying to complete (took me 6 hours)

It was lagging behind compared to other open world titles tbh, it felt like the earliest example of open world games in regards to things to do and execution and as a result came across a bit like they were unsure how to utilise it to both go with and compliment other elements of the game.

Bro, I was talking like Sailor during the  Pitioss ruins. It was a weird feeling: It frustrated the shit out of me, but I could not stop though. There is definitely some story being told their. As for the Costlemark Tower, Im mixed about it; it has those punchy goblin guys that I hate sooooooooo much and the block puzzle at the end can go fuck itself. I didn't know there was a specific path so I fucked so much that mob they throw at you at the end was so crazy I had to Ring spam. Ramuh was tired of saving my as by the end of the Costlemark Tower as well. I did love traveling through it though. 

12 has a number of well put together quests that aren't combat specific, yeah the largest quest is is the hunting clan quest but it's not the only quest.

Final Fantasy Xlll was ignored on purpose because it was a general step back in all regards minus the presentation. Xlll-2 and Lighting Returns did rectify that problem though. FF12 gets a free pass for not having a major mini game because of well hunts were constructed even if it was still just fighting. I don't feel the same way about XV's hunts the same way I do about 12's. This is because Xll took the time to design exclusive monsters that could only be fought during hunts. XV did not. All the hunts in XV are just stronger versions of  monsters you've killed a million times already and that sucked the fun out of it. There are some exclusive fights (Museline, Omega, Zu) but not enough that it does not feel like its own thing like in FF12 and just more fighting in XV.

FF XV is not a true open-world game. I encountered numerous invisible walls in my time at the edges of numerous maps. Edges which the world map said I should be able to traverse I was actually not able to cross. This is not to say I didn't enjoy XV, just that the open world aspect is often overstated because XIII was so linear. This aspect certainly needs improvement, and I would totally make them sit down and watch a Let's Play of Zelda's BotW.

On the whole I feel the standout feature of XV was the dungeon design. XV is one of the few games where dungeons feel like real locations with in-universe lore as opposed to a puzzle. As far as gameplay is concerned they're ho-hum, but the look and feel is spot on.

What's gained in dungeon design is lost in quests. Quests are almost always killing something. It's acceptable because in-universe this is passed off as blue-collar work, so of course it's dangerous and repetitive, but being able to make an excuse in your worldbuilding doesn't actually excuse poor quest design. On the upside, I love how all the monster wanted posters have "For Habitat Destruction" on them.

The DLC has been...good, but not great.

Gladiolus is the standout of the lot, again showpieces FF's amazing worldbuilding in set design. It looked like something straight out of Tomb Raider 2009, except that the TR dungeons were immersion-breakingly over the top. Here Gilgamesh tells you to look around at the swords of those who have fallen before you, and it really feels satisfying because you know at least one of them.

Prompto is so-so saved by Aranea being made of pure awesome and saving his white and squishy backside.

Ignis is the weakest of the lot. It does add to it by letting you spend time with Ravus, but I was disappointed with it.

I am REALLY disappointed in S-E that they aren't making a XV-2. An all girls team with Aranea, Iris, and...Monica maybe? FYI: I think Monica and Coctura are totally sisters because Monica used Coctura's plating arrangement when making the cat food--again with the fantastic attention to worldbuilding detail!--but I digress. Also remove the Coleman branded tents and make the girls rough it like Bear Grylls. I would totally buy that at full game MSRP. But replaying with Royal Edition? Not so sure.

Great Post!

I totally agree with the invisible walls thing. Both Xenoblade and Breath of the Wild employed a "if you can seen it, you can go there/interact with it" mentality, something I wish XV had. More on this, I think in general XV world is not interactive enough. We brought up the Pitioss Ruins, and I got o tired on noctis slipping off the edge of shit and I was thinking the whole time about why Noctis can't grab ledges? Sora can grab ledges. XV is filled with lakes and shit, but no swimming? I would put this at the top of the list of things SE should incorporate in  future open world titles 

I played it for like 30 mins? I got bored of it fairly quickly.
I got onto like Disk 3 in Final Fantasy 13.

Final Fantasy 8 is the only game in the franchise that has managed to hold my attention long enough for me to complete it.