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By the time you complete your first playthrough of Final Fantasy 16, you should hopefully know the length and breadth of Valisthea–the primary setting of Square Enix’s latest title in the greater Final Fantasy franchise.
Learning the geography and secrets of each nation, including the principality of Rosaria, is just one gameplay perk, but there’s also a history to unravel regarding the Mothercrystals and what happened to The Fallen. Here’s everything you need to know about Valisthea before embarking on Final Fantasy 16.
Where Is Valisthea?
Valisthea is an independent universe existing within the Final Fantasy franchise, thought to be connected to other settings from past titles via the Interdimensional Rift, and it’s the primary setting you’ll explore in Final Fantasy 16.
The land of Valisthea is made up of two continents, the east’s Ash and the west’s Storm, and six realms, including the Grand Duchy of Rosaria, introduced in the game’s demo. Next to the continent of Storm, there is also a body of islands sitting in the southwest.
The continent of Storm is distinctly larger than that of Ash, and the terrain we can expect to experience in-game ranges from jagged, rocky mountains to ethereal cities laced by the sea and sun-kissed deserts.
The Mothercrystals Of Valisthea
Valisthea is also home to the Mothercrystals, which are mountainous shards that supply aether to the surrounding land and its inhabitants. These monoliths are sacred to the people and supply their livelihood, from producing water to forging weapons for war.
Their lives with the Mothercrystals are symbiotic, and the shards are also thought to be behind the Dominants’ Eikons. Selected Dominants are chosen to wield the power of certain Eikons from birth, and the aether from the Mothercrystals also allows an endless supply of magic to run through the land as well.
One of the main plot points in Final Fantasy 16 is the mysterious Blight that threatens the longevity of these crystals and, in turn, the magic and balance that runs through Valisthea.
Valisthea And The Fallen
There’s an ancient civilization known as The Fallen that dwelled in Valisthea and advanced very differently from the other nations that were established around the Mothercrystals.
Modern-day Valisthea is noticeably lacking in technological advancement due to the people’s reliance on the magic supplied by the Mothercrystals, but The Fallen once honed their skills in technology that allowed them to leave the surface of the land.
Building airships and, subsequently, cities in the sky allowed the civilization to exist above Valisthea. However, in leaving the land, The Fallen suddenly lost their ability to tap into the Mothercrystals' magic which resulted in their city plummeting to the ground, hence their given name.
The Realms Of Valisthea
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Valisthea has six established realms within the two continents of Ash and Storm: Rosaria, Sanbreque, Waloed, the Dhalmekian Republic, the Iron Kingdom, and the Crystalline Dominion.
We’re introduced to the Grand Duchy of Rosaria within the game’s demo, and it was formed by a number of smaller provinces. Relying on the supply of aether from the Mothercrystal, Drake’s Breath, Rosaria is also home to the Dominant of the Phoenix and is led by Archduke Elwin.
The Holy Empire of Sanbreque is home to its Oriflamme capital, that’s situated around Drake’s Head Mothercrystal. Governed by the Holy Emperor, Sanbreque is also home to the Dominant of Bahamut and flaunts a golden crest with an entity gracing the design.
The Kingdom of Waloed covers the entirety of the continent of Ash, but their position is constantly threatened by nearby beastmen and orcs. Luckily, this military-driven realm has the Dominant of Odin on its side and the power of the Drake’s Spine Mothercrystal.
The Dhalmekian Republic consists of five states, referenced in their emblem showcasing a warrior circled by the five natural elements, and is home to the Titan Dominant and the Mothercrystal, Drake’s Fang.
The Iron Kingdom is made up of volcanic islands off the coast of Storm, and the inhabitants use a separate language from the other realms. The Crystalline Orthodox religion is present here, worshiping the Mothercrystal, Drake’s Breath, which also shares aether with Rosaria.
Lastly, the Crystalline Dominion is situated within the center of Valisthea, next to the largest Mothercrystal, Drake’s Tail. These sovereign islands hosted many battles while different nations fought for their position next to the largest Mothercrystal, which resulted in a peace treaty allowing the islands to become autonomous.
Valisthea Was Inspired By Medieval Europe
Key designers behind Final Fantasy 16, Hiroshi Takai, Kazutoyo Maehiro, and Hiroshi Minagawa, used medieval Europe to fuel the creation of Valisthea, including the geographical and political standings of England, Africa, Slovenia, Iceland, and more.
Maehiro was in charge of mapping out the lay of the land, right down to wind direction, and how that would affect the surrounding terrain and climate. These details contributed to the establishment of each realm and its corresponding environment, including The Dhalmekian Republic, which is said to be directly inspired by Africa and also the Final Fantasy 12 kingdom, Dalmasca.
For realms made up of islands, such as the Crystalline Dominion and the Iron Kingdom, Maehiro would study real-world nations that relied on the coastal environment to survive. The designer also looked into how different real-world nations operated when it came to politics and government, as he wanted each realm to be run uniquely instead of being under one rule.
It’s no secret that Final Fantasy 16 shows similarities to the George R.R. Martin saga and HBO adaptation, Game of Thrones, which also boasts contrasting realms and kingdoms jostling together for power and survival.