The 6.2 updates forFinal Fantasy 14saw the release of the long-awaitedIsland Sanctuary. First announced with the release of the Endwalker expansion, fans ofFinal Fantasy 14were patiently waiting to find out more information about the brand-new feature. At first, many compared it to a blend betweenStardew ValleyandAnimal Crossing, but now that it’s out, what do fans think?
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There’s a ton of stuff to do in the Island Sanctuary already, with the typical daily tasks of owning a pasture, and crops and exploring the area for certain materials. While this type of gameplay may not be for some, it’s a fantastic way for players to relax and try something new in the world ofFinal Fantasy 14.
8Gathering
With games likeStardew Valley,Rune Factory,andAnimal Crossingbeing incredibly popular franchises already in the gaming industry, it’s no surprise that the Island Sanctuary has taken influence from these games. Players can explore the area to discoverbrand new resourcesto add to their Sanctuary Gathering Log such as Island Vine and Island Palm Log.
The purpose of gathering a wide variety of materials is to be able to take part in the crafting system as well as build up the sanctuary in general with features such as the Workshop and Landmarks. It can be a relaxing change of pace while exploring the island to discover new materials and obtain a large stock to help with the Workshop schedules.
7Crafting
SomeFinal Fantasy 14players may already be familiar with thegathering and crafting systemsthat have been in place for years. With the Island Sanctuary, players can craft important tools to help them progress with their island such as an Islekeep’s Stone Hatchet or the Basic Mammet-sized Builder’s Tools. While these tools don’t need too many materials to craft, it’s always best to keep a stock of the simple stuff. Players must also collect food while exploring the island to craft Feed for the creatures in their pasture. The first recipes players will come across are Island Sweetfeed, Island Greenfeed, and Premium Island Greenfeed.
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Crafting a batch of these is important when making sure the creatures will always have daily food. Players will also need to craft Restraints such as the starter item, Makeshift Net. It’s best to keep a large stock of these in if players plan to catch a lot of creatures. These items allow players to capture the creatures found on the island to invite them to the pasture. It’s important to note that the weaker restraints won’t work on some creatures, which means players will need to craft a stronger restraint when they are unlocked. Crafting in the Island Sanctuary is a little different from the main way of crafting in the game, especially since there are no abilities that need to be used to actually craftand level craftersin the first place.
6Pasture
It’d be strange if the Island Sanctuary didn’t have some kind of animal caring system in place. Most farming simulator games have a feature where players can take care of animals, and in typicalFinal Fantasyfashion, players can capture all sorts of creatures such as the creepyCoblyn and even Chocobo.
By feeding and petting the creatures on the pasture they will drop items that will be added to the Isleventory. By changing the Island Mode, they can feed the creatures any food items that they crafted, pet the creatures and collect their items. Some creatures can only be captured with stronger restraints, so players will need to progress their island a bit more before being able to capture a wider selection.
5Building
With gathering being one of the most important features of the Island Sanctuary, it’s no surprise that players need to gather a ton of materials to be able to contribute to building new structures throughout the island. Some of the first structures that players will need to build are the Cozy Cabin and the Workshop.
Buildings require quite a few materials, so it’ll take some time to reach the correct amount, especially if players are using their materials to craft other items. Once players have unlocked the Workshop, they may find that they’ll need to gather large batches of specific materials that can be found around the island.
4Workshop
Next up is the all-important Workshop system. This can be a difficult feature to understand at first, but once players get the hang of it, it’s a brilliant way to earn the Island currency of Seafarer’s Cowrie. Players can set up the Isleworks Agenda where the workers will craft the items that you have ordered throughout the day.
These items take real-world hours to craft, so it’s best to go back to them later in the day or the next day. There’s also a demand system where players can check which items are in the most demand at that time, meaning they should prioritize gathering the materials that are required while making sure those items are on the Workshop agenda.
3Minions
While it doesn’t exactly impact the gameplay elements of the Island Sanctuary, a cute little feature is that players can now add their minions around the island. This is purely for decorative purposes, with no interactions available with the minions, apart fromsmall speech bubblesappearing above their heads from time to time.
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Players are limited to 40 minions sprinkled throughout the island, which can be placed at the different locations within the main area such as the landmark and Cozy Cabin. This means players can relax on the island while their favorite minions wander around.
2Unlockables
Using the Workshop system, gathering, crafting, and completing quests around the island will allow players to earn the Seafarer’s Cowries. This currency can be used to purchase unlockable items such as two new ponytail hairstyles and even a brand-new mount that resembles a motorbike. Fans of the game are always happy to grind content for a brand-new hairstyle, much like thepopular Adventure Hairstyle.
Seafarer Cowries can also be earned by completing the two Weekly Challenge Log missions which reward players with 1,000 Cowries for each mission. As this is the premium currency on the Island Sanctuary, players will have to grind the content to be able to get enough.
1Inviting Friends Over
AsFinal Fantasy 14is a Massively Multiple Online Game (MMO)it’s only right that players can use the Island Sanctuary to spend time with their friends. Once players have progressed enough on their island, they can invite their friends over to visit. Up to 16 players can visit one island at the same time, so there’s more than enough room for a group of FC members to hang out together on each other’s islands.
Players must reach a certain Sanctuary Rank to be able to do this though, so it’d be best to grind out the early content as soon as possible if they want to experience exploring the island together. There are already some great hangout spots for friends such as the Landmark that players will eventually build as they progress and the main Cozy Cabin.
Final Fantasy 14is available now for PC, PS4, and PS5.
