Best 6 Final Fantasy XIV Main Themes

Final fantasy XIV has been trucking along for a while now, and one of its strong points is its music, and how that music often ties into the narrative in various ways. One of the most prominent examples of that is with the themes for each expansion, as well as the base game. Often these themes touch on the tone of that part of the story, as well as being reused within other songs or as remixes for climactic moments.

I’ll be keeping things vague and making sure to avoid any major story spoilers, for those who haven’t played yet, though links to the trailers that use these themes may have some, especially for later expansion trailers, so be warned!

With the 5th expansion well underway, I thought I’d go over each one and rank them, though if I’m being honest I like them all quite a bit, so even the ‘worst’ is still up there in my mind. And of course this all comes with the disclaimer that it’s just my opinion, art can hit differently for different people and that’s alright! With that said, lets get started with….

6 – Final fantasy XIV Stormblood: Revolutions

While I am certainly fond of each of Final fantasy XIV’s theme in its own right, and I think revolutions does its job well enough… I can firmly say it is my least favorite for various reasons. It’s on the slower side, and feels like it runs a bit repetitive compared to some of the later entries that mix multiple, often extremely different parts together in a very satisfying way, though even it does have several very distinct parts to it.

That being said, its somber, yet hopeful tone fits well for the expansion, painting a picture of tragic heroism, rebellion, and sacrifice that does an admirable job in my opinion. Last on the list is still a fairly high bar in my mind given the obvious technical skill of the games musicians and writers both.

5 – Final fantasy XIV Dawntrail: Dawntrail

Dawntrail is fun and peppy, it really gets you into the feel of something a bit lighter after the cataclysmic events that previous expansions explored… Which is a good bit of why I’m ranking it lower. Mild spoilers ahead, but the expansion does not exactly deliver on ‘light low stakes vacation’, which makes me feel like it did a poor job as a theme song. Most of the others resonate well with the story, this one… resonates with maybe the first half of the story before things immediately get extremely serious again.

Still, while it lasts, the lighter tone is appreciated. And I suppose it wouldn’t be much of an adventure to have a proper, true vacation for the WoL the whole time…. Doesn’t mean I can’t complain a little though! We deserve some time off!

4 – Final fantasy XIV Shadowbringers: Shadowbringers

Shadowbringers, as cool as it is (in a bit of an extra, edgy way that I’ll admit I vibe with anyway) actually kind of shares an issue I have with Dawntrail in that I don’t really feel like it jives with the expansion itself in some ways. A lot of the marketing, including the song itself, felt a bit deceptive in the direction it painted things going vs how things actually went, though I’ll refrain from specifics to avoid spoiling newcomers to Final fantasy XIV.

While the expansion itself still remains in my top two for the series despite that, I can’t give the song full marks as a result despite it being a very enjoyable theme if one can move past that issue. Everything else about it is great though, putting it solidly in the middle of the pack for me.

3 – Final fantasy XIV A Realm Reborn: Answers

Ah, the old classic… Answers has a long history within the game and I honestly considered placing it higher… But at the end of the day I think I can rest easy placing it at a very solid third. A heartfelt plea from humanity itself to the goddess Hydaelyn… questioning their life of trials, hardship, and suffering that shifts into a beautiful, soaring response from a single, clear voice… This is the song that ushered in the end of the world itself in the cataclysm that ended the 1.0 game and allowed A Realm Reborn to rise from its ashes…

I’ll avoid specific spoilers, but it gets used again for a few climactic fights in the course of the games and feels very fitting each time. Frankly I have to give the writers credit for using the meaning behind its lyrics so well later on, especially for its last appearance. If I were judging it on its overall use rather than merely as a theme for Final fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn itself I would probably be placing it at first on the list, honestly.

2 – Final fantasy XIV Heavensward: Dragonsong

The first expansion after the rerelease of the game with Final fantasy XIV ARR, and where many would say the story finally really started to kick off. I think Dragonsong is a beautiful example of the care that went into it, painting a vivid picture of the tragedy of the war between man and dragon where peace once flourished… The senseless bloodshood, the tragic, doomed love between Shiva and Hraesvelgr… It just pulls at my heartstrings every time in a way that I can’t really deny.

I’ll concede my feelings on the song itself are partially down to the emotional attachment of the story itself being so tied to it, but overall I feel it deserves a pretty high spot on its own merits. They did a good job with it and really knocked it out of the park.

1 – Final fantasy XIV Endwalker: Footfalls

What can I say, this is probably a relatively unsurprising pick, overall. It ticks all the buttons for what makes a great theme for a Final fantasy XIV expansion, and even mixes in various songs from previous expansions together to make it a kind of anthem for the entirety of the first story arc of the game.

The way it seamlessly blends into and between iconic Final fantasy XIV themes after its opening, Heavensward, Stormblood, and finally Shadowbringers… tracing the path the Warrior of Light has tread already while adding its own spin to things… And finally triumphantly coming into its own with its original theme and lyrics to paint a picture of what is coming, and the themes that will take place in the story…

I think this one will always have a special place in my heart, personally. Guess I’m a sucker for nostalgia in the end.