Encyclopaedia Eorzea ~The World of Final Fantasy XIV~

Encyclopaedia Eorzea - The World of FINAL FANTASY XIV #Vol 1

by Square Enix

The first volume of the official Final Fantasy XIV lore books, written and compiled by the Final Fantasy XIV development team! This deluxe, full-color, hardcover volume is the definitive guide to the world of the massively popular online game.

With hundreds of pages detailing everything from Eorzea’s history and cultures to her geography and inhabitants, this expertly crafted tome is a veritable treasure trove of invaluable information.

Encyclopaedia Eorzea offers an in-depth look at the realm’s city-states, organizations, and leading players, as well as its various professions and their foremost practitioners. Readers will also gain insight into Eorzea’s beastmen—their cultures, customs, and deities—and detailed data on the realm’s myriad creatures, from the timid to the terrifying.

A timeless gift to all who call Eorzea home.

Includes an exclusive bonus item code for an in-game Namingway minion!

Genres: Fantasy, Video Games, Reference, Art, Gaming, Collections, Fiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd. (株式会社スクウェア・エニックス・ホールディングス) TYO: 9684 is a Japanese video game and publishing company best known for its console role-playing game franchises, which include the Final Fantasy series, the Dragon Quest series, and the action-RPG Kingdom Hearts series. Its headquarters are located in the Shinjuku Bunka Quint Building in Yoyogi, Shibuya, Tokyo.

Reviews

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not much to say about this one, seeing as how it's a rather niche read. Suffice it to say: if you play Final Fantasy XIV (which you should — it's a remarkably well-done MMO) and at least sort of care about the plot (which, again, you should, because it's excellent), you'll get a kick out of this. It's beautifully designed, has a lot of lovely artwork, and really digs into the worldbuilding and lore in a clear and well-organized way.

It makes the storyline much easier to track, admittedly. Character profiles, timelines of major events, outlines of the jobs, races, groups, and areas: it's pretty much all there. Keep in mind that it only covers things up through the Heavensward expansion, though.

[freddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

CAWPILE rating: 10/10
STAR rating: ★★★★★

Probably the best lore books I've ever read, across the board. The quality of the book physically is incredible but there's so much lore and art jampacked into these volumes - which unfortunately isn't always the case with lore books. Absolutely adored reading this and certain sections hit different after finishing Endwalker. If you enjoy FFXIV, you need to give these volumes a shot.

[Azbaqiyah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art - 5/5 ⭐
Plot - 5/5 ⭐

Overall - 5/5 🌟

[Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best world building/lore I've ever read and experienced. The artwork is top notch as well.

[Kristina Edgecombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had interesting lore so I enjoyed reading but skipped a lot of the fluff.

[Eirini V · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my Christmas gift from my fiancee last year. I am a huge Final Fantasy fan and I was so intrigued by the world of Eorzea while spending time on FFXIV! Everything about this encyclopedia is breathtaking. The mesmerizing illustrations, the lyrical lore discription, absolutely magical and extraordinary. I had such a blast for each and every page I turned around. A magnificent art work that is a must have for every FF enthusiast.

[Alethya · Rating 5 out of 5]

5.0 ⭐ - Worth every cent if you enjoy FFXIV Lore

This first volume is the perfect starting point for fans eager to explore the vast lore of Final Fantasy XIV. It lays the groundwork for the world of Hydaelyn, diving into Eorzea’s regions, histories, and cultures with stunning illustrations and captivating details. From the origins of the city-states to the deep mysteries of the Twelve, every page is packed with insights that bring the game’s universe to life. The book also looks incredible on every shelf and is really well-made. It is a worth pickup for everyone who looks to grow his FFXIV Game Collection.

[Zachary Ephrem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good quality, but the font was a little too small at times.

[Drucilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a super niche book, but the rating is justified. If you like the game's story and lore (and you're not a dirty cutscene skipper), you'll like this book. It's written like someone from Eorzea is writing it and though I think there are a few things included that shouldn't be if we're sticking to that concept, it really does live up to its name as an encyclopedia. Did you know that the tribe members of one of the Xaela tribes in the Azim Steppe marry their horses? Yeah, and that's not the weirdest one. It's also just very nice to have everything in one place to refer back to. Because, if you've played the game, you know that the developers continuously build on stuff that's come before. Hell, a certain character from ARR disappears only to reappear 3 expansions later in a major role. It also doesn't hurt that the book is beautiful.

[Megan☾★ · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS IS NICHE AF AND PROBABLY BIASED BUT.....

But a must-buy/must-read for anyone remotely interested in a deep dive into the lore of XIV. First volume covers lore from patches 1.0 to 3.55 (original 2010 release until the release of Stormblood). Wonderful reference material for speculations, roleplay, and takes being reference material pretty seriously.

Also, this book was designed WITHOUT a barcode or any sort of sales material on the cover itself to preserve the image of being an actual written tome of the world itself. KOJI FOX IS A MAN AFTER MINE OWN HEART.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing how much care the development team has and continues to put into the game it's no surprise that the encyclopedias are given the same care. They're very well written, thoughtfully laid out, and gives plenty of information from local lore to the jobs and the races (at least the ones released at the time the book was written).

It's really changed the way I see certain landmarks and areas in the game and has given me a deeper appreciation for the hard work that has been put into this game.

A must read for any player/fan of FFXIV.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for any fan of Final Fantasy XIV. Everything from the core game and first expansion are covered in this book in stunning detail. If you didn't read every single thing in the game or perhaps didn't have time for every side quest this is a great catch up. Even if you have done everything in the game this is a fantastic resource.

[yacoob · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightfuly solid supporting material for FFXIV. Game backstory books are usually an afterthought. This one is surpisingly well built, offering much detail at both global and local level, down to sociologic commentary on the society's approach to attempts to turn Dalamud back to its orbit.

I had a lot of fun reading this.

[JC Burgos · Rating 4 out of 5]

As if written by dedicated Sharlyan scholars, this encyclopedia will not dissapoint all players of FFXIV who wish to know much more about its impressive, lengthy lore. From a thorough, yet amicable explanation of all eras, to a brief description of all kins, and very nice illustrations to boot, it is definitely a keeper. Feel, hear(see), think… For Eorzea!

[Brandon Smith- Scolaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, absolutely incredible. There is just so much information packed in this first volume, and there are two other volumes!

I think it's safe to say that Final Fantasy XIV has the best world building in the entire franchise. It might even have the best world building for a video game ever!

If you like Final Fantasy or XIV this is a must buy

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay it turns out I'm a huge nerd for FFXIV lore. I would read at least two more volumes of this, which is convenient because there are two more volumes out right now.

This only covers up to I think patch 3.3, but it's surprising how much of the world and its history had already been laid out by then.

[Aja: The Narcoleptic Ninja · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to Follow.

[Michale Lalor · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breathtaking look into the world of FFXIV that truly brings the world to life and further immerses one's experience when re entering the universe.

[Cameron D. R. Eyestone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must have for any XIV player, the amount of extra lore and background this book offers along with the amazing artwork makes this absolutely worth it to own.

[Amanda Setasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of information on the world as a whole and back history that you might not get in game.
I really enjoyed this and it'll be staying in my collection for a while to come.

[Jennifer Sigman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely chock full of everything you need to know.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

As far as lore books go, it's literally perfect, no notes.

Cannot WAIT to get my hands on Vol. 2 and 3.

[Queenanthai · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved what I could read, but I have impaired vision and even with a magnifying glass, the text was just too small for me to read. I'm not really happy about it.

[Arisu · Rating 5 out of 5]

OH THE LORE, THE ART, THE EVERYTHING. The beautiful complicated lore of FFXIV, the breath-taking art, the intricacies of everything FFXIV... The encyclopaedia you never know you've been missing.

A must have for any fans of FFXIV, and that's literally it.

[Affirmativegrunt · Rating 4 out of 5]

My nighttime reading before bed since last Christmas, something like a comfort read. Some of the recaps are a little droll, and the authors have decided amusingly to include every character’s age with their description.

The art is gorgeous. The fleshing out of the world is delightful, if not overly impactful to appreciating places in the game. It’s about my favorite game of all time.

I have the other two volumes out right now and will report back in nine months when I’ll have finished the next one.