Player agency has become increasingly important over the past decade or so, with more and more games now allowing players to decide how certain events play out. Though it does so somewhat sparingly, Final Fantasy 16 is one such game, with several side quests asking players to make a choice, as well as a couple of the main story missions.
The first of these instances comes in the "Letting Off Steam I" subquest, in which players will be asked to choose either Gav or Otto. A little further along in the "Letting Off Steam" questline, players will again be asked to make a decision: this time, whether they wish to visit Northreach with Jill or Tarja. Given her past with Clive, the former seems like the obvious choice here, but that doesn't necessarily make her the right one.
Should You Choose Jill or Tarja in Letting Off Steam 3? (No Spoilers)
As with the decision in "Letting Off Steam I" whether players decide to choose Tarja or Jill has no real bearing on the overarching story of Final Fantasy 16. Just like last time, there are a few unique lines of dialog tied to each option, but these aren't really worth writing home about. Given the story of Final Fantasy 16, choosing Jill arguably makes the most sense, but those who opt for Tarja won't really be missing out on much.
What Happens if You Choose Jill? (Spoilers)
The first part of "Letting Off Steam III" is the same regardless of whether players choose Tarja or Jill. They'll need to fast travel to Northreach and buy Garlic and Pepio Niuts from the nearby merchants, then return to their companion by the gate. If that companion happens to be Jill, she and Clive will share a somewhat romantic moment by the lake. There's no kiss scene or anything like that, but the two are definitely happy to be in each other's company.
What Happens if You Choose Tarja? (Spoilers)
Choosing Tarja offers a similar encounter, with the healer reflecting on when she first met Clive and Clive thanking her for everything that she's done for the people of the hideaway over the years. In some ways, it's nice to see Tarja getting a bit more screen time as she's rarely found herself in the spotlight up to this point, but it's perhaps for this very reason that choosing to share such an intimate moment with her instead of Jill makes so little sense.
Final Fantasy 16 is available now exclusively for the PlayStation 5.
