Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood

while 4.0 may be uneven and thematically simple, the 4.x plotlines more than make up for it, setting the stage for shadowbringers, one of the greatest experiences I've ever had the pleasure of playing through

There's no getting around it: Stormblood tells the weakest story among the FFXIV expansions, and Lyse is the blandest character, full stop. And the only reason why I can forgive Y'shtola best-girl's complete absence from the entire game, is because Stormblood has some of the best environments in the form of Japan- and China-inspired worlds, plus a lot of cool dungeons. The main villain is also very interesting, and he definitely deserved to exist in an expansion with a more interesting plot.