The Finals

About The Finals

The Finals is a free-to-play first-person shooter from start Studios that launched on December 7, 2023. It runs on PC and all current generation consoles including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game places players inside a futuristic virtual game show set in the year 2100 where contestants battle for cash prizes and fame. Unlike traditional shooters, every arena here is fully destructible. You can shoot out walls to create new angles or collapse entire buildings to trap opponents. The narrative frames this chaos as a broadcast overseen by a corporation called MultiCo, though rogue groups and sentient AI elements have complicated the showrunners' plans over time.

Gameplay

Sessions involve three-player squads dropping into arenas where objectives change between rounds. You might secure a briefcase of digital currency or defend a zone while your team rebuilds structures to create cover. Destruction is central to combat since you can shoot out floors to drop enemies or blow holes in ceilings for flanking routes. The game offers both competitive ranked modes and co-operative missions against AI waves. Controls feel responsive with distinct classes like Engineer, Hacker, and Destroyer each bringing unique gadgets. Matches scale up as tournaments progress, requiring teams to adapt strategies mid-fight when the map layout shifts due to your own explosives or enemy tactics.

What Players Think

Players on PlayPile have given The Finals a solid average rating while IGDB lists it at 77.2 out of 100 based on 264 user scores. Community moods suggest fans enjoy the high-octane destruction but sometimes struggle with the learning curve for new classes. Average playtime sits around 45 minutes per session, indicating people treat it as a quick burst rather than a marathon grind. The game holds a spot at rank 92 on Twitch trending lists, showing steady viewer interest despite the saturated shooter market. Review snippets frequently mention the thrill of blowing up a building to win a round, though some users note performance hiccups during peak moments.

PlayPile's Take

This title works best for groups who want chaotic team-based shooting without buying a premium game. The free-to-play model removes barriers while ranked modes offer depth for competitive players. You can find similar experiences elsewhere but the destructible environment remains the standout feature here. Prices fluctuate if you buy cosmetic bundles, with third-party keys dipping to $30.99 at retailers like Green Man Gaming. Players should expect 15 achievements to track alongside their seasonal progress. If you prefer shooters where every bullet can change the map layout, this fits that niche perfectly.

Storyline

THE FINALS takes place about 75 years in the future, roughly around the year 2100. It is the greatest virtual game show on the planet, with a large, global fan base, and considered a window to a bigger world outside of the real one - known as the Meatspace. Virtual reality is where most people spend their time, and THE FINALS allows them to join as contestants to play in hyper-realistic arenas and fight for fame, money, and the favor of generous seasonal Sponsors. Both THE FINALS and the showrunners appear to be overseen by MultiCo, a company with origins dating back to the 1980s. Recently, THE FINALS was hacked by a rogue group known as CNS, who claimed they were taking back what was theirs and changed the game by adding new items, maps and modes. Although their existence was acknowledged by MultiCo and THE FINALS commentators, Scotty and June, CNS true motivations are still unknown. After the CNS take-over, the showrunners brought in cybersecurity experts VAIIYA, to stabilize the game show. During their shutdown attempt, it was revealed that THE FINALS is a sentient AI program capable of defending itself. Under this threat, THE FINALS AI deployed countermeasures that rebooted the system into a different time and era in the 1500s. While the system appeared to stabilize, the introduction of Terminal Attack was received poorly, forcing MultiCo to send one of their own to meet with the sponsors and set the stage for Season 4. It welcomed back the heart and soul of THE FINALS with Ranked Cashout and a new map that featured sectors dedicated to different sponsors. CNS activities remain unknown, with the exception of a few hidden messages in the Kyoto arena.