Examining the Flow Experience in Final Fantasy XIV Online through the Lens of Player Personality and Motivation to Play

This study examines how personality traits relate to motivation for play and to the experience of psychological flow among players of Final Fantasy XIV Online, a massively multiplayer online role-playing game. Its central aim is to understand how personality and motivational factors shape enjoyment and engagement, with the goal of informing healthier game design and player self-reflection. The authors surveyed 1,571 adults aged 18 and older through social media, Discord, Reddit, and other online communities centered on the game in October 2021, using the Big Five Inventory, the Dispositional Flow Scale-2, and the Motivation for Playing Online Games Questionnaire. Analyses combined nonparametric bivariate correlations with stepwise multiple regression, and the sample was reported as international, though the distribution of participants by country is not specified.

Among respondents, weekly play time was substantial, with 30.5 percent reporting more than 40 hours per week and a further 17.2 percent reporting 31 to 40 hours. The strongest personality-motivation associations were positive correlations between advancement and both mechanics (r = .54) and competition (r = .45), all significant at p < .001. Smaller but significant associations linked advancement to socializing, relationships, customization, escapism, extraversion, and conscientiousness, while agreeableness and neuroticism showed weak negative correlations with advancement.

Regression results indicated that the personality model explained about 10 percent of the variance in psychological flow. Conscientiousness and openness were the strongest positive predictors, followed by extraversion and agreeableness, while neuroticism was negatively associated with flow. The authors conclude that certain personality profiles may be more inclined toward engagement that yields positive experiences, and they suggest future research on how gameplay supports personal growth and self-awareness.