Final Fantasy Resonance will be released on October 22, 2026 for PlayStation, Xbox, PC and Nintendo Switch 1 and 2. Square Enix is bringing the very first main project of the series in the popular HD-2D look.
Not a port, not a cheap remake. The game uses the story of the mobile spin-off that was discontinued in 2025. Brave ExviusIt completely rebuilds the entire foundation. A classic role-playing game with turn-based combat and epic pixel art.
Return to the roots
The concept poses a simple question: What if Final Fantasy had remained true to its pixel art style? The answer lies in a classic tale of magical crystals, airships, and chocobos. We follow the knight Rain and his party as they fight against the Empire. Sounds familiar. And it is.
A first hands-on from IGN shows that Square Enix is delivering a true classic RPG. The game world is divided into continents, there are optional dungeons, and the typical humor. Dwarves greet us with a hearty "Lali-ho!" Everything seems more colorful and lighter than in the last high-end installments. But the darker turn is guaranteed to come.
Tactical battles with standing powers
The combat system in “Final Fantasy Resonance"The ATB gauge is removed. Instead, we see a fixed turn order. Enemies have a staging gauge that rapidly increases when their elemental weaknesses are hit. Shocking the enemy grants extra turns."
The coolest feature is the so-called "Visions." These are essentially Personas or JoJo Stands from the series' history. Cloud Strife brings lightning magic, Y'shtola heals. These legends don't fight themselves, but rather enhance your heroes' abilities. Shocking all enemies simultaneously unleashes a powerful Resonance attack. Massive damage guaranteed. The only downside so far: the summons trigger short CGI sequences. This completely disrupts the beautiful pixel art look. Uncanny valley, anyone? Luckily, you can skip them.
A feast for series fans
The developers cite "Final Fantasy V" as their biggest inspiration, and this is evident in the flexible system. Even unlocking the Visions is an homage. We find shrines in the game world, see dream sequences from older games, and have to answer quizzes about the series' history. However, those unfamiliar with the older installments will encounter some serious spoilers here.
It also includes the complete Brave Exvius soundtrack plus 33 brand-new tracks featuring the classic leitmotifs. Square Enix seizes the perfect opportunity here to preserve stories from defunct mobile games for posterity. Octopath Traveler filled this void for a long time; now the king reclaims his crown.
What's been shown has a lot of substance. The Visions system breathes the spirit of the classic job system, combined with modern tactics. If Square Enix doesn't mess up the balancing, we can expect an absolute banger for old-school fans in October.
