Final Fantasy Resonance Launches to Strong Reviews

Final Fantasy Resonance launches October 22, 2026, and critics have largely welcomed this old-school return to turn-based Final Fantasy. The HD-2D RPG from Square Enix and developer Lancarse holds an 85 on Metacritic for PS5 and 88 on PC, with a perfect score from Nintendo World Report and 8/10 from IGN, though some reviewers find its story underwhelming. Here is what is confirmed about the launch, the reviews, and how its Visions system works.

What Final Fantasy Resonance Is and Where to Play It

Final Fantasy Resonance is the first HD-2D RPG in the Final Fantasy series, and Gematsu says it rebuilds and reimagines the first season of the mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius rather than offering a straight port. Square Enix pitches the newest Final Fantasy game with a question, what if Final Fantasy had pushed the limits of pixel art, and promises a visually striking experience with dynamic camera angles and cinematic battles. The Final Fantasy Resonance devs describe a classic RPG adventure full of beloved Final Fantasy elements, with airships, crystals, espers, and moogles woven into the fabric of the story.

The game launches on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2, with Xbox Play Anywhere support and a free Xbox demo. It carries an Everyone 10+ rating from the ESRB, per TheGamer, and the official website lists the October 22 date.

How Much Does the Game Cost?

Final Fantasy Resonance costs $49.99 for the Standard Edition and $59.99 for the Digital Deluxe Edition, per Gematsu. Pre-orders included a Magitek Airship & Squire Starter Pack, whose Magitek Airship Passkey transforms the airship's appearance and comes with useful items for the start of your journey. Nintendo World Report also mentions Switch eShop and PAX West demos.

Where Can I Buy Final Fantasy Resonance?

You can buy Final Fantasy Resonance on Steam for PC, the PlayStation Store for PS5, the Xbox Store (with Xbox Play Anywhere), and the Nintendo eShop for Switch and Switch 2. The Standard Edition costs $49.99 and the Digital Deluxe Edition $59.99.

Story, Cast, and Setting

The story centers on Rain, commander of Grandshelt's airship squadron, and his friend Lasswell, who investigate the Earth Shrine only to watch Veritas of the Dark shatter the Earth Crystal. The pair set out to protect the remaining crystals, joined by Fina, and Nintendo World Report says the main story runs about 30 hours. Per Gematsu, Ian Sinclair voices Veritas of the Dark and Lizzie Freeman voices Fina, and Game8's walkthrough says the opening chapter sends players to the Town of Mitra, where they earn their first two Visions.

Review Scores and Critic Reception

According to review aggregator Metacritic, via PureXbox, the game sits at 85 for PS5, 88 for PC, and a lower score for Switch 2. TheGamer lists 85 on OpenCritic, noting the scores do not rival previous installments like Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy IX, which it says was never expected. A NeoGAF review thread shows an OpenCritic average of 84 with 91 percent recommending.

Nintendo World Report's Final Fantasy Resonance review, by Jordan Rudek, gave it a 10, calling it a feast for the senses and the best visual representation of HD-2D yet. IGN and Nintendo Life both scored it 8/10, with Nintendo Life's Mitch Vogel calling it "a strong return to an older style of Final Fantasy." VGC gave it 3/5, and the NeoGAF thread lists Gamer Guides at the low end with a 63/100.

What Are the Biggest Complaints?

Story is the most common criticism. IGN said it was underwhelmed by pieces of the storytelling, and Nintendo Life said the story was a little dry. Nintendo World Report flagged the game's mobile roots as its only con, noting the chapter structure and simplified single-use dungeons, though Rudek found they stopped being a distraction. He also found one major twist a bit confounding, though a party member explains it afterward.

How Visions and Combat Work

Visions are echoes of beloved Final Fantasy characters. PlayStation Blog explains that crystal shrines across Lapis offer short tales of heroes from earlier games, and completing one grants a companion that can be equipped to a party member, adding magic and physical attacks while permanently improving health and speed. Each Vision brings unique skills, and mastery points unlock additional abilities, which supports deep party customization.

Combat is turn-based with a stagger twist. Players exploit enemy weaknesses to stagger foes and seize extra turns, gaining the upper hand with powerful Resonance attacks. Per Nintendo World Report, stunning every foe on screen gives all four party members a bonus turn followed by an ultimate ability from an equipped Vision. Gematsu says a timeline shows the turn order, and a fan guide notes there is no ATB system. Random encounters still drive dungeons, which the Final Fantasy Wiki says director Hiroto Furuya sees as a way to make each dungeon a single challenge of managing MP and items.

Who Are the Visions in Final Fantasy Resonance?

PlayStation Blog says 26 companions are available, drawn from across 16 numbered Final Fantasy titles, including Terra from Final Fantasy VI, Sephiroth, the villain of Final Fantasy VII, the Warrior of Light from the first Final Fantasy, Lightning, and Noctis. Nintendo World Report adds Cloud, Cecil, and Squall, and original Brave Exvius characters like Black Mage Tronn and Medic Leah also appear. Each Vision has a role, so pairing Lasswell, a Breaker, with Medic Leah gives him healing magic and the option to pass his turn to an ally.

Side Content and Soundtrack

Gematsu lists hours of side content, including the wandering swordmaster Gilgamesh, a Final Fantasy V favorite, a Colosseum with deadly monsters, and the Chamber of Arms, where formidable foes are sealed within legendary weapons. New side quests spotlight Rain and the supporting cast from Brave Exvius. The original soundtrack, composed and arranged by Elements Garden, adds 33 new tracks to music from Brave Exvius, and Nintendo World Report singles out the Battle on the Big Bridge arrangement.

What Comes Next

With the game arriving October 22 and demos already available, players can judge its pacing for themselves. Reviews broadly agree the HD-2D presentation and combat are the highlights, and the main debate is whether the mobile-rooted story holds up across its 30 hours.