As someone who grew up playing turn-based RPGs filled with awesome sprites, I sometimes feel like the Final Fantasy franchise has left me behind. This does not mean newer versions like FF XVI aren’t great titles in themselves, but for me it felt like everything changed after FFX as the series moved into more fast-paced action and MMOs. With the imminent arrival of Final Fantasy ResonanceHowever, it feels like Square Enix has created a love letter to its classic RPGs that goes beyond just being a nostalgia game.
First of all, Resonance is magnificent. This is the first Final Fantasy game to feature Square Enix’s HD-2D art style and it’s never looked better. Characters are vibrantly colored and stages are packed with tons of detail, while the engine supports more modern effects like sharp shadows and dazzling particle effects that bring even basic attacks to life. You also get classic hand-drawn portraits for all the main characters. On a purely visual basis, Resonance encapsulates everything I love about sprite-based RPGs from the 90s and early 2000s while adding thoughtful improvements that make the game feel fresh even in 2026.
Then there is the story, which is based on Brave Exvius mobile game from over a decade ago (although that description doesn’t really do it Resonance justice). Indeed, while it features much of the same major story beats, the game’s plot, cutscenes, and other elements have been reworked and expanded, giving it the added depth that befits a traditional standalone release. Not only is there an all-new turn-based combat system, but the game also features a complete world with towns, various side quests, and the required transportation options like Chocobos and airships. This is the classic Final Fantasy setup, but enhanced with touches from more recent FF-adjacent games like Octopath Traveler.
Speaking of the combat system, delivering all the joy of the franchise’s turn-based combat system was always going to be what made it make or break. Resonance. And from what I played in my hour-long demo, the game plays brilliantly. I immediately felt comfortable using elemental attacks to exploit enemies’ weaknesses or buffing party members with things like haste. As always, some characters lean more towards physical attacks while others specialize in magic. That said, using the game’s Vision system, you can effectively link classic characters like Cloud, Tidus, or Zidane to the title’s newcomers, giving them access to iconic moves and abilities like Steal and Mug. You can even unleash massive attacks called Limit Bursts (instead of limit breaks) which once again take inspiration from trademark skills like Omnislash.
Square-Enix
The only peculiarity of the classic turn-based format of the series is that Resonance brought back the scaling system from previous Final Fantasy games, adding an extra layer to your tactical decision-making. As always, you can simply choose to defeat enemies by draining their HP. However, for tougher opponents like bosses, you have a strong incentive to attack them in a way that also depletes their stagger bar. And if you manage to stun all the enemies on the field, you can perform special Ascension attacks, which are essentially overpowered Limit Bursts accompanied by beautiful custom animations. However, if you prefer to let summons do your work, you can also call upon familiar entities like Siren and others to aid your party in various ways.
Even though I only spent a short time with ResonanceI liked almost everything. It looks fantastic, it’s backed by a beautiful orchestral soundtrack and all the little Final Fantasy touches like hand-drawn portraits, classic items and weapons and traditional turn-based combat are back and better than ever.
Square-Enix
That said, I have two small complaints. The game still features random battles in the overworld, which I admit is a Final Fantasy classic. I just wish Resonance gave enemies their own sprites that appeared on the main map or in dungeons. Not being able to see your enemies before entering a battle makes the world feel a bit empty.
My other small gripe is that although I appreciate how much Resonance integrated characters from previous Final Fantasy titles into its mechanics and weaved them into the very fiber of the game, I think I would have preferred to have a truly original story instead. I understand that this might be a bit difficult since it might disrupt the main thread of the main numbered Final Fantasy releases, but I feel like there’s plenty of room in the franchise for the 2D offshoots to tell their own unique stories.
Square-Enix
In the grand scheme of things, however, these are two relatively minor points, because Resonance has quickly become one of my most anticipated games for the remainder of 2026. I’m not sure it will capture the attention of younger gamers who may have only known the faster-paced Final Fantasy 3D titles, but for anyone who loves the golden age of turn-based RPGs, Fantasy Finale Resonance is a loving homage to a bygone era with many welcome modern touches.
Final Fantasy Resonance ($50) is available for pre-order now on Switch, Switch 2, PS5, PC (Steam), and Xbox Series S and X before its official release on October 22.
