Final Fantasy Resonance Launches as a Polarizing HD-2D Revival of Brave Exvius

Key points

• Final Fantasy Resonance releases on October 22, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
• The game is a full-fledged console remake of the mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, which ran from 2016 to 2025.
• Combat features a turn-based system where players equip 'Visions'—projections of characters from past Final Fantasy games—to grant skills and stat boosts.
• Game Informer awarded the game a 9/10, praising its HD-2D visuals, character customization, and 40-hour runtime.
• Kotaku criticized the game for having a weak story, one-note characters, and a generic overworld, despite praising its visual presentation.
• The Verge noted the game feels authentically retro in gameplay, with traditional turn-based battles and classic RPG town structures.

Background

Final Fantasy Resonance was previously covered in our archive as receiving a 36/40 score from Famitsu ahead of its launch. Earlier reports noted that Square Enix excluded Ariana Grande and other crossover characters from the console version, prompting modders to restore them in demos. The game was also highlighted in Xbox's October 2026 lineup, launching without day-one Game Pass access.

How outlets are covering it

Game Informer's Nadia Oxford gave Final Fantasy Resonance a 9/10, calling it a 'great RPG experience' with a 'fun cast' and praising its HD-2D visuals and job-system-like customization. She noted the game builds on Final Fantasy history rather than just pillaging it. In contrast, Kotaku's Kenneth Shepard found the game to be 'comfort food' that lacks substance, criticizing its 'least engaging story and cast' and generic world design, though he acknowledged its stunning pixel art. The Verge's Jay Peters highlighted the game's authentic retro feel, noting traditional turn-based battles and classic RPG structures, but did not provide a numerical score. The outlets disagree on whether the game's nostalgic elements and visual polish compensate for its narrative and world-building shortcomings.

Why it matters

Final Fantasy Resonance represents Square Enix's continued strategy of reviving discontinued mobile games into full console RPGs, following the success of Octopath Traveler 0. Its mixed reception highlights the challenge of balancing nostalgic homage with modern expectations for narrative depth and world design in RPGs. The game's launch also marks the first HD-2D Final Fantasy title, potentially influencing future entries in the franchise.

What to watch

Players can purchase Final Fantasy Resonance on October 22, 2026, across multiple platforms. Square Enix may address criticism regarding the game's narrative and world design in future updates or sequels. The game's performance and reception may influence Square Enix's approach to future revivals of mobile games or new HD-2D titles in the Final Fantasy series.