Square Enix revealed Final Fantasy Resonance, the first title in the series to use the HD-2D style, with classic turn-based combat and scheduled for release on October 22, 2026 on Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC.
The game appears as a narrative adaptation of the mobile Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, which ended operations in 2025 after ten years. Unlike ports or direct remakes, Resonance builds a complete RPG for consoles based on the first season of the mobile title, with a new combat system, overworld and its own mechanics. There will be no microtransactions or gacha elements.
Lighter visuals and tone
The HD-2D style appears more detailed than in other games on the engine, with expressive pixel art, exploration of multiple continents divided by water, cities like Dwarves Forge — where dwarves greet you with the classic “Lali-ho” — and iconic elements like chocobos and airships. The initial tone is lighter and more colorful, with playful voice acting, reminiscent of the recent remakes of Dragon Quest in HD-2D, although the Final Fantasy series tends to reveal darker sides later on.
Core story
The plot follows Rain, a kind knight from the Kingdom of Grandshelt with a complicated relationship with his father, the king. Alongside friends like Lasswell (his childhood best friend), Lid (an aspiring engineer in the Cid tradition) and Fina (an amnesiac summoner linked to magical crystals), the group fights to protect the world’s crystals against the Veritas of the Dark. Anyone who has played Brave Exvius will recognize the fundamentals.
Modern turn-based combat
The system abandons Active Time Battle (ATB) in favor of a clear turn order at the top of the screen. Enemies have a stagger meter that fills with hits, especially with elemental weaknesses. Party composition gains importance with the coverage of elements, but the big difference is theVisions.
These entities function as equippable personas, each with their own abilities. Many are original, but the biggest appeal lies in the iconic heroes from across the franchise: Y’shtola from Final Fantasy XIV brings water and healing spells, while Cloud from Final Fantasy VII adds heavy physical attacks and thunder spells, complementing the main characters’ kit without replacing them.
When stunning enemies, the group gains extra turns. When all opponents are staggered, it is possible to activate aResonancewith a Vision equipped, unleashing devastating area attacks or crucial support. Well-executed fights result in sequences of great damage.
What the preview showed
In a hands-on session lasting around three hours, journalist Michael Higham, from IGN, explored the overworld, completed a dungeon complete with light puzzles, cutscenes, a timed escape sequence and an epic boss against a motorbike with laser cannons during a freight train chase. The preview reinforces high expectations in a year full of promising releases.
