Final Fantasy Resonance, a title born from the ashes of the mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, is shaping up to be a compelling experience. As observed at Gamescom 2026 and further explored through a five-hour demo, the game presents a pixel-first RPG that merges classic turn-based combat with modern sensibilities. Its HD-2D sprite work offers a visually striking interpretation of classic Final Fantasy aesthetics, drawing comparisons to Octopath Traveler while retaining the series' core elements.
According to Resonance director Hiroto Furuya, Square Enix intended for the game to be a modern reinterpretation of classic Final Fantasy. "As a foundation, it’s very important [that] we have knowledge of Final Fantasy’s history and its past," Furuya stated in an interview with Kotaku. "But we're also gamers at heart, so of course we play the latest games that are available outside of Final Fantasy. We have the sensibility of knowing Final Fantasy's history, as well as the general feeling of playing more modern games."
When rethinking the combat system, the development team specifically looked to Final Fantasy 5 and Final Fantasy 6 for inspiration. "The first concept we had in mind, simply put, is what if we take the job system from Final Fantasy 5 and the unique characteristics of each character in Final Fantasy 6, what would that look like?" explained Resonance producer Keisuke Nakashima. He noted that this experimental approach required significant research and innovation.
The team also examined modern mechanics such as the stagger system found in titles like Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Final Fantasy 16. Nakashima elaborated that they incorporated elements of this system, which relies on depleting enemy stamina to interrupt their turns, into their retro-inspired design. "[That combination] ultimately [formed] into what you see now, where you have these distinct characteristics, but it also allows for that additional customisation element," he said.
The interplay between distinct character skills and the 'Visions' system—which allows players to utilize characters from the series' past with their own unique abilities—creates significant combat variety and opens up numerous strategic approaches. The developers considered releasing the game without the 'Visions' feature, but ultimately decided to integrate it to enhance the spectacle and fun. "When you go back to the point of how cool it would be to use Cloud’s Cross-Slash, and the bombastic CG sequences, it really delivers on the spectacle and fun that we were drawn to," Furuya commented.
Final Fantasy Resonance is slated for release on October 22nd for PC via Steam, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, and Xbox Series X/S.