One of the most important surprises for me throughout the June 2026 Nintendo Direct was the reveal of a brand new Final Fantasy known as Final Fantasy Resonance.
This is the primary recreation within the sequence to undertake an HD-2D pixel artwork model seen in different fashionable Square Enix titles like Octopath Traveller, Live a Live, and Dragon Quest’s HD-2D Remakes, and it plans to deliver again an vital function Final Fantasy has been missing for many years – turn-based fight.
When I first heard that this recreation was bringing again turn-based in a contemporary Final Fantasy (one thing that hasn’t been seen in most main titles since 2001’s Final Fantasy X), I could not consider it.
There needed to be some type of catch, however my doubts had been laid to relaxation as IGN launched unique, edited gameplay footage of Final Fantasy Resonance’s fight system, and it made my coronary heart leap with pleasure upon seeing it.
Final Fantasy Resonance’s fight is a conventional turn-based system the place you are taking turns pelting enemies with magic spells, summoning monsters, buffing allies with help magic, and delivering devastating melee assaults.
It additionally incorporates components from newer titles like Final Fantasy VII Remake’s stagger meter that allows you to stun enemies upon depleting it.
Final Fantasy Resonance is not with out its personal distinctive gameplay mechanics, although. During battle, your characters will have the ability to summon religious Visions of iconic Final Fantasy characters like Cloud Strife, Zidane Tribal, and Terra and use their powers to help you in battle.
Additionally, whenever you deplete an enemy’s stagger gauge, you do not simply get free hits on an enemy. You can activate a Vision’s final means on the finish of a Bonus Stage combo to unleash a world of ache upon your foes or activate your individual character’s final skills to finish foes with gorgeously animated, HD-2D pixelated cinematic finishers.
Windows Central’s take
Speaking as a PlayStation One-era Final Fantasy fan who’s missed having turn-based fight in a Final Fantasy recreation for many years, this was a dream come true.
Granted, it is not fairly how I’d think about it, as Final Fantasy Resonance relies on an previous 2015 cellular recreation known as Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, however I’ll take what I can get.
I’ve nothing towards Final Fantasy 16 or Final Fantasy VII Remake’s hack-and-slash fight techniques, however I personally want turn-based fight because it’s extra enjoyable, fulfils my want for tactical gameplay, and is extra immersive as I get to benefit from the character’s cinematic particular strikes play out with out being interrupted by enemies.
Not to mention, turn-based combat is what made Final Fantasy the legendary franchise it is today, and games like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 prove that you can make a big-budget RPG with turn-based combat and be successful in this day and age.
Hopefully Final Fantasy Resonance will be just as successful and convince Square Enix to continue making turn-based Final Fantasy games in the future. Perhaps even for a new mainline title?
Either way, I can’t wait to try out Final Fantasy Resonance and indulge in its turn-based combat system when it launches on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, PC via Steam on October 22, 2026.
🗨️ Over to you
What do you think of Final Fantasy Resonance? Do you think its turn-based combat looks cool, or do you prefer Final Fantasy games with real-time combat, like the Final Fantasy VII Remake series?
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