Tails by the Foxfire

Is Final Fantasy Resonance A Return to the JRPG Golden Days?

For Final Fantasy fans who are still grieving the loss of Brave Exvius, who prefer HD-2D titles like Octopath Traveller & the Dragon Quest remasters to flashier entries in the series, or who just like a ‘I understood that reference’ moment that caters to their affection for other games in the series, Final Fantasy Resonance by Square Enix is set to release in October 2026 and currently has a 6-hour demo available to play on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC.

Join Rain on his journey across the world to protect the last surviving crystals after a brutal attack on his home left the Earth Crystal shattered, and uncover the mystery of the amnesiac girl Fina who wields incredible magic powers. Along the way, you can recruit familiar ‘echoes’ of heroes from Shrines of Light you’ll discover on your journey, and find out which heroes from the series you best resonate with based on your shared ideals.

Keep reading for a full overview of Final Fantasy Resonance’s demo and why I’m very excited by this entry in the series despite not being much of a mobile gamer!

TL;DR: Final Fantasy Resonance Foxfire Review Score: 4.5/5

Price Point: Game will be priced at $66.99 CAD, which is a little cheaper than Square’s regular HD-2D titles. 4/5
Fun Factor: 5/5
Gameplay: 5/5
Story, Characters & Worldbuilding: 4/5
Maps & Environment: 5/5
Music:4 /5
Recommended: Based on the demo, I highly recommend you check out Final Fantasy Resonance. Since your save carries over, definitely run through the demo if you’re on the fence about buying the full game.

What is Final Fantasy Resonance?

Final Fantasy Resonance is a turn-based 2D-HD pixel game following Rain: a knight and airship squadron commander of the kingdom of Grandshelt. After his home is attacked and the Earth Crystal is violently shattered, Rain sets out with Lasswell and the mysterious Fina to avert calamity by protecting the lands’ remaining crystals.

Is Final Fantasy Resonance a Remake of Brave Exvius?

If the cast and concept sound at all familiar, it’s because Final Fantasy Resonance is, in part, a remake of Brave Exvius: a mobile gacha game that ended service in October 2025. It’s not a one-to-one copy, however: Final Fantasy Resonance is a standalone entry that features a heavily-revised script, and a one-time purchase that forgoes FOMO marketing tactics and gacha mechanics. As well, Final Fantasy Resonance trades out Brave Exvius’s active battle system with turn-based battles borrowing Final Fantasy XIII’s stagger system. Final Fantasy Resonance also shows off Square Enix’s gorgeous 2D-HD sprites as we’ve seen in the Octopath Traveller series and Dragon Quest HD-2D titles. HD-2D is well and truly here to stay: something that I hope we’ll see more of going forward in this age of remakes and remasters, especially if a Chrono Trigger re-release is ever on the table.

Does Final Fantasy Resonance Have Gacha Mechanics?

In what might be the most significant revision from its origins as the smartphone game Brave Exvius, Final Fantasy Resonance does away with its gacha mechanics in favour of Shrines of Light dotted around the world map. Within these Shrines of Light, players will be treated to a very flashy, very gorgeously rendered cutscene with footage showing which hero (or rather, which ‘echo’ of a hero) you’re about to recruit. During this brief snapshot, you will be asked 3 multiple choice questions to determine how you resonate with the hero. To my knowledge, there are no wrong answers: it’s like a personality test to see how your ideals align based on how you would hypothetically respond to the challenges the hero faced within their game. Beautifully, because these shrines are at fixed points on the world map just waiting to be discovered, you never have to worry about missing out on your favourite protagonist: they’re all baked into the game itself without random chance draws.

Spec Check: Can You Run Final Fantasy Resonance?

Final Fantasy Resonance requires at least a 64-bit processor, 8 GB RAM,15 GB available storage, and an AMD Ryzen 3 2300X/Intel Core i3-8100. I found the demo ran very smoothly on the Steam Deck, so if that’s your platform of choice, then you should be completely fine.

If you’re on the hunt for some new peripherals to keep your battlestation sharp, why not check out what I’m running below and click the buttons to shop using my Razer affiliate link? There’s absolutely no obligation, but any purchase you make will help support the Foxfire! Alternatively, check out my kofi to donate directly)!

Verdict: Is Final Fantasy Resonance Worth Playing?

I definitely encourage you to try out the demo if you’ve had even a passing interest in Final Fantasy Resonance. I booted it up thinking it’d be a fun way to kill an hour or two, but was instead treated to another 6-hour demo like the Dragon Quest VII Reimagined one which gave me enough time to finish the opening chapter, get a feel for the mechanics, and decide whether or not I would like it. Unsurprisingly, Final Fantasy Resonance was a total slam dunk, toeing the line perfectly between modern QOL with a classically nostalgic feel to invite fans of all types to the party. The inclusion of beloved titles from across the series is a nice treat for those of us who miss Dissidia as a concept, or who prefer a turn-based experience, and I’m encouraged by the thought that we might see more lost media like Dissidia Opera Omnia, Before Crisis, the recently discontinued Ever Crisis, and more if this experiment goes well. Crossing my fingers for that possibility!

Video Game Reviews, Previews, Deep Dives, and Guides at Tails by the Foxfire

Are you looking forward to Final Fantasy Resonance? Which echoes are you looking forward to running? Sound off in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this review, consider supporting us on kofi or subscribing for free to ensure you never miss a post! Want us to cover your favourite games? Follow us on Twitter, Bluesky, and Instagram to let devs and publishers know! You can also find us on YouTube and Tiktok!

Are you a developer or a PR team looking for content coverage? Take a look at our official Tails by the Foxfire press kit and get in touch via email or contact form, or find us on our Steam Group, where you can also browse our curated game recommendations!

Read More Turn-Based JRPG Reviews at Tails by the Foxfire:
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter Demo Review: Estelle’s Comeback Feels Even Brighter
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Demo Review: A Creative Take on a Classic
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter Review: Is It Still the Best Entry Point in 2026?
Persona 3 Reload: On Loss and Learning How to Live