Final Fantasy Resonance review: a strong return to classic role-playing
Square Enix's HD-2D RPG wins over Western critics with its combat and visuals, while the story divides opinion. Metacritic: 85 (PS5), out 22 October.
Photo: Guilhem Vellut from Tokyo, Japan / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Trailer: YouTube · FINAL FANTASY · youtube.com
Critics' rating
Scores: Metacritic 85 (PS5)
- Platforms
- PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch, PC
- Studio
- Lancarse (Square Enix)
- Release
- 22.10.2026
+ Pros
- Classic turn-based combat with JRPG flair
- HD-2D visuals at their best
- Plenty of freedom in character builds
- Excellent soundtrack
– Cons
- Several critics find the story underwhelming
- Battles drag over time, with no auto-battle option
- Occasionally awkward visual compositing
Critics' verdict
A strong return to classic Final Fantasy – excellent in play and looks, though its story does not convince everyone.
Summary of published reviews – sources below.
Following the first Famitsu score, international reviews of Final Fantasy Resonance are now in. The turn-based RPG, developed by Lancarse for Square Enix, launches on 22 October for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 2, Switch and PC. On Metacritic the PS5 version stands at 85 from 42 critics, the PC and Xbox versions at 86 and the Switch 2 version at 83.
Game Informer awards 9 out of 10, IGN and Nintendo Life 8/10 each; Nintendo Life calls it a strong return to an older style of the series. GamesRadar+ (4/5) says the HD-2D visuals have never looked better. GameSpot (7/10) praises the cast, the many build options through the Vision system, optional side content and the soundtrack.
The most common complaint is the story: Nintendo Life finds it a little dry, IGN was underwhelmed by parts of the storytelling, and Eurogamer (3/5) calls it forgettable and also criticising pacing and world-building. GameSpot points to slow battles against damage-sponge enemies, the lack of an auto-battle option and occasionally awkward compositing of pixel sprites over the 3D environments.