Reported by 3 outlets
Critics praise Final Fantasy Resonance for its combat while clashing over story depth
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AI summary of the reporting below · Updated · How we work
Square Enix has released Final Fantasy Resonance, an HD-2D role-playing game that revives classic turn-based combat for modern audiences. Initial reviews published on Oct. 20, 2026, celebrate the release as a long-awaited homecoming for the franchise's traditional battle design, marking a stark tonal and mechanical shift away from the full-action styling of recent mainline titles like Final Fantasy XVI. [2][3]
The title stands out for its visual presentation and sophisticated encounter design, offering escalating boss fights and tactical depth where party members settle into distinct gameplay niches. However, Eurogamer notes that the experience is hampered by aggravating dungeon layouts, disjointed world-building, and shallow character dynamics tied to its episodic Brave Exvius lineage. In one cited example, an entire city simply returns to normal after being inundated by floodwater, reflecting narrative stakes that fail to resonate. [2]
The release highlights a growing creative divide in how Square Enix honors its four-decade legacy. While Wccftech hails the turn-based system as a triumphant return that creates one of the best recent entries in the series, outlets like Eurogamer conclude that players seeking emotive storytelling and strong character drama might find the adventure falling flat despite its stellar combat. [2][3]
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3 outlets
Final Fantasy Resonance review
I think the most memorable bit of brilliance in the otherwise flawed diamond that is Final Fantasy 16 is the way it handles legacy. There are moments where Clive and his recalcitrant band of revolutionaries rage against the way of the world: they burn down cities, depose oligarchs, shatter crystals. It's a none-too-subtle rallying cry against the binding nature of tradition: a radical plea to tear down the structures of the past in order to sow the seeds of the future.
via Eurogamer
Final Fantasy Resonance Review – A Fantastic Return To Turn-Based Gameplay, And One Of The Best Entries in The Series
With the launch of Final Fantasy VII, the role-playing game series developed by Square Enix changed forever. Although the ATB combat system that powered the SNES entries in the series would continue to be employed for a few more years, the shift to 3D graphics set in motion a process that eventually moved the series away from turn-based gameplay toward the full-action evolution of Final Fantasy XVI.
via Wccftech