Square Enix has released a new trailer for Final Fantasy Resonance, offering a much closer look at its characters, locations, combat systems and surprisingly substantial collection of side activities.
The trailer also marks the beginning of pre-orders ahead of the game’s launch on 22 October 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2.
While Final Fantasy Resonance is based on the first major story arc from the mobile title Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, Square Enix appears determined to make it clear that this is far more than a simple mobile port with prettier graphics.
Instead, it is being presented as a complete, traditional Final Fantasy adventure rebuilt around HD-2D visuals, turn-based combat, explorable towns, side quests and what looks to be a dangerous amount of fan service.
Truth be told, it is starting to look increasingly difficult not to be interested.
A Classic Final Fantasy Story Rebuilt
The game follows Rain, commander of an airship squadron serving the Kingdom of Grandshelt. After being ordered to investigate the weakening barrier surrounding the Earth Shrine, Rain encounters a mysterious figure who destroys the Earth Crystal.
When Grandshelt is attacked shortly afterwards, Rain begins a journey to protect the remaining crystals and uncover the force threatening the world.
So yes, there are crystals, airships, kingdoms, mysterious armoured villains and at least one character who may eventually earn the name Cid.
It is unapologetically Final Fantasy.
The new trailer introduces two additional locations players will visit during the journey. Dilmagia is a steel-covered city recognised as the birthplace of airship technology. The city was once home to the original Cid, although the name has since become a title awarded to the greatest engineer of each generation.
Olderion, meanwhile, is a city surrounded by crystalline water and protected by the Wardens of the Waters, the Maiden of Water and an esper worshipped locally as the God of Water.
These locations look particularly impressive through the game’s HD-2D presentation. Pixel-art characters move through layered environments filled with modern lighting, reflections and visual effects, giving the game the nostalgic appearance of a classic Final Fantasy without making it feel trapped in the past.
New Characters and a Mechanical Chocobo
Among the newly introduced characters is Lid, an airship engineer who has spent much of her life working in her family’s forge. She is considered a potential candidate to become the next Cid and fights alongside Mechabo, a mechanical chocobo of her own creation.
Players will apparently be able to complete dedicated side quests to unlock additional abilities for Mechabo, which is already enough information to make him one of the game’s most important characters.
We also meet Nichol, a calm and highly analytical strategist belonging to Olderion’s Wardens of the Waters.
On the less friendly side are Veritas of the Heavens and Veritas of the Waters, two members of the Sworn Six of Paladia attempting to destroy the crystals. The former specialises in wind attacks and lance-based combat, while the latter uses powerful water magic.
Turn-Based Combat With a Little More Bite
Combat uses a timeline that displays when party members and enemies will take their next actions.
Enemies also possess a stagger gauge, which can be depleted more quickly by attacking their weaknesses. Staggered enemies lose their upcoming action and temporarily suffer reduced defence, while the party member responsible receives an additional move at the end of the turn.
Staggering every enemy simultaneously activates a Sweeping Stagger, rewarding the entire party with extra actions and creating an opportunity to use one of the game’s powerful Resonance attacks.
It is a familiar system, particularly for anyone who has played Square Enix’s more recent RPGs, but there appears to be enough flexibility here to stop battles from becoming a simple case of repeatedly selecting the strongest available attack.
The real nostalgia bomb, however, comes through the Vision system.
Visions are crystallised versions of legendary heroes who can be equipped to party members, granting access to their abilities and magic. The latest group includes Cecil from Final Fantasy IV, Bartz from Final Fantasy V, Squall from Final Fantasy VIII, Zidane from Final Fantasy IX and Tidus from Final Fantasy X.
Thankfully, these characters appear to provide meaningful gameplay options rather than simply existing as collectible cameos. Zidane can weaken enemies while strengthening himself, Tidus can increase the party’s speed and Squall becomes progressively more powerful as he lands standard attacks.
Classic summons also return in the form of Espers. Ifrit, Shiva and Titan can join the party for three turns before finishing their appearance with a major elemental attack.
There Is More Here Than the Main Story
Perhaps the most encouraging part of the new information is just how much optional content appears to be included.
Players can collect tablet fragments hidden throughout the world, gather Adamantite to craft weapons with the help of weaponsmith Aileen and complete side quests to unlock Espers and additional Vision abilities.
Each town will also feature its own minigames. Two confirmed examples include a jump-rope challenge and Mog Tag, in which players must chase down mischievous Moogles.
Higher-level players can test their party compositions in the Colosseum, battling increasingly powerful enemies for better rewards. The upper leagues will reportedly include familiar monsters and opponents from across the Final Fantasy series.
There are also Twelve Legendary Arms hidden throughout the world. Obtaining them will require players to defeat the monsters sealed inside each weapon, with the Chamber of Arms providing clues regarding their locations.
It all makes Final Fantasy Resonance sound far more substantial than its mobile origins might initially suggest.
Square Enix could have settled for nostalgia, filled the game with familiar characters and relied on the HD-2D art style to carry the entire experience. Instead, everything shown so far suggests a proper turn-based adventure filled with exploration, progression systems, optional challenges and enough side content to keep completionists busy long after the credits roll.
Modern Final Fantasy has spent years moving towards cinematic action games and enormous production values. There is nothing inherently wrong with that direction, but Final Fantasy Resonance feels like an opportunity for Square Enix to prove that the traditional version of the series still has a place alongside it.
Based on this latest trailer, it may be exactly the kind of Final Fantasy game that a large section of its audience has been waiting for. You can check out the brand new trailer here.
VGT-Skyf