Square Enix had one of the biggest surprises of the June 9 Nintendo Direct: Final Fantasy Resonance, the first-ever HD-2D entry in the long-running series. It launches on October 22, 2026 for Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam, at a suggested price of .99.
Built in the same gorgeous HD-2D style Square Enix popularised with Octopath Traveler and the Dragon Quest III remake, Resonance pairs detailed pixel-art characters with modern lighting, depth and effects. Crucially for longtime fans, it marks the series' return to turn-based combat - "with a modern twist" - for the first time in a brand-new mainline-adjacent title in years.
A new world shaped by Resonance
The announce trailer introduces a world altered by a mysterious ancient power called Resonance, capable of reshaping reality itself. You play as Rain, a knight of the Kingdom of Grandshelt with a fraught relationship with his father, joined by his no-nonsense childhood friend Lasswell, the engineer Lid - following in the footsteps of every Cid before her - and Fina, an amnesiac summoner tied to the world's crystals.
If those names ring a bell, that is by design: Resonance is a ground-up reimagining of the first story arc of the mobile RPG Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, rebuilt as a full single-player console experience. Series staples are all present, too - expect chocobos, espers and airships, plus cameo appearances from icons like Cloud, Tidus and the Warrior of Light rendered in retro-inspired HD-2D.
A love letter to classic Final Fantasy
Square Enix is positioning Resonance as a celebration of both classic and modern Final Fantasy - a comfort-food RPG aimed squarely at fans who have been missing menu-driven, party-based battles. With an October 22 launch across nearly every current platform, it is shaping up to be one of the cosier RPG releases of the year.
