Final Fantasy Resonance Hands-On: Square Enix Has Turned a Dead Mobile Game Into a Pixel-Perfect Contender

Square Enix may have found an unlikely hit in the wreckage of a closed mobile game. Final Fantasy Resonance, born from the ashes of Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, was playable at Gamescom 2026, and early impressions are strongly positive.

The pitch is simple. Resonance is a pixel-first Final Fantasy RPG that keeps old-school turn-based combat but gives it a modern polish. Anyone who has played Octopath Traveler will recognise the general feel, though this one leans harder on classic Final Fantasy ideas and series staples.

Those ideas come largely from two fan favourites. According to the hands-on, Square Enix "experimented" with blending the strongest elements of Final Fantasy V and Final Fantasy VI. That means the flexible, job-driven character building associated with FF5 sits alongside the more character-focused, dramatic flavour of FF6. The result, by the account of the person who played it, is combat that feels immediately satisfying rather than merely nostalgic.

Presentation is a major part of the appeal. Resonance uses HD-2D style sprite work, and the early verdict is that it looks stunning. Detailed pixel characters set against richly lit environments have become a signature look for Square Enix's retro-leaning projects, and this appears to be one of the more convincing uses of it.

The game's origins make the positive reception more notable. Final Fantasy Brave Exvius was a mobile game that eventually shut down, and a spin-off built on its foundations could easily have felt like a cash-in. Instead, Resonance seems to have reshaped that material into a proper console and PC style RPG, with the mobile baggage left behind.

Plenty is still unknown. A short Gamescom demo can show the combat loop and the visuals, but it cannot answer questions about story, pacing, or how deep the systems go over a full campaign. Release timing and final platform details are also worth watching as more information arrives.

For now, though, the signal is encouraging. Turn-based Final Fantasy has had a rough few years in the eyes of some fans, and a game that pairs the series' older design instincts with modern presentation is exactly what many have been asking for. If the full release holds up, Resonance could be one of Square Enix's more pleasant surprises.