Published Oct 29, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT

Literally and metaphorically

Stop worrying about the future of Final Fantasy. It's already here

Image: Square Enix/Lancarse via Polygon

I had few expectations going into Final Fantasy Resonance , the premium game based on Square Enix's mobile gacha Brave Exvius . Those expectations lowered in the first 10 hours, thanks to its frankly atrocious writing. But after clearing most of the story and approaching the endgame, I find I've changed stances entirely. Resonance is everything Final Fantasy has struggled to achieve over the better part of two decades — confident, innovative, engaging, and, most importantly, completely and unashamedly itself. It's the blueprint Square Enix needs to follow for the series' future.

Whatever Resonance 's faults, and there are many, it's a Final Fantasy game that cares little for anything outside itself.…