- Primary Subject: Final Fantasy Resonance
- Key Update: Square Enix is finally listening to old-school JRPG fans by returning to classic, strategic turn-based combat for a major console release.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 14, 2026
- Quick Answer: After years of real-time action, Final Fantasy Resonance brings back classic turn-based combat, letting players strategically plan their attacks on October 22, 2026.
Over the years, we've seen Final Fantasy games lean towards MMORPG, but it didn't always used to be like that.
My favorite Final Fantasy game is VIII, which I played on my older sister's PlayStation 1. I remember being less than 10 years old and absolutely enamored by Squall Leonhart and Rinoa Heartilly. But what really got me was the combat, which was both captivating and easy enough for me to understand.
It's been decades, and we haven't seen a Final Fantasy game with that style of combat since Final Fantasy X. That is, until now.
Resonance to Bring Back Turn-Based Combat in a Final Fantasy Game
Can you believe that the last mainline Final Fantasy game to feature traditional turn-based combat was Final Fantasy X in 2001? It feels criminal, especially since Final Fantasy started off with those console menus.
Sure, the spin-off game World of Final Fantasy (2016) had some elements of turn-based combat, but Resonance will be the first game in over a decade to feature both turn-based combat and a major console release.
Starting with Final Fantasy XII, we saw these command menus gradually being stripped away. By Final Fantasy XVI, the series prioritized real-time action. It's only with Resonance that OG players get to enjoy turn-based combat once more.
The most likely reason is that Resonance is an adaptation of the mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius, which featured turn-based combat. But I'm sure there are other reasons that led Square Enix to even pursue this retelling.
I've always been a massive fan of turn-based gameplay. My favorite games are Persona 5 Royal and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, both massively popular and successful titles that utilize turn-based strategy. However, I believe we have these to thank for the console menu renaissance. They've proven that games where strategy overrules button mashing can still capture players' hearts.
READ MORE: The Live-Service Graveyard: 7 Discontinued Games I Still Mourn
The renaissance comes with plenty of nostalgia. Both gamers and creators today are the generation who grew up playing turn-based JRPGs. By releasing a turn-based game for a franchise as beloved as Final Fantasy, they are sure to profit from both long-time fans who have a soft spot for this old-but-gold mechanic, and new players who are growing a taste for it.
It definitely helps that Square Enix has Team Asano developing the game. Team Asano are the geniuses behind Octopath Traveler, Bravely Default, and Triangle Strategy. Tomoya Asano, the executive producer, has spent his career perfecting the turn-based design. Director Hiroto Furuya and producer Keisuku Nakashima are ensuring the game still features genuine tension by adding radium encounters on the overworld.
I can't wait to see how a 2026 turn-based Final Fantasy plays out. I'm hoping character abilities become more fleshed out and that timing attacks have some form of importance. Can October 22 hurry up, please?!
For more like this, stick with us here at Gfinityesports.com, the best website for gaming news, reviews, features, and guides.