Final Fantasy Resonance Review Round-up: Broad Approval for a Turn-Based Lapis Adaptation
Critics broadly recommend Final Fantasy Resonance. Its 83/100 Metacritic score accompanies a turn-based adaptation of Brave Exvius’s Lapis story.
- Developer
- Square Enix
- Publisher
- Square Enix
- Release Date
- October 22, 2026
egg.network has not played Final Fantasy Resonance. This review round-up is built from published critic reviews and official details, linked at the end. The score is the critics' aggregate, not our own.
The critical consensus: broadly favourable
Final Fantasy Resonance arrives with a favourable critical reception: an 83/100 Metacritic aggregate and a recommendation from 92% of critics tracked by OpenCritic. Metacritic also categorises its reviews as generally favourable. Across those measures, the published critical verdict is positive.
The game receiving that reception is an adaptation of the Lapis story arc from Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. Co-developed by Square Enix and Lancarse, and published by Square Enix, Resonance combines that story with traditional turn-based combat and appearances by characters from across Final Fantasy.
Reading the review verdict
The two aggregators express critical approval in different ways. Metacritic supplies the 83/100 aggregate score, while OpenCritic reports the proportion of critics recommending the game. Those are separate measures: the recommendation percentage is not another review score.
Together, they establish the central conclusion of this round-up: critics generally approved of Resonance, and recommendations were widespread. That overall reception is the critical judgement to carry into the details below, which outline the adaptation, combat system and release rather than attach individual review scores to particular features.
A Lapis adaptation in HD-2D
Resonance adapts the first story arc of the 2015 mobile game Final Fantasy Brave Exvius. Its narrative foundation is therefore Lapis, rather than an adaptation of the mobile game’s entire story.
It is also the first HD-2D game in the Final Fantasy series. That distinction sits alongside its connection to Brave Exvius: Resonance brings an existing Final Fantasy story into an HD-2D release across PC and consoles. Square Enix shares development duties with Lancarse while handling publication itself.
For readers following the series through its different games, those are the defining connections: Brave Exvius supplies the story arc, while Resonance introduces HD-2D to Final Fantasy.
Traditional turns, stun and combination attacks
Resonance uses traditional turn-based combat rather than the ATB system from previous Final Fantasy instalments. Although its genre listing includes TBS and RPG, the described battle system is specifically that of a turn-based JRPG.
Enemies have a stun meter. Filling it allows them to be stunned, followed by special attacks and combination attacks. The battle description therefore encompasses both regular turn-based encounters and the stun mechanic that leads into those additional attacks.
That distinction matters when identifying the game’s format: Resonance belongs to Final Fantasy, but its combat does not use the ATB approach associated with earlier entries in the franchise.
Visions bring familiar characters into battle
During combat, players can summon Visions, ghosts of established Final Fantasy characters that grant additional abilities. These appearances have a mechanical role as well as a connection to the wider series.
Cloud from Final Fantasy VII is one example. His Vision grants enhanced physical attacks and lightning magic. Sephiroth also appears, but as a super-boss rather than in the same described role as Cloud.
Resonance consequently combines its Brave Exvius story adaptation with character appearances extending beyond that game. Its central cast and its summoned characters occupy different roles within that setup.
Rain, Lasswell and Fina lead the story
The plot follows Rain, Lasswell and Fina after Veritas of the Dark destroys the Earth Crystal. Their journey centres on protecting the crystals that remain across the world.
That crystal-protection mission is the narrative premise behind the Lapis adaptation. Rain, Lasswell and Fina form the central group, while the destruction of the Earth Crystal establishes the event driving their journey.
What matters for Malaysian and SEA players
Resonance releases on 22 October 2026 for Windows, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. The platform lineup covers both PC and consoles, including both listed Nintendo systems.
A demo was released on 3 September 2026 and runs through the end of chapter one. For Malaysian and SEA readers deciding whether this turn-based RPG fits their interests, that chapter-length demo is an available starting point. The published critical reception remains broadly favourable, with both its aggregate score and recommendation rate reflecting approval.
Sources
Pros
- Generally favourable reviews according to Metacritic
- Critics’ aggregate score of 83/100
- Recommended by 92% of critics according to OpenCritic
Cons
Final Verdict
Critics broadly approved of Final Fantasy Resonance, reflected in its 83/100 Metacritic aggregate. OpenCritic’s 92% recommendation rate reinforces that favourable overall reception.