Famitsu's first Final Fantasy Resonance review gives Square Enix's HD-2D RPG 36/40, with a reported 20-30 hour story and up to 70 hours of extra content.
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Store links: Final Fantasy Resonance on Steam
Famitsu delivers the first verdict before the wider review wave
The first published Final Fantasy Resonance review is in, and it gives Square Enix’s upcoming RPG a strong opening signal without settling the wider critical conversation. As reported by Nintendo Everything, Nintendo Life, Push Square, xEzNaFF, and Japanese gaming news account Genki_JPN, Famitsu’s four-reviewer panel scored Final Fantasy Resonance 9/9/9/9, for a combined 36/40. That makes the Final Fantasy Resonance Famitsu score the clearest early data point ahead of the game’s 22 October 2026 release, but it remains one outlet’s verdict rather than a consensus. Push Square notes that Famitsu’s review scores have been questioned over the years, while Nintendo Life’s comment section immediately turned to examples of past Famitsu and outlet scores that readers considered debatable. That skepticism is worth keeping in frame. A 36/40 tells us Famitsu’s panel broadly liked the game, especially its classic Final Fantasy texture and battle loop, but it does not answer platform performance, difficulty balance, localization nuance, or how the full game lands with reviewers outside Japan.
The reported campaign length is lean, with a much larger completionist tail
The most practical detail from the first Final Fantasy Resonance review cycle is the reported playtime. Nintendo Everything says Famitsu indicates the title takes 20-30 hours to complete, or up to 70 hours if extra content is included. Genki_JPN’s post presents the same figures as a 20-30 hour main story and 70 hours for full completion. Push Square frames that 70-hour figure as the time needed for 100% completion, while Nintendo Life says the full game will supposedly take about 70 hours. Those descriptions point in the same general direction, but they are not identical terms. “Extra content,” “full completion,” and “full game” can mean different things in an RPG, especially if optional bosses, quests, collectibles, job mastery, or build experimentation are involved. For players searching for Final Fantasy Resonance campaign length before buying, the safest reading is this: the main story is reportedly closer to a compact JRPG than an 80-hour mainline marathon, while players who clear side content should expect a far longer commitment.
Famitsu’s praise centers on systems, not only visual nostalgia
According to Nintendo Everything’s published Famitsu excerpt, Final Fantasy Resonance is described as the first Final Fantasy game with the HD-2D look, a style that mixes pixel art with 3D presentation and was first introduced with Octopath Traveler. Famitsu’s review responds strongly to that presentation, saying the art style will appeal to players who loved the series’ pixel-art era and that the HD-2D graphics and presentation have been polished. For RPG players, the more interesting part is how the review describes progression and combat. Famitsu highlights the system of equipping “Visions” as a source of customization and character development, and says characters from previous Final Fantasy entries appear as Visions. The battle praise is similarly mechanical: enemies can be pushed into a “break” state, after which players can unleash a Vision special move called “Resonance.” That suggests the early positive reception is tied to a recognizable RPG structure, where party setup, timing, and burst windows carry the combat, rather than the score resting only on familiar crystals, jobs, summons, and airships.
The classic Final Fantasy pitch appears to be deliberate and dense
Famitsu’s quoted review, via Nintendo Everything, says one reviewer had not played the Final Fantasy Brave Exvius app but was quickly reminded of being absorbed in the 2D version of Final Fantasy. The review points to crystals, jobs, summons, airships, and mysterious spheres visible from the field as homage elements, while also saying those elements are elevated into a modern HD-2D RPG battle system and story. xEzNaFF’s summary of the review similarly says Famitsu felt the game “nails the essence of Final Fantasy,” and its supplied description of Final Fantasy Resonance calls it a celebration of classic and modern Final Fantasy with chocobos, espers, airships, and appearances from characters such as Cloud, Tidus, and the Warrior of Light. That density is likely to divide some players. For lore-aware fans, Visions could be a clever way to fold legacy characters into progression without abandoning a new adventure. For players wary of crossover-style fan service, the same system may be a sticking point. The confirmed review text, however, frames those appearances as part of customization and character growth, which is the detail to watch when fuller reviews arrive.
PS5, Switch 2, Switch, and the demo: what is clear so far
The source material confirms several practical details, though not everything buyers will want. Push Square covers Final Fantasy Resonance PS5 and says the game releases on 22 October 2026. Nintendo Life covers the Nintendo Switch 2 version and also gives the 22 October date, while Nintendo Everything filed its report under Switch and Switch 2 categories. Nintendo Life adds one important pre-launch note: the demo allows save data transfer to the full version. That makes the demo the safest way to test the battle rhythm, HD-2D presentation, and opening pacing before relying on a single Final Fantasy Resonance review score. What the provided sources do not answer is equally important. They do not provide price, file size, frame rate, resolution, PS5 versus Final Fantasy Resonance Switch 2 performance comparisons, or any upgrade-path details. Push Square’s editor says he played Resonance for over an hour earlier in the year and was broadly impressed, expecting it could land around the 8 or 9 mark personally, but that is preview context rather than a technical verdict on the launch build.
A promising early signal, but RPG fans should calibrate expectations
Taken together, the first reception suggests Final Fantasy Resonance is being read as a confident throwback with enough structure to interest systems-minded RPG fans. Famitsu’s 36/40, the praise for Visions, the break-and-Resonance combat loop, and the reported 20-30 hour main story all point toward a game that may fit players who want a focused JRPG campaign without giving up optional depth. The 70-hour completion estimate is the counterweight. If that number reflects meaningful quests, build routes, and late-game challenges, completionists could have plenty to chew through. If it reflects checklist padding, that will only become clear once broader reviews and player reports arrive. For now, the practical advice is simple: if the demo clicks and a 20-30 hour story sounds appealing, the first Final Fantasy Resonance Famitsu review gives reason for cautious optimism. If you are choosing between Final Fantasy Resonance PS5 and Final Fantasy Resonance Switch 2, or if performance is a deciding factor, wait for platform-specific launch coverage before committing.