Final Fantasy has never been particularly shy about revisiting its own history, which is why one of the best Final Fantasy protagonists, Lightning, is relevant in October 2026. Characters, worlds, and ideas from across the franchise have repeatedly found their way into new games, even when their original stories were finished years earlier. It’s always creative, too, to see how a game justifies bringing together different heroes into a single roster when they otherwise have little reason to share the same world.
Said approach allows newer Final Fantasy games to reach far beyond their own stories. A character from one numbered entry can suddenly appear alongside heroes from another, creating combinations that would never happen in a traditional Final Fantasy sequel. Sure, having a solo hero return is cool, but seeing the various Final Fantasy protagonists stand together is another story.
Final Fantasy 13’s Lightning Still Resonates with Fans
Lightning is coming back in Final Fantasy Resonance, which is set to release on October 22, but she isn’t the only Final Fantasy character appearing in the upcoming HD-2D RPG, joining a crossover cast that spans much of the franchise’s history. Her inclusion gives Final Fantasy 13 representation in a game specifically designed to bring together characters from different eras of the series.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Final Fantasy Resonance is not a traditional remake or sequel, either. The game takes place in the Kingdom of Grandshelt and follows Rain, Lasswell, and Fina as they attempt to protect the kingdom’s remaining crystals from Veritas of the Dark. Its turn-based combat is built around a new story and a Vision system that allows characters from previous Final Fantasy games to enter the adventure, with Lightning appearing alongside characters like Cloud, Tidus, Squall, Terra, Zidane, Noctis, and even Final Fantasy 16‘s Clive.
Lightning has already been shown fighting in Final Fantasy Resonance, including alongside her Eidolon Odin. Other crossover characters have their own roles within the game, while Sephiroth is set to appear through a special challenge. The result is a roster that reaches from the earliest parts of Final Fantasy‘s history to some of its newest entries, with the HD-2D presentation giving the entire project a distinctly different look from the numbered games these characters originally came from.
Players also don’t have to wait until October 22 to see how Final Fantasy Resonance handles its unusual combination of original characters and franchise favorites. A free demo is currently available on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X, covering the opening portion of the game and its first chapter (roughly three to five hours). Progress carries over to the full release, giving players a way to get started before Lightning and the rest of the crossover cast officially arrive later this month.
- Released
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October 22, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
