The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time‘s remake is looming, and some players are already trying to figure out how to finish their long RPGs before it arrives. It’s unfortunate that Final Fantasy Resonance has landed at a particularly awkward time. Just four days after its anticipated launch, it already faces competition from some of gaming’s biggest upcoming releases. Though it has already achieved an impressive player count, when so many awaited games are fighting for a player’s limited time and attention, even a great JRPG like Final Fantasy Resonance can struggle to make its mark.
A recent Reddit discussion captures the mounting pressure, with players counting down the days and weighing up which games they can realistically finish before the remake launches. It has always been a familiar dilemma, but one that puts lengthy RPGs in a tricky position when players are already looking ahead to their big adventure. If they’re in a rush to complete the main quest, it risks watering down the most compelling features of the game. Final Fantasy Resonance‘s turn-based combat and full-length narrative would be enjoyed best at a steady pace, ensuring that players can appreciate its mechanics and become invested in its characters.
Final Fantasy Resonance Is Already Competing with Player’s Backlog
If players are already thinking about what they need to finish next, the game risks becoming another item on their backlog to clear rather than an adventure to savor, like how Final Fantasy Resonance was meant to be appreciated. Despite this, it’s clear to me that the pressure to finish existing games before Ocarina of Time is on. In a Reddit thread counting down the final 10 days before the remake’s launch, user Gemini-88 responded to another comment about rushing through Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse: “That’s me, but with Final Fantasy Resonance. Taking my time with the game, but also trying to make sure I’m ready.” This really sums up the awkward position that FF Resonance finds itself in, because the excitement surrounding another major release is already influencing how they approach it.
Guess the games from the emojis.
This is the challenge facing lengthy RPGs in a crowded release calendar. Players only have so many hours to dedicate to gaming, and anticipation for an upcoming release can turn a leisurely playthrough into a race against the clock. In the aforementioned Reddit thread, another user EldenDarkshell joked that they have just 10 days to beat Hollow Knight: Silksong. Another user, CanadaSoonFree is hoping to secure a console at launch, leaving them around a week to “plow through the Star Fox 64 Remake.” These comments might be light-hearted, but they quickly highlight how an anticipated release can reshape player’s priorities. Even games that have already captured their attention can suddenly feel like items on a checklist, with players racing to reach the credits.
Of course, not every player will automatically put FF Resonance aside for Zelda: Ocarina of Time. However, with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, GTA 6, and other highly anticipated releases also competing for attention, Resonance risks being overshadowed before players have a chance to recognize everything it offers. For a lengthy JRPG, its turn-based combat, story, and optional content are best enjoyed without a looming deadline, so it’s a shame that its launch timing may have weakened its overall impact.
If players are already thinking about what they need to finish next, the game risks becoming another item in their backlog to clear.
Final Fantasy Resonance deserves the opportunity to stand on its own merits: while its quality will determine whether players stick with it in the long run, there’s no doubt that the timing plays a massive role in this decision. If the excitement around Ocarina of Time encourages players to put their current adventures on hold, Resonance could find itself waiting in the backlog for quite some time.
Final Fantasy Resonance’s Length Could Work Against It
In my opinion, the biggest challenge facing Final Fantasy Resonance is the time commitment that comes with being a traditional JRPG. With a lengthy main story and plenty of opportunities to explore beyond the main quest, it asks players to settle in for the long haul. That’s part of the appeal, of course. But I feel like it makes the game that much more vulnerable to competition from other major releases. This becomes even more relevant when considering how players approach their backlogs.
Shorter games can be completed easily over a weekend, but lengthy RPGs require sustained attention to get the most out of the stories and mechanics. If players are rushing through Resonance’s main quest to make room for Ocarina of Time, this means missing many of the optional quests, character moments, and opportunities that the JRPG boasts. I’m not saying that the game should have been shorter, and I’m definitely not arguing that a lengthy format is a flaw. But what should be taken into account here is a substantial opportunity here for players to invest their time when so many other games are vying for it. It’s clear that Resonance needs more patience from its audience, and I think it would have fundamentally benefited from a launch in a quieter period.
- Released
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October 22, 2026
- ESRB
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Everyone 10+ / Alcohol Reference, Fantasy Violence, Language, Suggestive Themes
