Square Enix has announced a new entry in its Dissidia Final Fantasy series, and it has a surprising premise. The game, which is coming to mobile devices next year, still features a who’s who of Final Fantasy protagonists but unfolds in the modern day.
Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy is set in current-day Tokyo, albeit a version that has a giant crystal at its center. This crystal appeared in the city some time ago, but by the time the game begins, the population has already adapted to its strange presence. That is, a negative energy pollutes the crystal, causing monsters to pour out of it and invade the city.
These creatures aren’t the only things to emerge; warriors hailing from various Final Fantasy games also arrive to save the day. But when they’re not fighting monsters, characters like Cloud and Lightning have assimilated into society and live ordinary lives (which includes wearing contemporary clothing) until they’re needed again, almost like they’re superheroes.
In addition to a main story, which is fully voiced in Japanese, players will witness the daily lives of these FF heroes in short episodes. That includes text chats featuring characters such as Terra sharing their new outfits for other characters, like Warrior of Light, to comment on.
Gameplay-wise, Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy features 3v3 team boss battles as two teams race to defeat a giant boss the fastest, all while battling e roaming monsters along the way. As a mobile game, Dissidia’s third-person action is designed to be played using only one hand.
While the trailer teases that a much larger roster will be revealed over time, the currently confirmed characters are:
- Warrior of Light (Final Fantasy)
- Kain Highwind (Final Fantasy IV)
- Krile Mayer Baldesion (Final Fantasy V)
- Terra Branford (Final Fantasy VI)
- Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII)
- Rinoa Heartilly (Final Fantasy VIII)
- Zidane Tribal (Final Fantasy IX)
- Lightning (Final Fantasy XIII)
- Gaia (Final Fantasy XIV)
- Prompto Argentum (Final Fantasy XV)
Dissidia Duellum Final Fantasy is certainly intriguing, and its contemporary setting is not unlike what we’ve seen of the upcoming Kingdom Hearts IV. Dissidia is launching in 2026 for iOS and Android. Players can sign up to participate in a closed beta test that begins on November 6 and ends on November 14.
Meanwhile, be sure to check out our reviews of the original Dissidia Final Fantasy, its sequel Dissidia 012, and Dissidia Final Fantasy NT.