Square Enix Officially Drops Free RPG Download With 9/10 Reviews On Steam

Published Oct 30, 2026, 2:00 AM EDT

Austin King is the Senior Editor of Gaming at ScreenRant and has been with the site since 2020 with a focus on RPGs and tabletop games. He previously managed content for Geek to Geek Media, and has served as a writer for sites like Nintendad, Geek Fitness, and more.

In addition to his work at ScreenRant, he also hosts the Dragon Quest FM podcast and is the author of several books, including co-writing Nimbus (a #1 bestseller in 2013). His latest is the nonfiction The Dragon Quest Book, available now.

He's written about pop culture, video games, and genre studies over the course of his career. You can find him on BlueSky, X, and at Dragonquestaustin.com

Square Enix is known for some truly legendary RPG franchises. From big hitters like Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and Kingdom Hearts to beloved newcomers like Octopath Traveler and veteran series like Star Ocean. Very few companies are so synonymous with a genre, even if the company dabbles in games that aren't of the role-playing variety. And the next few years are looking great thanks to upcoming releases like Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, Final Fantasy 14: Evercold, Kingdom Hearts 4, and Dragon Quest 12.

Even 2026 has been a big year for Square Enix, thanks to numerous re-releases like Final Fantasy 10/10-2 HD and new games like Final Fantasy Resonance and the upcoming Dragon Quest Monsters: The Withered World. Of course, all of these aforementioned games are rarely — if ever — available for free, but a number of them have demos where progress rolls over, allowing users to sample the RPG before they buy. This can be a great way to try out a game before committing to making a purchase.

That tradition of Square Enix demos officially continues now. Over on Steam, you can start playing Final Fantasy Resonance for free by downloading the demo. The demo covers the entire first chapter of the game, but it will cap your level at 15 (which honestly will require some grinding if you really want to get there). In terms of time, that's around 3–5 hours, depending on your play style. And as with most Square Enix demos, your progress in Final Fantasy Resonance will carry over to the full game.

Right now, Final Fantasy Resonance has a 9/10 average in user scores on Steam. Likewise, ScreenRant's own review gave the game a 9/10, with our reviewer writing, "Final Fantasy Resonance has the heart and soul of a classic Final Fantasy game" while noting that the "story and some of the cast don't rise to the occasion." If you're looking for a classic Final Fantasy game, though, this is about as close as you can get in terms of modern Square Enix releases.

Final Fantasy Resonance has a standout soundtrack, some gorgeous visuals, and turn-based combat that offers up a bewildering amount of combinations and party options. You're able to unlock many iconic Final Fantasy characters, including FF7's Cloud Strife and FF10's Tidus, which function as Visions for you to utilize. So, if you're a longtime fan, you'll see plenty of familiar faces from the games you love.

If you don't play video games on Steam, then don't worry. Final Fantasy Resonance is a multi-platform release, so its free demo is also available on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, and XBOX Series X|S. The game only recently came out, so it's not discounted anywhere yet. If you decide to purchase it, the standard edition is $49.99.

Final Fantasy Resonance is one of the highest-reviewed Square Enix RPGs this year. If you're a fan of the RPG genre, and especially the Final Fantasy franchise, be sure to give the demo a try to see if the game is right for you.