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After a recent shareholder meeting at Square Enix, it looks like the nextFinal Fantasygame, and another game as well, may go back to its command-based roots and move away from the more action-focused combat that has been with the series for 24 years. Following themassive success ofClair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game that features a unique turn-based combat system with real-time gameplay elements, like parrying and dodging, more RPG fans have questioned the action directionFFhas taken, withFF10being the last true turn-based title back in 2001. Square Enix is aware of the fan demand for turn-based games, reportedly.
According toGenkion X, who translated several posts from Square Enix investors (text of those in Japanese), one investment media reporter at a recent shareholder meetingrequested the nextDragon QuestandFinal Fantasytitles to be turn-based. The reporter highlightedClair Obscur: Expedition 33as an example. Square Enix is reportedly aware ofExpedition 33’s success and responded to the question that the developers"value the genre of command-based RPGs, and plan to continue delivering such games in the future."
Shareholder Requests Final Fantasy & Dragon Quest To Return To Turn-Based Gameplay
The Success Of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Is Turning Heads
Final Fantasyhaslong been removed from the turn-based gameplaythat it originated with. AfterFF10, the next entry was Square Enix’s dip into MMOs withFF11, and it was successful, even leading toFF14later, which has become one of the most popular MMOs ever. However,FF12, FF13(and its sequels),FF15, andFF16all moved further away from turn-based(and command-based) gameplay. The response from Square Enix does not confirm the nextFFgame to be turn-based, but it seems like at least some of its future projects will be turn-based, even if it’s notFForDQ.
Expedition 33took many inspirations from the JRPGs of the 90s and early 2000s, likeFF7,FF10,The Legend of Dragoon,Lost Odyssey, and several others.Expedition 33has become a GOTY frontrunner, and its combat, narrative, and rare high-graphic-fidelity design have resonated with many fans who may have felt deprived of turn-based RPGs with realistic graphics.Turn-based games have never truly gone, but the perception that they vanished completely was relatively common, withExpedition 33reigniting the debate about whether high-fidelity-graphic turn-based RPGs are sustainable in 2025.
Our Take: It’s Great That Square Enix Is Aware Of Expedition 33’s Success
But FF Should Carve Its Own Path
WithExpedition 33taking so many inspirations from theFFseries, and arguably doing a lot of things better thanFFhas in a long time, and it also being the breakout success of 2025 so far,it’s easy to see why Square Enix shareholders and the company itself would look toExpedition 33for inspiration. However, despiteFF16andFF7 Rebirthfailing to meet sales expectations, according to Square Enix,I don’t thinkFFshould copyExpedition 33moving forward, but instead forge a new identity with elements fromExpedition 33and other successful turn-based RPGs.
It remains to be seen what the future holds forFFafter the final entry in theFinal Fantasy 7 Remakeproject is released. It’s clear there is an audience and demand for games similar toExpedition 33, and after Square Enix’s internal rebranding is complete, hopefully, the future ofFinal FantasyandDragon Questbecomes a bit clearer. Still, it’s nice to know we are going to get some type of command-based game from Square Enix, even if it’s not the nextFinal FantasyorDragon Quest.
UPDATE: 2025-06-05 16:38 EST BY BEN BROSOFSKY
Clarification from Genki
An update fromGenkiprovides a correction that the question was asked by an investment media reporter, not an investor. The article has been updated with this information.
