While many Final Fantasy fans likely held their breath for a remake teaser, the latest announcement from Square Enix is actually about swapping controls for dice. The gaming giant revealed a major partnership with KessCo to launch Final Fantasy: The Board Game. For decades, the franchise has captivated millions of players with its epic stories and groundbreaking battles. From the early days on the NES to the cinematic masterpieces of the modern era, Square Enix has consistently found ways to keep up Final Fantasy franchise fresh to its massive global audience. In recent years, the brand has expanded further, with the 2025s Magic: The Gathering crossover alone generating over $200 million in just one day, proving that fans are hungry for new ways to experience their favorite worlds.
While many enthusiasts are currently focused on the next big digital expansion or the latest pixel remasters, the franchise has a surprisingly deep history of going beyond the television screen. Square Enix has previously experimented with various physical projects, ranging from the popular ones Final Fantasy Trading Card Game to niche board games like Chocobo Party Up! and Matter Hunter. These tabletop ventures have had varying levels of success, but they highlight a long-term strategy to bring the RPG experience to a more social, face-to-face one.
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A surprising shift to the tabletop
Square Enix has officially partnered with KessCo to launch a new line of Final Fantasy tabletop products, including a cooperative board game and dice sets slated for release in late 2026. Final Fantasy: The Board Game is the start of a multiplayer deal intended to bring the “Pixel Remaster Era” to the tabletop. Designed by Anthony Thorp, the game will be a cooperative experience where one to four players can team up to take on challenges inspired by the first three entries in the main series.
Who is that character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
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Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Easy (7.5s) Medium (5.0s) Hard (2.5s) Permadeath (2.5s)
The goal is to package the complex JRPG experience into a “streamlined” format that's easy for newcomers to pick up while staying true to the source material. KessCo CEO Alex Kessler noted that the company aims to honor what fans love about the early games while making something “fun, accessible and collectible”.
“We have seen how powerful Final Fantasy may be on the tabletop recently, bringing longtime fans and brand new players into a shared experience. We're excited to partner with Square Enix and continue that momentum with our own faithful adaptation that honors what fans love most about the Pixel Remaster Era while delivering something fun, accessible and collectible for the tabletop environment,” said Kessler. The title is scheduled to arrive in stores in the third quarter of 2026, with a first look at the preview at New York Toy Fair.
The board game isn't the only thing coming for collectors. KessCo is also launching a series of collectible RPG dice that take inspiration from the first six games in the franchise. These aren't just standard dice; each set comes in a special container topped with a “sculpted character model” that pays homage to the iconic pixel art from the beginning of the series. These items are marketed as both functional tabletop gaming tools and high-quality display pieces for fans who want to show off their love of the classics.
This expansion into the analog world comes at a time when the franchise is enjoying a massive resurgence in popularity. The staying power of the series was recently highlighted by the addition of Final Fantasy 2 to Xbox Game Pass, proving that even the oldest entries have high replayability. This enduring appeal is exactly what KessCo hopes to tap into. Focusing on the “Pixel Remaster Era”, the new tabletop titles allow fans to interact with familiar characters and settings in a physical space, bridging the gap between digital nostalgia and modern tabletop trends.
The success of previous table endeavors has set a high bar for this new partnership. The Final Fantasy 2025 Magic: The Gathering set became the best-selling release in the game's history, introducing thousands Final Fantasy card game fans for the first time. KessCo aims to replicate this “spark of discovery” by offering a faithful adaptation that translates the spirit of the original NES and Famicom releases into a format that favors social interaction over solitary screen time.
Despite the excitement, some industry analysts remain cautious. While the franchise has dipped its toes into board games before, community reviews on sites like Board Game Geek have been mixed for previous titles. The pressure is now on designer Thorp and the KessCo team to break this cycle and deliver a definitive tabletop RPG experience. With the game set to be showcased at the New York Toy Fair, attendees will soon get a glimpse of whether this “streamlined” JRPG can truly capture the magic of a 40-hour digital odyssey.
- Formative years
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1987
- Developer
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Square Enix
- Publisher
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Square Enix
- Creator
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Hironobu Sakaguchi
- Latest edition
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Final Fantasy 16
- Creator
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Hironobu Sakaguchi
