Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review Thread
Game Information
Game Title: Granblue Fantasy: Relink
Platforms:
- PlayStation 5 (Jan 29, 2024)
- PC (Jan 31, 2024)
- PlayStation 4 (Jan 29, 2024)
Trailers:
Developer: Cygames Inc
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 82 average - 75% recommended - 60 reviews
Critic Reviews
33bits - Fernando Sánchez - Spanish - 88 / 100
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an action RPG based on the successful transmedia franchise Granblue Fantasy that comes with the mission of expanding the success of this franchise in the West. Although there was already an approach with a couple of fighting games programmed by Arc System Works, Relink is Cygames’ big bet and they couldn’t have been more successful, with a fairly solid, well-structured, very fun game, but one that is small. flaws that do not allow it to achieve the outstanding rating, even so, this is a highly recommended title.
8Bit/Digi - Stan Rezaee - 10 / 10
Granblue Fantasy Relink is not only a whimsical adventure but also a masterclass on how to bring a mobile game to the console and PC ecosystem.
AltChar - Asmir Kovacevic - 95 / 100
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a fantastic game with a compelling story, excellent graphics and sound presentation, and one of the most complex yet entertaining gameplay experiences in the world of video games.
Areajugones - Ramón Gutiérrez - Spanish - 8.5 / 10
After a long wait and concluding my journey in Granblue Fantasy: Relink, I can say without a doubt that we are facing one of the outstanding releases of January, especially for fans of excellent RPGs like this title. Looking for an immersive narrative, thrilling matchups, outstanding gameplay, and more? Then, this game is made for you.
Attack of the Fanboy - Franklin Bellone Borges - 4.5 / 5
Granblue Fantasy: Relink delivers an extremely polished experience featuring beautiful visuals, an exhilarating combat system, an intricate character progression system, a solid single-player campaign, an inviting multiplayer, and a wide array of both quests and different playable characters sure to keep you around even after completing its storyline.
But Why Tho? - Abdul Saad - 7 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink offers a captivating albeit simple narrative, mesmerizing visuals, and a fun gameplay experience. If you’re a JRPG fan looking for a great new experience, then you’ll do no wrong with the game, but don’t expect anything out of the ordinary.
CGMagazine - Zubi Khan - 8 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink might not reinvent the wheel when it comes to storytelling in a JRPG, but as far as fun multiplayer experiences go, Relink soars to new horizons.
COGconnected - Stephan Adamus - 55 / 100
Granblue Fantasy: Relink does a few things very well. Its art direction and music are gorgeous. The online multiplayer co-op combat gameplay works really well. But as a single-player action JRPG, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is mostly quite generic. It’s also the story sequel to a game not released in North America, which really soured my ability to get invested in the story or characters. Action JRPG fans looking for more games in the genre might enjoy Granblue Fantasy: Relink, but there are too many other better options for non-diehard JRPG fans to recommend the game.
Cerealkillerz - Nick Erlenhof - German - 8.4 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a great, fresh action JRPG. The story is predictable, but offers an enormous amount of variety and definitely scores with its pleasant length. Battles are really fun and full of variety and effects, and the many characters in an online group make you want to play more, even if it can become confusing and repetitive. However, we can recommend the title to any fan of the genre.
ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 8 / 10
Fans of the mobile game will be thrilled with how this turned out, as it is one of the most polished action RPGs in recent memory.
There are many times that it is fun to just stop and look around, and the story and characters are a fairly tight package, which is appreciated. Battles are fast, if a bit consistent of spongy enemies. Its mobile roots are obvious, in relation to how equipment, upgrades and other characters work. Overall, there is not a huge sweeping story that will stay with you, but it’s a coherent, high quality RPG that is solid across the board.
Destructoid - Steven Mills - 8 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink features an incredibly satisfying gameplay loop on the back of an outstanding, fast-paced combat system. If you’re looking for a narrative-driven experience, this isn’t it. But if you’re looking for a fun grind that constantly feels satisfying and rewarding, that’s exactly what you have here.
Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 4 / 5
Whether you love the high-octane spectacle of Final Fantasy XVI or the character collection of Genshin Impact, Granblue Fantasy: Relink has a little something for you. It’s a smart blend of ideas, even if it’s a bit torn between console and mobile gaming philosophies. More importantly, though, it does all that without sacrificing the playful energy the RPG genre was built on.
Digitally Downloaded - Matt Sainsbury - 4.5 / 5
I refuse to play mobile gatcha games (in part because I know that I’m the kind of personality that would get too hooked on a favourite one if I found one). However, I have always found Granblue Fantasy’s vision and promise particularly intriguing. The fighting game whet my appetite, but Granblue Fantasy Relink has been my first real exposure to the property. Not only are the characters, setting, lore and world building every bit as enjoyable as I hoped from all the promo material I’ve seen over the years, but for a “spin-off” this is a much better action RPG than I was anticipating. While eight years is no doubt longer than Cygames hoped to spend developing Granblue Fantasy Relink, the wait has been worth it and this is, potentially, the start of a very big new property that will rival the best that Bandai Namco, SEGA and Square Enix produce.
DualShockers - Jervon Perkins - 8.9 / 10
The endgame presents dynamic challenges, which will have you playing for hours. But uneven character leveling and a slight disruption in party dynamics emerge as drawbacks. Regardless, Granblue Fantasy: Relink features a captivating world and engaging progression loop that make it a journey worth undertaking.
Eurogamer - Hirun Cryer - 3 / 5
A truly excellent combat system and neat character-centric episodes complement a compelling tale, but weak side activities and some turgid grinding hold it back.
Final Weapon - Noah Hunter - 3.5 / 5
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an excellent first step into console RPGs for the series. The story doesn’t quite live up to expectations with poor pacing and an overall lack of character development, but the second half features epic fights and a streamlined narrative. Additionally, the gameplay is a thrill to experiment with, and it is a blast to play with friends online. Combined with its jaw-dropping mosaic-like visuals and beautiful soundtrack, it’s safe to say that the six-year wait has mostly paid off for Cygames & Granblue with a solid first entry into the world of RPGs.
GGRecon - Harry Boulton - 3 / 5
Granblue Fantasy: Relink was unfortunately a rather disappointing experience for me, which is a shame to say considering how excited I was for it all those years. It does offer excellent combat that achieves genuine variation between its vast cast of characters, and many spectacle-filled boss fights - but remains largely unengaging due to a bland narrative that barriers off much of its character development behind tedious text segments.
There is likely to be plenty of life found within its extensive post-game segments, as players can team up to take down countless missions across numerous forms, but that grind might not be for everyone in the long run, especially if you’re playing solo.
Game Informer - Imran Khan - 7 / 10
The saving grace of these extended gameplay encounters is that the combat is reasonably engaging, and interactions between characters will likely delight existing Granblue Fantasy fans. Relink is unlikely to be any newcomer’s favorite game. Still, the basic gameplay is fun and keeps you moving along the treadmill, especially if you have a gathering of like-minded source material fans to help you slay its biggest figurative and literal dragons.
Game Rant - Liam Ferguson - 4.5 / 5
With plenty of quests, collectibles, bosses, cutscenes, and more, there’s never a dull moment across Granblue Fantasy: Relink’s 20+ hours of play time. Relink effectively sells itself to casual and hardcore gamers alike, and saturates even its towns and menus with extra details. All the animations, ambient dialogue, Easter eggs, and the sheer energy of the whole package demonstrate how Granblue Fantasy: Relink’s extended development served its eventual release. Cygames has finally delivered the promises Granblue Fantasy: Relink made a long time ago, and it should join its RPG and fighting game counterparts in pleasing fans for years to come.
GameGrin - Mike Crewe - 8.5 / 10
A great cast of characters let down by a fairly unengaging narrative, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is still a superb RPG packed with content. Grab your friends, it’s time to go adventuring in the skies!
Gameblog - KiKiToes - French - 8 / 10
For a first in the genre, Granblue Fantasy Relink is a success.
Gamer Escape - Eliot Lefebvre - 9 / 10
So at the end of the day, despite everything that made this look like it was going to be a disaster, Granblue Fantasy Relink is not just an alright game. It’s a really good game, a delight in terms of action RPG gameplay, and easily a title that you can start sinking a huge amount of time into whether you know this crew or not. I’m excited for the prospect of more, from more characters to more stories. And if you’re looking for a new RPG to sink your teeth to at the start of the year, you already have a strong example.
Gamersky - 心灵奇兵 - Chinese - 9.2 / 10
In the first 20 hours, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an Action RPG with exciting combat, lots of characters, and a straight to the point story. After 20 hours, it turns into an anime co-op game with MMORPG-like combat, unlike Monster Hunter. It has deep character growth and tough dungeons that take time to master, offering lots of fun.
GamingTrend - David Flynn - 85 / 100
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is yet another bold leap for the franchise and it lands gracefully. The combat is a ton of fun with a massive and unique roster of characters. The game could have introduced characters much better and given them more quiet moments, but the story is nice to watch play out, and it all leads into a massive post-game that will keep you playing for a long time.
GideonsGaming - Joseph Pugh - Not Yet
Granblue Fantasy Relink is the greatest game I don’t want to play. Its stellar combat, great AI, interesting world, and epic quests forge the experience to a sharp point, but the lack of any meaningful challenge severely dulls its edge.
God is a Geek - Chris White - 9 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is not only a gorgeous game, the combat is satisfying with plenty of experimentation when it comes to your party.
Hardcore Gamer - Chris Shive - 4 / 5
Granblue Fantasy: Relink has a short and sweet story campaign with the potential for endless grinding after the main credits roll. The story is an enjoyable ride from start to finish that blends a captivating story filled with interesting crew members and exhilarating action-packed gameplay. Most of the characters’ backstories are revealed through Fate Episodes in town and watching these stories adds a great deal to how invested the player can get in their individual stories. The content after the main story promises countless hours of completing increasingly more difficult missions to extend the life of the game. These missions after the main campaign deliver story content at a much slower pace, however, and after a certain point these activities amount to little more than grinding for better resources. Multiplayer helps with these missions, but most players will likely move on before completing all the content the post game has to offer. But up until that point, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an incredibly fun adventure.
Hey Poor Player - Shane Boyle - 5 / 5
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a triumph and one of the most mechanically deep and rewarding action-RPGs in recent memory. It’s easy to pick up, yet difficult to master combat feels great in motion, and it’s all in service of a world and cast of characters that are more than worthy of your time and attention. Between the substantial single-player portion and the incredibly generous multiplayer offering, there’s a wealth of content on offer for those wanting to really invest and dig into the game’s many progression systems. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what the result would be if Tails of Arise and Monster Hunter had a baby, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is the answer, and it’s glorious.
Hobby Consolas - David Rodriguez - Spanish - 84 / 100
Granblue Fantasy Relink is a more than remarkable action JRPG that makes clear the potential of this franchise within the world of video games. Highly addictive gameplay, a deep progression system, and spectacular art design are its best assets. Only excessive repetition in the missions can hinder the experience.
IGN - George Yang - 8 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink has a succinct story, fantastic battle system, and fun multiplayer options that help it stand out.
IGN Italy - Alessandro Digioia - Italian - 7.5 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a much less ambitious game than it seems, but its simplicity shouldn’t necessarily be considered as a flaw. Cygames’ latest work is fun and well polished, and it has an exciting combat system, great art and music. Unfortunately, the story falls short, and after reaching the endgame it devolves in a repetitive cycle of 80 or so hours of mindless fighting, without any real challenge or new ideas to keep things fresh.
IGN Spain - Alejandro Morillas - Spanish - 9 / 10
Excellent on a technical level, courageous in its approach and exemplary in terms of gameplay, Granblue Fantasy: Relink becomes a fantastic benchmark of the genre on its own merits.
INVEN - Suhho Yoon - Korean - 8.5 / 10
A well-made title in the IP that offers interconnected gameplay that feels like playing a party even solo, various characters armed with unique moves. While the monotonous multiplayer can be a drawback, the synergy of fast action and intense JRPG storytelling is for both those familiar and unfamiliar with the franchise.
Infinite Start - Grant E. Gaines - 8 / 10
At the end of the day, I found that Granblue Fantasy: Relink captured the elements I love about this genre. There are several unique bosses, each with their own shenanigans, keeping things interesting. While I would appreciate changes to the build system, it doesn’t detract from the overall engagement of the experience—especially for those who aim to overcome everything Granblue Fantasy: Relink has to offer.
Kakuchopurei - Xandria Morden - 70 / 100
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a beautiful burst of fantasy anime colours with a good amount of substance to keep your action RPG tendencies sated. The wait for its release was a long one, but in gameplay, character selection, and music, it delivers to its fans and any action RPG fan looking for a Monster Hunter-like clone without the control “nuances”. For first-time players of this franchise, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a good start. It may not be Final Fantasy but damn I felt that every hour I spent playing was not wasted.
LevelUp - Fernando Salinas - Spanish - 8.5 / 10
Cygames did a great job of turning a gacha game into an epic adventure full of action and magic. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Relink capitalizes on the charisma of its characters and their abilities. The best part is that we can unlock them without paying and harness their power in awesome boss battles. Although it is an action RPG, it takes advantage of other elements to make things more interesting. If it were more extensive, had a more solid multiplayer system and more exploration elements, it would be perfect.
MonsterVine - Luis Joshua Gutierrez - 3.5 / 5
Granblue Fantasy: Relink does stumble when it comes to being newcomer-friendly, but it does make up for it as the story goes on. Although the combat can feel repetitive, the power moves and boss fights offer enough to spice things up.
Multiplayer First - Paulmichael Contreras - 9 / 10
I will admit, after spending some time with Granblue Fantasy: Relink across two different preview events, I wasn’t convinced Cygames had done much more than produce a by-the-numbers JRPG adaptation of their popular mobile and browser-centric franchise. But I suppose that’s the difference between being dropped into the middle of a game and starting from scratch.
There are a lot of fully fleshed-out characters and systems to get used to and master, over a hundred different weapons to level up and upgrade, plenty of quests to undertake, and as much lore as most fans might be willing to sift through. Yet the main campaign doesn’t overstay its welcome. Relink also has a beautiful, if slightly technically underwhelming, look to the world. In short, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a great JRPG, and even if you’ve never played Granblue Fantasy before if you enjoy action JRPGs at all, you owe it to yourself to give this one a shot.
Noisy Pixel - Azario Lopez - 8 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink showcases CyGames at their best. They don’t attempt to reinvent the action JRPG genre; instead, they focus on putting their unique twist on the formula. The result is a responsive and addictive experience for solo and online play. For those wanting the most, the online quests offer an almost endless supply of action. At the same time, the story campaign serves as a general introduction to the mechanics but remains equally epic. There’s room for improvement, though, and post-launch support will determine the lasting appeal of this experience, but for what it’s worth, the wait was worth it, and I’m excited for future growth in this series.
One More Game - Ricki Buzon - Buy
If there’s one thing that can sum up our adoration for Granblue Fantasy: Relink, it’s that Cygames has made the long wait absolutely worth it. The game feels like a product that was delivered with love and care for the franchise, highly evident in its stunningly gorgeous visuals and equally mesmerizing audio.
Combat is a highlight, offering fast-paced and slick battles that get the blood pumping, accented by visual effects that may be a bit too much at times. Still, there’s a lot of fun to be had, and the gameplay loop feels addictive and rewarding.
PSX Brasil - Paulo Roberto Montanaro - Portuguese - 90 / 100
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is excellent in everything it proposes and certainly has the best ingredients to please different audiences, even the most skeptical. Fluid, beautiful, objective and exciting in the right measure, the game is a sure presence on my list of favorites in the genre.
PlayStation Universe - Garri Bagdasarov - 9.5 / 10
Granblue Fantasy Relink is an exceptional action-RPG with a strong license that can flourish in many genres. With excellent combat and cinematography, Granblue Fantasy Relink provides strong character development and epic encounters throughout its 20-hour campaign and many more hours after that.
Prima Games - Priscilla Wells - 8 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is undoubtedly a love letter to the series.
Push Square - Robert Ramsey - 8 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is one of the PS5’s best action RPGs - but you need to know what you’re getting into. The story campaign is excellent, but its relatively short length means that most of your time will be spent with the game’s optional quests, which rarely reach the same heights. Still, whether you’re playing alone or in co-op, there’s a real thrill to Relink’s combat system, which combines precise hacking and slashing with underlying RPG stats and mechanics. If you can embrace the grind, a fantastic character roster and some amazing boss battles await.
RPG Fan - Des Miller - 92%
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a fantastic, gorgeous, and extremely fun over-the-top action RPG that raises the genre standards.
RPG Site - Paul Shkreli - 9 / 10
Offering a stacked roster of playable characters, intuitive multiplayer action combat, and a bombastic single-player story quest, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a resounding success.
RPGamer - Jon Jansen - 4.5 / 5
The presentation is high quality with gorgeous cutscenes, epic battles, easy to pick up combat, and vivid storytelling. There’s nothing that ever knocks the wind out of its sails and always looks ahead to the vast blue skies, wondering what other stories there are to find.
Siliconera - Kazuma Hashimoto - 7 / 10
Granblue Fantasy Relink is a game that wears its heart on its sleeve with its sincere narrative and engrossing combat.
Spaziogames - Silvio Mazzitelli - Italian - 8 / 10
Thanks to the depth of its battle system (the boss fights are pretty spectacular!) and you can build your characters, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a pleasant surprise for action RPG lovers.
TechRaptor - Austin Suther - 9.5 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an exceptional game that captures the essence of the series wonderfully. With tons of characters to play and a hearty endgame to dive into, Granblue Fantasy: Relink will have you coming back for more.
The Games Machine - Danilo Dellafrana - Italian - 7.5 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a diamond in the rough, with a limited number of colossal opponents and a lot of choices and concessions that contribute to a less rewarding challenge and long-term interest. If you are a fan of (or even just interested in) the universe created by Cygames, however, it is likely that the rich and charismatic cast of playable characters may make you turn a blind eye. Definitely a game made for fans.
The Outerhaven Productions - Scott Adams - 4.5 / 5
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a masterpiece and is an amazing entry point into the world of Granblue Fantasy. The gameplay is engaging, the art design is immaculate, the music is amazing, and there is much to do in the game. I just wished the online component had more going on.
TheSixthAxis - Dominic Leighton - 8 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a fantastic anime adventure, and one that will delight fans of the series.
VG247 - Oisin Kuhnke - 3 / 5
The problem is that, as many of us know, gacha games are inherently exploitative, and even though I’m confident in resisting spending any money on them, I still feel a bit strange about the pull I’m experiencing towards such a game thanks to a seperate, supposedly stand-alone RPG. Should you play Relink for a taste of Granblue Fantasy’s world? I think so! But go in knowing that it won’t give you everything you might want, and take it as it is.
Video Chums - Mary Billington - 8.1 / 10
Granblue Fantasy: Relink has a lot of character and is a great contribution to action RPGs. Genre fans looking for something new will enjoy this tale, especially its epic boss fights and interactive landscapes to explore; well, if you can get over the initial hurdles, of course. ⚔️
VideoGamer - Jack Webb - 6 / 10
Despite the myriad troubles, Granblue Fantasy: Relink has turned out to be rather excellent. But with several lackluster aspects, there is a real sense of disappointment that Relink could have been so much better.
Granblue Fantasy Relink offers plenty of options for players to engage with in terms of content. It’s an action RPG that is easy to pick up and difficult to master when it comes to its character roster choices and mechanics. However, when you get to the deeper aspects of it, it doesn’t offer much of note compared to its peers. Still, the way the game delivers its narrative as well as how impressive and tough its boss fights are is definitely worth bringing up. Overall, this is a solid game that could have been a bit more intricate.
Worth Playing - Chris “Atom” DeAngelus - 8.5 / 10
Overall, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is an enjoyable action-RPG, even when divorced from its gatcha origins. It doesn’t break any molds and tends to feel more like an MMO than Monster Hunter, but almost every part of it is well executed and enjoyable. If you’ve been curious about the franchise and want a more friendly way to explore it than gatcha and fighting games, Relink gives you everything you need. If you’re looking for a chill multiplayer RPG to play with friends, Relink absolutely nails the experience.
Despite its tumultuous development cycle, Granblue Fantasy: Relink is a grand achievement that impressed from beginning to end with its fantastic presentation and thrilling set pieces- brought together as a total package with a cast of unique playable characters and satisfying combat that I can see myself continue to “Zeta Dive” back into for many more hours to come.
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