| FANTASIAN Neo Dimension | |||
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| Gameplay & Story | Release Date | DLC & Pre-Order | Review |
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is the console and PC port of the 2021 Apple Arcade game headed by Hironobu Sakaguchi. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Review Overview
What is FANTASIAN Neo Dimension?
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is an enhanced version of the original FANTASIAN, a role-playing game developed by Mistwalker and originally released on Apple Arcade back in 2021. It is spearheaded by renowned game designer Hironobu Sakaguchi, known for his work on Final Fantasy, and features music by legendary composer Nobuo Uematsu.
The game centers around Leo, an amnesiac who finds himself in an alternate universe named the "Machine Realm." Guided by a single fragmented memory, he traverses interdimensional realms to uncover his past and confront the Mechteria—a mechanical infection threatening humanity and life.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is a traditional turn-based RPG similar to the old Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy games, but with a twist. Players can skip and store encounters in the field into another dimension and choose to fight them all at the same time! Combat is also similar, but with the unique mechanic of being able to aim your attacks in straight or curved lines, allowing you to damage multiple enemies from their trajectories!
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension features:
⚫︎ Hand-crafted dioramas bring life to the world
⚫︎ English and Japanese voiceovers
⚫︎ Dimengeon System to stow away random encounters and fight them all at once
⚫︎ Traditional JRPG gameplay and story
For more gameplay details, read everything we know about FANTASIAN Neo Dimension’s gameplay and story.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
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 Steam |
 PlayStation |
 Xbox |
 Switch |
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| $49.99 | |||||||
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
 Breathtaking Handmade Diorama Locations Fun and Strategic Boss Fights Dimengeon Ditches Tedious Random Encounters Memorable Music by Nobuo Uematsu |
Pacing can be Uneven Mid-Game Sudden Difficulty Spikes The Game’s Mobile Origins are Evident |
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Overall Score - 90/100
Hironobu Sakaguchi is far from closing the book on his odyssey as a game developer, and I, for one, am grateful for it. FANTASIAN Neo Dimension feels like a love letter to the golden age of turn-based storytelling—a game steeped in nostalgia, yet audacious enough to try something fresh. Despite the echoes of its mobile origins, its charming characters and challenging gameplay deliver an experience as imperfectly wonderful as the heroes it portrays. It’s not Final Fantasy in name, but it might as well be in spirit, and playing it feels like rekindling a long-lost friendship.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Story - 8/10
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension starts off strong. You wake up as Leo, an amnesiac protagonist stranded in a machine-filled world. The mystery is palpable: Who is Leo, and why is he caught between worlds? The narrative dances delicately between gravitas and whimsy, weaving in themes of loss, human connection, and the indomitable spirit of curiosity. To cap it all off, Sakaguchi and his team have crafted a cast of characters brimming with their motivations and quirks that make every interaction a delight.
But not all is seamless. The story’s pacing falters midway through the game, shifting its focus instead to side quests that, while compelling in itself, make way for a more non-linear story progression. Some characters unfortunately fade into the background just when they deserve their moment in the spotlight, leaving the latter half of the game feeling like a jigsaw puzzle missing a few crucial pieces.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Gameplay - 8/10
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is essentially a classic JRPG infused with a few modern twists that elevate it beyond mere nostalgia. The Dimengeon system, for instance, is a standout—a pocket dimension that stores random encounters until you’re ready to tackle them all at once. Watching hordes of enemies gather on the battlefield, only to be obliterated by a perfectly aimed skill, is endlessly satisfying. Moreover, boss fights, especially in the game’s latter half, are a test of mettle and wit, each one demanding players to strategize first before fighting.
Yet the game’s mobile origins still haunt the experience. Clunky controls and design quirks occasionally disrupt the flow, reminding you that this grand adventure was once constrained by smaller screens and touch interfaces. These hiccups, while frustrating, don’t overshadow the brilliance of the gameplay loop, but they do leave a smudge on an otherwise polished gem.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Visuals - 9/10
Kudos to the team at Mistalker for pulling off the game’s handmade diorama locations, as they all look breathtaking. Each of the 150+ dioramas feels almost tangible with the amount of love and care put into it, so much so that I often found myself pausing to simply marvel at many of them. However, the game’s transition to stronger hardware did not mitigate the game’s mobile origins. While the diorama backdrops are beautifully crafted, the character sprites often stick out like a sore thumb in them, making it look as if the characters themselves do not belong in their own world. This is particularly noticeable when the game sprites clip through the dioramas.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Audio - 10/10
Nobuo Uematsu’s touch is unmistakable, and his work here is nothing short of praiseworthy. From the wistful melodies of quiet towns to the electrifying intensity of the Machine Realm, each track complements its context. Rest assured, I’ll be humming the game’s boss battle theme for a long time.
But what truly sets this iteration apart is the addition of voice acting. Where the original release relied solely on text and music, the fully voiced scenes in Neo Dimension breathe new life into its characters. The Memory sequences, in particular, gain a profound intimacy that transforms what were once static blocks of text into emotionally resonant moments.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Value for Money - 10/10
At $50, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension offers a return on investment that many modern titles struggle to match. It may be a port of a four-year-old iOS game, but it feels anything but dated. I can easily see myself investing over a hundred hours in it, especially if I challenge myself to complete everything it offers. The game may not be as lengthy as other modern JRPGs, but this brevity works to its advantage; it avoids overstaying its welcome and delivers excellent value for its price.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Review: A True Final Fantasy Game in Everything But Name
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d have the chance to experience FANTASIAN—Mistwalker’s once-Apple Arcade-exclusive game—within this decade. Even more improbable was the notion that Hironobu Sakaguchi, the godfather of Final Fantasy, would reconcile with Square Enix after their dramatic falling-out in the early 2000s. Yet, here we are, seeing the two collaborate once more to release FANTASIAN to more platforms.
Mistwalker, Sakaguchi’s development team, has often been seen by fans as the torchbearer of the golden age of JRPGs. The Lost Odyssey, for instance, is heralded as the spiritual successor to the Final Fantasy games of the SNES and PS1 eras. Then there’s The Last Story—a title that, in both name and spirit, felt like a poetic echo of Sakaguchi’s origins, almost as if it were designed to be Mistwalker’s swansong before the company pivoted to mobile ventures.
Perhaps I’m letting nostalgia tint my glasses, but there’s a magic to those classic JRPGs—Final Fantasy VI with its operatic highs, Final Fantasy IX with its wistful charm—that feels increasingly elusive in many modern games in the same genre. FANTASIAN Neo Dimension feels like a love letter to the genre’s roots, a modern JRPG that wears the heart of a Final Fantasy game on its sleeve. While not flawless, it captures that ineffable "old school" charm that instantly transported me back to my first playthrough of Final Fantasy IX.
Swipe, Tap, and Cast
Combat in FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is where the game is strongest. To describe it as merely reminiscent of early Final Fantasy titles does it a disservice. While the roots are undeniably there—turn-based combat, skill selection, and the use of items—Neo Dimension elevates the experience with a contemporary flair that makes it feel both nostalgic and utterly fresh.
The true magic lies in the fluidity of its attack system. With a flick of the thumbstick, what would otherwise be a straightforward strike becomes a carefully arched attack, capable of reaching enemies hiding just out of reach.
Unfortunately, for all its elegance, the Nintendo Switch port misses an opportunity to bring its intuitive roots full circle. The absence of touch controls during combat—once a standout feature of the original—feels like a step backward. I heard from those who have played the original Apple Arcade game that swiping and tapping to target foes made combat more interactive. It’s a subtle loss, but one that slightly dulls the shine of an otherwise noteworthy control scheme.
Random Encounters are a Thing of the Past
Aiming your attacks is a small innovation, yes, but it adds a layer of interactivity that keeps every encounter engaging. And you’ll need to be engaged at all times, as FANTASIAN doesn’t pull its punches. The game loves to swarm you with hordes of enemies, particularly in its Dimengeon system.
The Dimengeon is a brilliant twist on the genre’s oft-maligned random encounters. Rather than halting your progress every few cursed steps to battle random enemies that you’ll otherwise sweep with one slash, FANTASIAN allows you to store enemies in this pocket dimension until you’re ready to face them all at once. It’s a godsend for pacing, letting you explore and strategize uninterrupted while still reaping the rewards of combat.
But don’t let the convenience fool you—Dimengeon battles are no walk in the park. Once full, the enemies spill out in waves. The sheer number of foes can be overwhelming, but this only serves to amplify the satisfaction of turning the tide with a well-lined arc attack that drops five enemies in one stroke. Still, however, this is FANTASIAN, and the game’s difficulty is not to be underestimated.
Challenging Boss Fights are Punishing for the Unprepared
Regardless, strategy trumps raw power. Even an over-leveled party can crumble against a boss if tactics aren’t adjusted to its particular mechanics. Every boss fight feels like a puzzle that requires you to think creatively and adapt on the fly. And just when you think you’ve got the upper hand, bosses unleash new strategies once their health dips below a certain threshold. Personally, it’s exhilarating and maddening in equal measure.
However, this also means that many bosses demand trial and error to beat. The sting of repeated game-over screens can be frustrating. But, oh, you'll revel in the sweet satisfaction of a hard-earned win. The final blow lands, the boss crumbles, and the music swells in triumph. For a moment, you forget the hours spent strategizing, the frustration of failed attempts, and the gnawing uncertainty of whether you could pull it off or just play something else instead. All that remains is the joy of success—a feeling that FANTASIAN delivers with finesse. Few things in gaming feel as triumphant as conquering a foe who has tested every ounce of your wit and resolve, and the game delivers this thrill in spades.
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is challenging, even on its "Normal" difficulty. Originally, the game’s standard difficulty was what we now call "Hard," and it shows. The Normal mode is more balanced and welcoming to newcomers to the genre while still demanding thoughtful play. Fortunately, for those who accidentally chose the Normal difficulty and are still seeking a challenge, Hard mode remains a free toggle away.
When Clunky Controls and Shifting Cameras Become the True Foes
The world of FANTASIAN Neo Dimension feels like stepping into a dream, one lovingly crafted by human hands. Sakaguchi and his team have outdone themselves with the game’s diorama backdrops, painstakingly handmade to evoke a sense of wonder rarely seen in gaming. From verdant forests that feel alive with foliage to the stillness of frozen mountaintops, every location radiates personality. Even the more ominous spaces of dungeons and cities overrun by Mechteria are a visual treat that leaves you in awe. While some of these backdrops blur slightly during cutscenes when viewed too closely, the sheer artistry more than compensates.
But even the most enchanting scenery can’t mask the cracks in Neo Dimension’s foundation. The game’s controls and camera work are, at times, frustratingly wonky. The camera frequently shifts angles as I pass specific points. While nostalgic, these sudden shifts often disrupt movement, making it feel as though I’m wrestling with the analog stick to keep my character on course. It’s a jarring experience that often pulled me out of the immersive world the dioramas work so hard to create. It’s a good thing that the Dimengeon system provides a safety net, as I wouldn't want to face more enemies than necessary due to these issues.
Your Fantasy, Your Soundtrack
As mentioned above, among the game’s standout new features is its newly added voice acting, which breathes life into its characters and story in ways that the original’s mere text never could. However, the real crescendo? Sakaguchi’s reunion with Square Enix, which has gifted us fans the ability to customize our battle music with tracks drawn from many Final Fantasy games. Included are themes from Final Fantasy XIV, VII Remake and Rebirth, Pixel Remaster, and XVI. Best of all, you can change the battle music mid-battle if you so wish.
Yet, for all this variety, I found myself yearning for the inclusion of tracks from other classics in Nobuo Uematsu’s repertoire—Final Fantasy VIII, IX, and X among them. But, hey, beggars can’t be choosers, and this is merely a small quibble in the face of such a thoughtful addition. The randomized feature, which cycles through tracks during battles, is notably praiseworthy. Gone is the monotony of hearing the same tune for the hundredth time; instead, each encounter feels renewed by the surprise of a different melody.
Is FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Worth It?
A Welcome Encounter
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is a triumphant revival of a gem once thought destined to remain locked within the confines of Apple Arcade. Priced at $50, it delivers tremendous value—not only as a nostalgic trip but also as a fresh reminder of the artistry that Sakaguchi and Uematsu bring to the JRPG genre. Few mobile-exclusive titles make such a successful leap to other platforms, and while the game is not without its faults, its charm and ambition shine through.
With any luck, the success of the game might inspire Mistwalker to revisit creating full-scale games for PC or consoles. For now, though, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension is more than enough, and that’s all I could ever ask for a JRPG.
| Digital Storefronts | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam |
PlayStation |
Xbox |
Switch |
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| $49.99 | |||||||
FANTASIAN Neo Dimension FAQ
What are FANTASIAN Neo Dimension’s New Features?
In addition to performance and visual enhancements, FANTASIAN Neo Dimension offers an easier Normal mode (previously, Hard mode was the default), English and Japanese voice acting, and a battle music selector featuring well-known Final Fantasy tracks from recently released games like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Pixel Remaster.
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FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Product Information
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| Title | FANTASIAN NEO DIMENSION |
|---|---|
| Release Date | December 5, 2024 |
| Developer | SQUARE ENIX |
| Publisher | SQUARE ENIX |
| Supported Platforms | PC(Steam), PlayStation 5, PlaySation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch |
| Genre | RPG, Adventure |
| Number of Players | 1 |
| Rating | E |
| Official Website | FANTASIAN Neo Dimension Official Website |
