Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster Reviews
Bravely Default was a sincere love letter to the Final Fantasy franchise, now with this remaster I can't recommend this game enough to my fellow Final Fantasy and JRPG fans; with it playing and looking better than ever!
Review in Arabic | Read full review
This is a beautiful, heartfelt, and wonderfully classical JRPG, and as much as I love Mario Kart, over the past week, I’ve wanted to play this one so much more.
The inability to set the encounter rate to 0 from the outset is a bit disappointing, and the added mouse-focused mini-games don't offer much in the way of entertainment. Nonetheless, any turn-based RPG fan worth their salt needs to be able to say that they've played Bravely Default, and Flying Fairy HD Remaster represents a fantastic way to christen your Switch 2. If you've already played it through once or twice on 3DS, my recommendation is a little less resounding.
The best chance to rediscover a title that pays homage to classic JRPGs.
Review in Italian | Read full review
If they are going to bring back Nintendo 3DS classics, let them be like this one. Bravely Default is still as recommendable as ever, now with slight improvements and a couple of mini-games to make this adventure more bearable, where choosing a job is much more exciting than in real life.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
BRAVELY DEFAULT FLYING FAIRY HD Remaster makes for a great excuse to re-play one of the best RPGs out there which takes job systems to a whole other level and delivers a top-tier battle system that's complemented with superbly attractive visuals. 🧚♀️
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remastered is more than just a nostalgia trip—it’s a reminder of why this game stood out in the first place. The bold battle mechanics, deep customization, memorable characters, and stellar music all hold up, and the visual upgrade breathes new life into its world without messing with what made it great.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a solid remaster of an excellent game. The visuals do leave a bit to be desired, but make no mistake: this is a fantastic game with an outstanding soundtrack, a well-rounded cast, and an engaging combat system. While I wish that more effort had been put into bringing this remaster up to 2025 standards, it's still Bravely Default on a modern platform—and it's hard to complain about that.
This is a solid remaster worth a try for both fans of the series and those who never experienced the original. Its brilliant combat system, multiple job customization options, and a simple but well-executed story guarantee a memorable adventure for those who enjoy trying it or replaying it. More than a worthy return to the game, it's an opportunity for those who haven't tried it to get a taste of it and fall in love with all its virtues. However, a Latin American localization was missing, as the game is currently translated into Spanish.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remasteris exactly what it claims to be: a no-frills, touched-up rerelease of a beloved RPG. Flaws of the original remain, as do its strengths, but a great game remastered is a great game made better, leading this to be the definitive way to play Bravely Default.
I'm delighted to have now completed Bravely Default, as the story was fantastic, and I grew to love the characters. The grindiness of the RPG elements, as well as the second half of the game, might turn some players off, however, so I can only advise that it's worth sticking it out.
"Trusty old fairy dust."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
I definitely think that hardcore RPG fans will find a lot to enjoy with this game. For fans of the series, it might be worth revisiting as well. The jump to HD might appeal to some, however, there’s something to be said about the loss of the game’s nostalgic, chunky pixels on the 3DS. I looked up various pieces of gameplay for comparison’s sake, and character models look significantly worse in HD thanks to their rough polygons that were made for a specific system. Then again, longtime fans might love to see the game they know so well in a new light! As a newcomer myself, I wasn’t terribly impressed. While the combat is just fine and the job system offers neat combinations, I found the story and its characters so crushingly uninteresting that I started to dread picking up my Switch 2 to continue the journey. Thankfully, the gorgeous music is available for streaming, as I don’t plan to revisit Luxendarc anytime soon.
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a paradox: it ticks the boxes of tactical combat and progression system – defined here by professions – with excellence, but chronically fails in pacing and narrative.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster brings this classic 3DS RPG back in a way that still works. The combat’s just as satisfying, the job system is still fun to mess with, and the upgraded visuals help it shine a little brighter. The new mini-games are small extras, but the heart of the game is as strong as ever.
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is, in the end, a way to shine the spotlight once again on one of the great JRPGs from the 3DS era, now featuring visual enhancements and two charming minigames that feel more like Joy-Con function tests. The game delivers everything you’d expect from a solid Japanese RPG: a compelling story, an impeccable soundtrack, beautiful environments, charismatic characters, and a revamped turn-based combat system that adds strategy and dynamism to every battle. The freedom in team building and well-written dialogues give rhythm and personality to the journey, making the experience captivating from start to finish. It’s highly recommended for those looking to get into the world of JRPGs or to relive the genre’s golden age. However, for those who already played it on the 3DS, the new content is minimal and doesn’t quite justify a return—unless, of course, it’s out of pure nostalgia for Luxendarc.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Bravely Default HD is a lovingly enhanced version of a modern JRPG classic. It doesn’t rewrite the past, but it refreshes. For newcomers, it offers an ideal gateway into turn-based strategy. For veterans, it’s a polished return to one of Square Enix’s most inventive and popular post-Final Fantasy titles. A little bit more effort and care into the details would’ve been even better for a console launch title. A remaster with sharper visuals, orchestrated music, and improved mechanics. Its core original game flaws remain intact, but so do its greatest triumphs: a brave and default battle system, a charming cast, and a subversive story.
The HD remaster of one of Square Enix's most beloved modern cult classics is finally available on a current platform, but despite its charms, it remains an experience that will easily divide players.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster for the Nintendo Switch 2 is a successful HD remaster of a modern JRPG classic and will win over nostalgics and newcomers alike.
Review in German | Read full review
“Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster” is an excellent role-playing game that has unfortunately only received a minimal remaster treatment. The unique combat system, the engaging story and numerous quality-of-life optimizations set the JRPG apart from other representatives of the genre. If you are a role-playing game fan who has never played the 3DS original, I recommend the Switch 2 remake - provided you can get used to the underwhelming graphics and the unnecessarily repetitive ending.
Review in German | Read full review