Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a novel way to revisit a contemporary classic

I’ve been aching to replay Bravely Default lately but struggling to find the proper time or motivating reason. You know, besides it just being one of the best new games from Square Enix in years when it launched for the 3DS. Luckily Square Enix had my back with its Nintendo Switch 2 launch title, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster. It’s what I’d call a modern classic with no hesitation, spruced up to look nice on a fancy screen. Add a couple of weird but shockingly deep and compelling minigames on top of the visual updates, a lower relative price as a bonus, and you’ve got a secret weapon for the sickos in the new console’s initial lineup.

Bravely Default is a grinder’s dream. You get a Final Fantasy 5-like job system, along with the option to speed up, slow down, or eliminate the random encounter rate. You can bump battle speed up to a multiple of four, and the whole combat system is based on being able to frontload your offense by “Braving,” or building extra turns in a defensive stance with “Defaulting.”

combat in bravely default hd, showing characters and enemies lined up with menu elements — Source: Square Enix

If you know you’re gonna win, you can simply tell everyone to attack four times on turn one, likely decimating the grunt units. All the while, racking up Job Point (JP) bonuses for winning a fight unscathed. Crank all those dials up and you can explore the depths of that job system with a salivating efficiency you won’t see in most other games like this.

Bravely Default is also a solidly-written story that combines old school tropes with over-the-top plot twists, weird characters (especially the job-specific bosses who are all psychopaths), and an endearing cast of heroes. There’s a moment towards the end that’s controversial due to its unflinching use of a time loop scenario, but otherwise this adventure’s storytelling, energetic soundtrack, gorgeous art (properly upscaled and gassed up with some clever lighting adjustments), and bonus features all wrap a lovely package around the grinding machine.

And speaking of bonus features, the Nintendo Switch 2-exclusive minigames are wild. They don’t just use the Joy-Con 2’s mouse, they push it to a bizarre extreme with a pair of minigames that are absurdly thoughtful considering how console-specific gimmicks usually just feel tacked-on to wave little launch title flags at customers.

one of the minigames in bravely default hd, showing the player piloting an airship and completing a bonus task — Source: Square Enix

The first is Luxencheer Rhythm Catch, on its face a simple music rhythm game that has you doing note chart stuff with songs from the game. But Square Enix is no stranger to music games that do things a little differently, and Luxencheer uses both Joy-Cons in mouse mode to “hit” notes in unusual ways. The onboarding is a little finicky, but once I got used to it, I had a lot of fun.

Ringabel’s Panic Cruise is the second minigame, and it is conceptually unhinged. It’s like if Superman 64 and Mario Paint came together under the guise of a carnival ride, and somehow that’s fun. Once again dual-wielding mice like some kind of degenerate Soulslike gimmick streamer, you’re in charge of piloting an airship through a series of rings, with a level to move up/down and a steering wheel to… steer. But of course, that isn’t enough, and the rest of the party barks orders at poor Ringabel to do things like flip switches, pull levers, and do random stuff like grab a fly swatter to smash distracting bugs. In the next level, I used fly swatters in both hands to fight ghosts? It’s that kind of vibe, and despite sounding more gimmicky than a mobile game-licensed ticket dispenser at a Dave & Busters, I had a great time and can’t wait to unlock more levels.

Aside from the whole Game Key Card “download code in a cartridge” thing, Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster is a sure thing for classically-styled RPG fans. It’s one of Square Enix’s strongest efforts during an era in which the RPG was struggling as a whole, breathing new energy and life into vintage systems like turn-based combat and Jobs. In 2025 it stands in a more crowded, livelier space, but still makes an impact with its distinct visuals, rad tunes, cool storytelling, and exquisite grinding mechanics. The minigames make absurd, but effective use of mouse mode, giving some novel launch game vibes for the Switch 2 as a little icing on the cake. It’s even cheaper than most of the other options, to boot! Square Enix is definitely showing up for the Switch 2, if Bravely Default is any indication.