Granblue Fantasy has spent years building a devoted following on the strength of its cast, its colorful world, and its knack for blending storytelling with combat that never quite feels like a chore. Granblue Fantasy Relink carries that reputation into a full action RPG, and it’s a genuine pleasure to see the series find its footing outside the mobile space. The story itself sticks close to familiar JRPG beats, but the characters, the progression, and the sheer fun of the combat make it an easy game to keep coming back to.
Players take on the role of the Captain, who can be either male or female, and lead the crew of the Grand Cypher across a sky-faring world that’s as vibrant as anything Cygames has put out before. Things kick off when the crew loses their airship in battle and crash-lands in a quiet village. The locals take them in while repairs get underway, and it’s here that the crew meets Rolan, a helpful young man who ends up more entangled in their journey than anyone expects. That peace doesn’t last, though, as Lyria is soon kidnapped by a mysterious group, and her rescue becomes the heart of the adventure. A life-saving ritual has already bound her fate to the Captain’s, so this isn’t just a rescue mission, it’s personal, and that personal stake carries the plot even when the broader conflict leans on tropes we’ve all seen before.
What really sets Relink apart is the chemistry between the members of the Grand Cypher. These characters talk to each other constantly, whether it’s during a story cutscene, out exploring, or even mid-battle, and none of it feels like filler. They read like a crew who’ve been through years together already, not a cast assembled for the sake of one adventure, and it’s that warmth and humour that makes it so easy to get attached to the whole roster.
For players who want even more time with these characters, the Fate Episodes are where Relink really shines. Each one dives into a specific party member’s backstory and their relationship with the Captain, and they’re fully voiced, which goes a long way toward making even the more minor characters feel worth knowing. They also aren’t just fluff; clearing them rewards permanent stat boosts, so there’s a real incentive to check in on new Fate Episodes as they unlock through story progress or level milestones. It’s one of those systems that does double duty, and I appreciated that Relink didn’t treat its side content as an afterthought.
Combat is where the game earns most of its praise. Rather than turn-based encounters, Relink goes all in on fast, real-time action built around movement, timing, and teamwork. Dodging, blocking, chaining attacks, and unleashing special abilities all come together nicely, and the bigger monsters demand real positioning and patience, since breaking their defenses is often the only way to open a real damage window. Even with how frantic things get, the controls stay responsive enough that it never feels unfair. Every character brings a distinct fighting style to the table too, some built around raw damage, others around healing or support, and experimenting with different combinations is genuinely rewarding rather than just a means to an end.
Progression follows the same philosophy of giving players real choices. Weapons can be upgraded and eventually uncapped, with material gathering tied naturally into quests and tougher fights rather than feeling like busywork. The Sigil system lets you shape a character’s build around survivability, damage, or balance, and the skill trees add another layer of depth, sharing points across the roster in a way that forces some genuinely interesting early decisions. Unlocking new combat options through those trees can change how a character plays entirely, and that flexibility means you’re never stuck building everyone the same way.
There’s plenty to do outside the main story as well. Side quests from villagers cover the usual gathering and monster-hunting fare, but the Quest Counter is where the real variety lives, offering boss fights, survival challenges, defense missions, and timed waves that unlock gradually to keep things feeling fresh. Most of the materials needed to fully develop a favorite character come from here, so anyone chasing a maxed-out build will find themselves returning often, and thankfully the combat holds up well enough that repetition never really sets in.
Multiplayer adds a welcome extra layer on top of all this. Linking a Cygames account lets you team up with friends across platforms, and while the AI companions handle themselves well enough in solo play, having real people alongside you changes the pace of tougher encounters considerably. Coordination becomes essential in the harder boss fights, and there’s a different kind of satisfaction in pulling off a win with a full team of actual players. Solo players still get a complete experience here, but co-op gives repeated missions a spark that’s hard to replicate otherwise.
Presentation-wise, Relink leans fully into its anime roots, and it shows. The environments range from peaceful villages to imposing ruins, the character designs are expressive, and the enemy roster, from small swarming foes to towering bosses, is memorable across the board. Nearly every conversation is fully voiced, and even the combat barks and reactions help sell the crew as a real group of companions rather than a collection of stats. The soundtrack complements all of it well, moving smoothly between relaxed village themes and high-energy battle tracks without ever wearing out its welcome.
Players looking to grow the roster further can also collect Crewmate Cards, some earned naturally through the story and others through missions, and the sheer size of the playable cast remains one of Relink’s biggest strengths. There’s a character here for every playstyle, and the steady drip of new unlocks keeps that sense of discovery alive well after you’ve settled on a favorite.
Granblue Fantasy Relink works because all of its systems feed into each other so naturally. Good combat leads to worthwhile quests, which provide the materials for stronger builds, which open the door to tougher content and deeper customization. Paired with a cast worth caring about and co-op that genuinely adds something, it’s an action RPG that always has one more goal waiting just out of reach.
The story may not stray far from familiar fantasy territory, but the characters and the systems around them keep the adventure consistently engaging from start to finish. Whether you’re working through the campaign solo, chasing down every Quest Counter mission, or teaming up online for the harder fights, Relink gives you plenty of reasons to stay in the sky. For anyone after an anime-inspired action RPG with real heart behind it, will you answer the call and help the Grand Cypher bring Lyria home?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
