Coming into Bravely Default: Flying Fairy for the first time, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’d heard the name tossed around in JRPG circles, usually with terms like “underrated gem” or “spiritual successor to Final Fantasy.” With the HD remaster landing on Nintendo Switch 2, I finally decided to see what the fuss was about. And after hours of turn-based battles, job tinkering, and unexpected emotional moments, I get it.

What surprised me most wasn’t the high-fantasy plot but how much I ended up caring about the main cast. You’ve got Tiz, a quiet farm boy dealing with more than any teenager should. Agnès, who’s the world’s most reluctant chosen one. Ringabel is an amnesiac womanizer with a mysterious journal full of future events. And Edea, a fierce, no-nonsense knight with a serious moral compass.

Together, they form a mismatched party that somehow just works. They argue, joke, grow, and bounce off each other in ways that feel natural. The story leans on some traditional JRPG tropes, such as crystals, darkness, and destiny, but it’s told with sincerity. I also appreciated that I could skip or fast-forward scenes if I wanted to move things along without losing the emotional impact.

The combat system is where the game hooked me. On the surface, it’s turn-based, old-school stuff. However, the “Brave” and “Default” systems add a layer of risk and strategy. Do you play it safe and build up turns, or go all in and hope you finish the fight before the enemy hits back? It sounds simple, but every battle becomes a little tactical puzzle.

Then there’s the job system. I didn’t expect to lose hours just swapping jobs, mixing abilities, and finding combos. You unlock more than 20 classes, each with unique skills. You can cross-train and stack abilities from different jobs to create your ideal party setup. It’s fun and dangerously addictive.

And thankfully, the remaster includes tools that respect your time. You can tweak enemy encounter rates, speed up fights, and save anywhere. It makes grinding feel optional instead of mandatory, which I appreciated as someone new to the series.

The visual overhaul in Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster is where the magic hits home. What was once a standout 3DS game for its painterly backdrops and charming chibi models has been carefully modernized for the power and screen clarity of the Switch 2, and it’s stunning.

The remaster stays true to the original’s handcrafted aesthetic, but in HD, the environments truly shine. Towns and dungeons look like intricate watercolour dioramas, with sharper lines and richer colour depth.

But this HD remaster isn’t just a visual upgrade. Two new minigames, Luxencheer Rhythm Catch and Ringabel’s Panic Cruise, take full advantage of the Switch 2’s innovative mouse control scheme, allowing players to use the Joy-Cons creatively.

While I didn’t expect much from them, they were a fun surprise. One is a rhythm-based game using motion controls, and the other is a light airship-based shooter. They’re short and punchy and reward you with costumes and lore entries that are not essential, but a nice change of pace.

The sweeping soundtrack by Revo is a highlight, perfectly complementing the game’s epic scope and emotional beats. Whether revisiting the game or experiencing it for the first time, the music elevates every moment.

As a first-time player, I walked into Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster, not knowing if it was just another remaster in 2025 or if it was a welcome upgrade for players of the 3DS. Turns out it does. If you’ve never played Bravely Default before, this is the version to start with. It’s approachable, deep, and genuinely charming.

Written by: Bradley Thorsen