Cygame’s Granblue Fantasy: Relink was released in 2024, and the Action-JRPG is a standout, delivering satisfying combat and an endearing yet epic tale. After much anticipation, Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok continues the story as a hefty expansion after the credits of the base game roll.

Following the events of Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Endless Ragnarok has the gang facing a spicy threat in the Ragnalia, meaning it’s time to get back into the fight. The expansion adds new combat mechanics, a slew of bosses, additional challenges and a rougelite mode in “The Conflux”, and it’s a helluva good time.

Much to my joy, Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok introduces six extra crewmates to round out the already jam-packed roster, bringing the total to twenty-nine combatants to fill out your squad. Somehow, Cygames has yet again outdone themselves by managing to find another six ways to deliver characters with unique playstyles, their own skill trees, Skybound Arts, and synergies with the party.

Most importantly for me, the character designs are, yet again, incredible, and all feel distinct; their fully voice-acted, witty banter with each other whilst in combat is a stellar addition as well. The controls remain the same with base attacks and up to four abilities equipped at a time, which can be easily used on the battlefield. I mostly played using a controller. I played on PC and didn’t have too many issues with keyboard and mouse; it came down more to personal preference.

As if that wasn’t enough, Summons have been introduced, a massive help in crushing the opposition. I’d call in beasties like a fire-breathing Wyvern or a Golem, which was a nice way to mix up gameplay, given that battles can last upwards of thirty minutes or under ten, depending on how tanky the boss is or how well you’ve built your party.

You’ll want to have a well-built team post-game, with all my characters at the base game cap with fully upgraded gear and maxxed-out skill trees, that could absolutely decimate base-game quests, but the new Chaos difficulties put me back in my place.

Enemies hit a lot harder; they’re super aggressive and can easily knock out a decent amount of health, but so can you. Characters can boost their stats with “Master Traits” to keep the party going strong. There wasn’t a point where I felt too overpowered. Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok is a test of willpower.

I did find times when I was cutting it way too fine with the time limits for taking out bosses, but all the more reason to hone party composition, gear, and skills. Granblue Fantasy: Relink and the expansion are a learning curve when it comes to the combat mechanics, given there are so many factors coming into play to improve the squad. As post-game content, most players shouldn’t have too much trouble catching on to the additions.

“The Conflux” adds a solo rougelite mode stacked with all the usual goodies of a solid rougelite, including branching paths into encounters, a shop and rooms full of prizes. At the end of each room, as in any good roguelite, players choose one of three “Auras” to boost (or, at times, hinder) the party for the remainder of the run. Gameplay is switched up between bosses and waves of enemies, with the option to choose “Dexterity’s Way”, which includes memory games and time-based collectathons.

Co-op quests are often limited to quest-counter missions, Chaos quests and Fatebreaker commissions. The majority of story quests and The Conflux have to be conquered solo; as someone who always wants to take friends onto the field with me, it’s a shame.

Given that cross-platform multiplayer has been added on top of being able to team up with three friends, it’s a shame I can’t have my buddies sub in for the bots in most instances.

Like the main game, it’s a shame not to be able to explore more of the gorgeous, vibrant environments of The Sky Realm and the Skydoms. It’s not the hugest loss since JRPG’s tend to be massively open-world to the point of excess.

The quest-counter style progression is much more linear, focusing more on quality than quantity, streamlining the story and better managing side activities. Taking a stroll around the hub towns and completing the more contained side-quests does add a certain charm.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok is the kind of expansion that is bound to get Granblue Fantasy: Relink fans coming back again and again. Gorgeous, glorious and gratifying, I’m looking forward to conquering whatever Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok throws my way next.