Everything We Know About Square Enix’s Visions Of Mana

It’s been 15 years since the last mainline entry in Square Enix’s Mana series, and the wait for another one is coming to an end. The publisher revealed during December 2023’s The Game Awards that Visions of Mana, the upcoming action RPG in the long-running franchise, is set to launch later this year. And at Xbox’s Developer Direct Showcase on January 18, Square Enix peeled back the curtain to show off a swath of new details, which we’ve compiled below for easy reading.

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Square Enix dropped a lengthy press release alongside a deep-dive video into the game’s combat, environment, and traversal mechanics. There’s quite a bit to go through, so, without further ado, here’s everything we know about Visions of Mana.

When is the Visions of Mana release date?Visions of Mana doesn’t have an official release date right now, but we do know roughly when it’ll come out. Square Enix’s action RPG is slated to drop sometime this summer, meaning the game will arrive between June and September if all goes according to plan.

What platforms will Visions of Mana be available on?Square Enix is planning to launch Visions of Mana on PC (via Steam and Windows), PlayStation 4/5, and Xbox Series X/S. It’s unclear if the action RPG will come to Nintendo Switch and Xbox One right now, but the possibility is always there. It’s also not clear at this stage whether or not Visions of Mana will come to Game Pass on Day One.

Screenshot: Square Enix / Kotaku (Fair Use)

What is Visions of Mana’s gameplay like?

As someone who’s never played a Mana title before, the closest comparison that comes to my mind regarding the look of the action RPG’s combat is an amalgam of Granblue Fantasy: Relink and a Tales of… game. It’s action-heavy, with a focus on hack-and-slash gameplay that mixes in magic-based combat as you battle adorable critters and fearsome monsters.

In a press release, Square Enix said that aerial combat, which is a first for the series, will allow you to dish out magical and physical damage while airborne. The studio also said that the series staple Elementals, special items with special powers, will aid you in battle by “producing a different effect in combat according to its respective element, allowing for a fast-paced, flexible fighting style.”

Is there a trailer for Visions of Mana?Sure is! The most recent trailer for the game debuted at the Xbox Developer Direct on January 18. It’s a pretty extensive look at the game’s world and character designs. It also features some insight on the series’ history and future from the impeccably dressed Mana series creator, Koichi Ishii.

Does Visions of Mana have companions?If you played Secret of Mana for the SNES (or one of its recent ports), you’ll likely have fond memories of exploring the world on the back of your friendly dragon buddy, Flammie. Companions are making a comeback in Visions of Mana. This time around, you’ll get a giant fur bestie called a pikul. These wolf-like beasts can not only ram monsters as you ride them, they can also jump and nap like the good boys and girls they are.

What’s up with Visions of Mana’s soundtrack?Square Enix revealed that Vision of Mana will have a tracklist comprised of 100 songs at launch, with each of them composed by (or received contributions from) the folks behind the music of previous Mana games. This includes Hiroki Kikuta (Secret of Mana), yo Yamazaki (Legend of Mana), and Tsuyoshi Sekito (Dawn of Mana). If you’re familiar with their work, then you know these songs will slap.

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Well, that’s everything we know about Visions of Mana right now. The wait for the game isn’t much longer, as the summer months are inching ever closer. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a first-time player, it’s looking like Visions of Mana will be a great entry for anyone interested in a new Square Enix action RPG.