Role-playing games have never been for the faint of heart. The genre has always foregrounded epic adventure, the bonds between comrades, and unforgettable twists. Last year’s awards season darling, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, was no exception. Sandfall Interactive’s acclaimed RPG invites players into the beautiful and brutal world of Lumiere, where a mysterious entity known as the Paintress erases all citizens of a certain age once per year.
Don’t let the berets and the jaunty striped shirts fool you: Expedition 33 is no sun-dappled stroll through the Parisian summertime. It tells a somber and affecting story about grief, escapism, and perseverance. You’ll assume the story is headed in a specific direction, only to realize you had it all wrong. It’s a roller-coaster ride that’s left an indelible mark on the hearts of millions. And once it’s all over, you’ll probably be looking for something to match its dizzying highs and heartbreaking lows.
If you have a Nintendo Switch 2 or Xbox Series X, you’re in luck. One of 2024’s best RPGs is finally coming to both platforms. Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth has been a PS5 console exclusive for more than two years, but that’s finally about to change. The second part of the FF7 Remake trilogy comes to Switch 2 and Xbox on June 3. And from what we’ve seen of the Switch 2 version, it’s already shaping up to be a very impressive port.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth reimagines one of gaming’s greatest plot twists
Rebirth is the second installment of a three-part remake of Square Enix’s beloved and enormously influential PlayStation 1 RPG, Final Fantasy 7. The original game sees Cloud and his companions on a mission to save the world from the nefarious Shinra corporation and the enigmatic super-soldier Sephiroth. The remakes ratchet up the ambitions of the original game by several orders of magnitude: the visuals are dazzling, the environments teem with detail, and the relationships between the characters are drawn more richly than ever.
Picking up shortly after the events of 2020’s Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Rebirth opens in the bucolic village of Kalm, where Cloud and the gang regroup after their daring escape from the industrial mega-city of Midgar. The world is your oyster in FF7 Rebirth. Once you master the art of riding chocobos, you’re free to explore the world as much or as little as you like.
Though there are dozens of mini-games to dive into, the story is the best part of the experience. Throughout Rebirth, we learn more about Cloud’s complicated past and begin to see the cracks in the tough-guy facade he presents to his friends. Along the way, we learn more about the not-so-happy histories of Aerith, Tifa, Barret, and Red XIII — and do our very best to ask our favorite out for a romantic date at the Gold Saucer. Rebirth ends on a cliffhanger that revisits one of gaming’s most unforgettable moments, only it all plays out rather differently than you might remember.
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth pre-order and deluxe edition bonuses
The base editions of Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth retail for $49.99 on both Switch 2 and Xbox. For $69.99, you can get the deluxe edition, which also includes several in-game items that can give Cloud and friends an edge in the early hours of the game. These include:
- Summoning Materia: Magic Pot
- Accessory: Reclaimant Choker
- Armor: Orchid Bracelet
- Digital Art Book
- Digital Mini Soundtrack
You can get even more in-game items by pre-purchasing the deluxe edition before 11:59 p.m. ET on June 2, 2026. These items include:
- Summoning Materia: Moogle Trio
- Summoning Materia: Posh Chocobo
- Armor: Shinra bangle Mk. II
- Armor: Midgar bangle Mk. II
Queen’s Blood will be ‘enhanced’ and ‘powered-up’ in FF7 Remake Part 3
Director Naoki Hamaguchi says that Rebirth’s hit card game will be ‘powered-up’ in Part 3
