Fairy Tail 2, developed and published by KOEI TECMO GAMES CO., LTD, launched on December 12, 2024, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. This highly anticipated sequel delves into the climactic “Alvarez Empire Arc,” depicting the conclusion of the original manga with vibrant visuals and a fresh take on the series’ beloved world. Having personally achieved 100% completion of the game, I’ve explored every corner it has to offer, from its turn-based combat system to its exploration elements and nods to fan-favorite moments. Fairy Tail 2 aims to provide both newcomers and longtime fans with a memorable journey. But does it successfully capture the magic of the series? Let’s find out as we explore its strengths, weaknesses, and everything in between.
Launch Trailer
A Slow Start, but Worth the Wait
The game’s main story is structured across twelve chapters, focusing on the final arc of the Fairy Tail anime and manga. These chapters maintain a mostly linear progression and are occasionally accompanied by side quests. Unfortunately, these side quests often lack variety or depth, primarily consisting of repetitive fetch tasks. During my playthrough, I frequently found that I already possessed the required items, turning these quests into little more than quick hand-ins that added minimal substance to the overall experience.
Combat in Fairy Tail 2 starts off sluggishly—a common trait in JRPGs, though it feels particularly heavy here. Skills are mapped to Triangle (Y), Circle (B), and X (A), with R1 offering access to an alternate skill set, while Square (X) is used for basic attacks. The combat system revolves around building up your skill meter with basic attacks before unleashing powerful elemental abilities. Early battles feel simplistic, but the depth gradually increases as you face named characters and bosses. These encounters often require strategic thinking, as enemies may have armour that must be broken or weaknesses that shift during the fight. Failing to adapt or relying on button mashing can result in harsh counters, adding a rewarding layer of challenge.

Each character embodies their elemental affinities from the series, and the ability to switch between them during combat adds an enjoyable level of freedom. This mechanic ensures all characters have their moment to shine, making team composition and strategy an engaging aspect of gameplay.
A pleasant surprise was how natural and rewarding the leveling felt. This may be attributed to the increasingly dynamic pace of combat. Although the difficulty noticeably ramps up around level 70. Reaching level 90 and maxing out characters required only about 30 minutes, providing a sense of progress without unnecessary grind.
Exploration introduces a hint of Metroidvania-style gameplay, as the world features areas initially inaccessible to players. While this design choice adds a degree of variety, it can sometimes feel misplaced. Spotting a distant boss monster only to discover you can’t yet reach it disrupts the flow of exploration. However, as the story advances, players unlock new abilities such as sprinting, clearing obstacles, and reaching higher platforms, gradually opening up previously restricted areas. This sense of progression does help to mitigate the early frustration of blocked paths.
The game also includes a plethora of collectibles intricately tied to the story. While it’s tempting to seek them out immediately, doing so can lead to frustration due to progression-based blockers. To avoid unnecessary backtracking, it’s best to focus on collectibles later in the game, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable experience overall.
Stunning Highlights with Uneven Details
The designs of Hiro Mashima have been lovingly recreated and beautifully presented in the game, capturing the essence of the Fairy Tail universe. This meticulous attention to detail shines through in several pivotal moments from the Alvarez Empire Arc, which have been rendered with impressive care and fidelity. However, this level of polish doesn’t consistently extend to some of the minor moments, which feel comparatively underwhelming and less refined.

While it took me around 25 hours to fully complete the game, there’s a noticeable lack of enemy variety throughout the experience. Reflecting on my playthrough, it became apparent that after just five hours, I was primarily fighting recoloured versions of enemies I had already encountered. While the story-related bosses offer unique and engaging challenges, the world bosses are often simply enlarged, recoloured variations of existing foes from the same area. This repetition undermines the sense of discovery and makes certain battles feel less impactful as the game progresses.
A Must-Play for Fans, a Solid JRPG for Newcomers
When I first started Fairy Tail 2, I wasn’t sure what to expect. As someone unfamiliar with the franchise, I approached it with an open mind. Although the initial experience felt a little jarring, the game eventually grew on me. Its undeniable charm comes from its vibrant visuals, a catchy and fitting soundtrack, and an engaging overworld exploration system. However, the inclusion of minor Metroidvania elements felt somewhat out of place and occasionally disrupted the flow of gameplay.
The overall gameplay had a slow start, with exploration and combat feeling overly stiff initially. However, as I leveled up and unlocked new abilities, the game’s pace and complexity improved significantly. This progression strikes a balance: it offers an accessible entry point for newcomers to JRPGs while maintaining enough depth to keep seasoned fans of the genre engaged.
One recurring issue with anime-based games is the mishandling of voiceovers, and unfortunately, Fairy Tail 2 falls into this trap. Despite the anime being widely available in English, the game lacks an English dub. This absence is a missed opportunity, as it limits accessibility and immersion for non-Japanese-speaking players. With so much happening on screen during combat or exploration, it’s easy to miss key dialogue moments, diminishing the impact of the story and character interactions.

Performance-wise, the game stumbles in a few areas. A particular boss fight was marred by frame rate drops, causing input delays. While this might seem trivial in a turn-based game, it disrupted the timing of combo attacks, leading to frustration in an otherwise enjoyable battle system.
The additional chapters, while offering more content, are somewhat hit-and-miss. They start weak and lean heavily into familiar tropes, including a beach episode. However, perseverance through these segments leads to a rewarding payoff, culminating in an epic final boss encounter that ties everything together.
For fans of the Fairy Tail franchise, Fairy Tail 2 is a must-have. As with most adaptations, some story elements are inevitably skipped, but the game captures the essence of the series well. While I haven’t played the original title, it’s clear that Fairy Tail 2 makes some noticeable changes and improvements. For those seeking an alternative JRPG, Fairy Tail 2 delivers a solid experience, balancing simplicity with depth, and is an excellent choice for both casual players and genre enthusiasts alike.