Final Fantasy’s Cutest Official Remix Album Series Returns With 3 New CD and Vinyl Releases

Square Enix has revealed a new Final Fantasy music album featuring 20 remixes of some of the franchise’s most memorable songs, alongside two special colored vinyl releases celebrating the long-running RPG series.

The upcoming “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY- Vol. 2” brings together music from all 16 mainline Final Fantasy games, with the original “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY-” also receiving its first vinyl edition as part of the new release.

Since the original Final Fantasy launched in 1987, music has played an important role in establishing the franchise’s identity, with compositions by Nobuo Uematsu and later contributors becoming some of the most recognizable soundtracks in gaming.

Many of these songs have been reinterpreted through orchestral concerts, piano collections, jazz arrangements, and electronic remixes, allowing fans to experience familiar melodies in completely different styles.

Square Enix introduced the “#SQkawaii Sounds” series in 2025, transforming music from across the franchise into upbeat electronic arrangements combining the original compositions with colorful synthesizers, playful melodies and dance-inspired rhythms.

The original album contained 20 tracks, including arrangements of “Battle at the Big Bridge” from Final Fantasy V, “Terra’s Theme” from Final Fantasy VI, “Zanarkand” from Final Fantasy X and “Find the Flame” from Final Fantasy XVI.

It also featured original cover artwork by Square Enix character designer Yasuhisa Izumisawa, depicting the franchise’s heroines and mascots enjoying themselves in an arcade.

The album was among the music releases and collectibles featured in Square Enix’s Tokyo Game Show 2025 merchandise lineup, which also included a matching acrylic art panel based on the cover illustration.

For the second album, Final Fantasy XIV composer Takafumi Imamura has taken on the role of producer, working with the Square Enix Sound Team and other musicians to create another selection of energetic, pop-inspired arrangements.

The 20-track collection includes series-wide favorites such as “Prelude”, “Chocobo Theme” and “Moogles’ Theme”, alongside individual compositions representing every numbered entry from Final Fantasy I through Final Fantasy XVI.

Earlier games are represented by tracks including “Town” from the original Final Fantasy, “The Imperial Army” from Final Fantasy II, “Theme of Love” from Final Fantasy IV, and “Searching for Friends” from Final Fantasy VI.

Later selections include “Let the Battles Begin!” from Final Fantasy VII, “Force Your Way” from Final Fantasy VIII, “Zidane’s Theme” from Final Fantasy IX, and “Tidus’s Theme” from Final Fantasy X.

The remaining games contribute music such as “To Be a Sky Pirate” from Final Fantasy XII, “Hope’s Theme” from Final Fantasy XIII, “Smile” from Final Fantasy XIV, “Valse di Fantastica” from Final Fantasy XV, and “My Star” from Final Fantasy XVI.

Each composition has been reworked to fit the series’ cheerful electronic style, offering a different interpretation of music originally written for everything from exploration and character moments to major battles.

Yasuhisa Izumisawa has also returned to illustrate the second album’s cover, this time shifting the focus from the heroines of the first release to the franchise’s heroes.

The new illustration depicts characters from different Final Fantasy games gathering in an arcade, with the familiar protagonists reimagined in Izumisawa’s rounded, cartoon-like style as they enjoy various games and attractions.

Alongside the new CD, Square Enix is preparing two special vinyl releases that recreate both albums on transparent colored records, each featuring an enlarged version of its respective cover illustration.

The original “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY- Vinyl LP” comes on clear pink vinyl, complementing the artwork of the franchise’s heroines, while the new “Vol. 2 Vinyl LP” uses clear sky-blue vinyl with its matching illustration of the heroes.

Each record contains 16 songs, with one arrangement selected from each of the 16 numbered Final Fantasy games rather than reproducing the entire 20-track CD lineup on vinyl.

The original album’s LP includes “Castle Cornelia”, “The Rebel Army”, “Eternal Wind”, “Battle at the Big Bridge”, “Terra’s Theme”, “Zanarkand” and “Find the Flame”, among other tracks.

Volume 2’s vinyl selection includes “Searching for Friends”, “Let the Battles Begin!”, “Force Your Way”, “Tidus’s Theme”, “Smile” and “My Star”, covering the same 16-game span with a different set of arrangements.

Both records include an MP3 download code providing access to all 20 songs from their corresponding CD editions, allowing listeners to enjoy the four tracks omitted from each physical LP.

Square Enix has continued experimenting with other musical styles during 2026, including the release of “FINAL FANTASY X – House Grooves”, which reinterpreted the game’s soundtrack through electronic dance music for its 25th anniversary.

The publisher also recently released “Pulse: FINAL FANTASY XIV Remix Album Vol. 3”, featuring 18 electronic arrangements drawn from the MMORPG and its expansions.

Image by Charlotte Davis

The new “#SQkawaii Sounds” releases are also accompanied by an extensive range of official merchandise featuring Izumisawa’s illustrations, with products based on both the original album and the new collection.

The accompanying merchandise includes:

• “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY- Vol. 2 T-Shirts” (White and Blue) – ¥5,720 each (approx. $37 USD / £27 GBP)

Two cotton T-shirts featuring the arcade-themed illustration of the Final Fantasy heroes, with a small Vol. 2 logo on the shoulder and a woven Chocobo label near the hem.

• “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY- Vol. 2 Acrylic Panel” – ¥3,300 (approx. $21 USD / £16 GBP)

A 20 × 14 cm display panel reproducing the album’s complete cover illustration in color, supported by stainless steel stands.

• “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY- Vol. 2 Tote Bags” (Mint Green and Stone Blue) – ¥3,300 each (approx. $21 USD / £16 GBP)

Two cotton tote bags featuring the new character artwork, measuring approximately 37 × 36 × 12 cm and offering enough room to accommodate A4-sized items.

• “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY- Vol. 2 Glitter Acrylic Keychain Collection” – ¥880 each (approx. $6 USD / £4 GBP) or ¥14,080 for a 16-piece box (approx. $90 USD / £67 GBP)

A collection of 16 character-themed acrylic charms featuring individual heroes from the new artwork, finished with glitter effects and sold as randomly selected designs or in a complete box of 16.

• “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY- CD-Style Rubber Coaster Sets” – ¥2,860 each (approx. $18 USD / £14 GBP)

Two versions based on the original album and Volume 2, with each set containing a square album-cover coaster and a circular coaster resembling a CD.

• “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY- Vol. 2 Flake Stickers” – ¥2,200 (approx. $14 USD / £11 GBP)

A collection of individual character stickers based on the new illustrations, each measuring approximately 5 cm or smaller depending on the design.

• “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY- Playmats” (Original and Vol. 2) – ¥3,300 each (approx. $21 USD / £16 GBP)

Two approximately 61 × 34 cm playmats featuring the respective album illustrations, designed for trading card games or use as oversized desk mats, with the original 2025 design returning alongside the newly announced Volume 2 version.

Pre-orders for “#SQkawaii Sounds -FINAL FANTASY- Vol. 2” are now open through Square Enix’s Japanese online store, priced at ¥3,520 (approximately $22 / £17), with the CD officially scheduled for release on January 6, 2027.

Both vinyl editions will arrive on the same date, priced at ¥4,950 each (approximately $32 / £24), with pre-orders available for the original album’s clear pink LP and Volume 2’s clear sky-blue LP.

The accompanying merchandise is also available to pre-order through the Square Enix e-STORE, with the T-shirts, acrylic panel, tote bags, keychains, coasters, and stickers scheduled for release on January 22, 2027.

The new Volume 2 playmat and the returning original design are scheduled to follow on February 13, 2027.

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