Type to win in the newest Final Fantasy mobile game, World Wide Words

Who needs swords and magic when you have a digital keyboard?

Developer and publisher Square Enix is working on a new Final Fantasy mobile game, World Wide Words, that has players typing to defeat monsters in a “text-input battle RPG [role-playing game],” according to Siliconera via a Hachima report of the newest issue of Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu.

Like other Final Fantasy spin-offs, including the music-based Theatrhythm, World Wide Words will feature characters from multiple games in the long-running franchise. It’s set for a Sept. 16 release in Japan for Android devices, with an iOS release to follow. We currently don’t know when or if the game will come to the U.S., but a journey overseas seems likely. Square Enix isn’t shy about localizing Final Fantasy these days, especially if it means tapping into the lucrative mobile market.

Square Enix previously tried to make a unique Final Fantasy mobile experience with All the Bravest, a touch-based take on role-playing game battles that also featured characters from different entries in the franchise. However, All the Bravest was a critical bomb, with a current Metacritic score of 25.

Mike Minotti

Mike Minotti has been with GamesBeat since 2012, starting as an intern. Based near Youngstown, Ohio, he now manages GamesBeat's editorial team. He's also a prolific podcaster, appearing on multiple shows covering the gaming industry.