Granblue Fantasy Versus

Granblue Fantasy Versus PC is a 2.5D anime fighting game from Cygames and Arc System Works that combines accessible one-on-one combat with an action-RPG campaign. The Steam listing still uses the original name; it was not rebranded, although its supported successor is Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising. That distinction matters because the original game remains a separate paid product with a different feature set and a reduced online service.

Accessible 2.5D combat with tactical depth

Matches are built around traditional two-dimensional fighting-game fundamentals: spacing, blocking, anti-airs, confirms, throws, overheads, and controlled use of the corner. The camera presents the action with 3D character models and cinematic effects, but movement and matchup knowledge remain rooted in a classic 2D fighter structure.

Granblue Fantasy Versus is designed to lower the execution barrier without removing strategic decisions. Character-specific skills can be activated with dedicated buttons, while players who prefer conventional inputs can perform manual commands for shorter cooldowns. That creates a useful tradeoff between immediate accessibility and more efficient resource management.

The central combat loop revolves around skill cooldowns, a shared SBA gauge, and careful conversion of openings into damage. A filled gauge enables a Skybound Art, while a character at 30 percent health or lower can access the more powerful Super Skybound Art. Every round has a 99-second limit, and the first player to win two rounds takes the match.

RPG Mode is more than a story wrapper

The defining feature of the original release is RPG Mode, a separate solo and cooperative campaign with voiced scenes, quest battles, boss encounters, and character progression. Instead of simply presenting arcade ladders, it adapts ideas from the wider Granblue Fantasy series into a side-scrolling action-RPG structure.

Players improve their fighters by collecting and upgrading weapons, then arranging them into elemental grids that affect combat performance. The system gives the campaign a clear progression loop: complete quests, earn equipment, strengthen the grid, and return to harder encounters. You can also equip up to two character skills, including options focused on healing, damage, or debuffs.

RPG Mode supports local co-op and online backup requests for eligible quest content, while a CPU ally can fill the second role when playing alone. The mode also includes a Journal with story information, character profiles, locations, artwork, music, and a glossary. Players looking for a traditional competitive fighter with an unusually substantial solo campaign will find a closer comparison in anime 2.5D fighters such as Dragon Ball FighterZ, although Granblue's RPG progression is more equipment-focused.

Versus, Arcade, and practice tools

Versus Mode is the main competitive format, supporting battles against CPU opponents or another player. The roster is built around sharply differentiated archetypes: sword users, grapplers, zoners, rushdown specialists, stance characters, and fighters whose pressure depends on summons or unusual movement options.

Offline players also get Arcade Mode, Free Training, and Mission Training. Mission Training is especially useful for newcomers because it teaches basic controls, character-specific techniques, and responses to common situations. Training provides the expected practice functions and lets players work on execution before entering local or online matches.

The original game's combat is deliberate rather than purely combo-driven. Neutral positioning, cooldown timing, invincible reversals, evasive movement, and knowledge of when to spend the SBA gauge are often more important than performing long sequences. Players who enjoy Arc System Works' older 2.5D fighters may also appreciate technical anime fighting games like Guilty Gear Xrd REVELATOR, but Granblue Fantasy Versus generally presents its tools in a more approachable format.

Content model and Legendary Edition

The standard PC product is a paid base game. Steam also lists a Legendary Edition that bundles the main game with a large selection of additional character sets. The wider downloadable-content catalog includes playable fighters, character passes, alternate colors, weapon skins, and additional stages.

That structure makes the edition choice important. The base game contains the original campaign and its starting roster, while the Legendary Edition is aimed at players who want a broader competitive lineup without purchasing every character pack separately. Some characters can also be unlocked through RPG Mode, so not every unlock is exclusively tied to a DLC purchase.

Granblue Fantasy Versus does not use the free-to-play model associated with its successor. It is a separate paid release with optional paid add-ons, and ownership of the original does not convert it into Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising.

Who should play it?

This is a strong fit for players who want an anime fighter with readable fundamentals, distinctive characters, and more solo structure than a standard arcade-focused release. The RPG campaign gives the game a second identity, especially for fans of weapon collection, elemental loadouts, boss fights, and cooperative questing.

It is less suitable for players seeking the most active modern competitive ecosystem. The original game's ranked matches, online lobby, rankings, player profiles, replay sharing, and several social functions are no longer available. Room matches remain accessible in a limited form, but the supported competitive service has clearly moved to Rising.

Players who prefer long combo routes, air-dash pressure, and highly technical system mechanics may find the original more restrained than some other Arc System Works fighters. That restraint is also its advantage: the game communicates its neutral game and cooldown economy clearly, making it a practical entry point for players who are new to traditional fighting games.

PC features, controls, and localization

The PC version is distributed through Steam and supports keyboard play alongside XInput and DirectInput controllers. Fight pads and arcade sticks are natural fits for the control scheme, while Steam's controller configuration can help with less conventional devices. Steam lists partial controller support, so players using an unusual peripheral should test their preferred setup before committing to local tournament use.

Steam features include local multiplayer, shared or split-screen play, online player-versus-player matches, online co-op elements, Steam Cloud, achievements, Trading Cards, and Remote Play Together. The game also runs on SteamOS according to Steam's compatibility data, although the original online service limitations still apply regardless of platform.

Localization is broad for a fighting game. The PC listing supports English, French, German, Spanish from Spain, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese interface or subtitle text. Full audio is available in English and Japanese, and the RPG campaign includes voiced story scenes in both languages.

Granblue Fantasy Versus FAQ

Was Granblue Fantasy Versus renamed to Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising?

No. The original game remains a separate Steam product under the name Granblue Fantasy Versus. Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising is its successor, not a storefront rename or automatic upgrade of the original.

Is Granblue Fantasy Versus still playable on PC?

Yes. The offline campaign, Versus Mode, Arcade Mode, Training, Mission Training, and room matches remain playable. However, the original ranked mode, online lobby, rankings, replay sharing, and several profile and social functions have been removed from the live service.

Does the game have a single-player campaign?

Yes. RPG Mode features an original voiced story, quest battles, boss encounters, weapon upgrades, elemental grids, selectable skills, and Journal content. It is a genuine action-RPG mode rather than a short tutorial attached to the fighting game.

Does RPG Mode support co-op?

Yes. Eligible RPG Mode quests support local cooperative play and online backup requests, with CPU assistance available for solo players. Room matches also remain available online in a limited capacity.

Is Granblue Fantasy Versus good for fighting-game beginners?

It is one of the more approachable traditional anime fighters because skills can be activated with simple inputs, while manual commands reward players who want deeper optimization. Mission Training and Free Training provide a structured path from basic controls to matchup practice.

Which languages and voices are available on PC?

The PC version supports English, French, German, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese text options. English and Japanese voice audio are available, including for the RPG campaign.