Square Enix has announced a new tabletop project based on Final Fantasy VII, titled Ascend the Shinra Tower, with a release planned for January 2027. The cooperative board game is being developed in partnership with Arclight and draws directly from the characters and world of the original RPG.
Designed as a balance-based experience, the game tasks players with working together to construct the Shinra Tower using layered tiles. As the structure grows taller, it becomes increasingly unstable, requiring careful coordination and communication to prevent it from collapsing. The objective is to guide Cloud and his allies upward through the tower while maintaining its balance.
Throughout the climb, players will encounter familiar enemies from Final Fantasy VII. Progress depends on strategic teamwork, with participants combining their efforts to overcome obstacles and continue advancing. Reaching the 8th floor represents a key milestone, though a final confrontation awaits before victory can be secured.
The board game features newly created artwork overseen by Tetsuya Nomura, the original character designer behind Final Fantasy VII. Characters such as Cloud, Tifa, and Aerith appear as stylized wooden pieces, alongside recognizable adversaries, presented in a distinct storybook-inspired art style created specifically for this release.
Pre-orders for Ascend the Shinra Tower are now available through the Square Enix Store. The project represents another expansion of the Final Fantasy brand beyond video games, bringing its characters and themes into a cooperative tabletop format.
