Pre-release information; the final game may differ. Based on the September 2026 demo and cited public material. We have not played this build; its exact build number is unconfirmed.
Your Chapter 1 route
Match your current objective to a row below. These location transitions are condensed from Game8’s screenshot walkthrough; English place names follow the game’s English-language coverage. This is a story route, not a chest-by-chest completion guide.[1]
| Stage | Go next | Before moving on |
|---|---|---|
| Opening | Finish the opening tutorial; leave Grandshelt Castle. | Follow the story prompts. |
| Earth Shrine | Clear the shrine, then head to Mitra. | Keep a Fire attack available for Belmodar. |
| Mitra | Enter Rain’s house and follow the interior event. | Equip your newly obtained Visions. |
| Castle return | Return to Grandshelt and reach the throne; the Veritas encounter is scripted. | Restore supplies; keep Ice or Light coverage for the castle boss. |
| Felicitas / Kol | Follow the journey to Kol and rent a chocobo. | Use the bird for the return trip. |
| Kolobos Ruins | Finish the rescue sequence, then continue to Grandport. | Recover before continuing the journey. |
| Grandport | Speak to the captain, then travel to Siren’s Tower. | Prepare Lightning coverage and a healer. |
| Siren’s Tower | Defeat Siren, return to Grandport and board the ship. | The ship departure completes Chapter 1. |
Use a preparation checkpoint
The useful pause is before a difficult fight, rather than after spending every recovery item. Here is a decision order you can apply to the demo:
- Identify the next threat. Check the enemy information you have actually uncovered. Bring an ability that addresses the weakness, rather than changing every party slot at once.
- Keep recovery available. A party with only damage options has no easy recovery when the fight changes. Decide who can heal while someone else keeps pressure on the enemy.
- Look at turn order. The official system description explains that staggering interrupts an enemy’s action and lowers its defence. Use that timing to prevent an imminent attack instead of treating stagger as a damage bonus alone.[2]
- Save before experimenting. Change one part of the setup, compare the result, then decide whether training is actually necessary.
If progress has stalled
| What you see | Your next check |
|---|---|
| The next place is unclear | Match the active objective to the route above. Optional exploration is not required just because it is accessible. |
| A needed spell is missing | Check the currently equipped Vision and learned abilities before assuming you need more character levels. |
| You reach the boss depleted | Return to a supply point, restore the party and make a separate attempt. Do not use a farming loop as an emergency recovery plan. |
| A fight is repeatedly overwhelming | Review your element coverage and healing role first. Then compare the safer training options in the MRP guide. |
What to do at the demo boundary
The official announcement confirms that the demo covers the first chapter and that its save data can continue into the full release.[3] Keep that save if you want to continue. Achievement backfill and transfer between different platforms are separate questions; we have not verified those rules for this game.
If you want only story progress, stop after the chapter. Optional grinding is a choice, not a prerequisite for enjoying the rest of the demo. This guide does not promise a perfect save, every collectible or later-chapter routes.
Sources & verification
- Game8 (external site, opens a new tab)Japanese Chapter 1 screenshot walkthrough, checked October 20, 2026; route source, not our own playthrough.
- PlayStation Blog (external site, opens a new tab)Square Enix, September 3, 2026: combat and Vision systems.
- Square Enix Press Hub (external site, opens a new tab)September 3, 2026: demo scope and supported platforms.