Bravely Default version differences

This page lists the version differences between various releases of Bravely Default.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy

Release

• Japanese release on October 11th, 2012.

Version differences

• Original release of the game.

Bravely Default: For the Sequel

Release 

• Japanese release on December 5th, 2013.

Version differences 

• Updated rerelease of Bravely Default first released one year after its original release with additional content, Quality of life features, and other improvements.
• For the Sequel, as its name implies, also was a title created to lead to and preview the game's direct sequel, Bravely Second: End Layer.
  • The subtitle is changed from "Flying Fairy" to "For The Sequel", which is reflected on the title screen. The twist of revealing a hidden phrase is preserved, with the subtitle temporarily changing to "Flying Fairy" to show it while displaying another hidden phrase superimposed, "SECOND", foreshadowing Bravely Second: End Layer.
  • Inclusion of a Special Movie teasing Bravely Second: End Layer.
  • A new feature called "Bravely Second" which temporarily stops time during battle by using SP.
• New packaging artwork.
• The game icon is changed to an image of Ringabel's D's Journal.
• Introduces Nemeses, unique enemies and bosses found via StreetPass (local communication) or SpotPass (internet communication) when examining the reconstruction of Norende Village.
• Addition of an Auto-battle system.
• Added the ability to speed up battle actions (2x and 4x times the normal speed).
• Added the ability to change the game difficulty, with newly added easy, normal, and hard difficulty levels.
• Added the ability to change the Encounter rate, which can now be adjusted in 50% increments from -100% (no encounters) to +100% (double encounters).
• Added the ability to disable the earning of EXP, PG, and JP.
• Improved town graphics.
• Improved character menu interface that shows stats on the bottom screen.
• Improved battle menu interface that shows the commands input, with the option of reviewing them before continuing via an additional confirmation.
• Improved Party Chat interface that shows the characters making facial expressions and reactions.
• The shoulder buttons can now be used as shortcuts for brave and default.
• Two additional save slots.
• Inclusion of the Event Viewer in D's Journal, which collects all cutscenes, Party Chats, and Full motion videos.
• New revamped sub-scenarios involving the asterisk bearers are added for Chapters 7 and 8.
• Addition of a New Game+ feature after clearing the game.
• Removal of a camera pan when selecting enemy targets.
• In the original version of the game, characters take a step forward when it's their turn and return to their original positions after selecting a command, like in Final Fantasy games up to Final Fantasy III; from this version onwards, they instead assume a battle stance from their original position after selecting a command, like in Final Fantasy games from Final Fantasy IV onwards.
• Additional language options for English, German, French, Italian, and Spanish. The scripts are the same ones used for the overseas release of Bravely Default.
• Name changes for locations and terms in the English version of game: "Lakrika" is renamed "Ancheim", "Nadarakes" is renamed "Harena", "Flowell" is renamed "Florem", "Superstar" is renamed "Performer", and "shrine maiden" is renamed "vestal".
• Name changes for characters in the English version of the game: "Bearing Out" is renamed "Barras Lehr", "Anazel D" is renamed "Alternis Dim", "Malme Konda Manmatt VIII" is renamed "Eloch Quentis Khamer VIII", "Nikosogi Boritori" is renamed "Erutus Profiteur", "Ikuma Najitt" is renamed "Ciggma Khint", "Pudding à la Mode" is renamed "Praline à la Mode", "Ratz" is renamed "Zatz", and "Okae Lee" is renamed "Mahzer Lee". In most cases, this is to localize and retain the puns and wordplays used in the Japanese names.

Bravely Default overseas release 

Release 

• European release on December 6th, 2013.
• North American release on February 7th, 2014.

Version differences 

• Overseas version of Bravely Default: For the Sequel, keeping all of its additional content, Quality of life features and other improvements, as well as the Special Movie teasing Bravely Second: End Layer.
• Bravely Default is officially released without a subtitle, but the subtitle that appears on the title screen has been changed to Where the Fairy Flies, which retains the same twist of revealing a hidden phrase like the original Japanese subtitles.
• The game icon is changed back from an image of Ringabel's D's Diary in Bravely Default: For the Sequel to an image of Bravely Default's logo against a black background, similar to the original release.
• The following characters have their ages raised by three years: Tiz Arrior (19), Agnès Oblige (20), Edea Lee (18), Artemia Venus (17), Mephilia Venus (24), Einheria Venus (28), and Alternis Dim (23). The localization age changes aren't acknowledged in-game or in Bravely Second.
• Alterations are made to the Bravo Bikini for Edea and the Vampire and Bravo Bunny outfits for Agnès and Edea to appear less revealing.
• Alternate costumes that were originally Japanese DLC (Plain Tunic, Onion Shirt, Melodist's Shirt, Knight Tunic, and Edea's Garb) are available as in-game rewards from the Norende Village reconstruction.
• Omission of the alternate costumes created for For the Sequel (Dimensional Officer, Bravo Bunny, Wakoku Warrior, and Military Cadet-in). The data for these costumes remain on the game, but the items are not acquirable by legitimate means.
• Connectivity with the Japanese Square Enix Members site is unavailable.

Bravely Default: Flying Fairy HD Remaster

Release

• Worldwide release on June 5, 2025 as a launch title for the Nintendo Switch 2.

Version differences 

• HD Resolution.
• 16:9 widescreen Aspect Ratio, up from 5:3/15:9 in prior versions.
• Runs at 60FPS on both handheld and docked modes on the Nintendo Switch 2, double the framerate from the original Nintendo 3DS versions which ran at 30FPS.
• Improved visuals.
• Redesigned user interface to include all content on a single screen.
• Uses the "Flying Fairy" subtitle from the original Japanese version of the game instead of "For The Sequel" from the updated version of the game or "Where The Fairy Flies" (and no subtitle outside of the game's title screen) from the original overseas release.
• Based on Bravely Default: For the Sequel with its story and gameplay additions, but with content related to Bravely Second removed (other than Ba'al Nemeses).
  • Tomoya Asano explained that For the Sequel was a title created to lead to and preview the sequel, and removed content related it so that players can enjoy the standalone story of Bravely Default: Flying Fairy "first".
  • The Special AR Movie teasing Bravely Second after the credits, which also appears in Bravely Second itself, has been removed.
  • The "Bravely Second" feature which used SP from hourglasses to temporarily stop time has been removed.
    • Breaking the damage limit is still possible via Special Moves equipped with the new Limit Break Mark item, obtained from the new minigames for 20 Petal Tokens.
    • The scene with the Adventurer in green clothing handing down the SP hourglass, which ties in with Bravely Second, is not present.
• Quality of life features from prior versions return, including:
  • Encounter rate settings. Initially from 50% to 200% at 50% intervals, the 0% option (no encounters, which was available from the start in prior versions) and a newly added 400% option become available via two new non-equipable items purchased via the new minigames in Florem:
    • Ward Bangle: unlocks 0% encounter rate and costs 10 Petal Tokens.
    • Taunt Bangle: unlocks 400% encounter rate and costs 20 Petal Tokens.
  • Fast Forward feature (up to 4x speed in battles, with the addition of up to 2x speed in event scenes).
  • Auto-battle system.
• Many QoL features from Bravely Second are also included:
  • Recommended character levels for dungeons.
  • Listing obtainable abilities for job levels not yet reached.
  • The Adventurer allows Tents to be used in addition to Saving the game.
  • The Encounter rate settings have an easily accessible shortcut instead of needing to access the config menu to change them every time.
  • Ability to save multiple Combat Load-outs (up to 10).
  • Multiple Auto-battle sets of instructions (up to 5) can be registered and changed at will.
• A Heal All button from Bravely Default II.
• Characters take a step forward when it's their turn and return to their original positions after selecting a command, like in the original Japanese release and unlike For The Sequel, the original overseas version, and Bravely Second.
• Retooled online features, features which used local communication (called StreetPass in the Nintendo 3DS) in prior releases now use online communication (called SpotPass in the Nintendo 3DS).
  • Norende villagers are recruited via Passing Souls. These spawn in cities every few hours when connected to the internet even when the game is not open.
• The overseas version maintains the costume and monster design censorship from the original release, while the Japanese and other Asian versions (like For The Sequel) remain uncensored. All versions are multilingual.
  • Due to the lack of region locking on the Nintendo Switch 2 and accounts being able to change regions freely, unlike on the 3DS releases, this can be circumvented by purchasing the Japanese version.
• Two brand new types of new minigames, Luxencheer Rhythm Catch and Ringabel’s Panic Cruise, that use Nintendo Switch 2 mouse controls. These minigames award notes in Ringabel's D's Journal which reveal previously untold facets of the story related to Ringabel, and Petal Tokens that are used to buy various items and costumes.
• Some ability names have been renamed and some Norende item rewards have swapped positions.
• Changes to how some outfits are obtained:
  • The Agnès version of Bravo Bikini is now unlocked by raising the Norende Compound shop to lv. 11 then purchasing for 200,000 pg.
    • As a result, there is no longer any in-game reward for clearing the game on Hard mode and it could be obtained as early as after unlocking Norende's reconstruction.
  • The Plain Tunic is removed and replaced with the new Perma-Job Clothes, obtained by purchasing for 10 Petal Tokens each.
  • The Dimensional Garb, Bravo Bunny, Cadet Uniform, and Eastern War Garb are now available in all regions, obtained by purchasing for 30 Petal Tokens each. However, the Eastern War Garb continues to be treated as a Plain Tunic in non-Asian Region versions of the game.
• Camera support has been removed and replaced with profile pictures.
  • According to Tomoya Asano the decision was taken in order to protect users' privacy when streaming gameplay.
• Miis have been replaced with in-game avatars featuring NPCs.
• Nemesis bosses that reappear have been relocated to accommodate the lack of online features from which they were obtained in prior versions.
  • Using Nightmare Pillows from certain boss rematch fights at specific city Inns will activate the Nemeses from Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light and the returning Ba'al Nemeses (Goldie and Turtle Dove).
  • Both groups of Nemeses also spawn within the Dimension's Hasp.
  • All Nemeses now have Bestiary entries.
• In the prologue, Ominas now uses Poison against single targets rather than using a group-cast version.
• The Freelancer's Lure Enemies ability has changed, now automatically forcing an encounter when ZR is pressed with it equipped, rather than doubling the encounter rate.