Visions of Mana is an action role-playing game developed by Ouka Studios and published by Square Enix for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, and Xbox Series X/S. As the fifth main entry in the Mana series, released on August 29, 2024, it follows the journey of a warrior named Val and his companions as they embark on a pilgrimage to rejuvenate the Mana Tree. The game features open-world exploration and action-based combat, where players can control different characters, each with unique skills and elemental powers, to navigate the fantasy world and overcome various challenges.

The game’s narrative is set in a world sustained by the magical Mana Tree, with every four years marking a pilgrimage led by chosen beings called “alms” to restore the tree’s energy. Val, the protagonist and a Soul Guard, protects his childhood friend Hiina during this sacred journey. They are joined by a diverse group of companions, including a cat-man named Morley, the half-dragon Careena, the queen Palamena, and a sproutling called Julei. Together, they face various trials as they traverse the semi-open world, with each character contributing distinct abilities and combat classes that can be unlocked and switched during gameplay.

Development of Visions of Mana began in 2020, spearheaded by producer Masaru Oyamada, who sought to create a new mainline entry after the positive reception of previous Mana remakes. The game was developed by Ouka Studios, a subdivision of NetEase, with a team including veterans from earlier Mana titles. The development aimed to blend traditional action role-playing elements with new mechanics that offered greater freedom of exploration. The game’s visual and artistic style was carefully crafted to evoke the nostalgic feel of earlier Mana games while introducing modern gameplay elements.

Visions of Mana was officially announced during The Game Awards in December 2023 and received further promotion through events like the Xbox Developer Direct. In addition to the standard game release, special editions with exclusive in-game content were made available. A demo was released in July 2024, allowing players to experience a portion of the game and earn bonus content for the full release.