Granblue Fantasy: Relink vs Stellar Blade
Co-op grind against recycled bosses or solo parry perfection — your action RPG loyalty lies in one.
Updated 26d ago
Endless Ragnarok finally makes the grind click for returning vets, but base-game grind fatigue still fences off newcomers — wait for a sale if you're fresh.
Nails Sekiro-tier parry combat in third-person — the June 2025 PC port hits 70+ FPS at native 4K and runs at 60 on handhelds.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Aug 7.
| Measure | Granblue Fantasy: Relink | Stellar Blade |
|---|---|---|
| Value Too close to call | ||
| Price now | $35.99 −10% · PlanetPlay | $44.99 −25% · GameBillet |
| All-time low | $21.12 | $35.40 |
| Cost / hour | $2.31/hr $35.99 · 16 h main story | $1.99/hr $44.99 · 23 h main story |
| Off its low | +70% low was Nov 2025 | +27% vs $35.40 low |
| Main story | 16 h | 23 h |
| Health | ||
| Steam reviews | 90% 55k reviews | 94% 93k reviews |
| Recent reviews | — | 90% 2k votes · vs 94% lifetime |
| Peak players | 89,585 Jul 2026 · ↑ 1333% MoM | 13,271 Jul 2026 · ↑ 8% MoM |
| Launch peak | 79% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 113,179 Feb 2024 | 130,770 Jun 2025 · now at 10% |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | yesterday | 10 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 3 in last 90 days | 0 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Platinum |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink
Boss fights and combat depth keep veterans hooked past 200 hours, the expansion's new mechanics making it feel fresh again.
Grind fatigue sets in eventually, the multi-character loop demanding QoL mods to stay enjoyable for even dedicated players.
from our August 2026 verdict
Stellar Blade
The combat system, especially parry-based mechanics with progression, and the extensive outfit customization are consistently praised by long-time players.
Heavy reliance on memorizing delayed attack patterns in combat creates a repetitive rhythm that frustrates some veteran players.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Granblue Fantasy: Relink if
- You want more co-op boss rush with minimal story
- You're a Granblue fan eager for new character interactions
- You don't mind recycled bosses for extended grind
Pick Stellar Blade if
- You want Sekiro-style parry combat with a high skill ceiling
- You enjoy linear levels over open-world sprawl
- You play on PC and want a port that hits 70 FPS at 4K
Bottom line
Pick Stellar Blade for tight parry combat and stellar PC performance; choose Granblue only if you crave co-op grind with friends.