The HD-2D style is now common in gaming for both remakes and new titles, but my first experience in the now JRPG staple was Octopath Traveler in 2017. While I usually find the most visual pleasure through the cleanest 3D graphics possible, the combination of art style and movement was endearing and nostalgic. The battle system improved in 2023’s part 2, which was streets above the first instalment on all levels and quickly shot up on my favourite RPGs of all-time list. This saw Octopath Traveler 0 become one of my most anticipated games of 2025, with the only unfortunate aspect being that is launched so close to the end of the year. This is a Game of the Year contender. It is an 80-hour epic that continues to develop through each phase. How many games allow for 8 party members at once? How many JRPGs give you the keys in town building? 30+ possible companions, endless combinations in move-sets while balancing the front and back rows. You’ll need a chunk of spare time to appreciate the depths of Octopath Traveler 0, but those investing in its world will come away from an experience that is story rich, dark and all encompassing. Just when you think the game has shown all of its cards and is nearing conclusion, a completely different journey opens up to rocket towards a mind-bending 15-hour finale. Fully voiced outside of the silent protagonist, I can’t imagine how long this takes to make despite being based off a mobile game from years ago. Remade from the ground up, the team has truly found their place in modern JRPGs and is one of Square Enix’s most exciting IPs.
Your story begins with character creation. While you won’t find the depths of an Outer Worlds 2 here due to the limitations imposed by 2D pixel art, this is the first time in the series that you have a character of your own. This has story benefits as you won’t be hopping from protagonist to protagonist based on level, which instead moves to mission and boss structure. My character, Wallace, looked as much like me as I could make him. Which admittedly isn’t similar. Within the first few hours, my town of Wishvale had burned down and many of the people living there were dead. It’s a dark start, and it works so well. There are three core villains that will then need to be tracked down, splitting the game into four early trackers – wealth, fame, power and home restoration. Each story is heart wrenching, connecting with heavy themes such as slavery, forbidden love, drugs, murder and exploitation. Don’t let the art fool you, for Octopath Traveler 0 holds no barriers in presenting the worst of people. To find the best of people, you need only look to the other side of the screen: your party.
Having an 8-person team derived from 30+ options sounds intimidating. Though over time, it grows one by one to become manageable and natural. Stia (architect) and Phenn (hunter) will be your first true friends and members, and they remained mainstays in my party for the entire journey (outside of some boss battles calling for specific skills). They by no means have to be, but their connection to the overall blight – especially Wishvale’s restoration – made their presence appropriate. The rest of my party were picked up in towns, on side-missions or through main missions. With so many slots open, you’ll want to cover all weapon types and elemental attacks as the game is focused on breaking opponents (whittling down shield numbers through weaknesses, and then beating them to a pulp when dazed). Most of my remaining five openings changed over the course of 80 hours, though one scholar did last through most of the game through sheer elemental wizardry. Having the town of Wishvale available in housing others ensures anyone outside of the party still has prominence in the game, and can also either gain XP by other means or provide passives to assist progression. This is all very different to Octo 1 and 2, which have 8 set party members each with their own story (though only 4 can be live at a time). This all seems more connected and direct, a strong new path for the series that I hope continues into the future.
Outside of running through biomes and towns, the bulk of your time in Octopath Traveler 0 will be spent in battles. In wild zones, this operates the same as running through grass in a Pokémon game. Eventually, the screen flashes and a singular or group of enemies appear. Those in the field can be dispatched within 30 seconds, and the battle speed can be increased. You won’t find much challenge there if adhering to the recommended levels. The story and optional boss battles are where the game dips its toes into difficulty. Battles are turn-based, alternating between your party and the enemies through level of speed and buffs/debuffs. You have two rows – front row with your active fighters, back row with your reserves – and the pairs can be swapped individually on any turn without penalty. This is where strategy comes into play. Your heavy hitters and tanks should be protecting the party in row 1. Your healers and buff/debuff specialists are best starting from behind to turn the tide. Players may choose to simply fill up with a certain type, as all playable characters have different moves and tricks even if in the same category of job. In the first 25 hours or so, I only died once (to a boss that kept poisoning my team, and poison is very OP in this game). The next 25 hours I died much more, needing to then think about composition and approach. Characters also have slots for their weapons, items and clothing. Plus, spots for jewellery which boosts stats. Then there are ultimate techniques, learned skills and support skills. Yeah, don’t let the look of the game fool you into thinking there is any simplicity here. It’s deep, and that’s before thinking about story.
Octopath Traveler 0, based on the mobile gatcha game Champions of the Continent, is dark. Surprisingly dark, yet fittingly so. People are getting murdered left and right, NPCs are heart wrenching, and nobody is safe. Villains are campy yet completely mad in their quest for glory. No spoilers here, but just when you think all cards are shown there is another twist to change it all. JRPGs are known for deep characterisation and length. This has both, and I wouldn’t say the game ever outstays its welcome. You’ll move about the map from mission to mission naturally, find new ways to navigate the world, and new villains to occupy your time. The game calls you the chosen one and you’ll wow NPCs with your prowess. Being a silent protagonist can be jarring, yet the story benefits from the way the flower unravels. The dialogue can be cheesy in parts, but the soaring soundtrack is a masterpiece that delivers the raw emotion needed from powerful scenes of pain, triumph and despair. The final piece of the puzzle elevated the game from excellent to generational in my eyes. I didn’t expect this conclusion, and have a desire to restart the game with what I know now. At 80-hours and with 2026 about to explode with its schedule, I can’t commit. But wanting to tells me everything I need to know.
The final topic for discussion is the town building. The marketing has used this as a demonstration of difference or evolution from previous games, and many genres are now dabbling into the mechanic. The game makes this connected to story through the destruction of Wishvale within the demo. While this sets up the story, it also provides an easy reason as to why time would be spent adding buildings, setting paths and recruiting people from across the world to fill the area. This will consist of adding homes, setting up general functions such as farming and a tavern, altering the look of building based on places you’ve been, and inviting others to live there along with a specialised skill they may have. More opens up across the game’s length, making it necessary rather than optional if wanting to maximise the potential of your team. I gravitate to this type of gimmick, liking a natural base to return to after heavy story beats. There is plenty to do in this town in terms of game mechanics, though it can be fairly restrictive early as it takes a while to open up the whole town as a buildable area. If you’re a cosy gamer and thinking this could be a good entry point, know that it is really a side activity to the general exploration and battle the series is known for.
Octopath Traveler 0 is one of my favourite games of 2025. Being tucked away in December and running for 80 hours means it may miss many people, but it really is the perfect holiday game with its combination of exploration, length, strategy and town building. The time spent really pays off to anyone keen on turn-based JRPGs, especially in the final fifth of the game that truly elevates the experience into one of the best party-based titles on the market. Dive it, let is consume you, and treasure this memorable experience.
Pros
- The soundtrack is a masterpiece
- One of the best turn-based battle systems available
- So much to do and see in glorious HD-2D
Cons
- 80-100 hours is a long time, even for something with such quality
- Not all story beats are winners
