Digimon Story: Time Stranger is shaping up to be a thrilling addition to the Digimon franchise, blending captivating world-building with an exciting mix of turn-based combat and exploration. I had the opportunity to experience a 30-minute demo of Bandai Namco’s upcoming monster-taming JRPG, and it left me eager for more. The game promises a standalone story, although it draws inspiration from previous Digimon titles.
While I only experienced the digital world in my hands-on session, Bandai Namco teased the possibility of traversing both the real world and the digital realm as the narrative unfolds.
Visually, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a treat for fans of the franchise. The return of Suzuhito Yasuda as the character designer ensures that the animated portraits and character profiles are stunning, showcasing the highest definition of his previous works with Bandai Namco. The character models pop against the muted colors of the digital world, giving the game a distinctive charm. One of the new gameplay features in this installment is the symbol encounter system, where enemy Digimon appear on the field, allowing players to strategically pick their fights rather than dealing with random encounters. This is a refreshing change, making exploration feel more deliberate and engaging.
The story focuses on the parallel worlds of real-world Japan, particularly Shinjuku and Akihabara, and the digital realm where the Digimon reside, eight years in the past. Although my demo only covered the digital realm, Bandai Namco hinted at the possibility of traveling back and forth between these worlds. What mysteries and time-altering events will unfold across these two worlds remain to be seen. A recent story trailer highlighted a citywide explosion at the beginning of the game, which leads to the player being transported into the digital realm. This hints at some intriguing twists and turns waiting to be revealed.
In terms of gameplay, Digimon Story: Time Stranger keeps things familiar with turn-based combat, reminiscent of earlier Digimon Story titles. Players can bring up to four Digimon into battle at a time, and the combat involves managing a mix of monster skills, buffs, debuffs, and items to gain the upper hand. Early gameplay shows that Digimon have a range of skills, including elemental attacks and supportive abilities, with plenty of room for strategy in how players approach each encounter. The game introduces a variety of elements and attributes-such as Data, Vaccine, and Virus-adding layers of complexity to combat. The effectiveness of an attack depends on the affinity between elements and attributes, rewarding players who experiment and discover the best ways to exploit enemy weaknesses.
With a roster of over 450 Digimon, players can expect plenty of variety in their monster teams. One of the standout features of the Digimon franchise is its non-linear evolution system, and Digimon Story: Time Stranger promises to continue this tradition, offering players the freedom to build unique party compositions. Each playthrough can result in different teams, keeping the game fresh and allowing for endless combinations of Digimon.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger will be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S|X, and PC on October 3rd, 2025, and fans of the franchise are in for a treat.