Digi-destined for greatness
For years, the Digimon franchise has flirted with the idea of breaking out from under Pokémon’s shadow, but it’s rarely had the polish or systems to back up that ambition. With this entry, I feel like the team has taken a massive leap forward. Digimon Story: Time Stranger marks the series’ most confident step yet; a layered, story-driven RPG with enough mechanical muscle to make people pay attention. It isn’t flawless, but it’s the first Digimon Story game that genuinely feels like it can hang with the best in the genre.
The game drops you into the shoes of an agent working for ADAMAS, an organization investigating strange digital phenomena linked to Digimon appearing in Tokyo. An early twist sends you back eight years, where the collision between the human world and the Digital World threatens to unravel reality itself. What follows is a blend of anime-style drama, character-driven twists, and big-picture stakes that give the narrative a weight that’s often missing in monster-taming games.
MSRP: $69.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $69.99
The tone is unapologetically serious. Betrayals, sacrifices, and moral questions shape the story, giving it a maturity that stands out. The world design is also stronger than in previous Digimon entries, mixing familiar Tokyo streets with surreal, fragmented digital environments that feel alive. The pacing stumbles a bit here and there, especially in mid-game stretches where narrative momentum gives way to extended gameplay loops, but the ambition is clear and commendable.
Combat is where Time Stranger earns its place at the table. The classic Digimon loop of recruit, train, digivolve, battle; remains at the core, but the systems built around it are much richer. Personality alignment affects how Digimon evolve and grow. Farms and training hubs give you more control over stat development. Enemies now roam the map instead of appearing randomly. Combat flows better, thanks to smart quality-of-life touches like faster battle speeds and the ability to swap reserves without wasting a turn.
Players active team can field four Digimon at once, with others gaining experience even when benched. This encourages experimentation and team synergy instead of leaning on a single overpowered monster. Battles are turn-based but demand real strategy. Elemental affinities, skill synergy, and status management matter, and boss encounters reward players who plan several turns ahead. It’s not a game you can coast through by mashing attack.
The learning curve can be steep for newcomers. There’s a lot to manage between evolutions, builds, resource allocation, personality matching but for RPG players who love tinkering, this is exactly where the game shines. It respects your time without dumbing itself down.
It is as inevitable as Thanos that Digimon and Pokémon will eternally be compared and debated as to who is the King of Pocket Monsters. Pokémon remains the king of accessibility: approachable, fast to learn, and universal in its appeal. Digimon leans the other way, embracing complexity and depth. Its evolution systems are more flexible, its combat more demanding, and its narrative more ambitious. It doesn’t have the same cultural weight as Pokémon, but it does offer a richer RPG for players who want more control over their teams and strategies.
Where Pokémon tends to keep things light and breezy, Time Stranger leans into drama. Where Pokémon simplifies, Digimon adds layers. Where Pokémon often prioritizes accessibility, Digimon rewards commitment. This won’t appeal to everyone, but for those who want a meatier monster-taming RPG, it’s refreshing.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger is easily the strongest Digimon Story entry to date. It’s a confident, feature-rich RPG that respects the player’s time and intelligence. The 30 FPS cap on consoles is a real blemish though, and a few pacing issues keep it from greatness, but those are manageable annoyances in an otherwise standout experience. This game doesn’t just want to compete with Pokémon; it wants to carve its own path. And for the first time in a long time, Digimon fans can hold their heads high knowing their franchise has something genuinely special on its hands.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
