As someone who grew up as a diehard Pokémon fan, I always kind of looked down on the more Shonen anime style that Digimon had been in my mind. However, I’ve also found myself getting pretty fed up with Nintendo lately. Enter the newest Digimon game, Digimon Story: Time Stranger, which ironically released pretty close around the new Pokemon Legends: Z-A game. Within a good thirty minutes to an hour of playing the new Digimon, there was a clear winner in my mind for this year’s best creature collector.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a game that not only delivers on its promises but actually feels like a game made for the player, complete with a numerous amount of QoL improvements players had been asking for from older Digimon titles.
The narrative is where the game really shines. It isn’t afraid to lean into heavier themes, and while the ending is bittersweet, it leaves a lasting impression. Time travel stories can easily become confusing (which is why I sometimes tend to avoid them entirely), but Time Stranger handles this complexity surprisingly well and nothing ever got too convoluted.
Without giving too much away, you have the opportunity to forge bonds with a number of unique characters that will end up playing a bigger role than you might initially think. You’ll find yourself getting genuinely attached to some of these characters, and the development that goes into you getting to know their backstories and motivations can sometimes hit pretty hard.
Nearly every major cutscene features quality voice acting that brings the characters and important moments to life. Except with the protagonist. Your unvoiced player character feels a little off-putting given the otherwise great performances. Hearing your character speak during pivotal moments would help immersion rather than harm it, in my opinion.
That said, Time Stranger isn’t perfect. The second half of the game leans heavily into story and cutscenes, sometimes at the expense of gameplay balance. A few later areas feel unnecessarily grindy and repetitive, and I would have liked to see more combat variety or pacing changes during these sections.
Final Thoughts
Time Stranger is not just worth playing for hardcore Digimon fans, it’s a great game for anyone who enjoys story-driven JRPGs or creature collectors/battlers. The combination of exceptional storytelling, memorable characters, gameplay that respects your time, and quality presentation creates a fantastic experience.
In a year where its biggest competitor stumbled badly, Digimon Story: Time Stranger seized the opportunity and delivered something truly special.
