Octopath Traveler 0 Preview: A New JRPG Era Where You Forge Your Own Destiny
Octopath Traveler 0: A Bold New Beginning Where You Write Your Own Fate
First hands-on with the next chapter of Square Enix’s acclaimed JRPG series
Note: The demo version played is still in development. Final gameplay and features may change upon official release.
The arrival of Octopath Traveler marked a new era for JRPG storytelling, blending nostalgic pixel art with modern HD-2D visuals. After two critically acclaimed mainline entries and the mobile spin-off Champions of the Continent, the series returns once more this time with Octopath Traveler 0, a prequel that rewinds to the very beginning of its universe. Set in the familiar land of Osterra, the new title incorporates elements from previous installments while introducing an abundance of new mechanics that elevate the experience. Recently, This Is Game SEA had the chance to try the game early thanks to Square Enix Asia and Bandai Namco Entertainment Asia.
One of the most striking features of Octopath Traveler 0 is the unprecedented freedom it offers. Players begin their journey by creating a fully customized protagonist the central figure of the story. Options include gender, skin tone, eye and hair color, hairstyle, voice type, and even idle animations, with three variations per gender. Beyond appearance, you can choose a starting skill, a favorite food that grants a passive bonus, and three stat-altering items.
Once your character is created, the story kicks off in a desert village where your homeland lies in ruins. As a wandering traveler, your mission is to rebuild it. One of the first objectives is to recruit a merchant to restore trade. However, this merchant, Ludo, faces his own obstacle a crucial trade route is under siege by giant chameleon-like monsters. To win his cooperation, you must defeat the threat and secure the route.
While exploring the village, players can interact with numerous NPCs in deeper ways than before. The Path Action system returns, allowing special interactions such as negotiating better prices or recruiting NPCs to join your journey even relocating them to your own town. These companions grant perks to your party, but failing interactions may harm your reputation and make you appear more like a troublemaker than a hero.
Combat remains turn-based, but this time your party can consist of up to eight members, with over 30 recruitable characters available throughout the adventure. A new mechanic lets you organize them into front and back rows, with four characters active in battle per turn. Your custom protagonist also wields a powerful special ability known as an ultimate, adding another layer of strategy.
Another major feature is the town-building system. As the leader of Wishvale, you are tasked with fully restoring your homeland. By collecting resources such as cloth, wood, stone, metal, and plants, you can craft buildings, facilities, and decorations including inns, shops, and walkways. NPCs can move into the town to offer new perks, and even pathways and terrain details can be customized on a simple grid layout. Although the demo only scratches the surface, it’s clear that town development will be a core pillar of the experience.
Octopath Traveler 0 is shaping up to be the most ambitious entry in the series yet. By putting the player in complete control of character creation, story progression, relationships, and city-building, it reimagines what a JRPG can be while retaining the signature “Break and Boost” battle system fans love.
The game launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC on December 4. Pre-orders are now available and include exclusive in-game bonus items. Stay tuned for more updates from Tokyo Game Show 2025 and beyond.
