RPGs can be a fickle genre in the gaming world. If it doesn’t capture you in the first hour, then it isn’t worth your time, especially with games getting longer and longer. Octopath Traveler 0 is one of those rare games that not only hook you in within an hour, but make it so you can’t wait to dive into more. So far, with a handful of hours into it, it is excelling in many fields and making for one of the most impressive year-end displays I’ve seen in quite a while.
I’ll admit, Octopath Traveler 0 is my first time diving into the series. The original and the sequel sit in my backlog and, while I did test the first for a bit, I never got into it. However, it didn’t stop my interest in 0, a semi-remake of Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. Plus, as a prequel, it felt like the perfect starting point to start my journey off right. Luckily, that’s exactly what happened and if this is what the others games are like, consider me a fan.
Protagonist and Stia roaming around Wishvale in Octopath Traveler 0.
Octopath Traveler 0 charms you with its opening, making you feel comfortable with your custom character and the quaint village of Wishvale. The kind citizens and folks are excited for the upcoming festival and joining the Watch. Unfortunately, as you can expect, the peace doesn’t last for long. In search of a certain ring, three of Osterria’s biggest idols rain hellfire on Wishvale, seemingly killing everyone, including your parents. You flee with the carpenter’s daughter, Stia, and hone your skills in hopes of one day getting revenge.
After this, you’re given a few more ways to customize the job and goals of the protagonist. My character is a Warrior and aims for Fame. While Power and Wealth seemed like good options, Fame felt less greedy and more morally correct, depending on how you use it. I was led down the path of Auguste, an egotistical playwright with a dark way of getting inspiration. You do have the freedom to pursue whichever road you want, whether it’s the tyrannical Tytos or the greedy Lady Herminia, but your highest level will be the one you choose.
Each storyline had its own cast of characters, all with their own twists and turns. One story involves a ragtag mafia taking down a wealthy regime, another a guilt-ridden criminal whose past threatens to catch up to him. While I can’t go into spoilers, the way it both incorporates the game’s themes and ties it into everything is grand. Even the dialogue, masterfully done by the localization team, is perfect, especially with the stellar performances from its cast. There is some wonderful work on display and I am itching to find out where it leads.
A typical RPG battle in Octopath Traveler 0.
The feeling of fervent adventure is all throughout Octopath Traveler 0. From mysterious yet beautiful locales to secret treasures scattered around, your journey is nothing but exciting, whether new roads or old. You’ll travel snowy mountains, crisp forests, and dark caverns, all radiating a thrill I found addicting. Even more so, random battles keep you on your toes and provide a decent challenge.
On that note, the turn-based combat is great. Leave it to Square Enix to do good by RPGs standards. The menus feel very intuitive and you actively have to think on the fly about what you and your party will do. In addition, the BP system is my favorite, as it’s so satisfying to save a bunch and then lash out a killer attack (or attacks). I wasn’t able to check out how the formations work in my preview time, but I look forward to testing them out.
One of the mechanics Octopath Traveler 0 adds to the series is town building. As Wishvale is destroyed, it’s up to you, Stia, and the folks you bring to the town to rebuild. While my options were limited, I made a quaint little section with two houses, flowers, and a stone walkway connecting it all. I am a sucker for customization, so having a whole town to stylize played a huge factor in me going out to get certain supplies like lumber and stone. It never feels like a chore and it just feels good using the resources I scoured for to make Wishvale home again.
A shot of Wishvale, being restored by you in Octopath Traveler 0.
Forgive me for sounding like a broken record from other previews, but man, is Octopath Traveler 0 gorgeous. The 2.5D graphics look incredible and the art design is amazing. For me, it feels like what I thought 2D games looked like when I was younger. The immaculate details and beautiful sprite work draw you in and don’t let go, captivating you at every moment. There aren’t many 2.5D titles, so when it shows up, it shows out.
Furthermore, my journey was one not too fraught with bugs and glitches, fortunately. However, a few audio bugs here and there, as well as interactions, did show up. Regardless, it’s quite polished from what I’ve seen, which bodes well for the final release.
My time with Octopath Traveler 0 was one I cannot wait to get back into. From fun combat, gorgeous graphics, and compelling narratives, the game looks to be quite the joyride upon its December release. With 2025 being one of the best years in gaming, it’s no surprise to see it come out now. However, if the first hours are anything to go by, it might rise to be one of the year’s best RPGs, let alone game.
RPGs can be a fickle genre in the gaming world. If it doesn’t capture you in the first hour, then it isn’t worth your time, especially with games getting longer and longer. Octopath Traveler 0 is one of those rare…
RPGs can be a fickle genre in the gaming world. If it doesn’t capture you in the first hour, then it isn’t worth your time, especially with games getting longer and longer. Octopath Traveler 0 is one of those rare games that not only hook you in within an hour, but make it so you can’t wait to dive into more. So far, with a handful of hours into it, it is excelling in many fields and making for one of the most impressive year-end displays I’ve seen in quite a while.
I’ll admit, Octopath Traveler 0 is my first time diving into the series. The original and the sequel sit in my backlog and, while I did test the first for a bit, I never got into it. However, it didn’t stop my interest in 0, a semi-remake of Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. Plus, as a prequel, it felt like the perfect starting point to start my journey off right. Luckily, that’s exactly what happened and if this is what the others games are like, consider me a fan.
Protagonist and Stia roaming around Wishvale in Octopath Traveler 0.
Octopath Traveler 0 charms you with its opening, making you feel comfortable with your custom character and the quaint village of Wishvale. The kind citizens and folks are excited for the upcoming festival and joining the Watch. Unfortunately, as you can expect, the peace doesn’t last for long. In search of a certain ring, three of Osterria’s biggest idols rain hellfire on Wishvale, seemingly killing everyone, including your parents. You flee with the carpenter’s daughter, Stia, and hone your skills in hopes of one day getting revenge.
After this, you’re given a few more ways to customize the job and goals of the protagonist. My character is a Warrior and aims for Fame. While Power and Wealth seemed like good options, Fame felt less greedy and more morally correct, depending on how you use it. I was led down the path of Auguste, an egotistical playwright with a dark way of getting inspiration. You do have the freedom to pursue whichever road you want, whether it’s the tyrannical Tytos or the greedy Lady Herminia, but your highest level will be the one you choose.
Each storyline had its own cast of characters, all with their own twists and turns. One story involves a ragtag mafia taking down a wealthy regime, another a guilt-ridden criminal whose past threatens to catch up to him. While I can’t go into spoilers, the way it both incorporates the game’s themes and ties it into everything is grand. Even the dialogue, masterfully done by the localization team, is perfect, especially with the stellar performances from its cast. There is some wonderful work on display and I am itching to find out where it leads.
A typical RPG battle in Octopath Traveler 0.
The feeling of fervent adventure is all throughout Octopath Traveler 0. From mysterious yet beautiful locales to secret treasures scattered around, your journey is nothing but exciting, whether new roads or old. You’ll travel snowy mountains, crisp forests, and dark caverns, all radiating a thrill I found addicting. Even more so, random battles keep you on your toes and provide a decent challenge.
On that note, the turn-based combat is great. Leave it to Square Enix to do good by RPGs standards. The menus feel very intuitive and you actively have to think on the fly about what you and your party will do. In addition, the BP system is my favorite, as it’s so satisfying to save a bunch and then lash out a killer attack (or attacks). I wasn’t able to check out how the formations work in my preview time, but I look forward to testing them out.
One of the mechanics Octopath Traveler 0 adds to the series is town building. As Wishvale is destroyed, it’s up to you, Stia, and the folks you bring to the town to rebuild. While my options were limited, I made a quaint little section with two houses, flowers, and a stone walkway connecting it all. I am a sucker for customization, so having a whole town to stylize played a huge factor in me going out to get certain supplies like lumber and stone. It never feels like a chore and it just feels good using the resources I scoured for to make Wishvale home again.
A shot of Wishvale, being restored by you in Octopath Traveler 0.
Forgive me for sounding like a broken record from other previews, but man, is Octopath Traveler 0 gorgeous. The 2.5D graphics look incredible and the art design is amazing. For me, it feels like what I thought 2D games looked like when I was younger. The immaculate details and beautiful sprite work draw you in and don’t let go, captivating you at every moment. There aren’t many 2.5D titles, so when it shows up, it shows out.
Furthermore, my journey was one not too fraught with bugs and glitches, fortunately. However, a few audio bugs here and there, as well as interactions, did show up. Regardless, it’s quite polished from what I’ve seen, which bodes well for the final release.
My time with Octopath Traveler 0 was one I cannot wait to get back into. From fun combat, gorgeous graphics, and compelling narratives, the game looks to be quite the joyride upon its December release. With 2025 being one of the best years in gaming, it’s no surprise to see it come out now. However, if the first hours are anything to go by, it might rise to be one of the year’s best RPGs, let alone game.
by Michael Murphy
