It’s taken a while, butDigimongames finally have their groove back.Digimon Story: Time Strangersurprised fans at the beginning of 2025, just a few years afterDigimon Survivewas released after multiple delays, and this turn-based RPG has slowly drawn players back in as it approaches its launch. Thanks to the popularity of theDigimon Story: Cyber Sleuthgames, there’s already a lot of hype forDigimon Story: Time Strangerbecause it seems committed to taking up their torch. This title representsDigimon’s return to the big-budget console RPG space, which means fans and developers alike have a lot riding onTime Stranger’s success.
AlthoughDigimon Survivedid have a strategy RPG component, it’sTime Stranger’s continuation of theDigimon StoryRPG framework that fans have been waiting for. Having spun off from the experimentalDigimon Worldgames,Digimon Storybuilt up its distinct monster collection, non-linear Digivolution, and mature storytelling elements until theCyber Sleuthduo were able to hook fansand outsiders alike.Digimon Story: Time Strangerwouldn’t be what it is without all theDigimon WorldandStorytitles that came before it, and chronicling them will reveal where its strengths lie and what twists it’s bringing to the table.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger Is Digimon’s Latest Blockbuster Title
Digimon Story: Time Strangeris a turn-based RPG in theDigimon Storyline that was announced and slated for releasein 2025. News continues to roll out, but enough is known to paint a clear picture. Media.Vision,creator of theWild ArmsfranchiseandDigimon’sCyber Sleuthgames, returns asTime Stranger’s developer, with Bandai Namco Entertainment also remaining as the publisher. How long the game has been in development is a mystery, as news of a newDigimon Storytitle dates back to 2017, but early details concerning the Olympos XII Digimon group’s prominence still hold true.
Otherwise,Digimon Story: Time Stranger’s plot concerns an agent of the Special Investigation Bureau ADAMAS, the protagonist, jumping between two points in time as well as Earth’s Tokyo and the Digital World: Iliad. Boasting over450 Digimon species inDigimon Story’s largest roster ever,Time Strangeris also aiming to be the largestDigimongame ever in every sense of the term. Such ambitions wouldn’t be possible without decades ofDigimongames backing them up, including a full decade of Media.Vision working onDigimon Story. Fittingly, there are still plenty of elements from those older titles that shine through.
Digimon World Was What Started It All
Digimonowes its ongoing success to key products finding success at the right times, the first being the originalDigital Monstervirtual pet in 1997 and the second beingDigimon World. Released in Japan on June 26, 2025, and arriving in North America in May 2000,Digimon Worldkicked off the self-titled subseriesunder a branch of Bandai itself.Digimon Worldwas such a success that it sold over 250,000 copies before it even left Japan and went on to sell enough in North America and Europe to qualify for each region’s respectiveGreatest HitsandPlatinumPS1 labels.
It’s a good thing it did so well becauseDigimon Worldactually predates the originalDigimon Adventureanime and prequel film by a little over one month. The game takes place inDigimon’s iconic File Island setting, with a young human boy being transported there to heal the maddened Digimon population and ultimately save the Digital World. With players able to essentially explore the entire island with Agumon or Gabumon at first, then other Digimon later depending on their choices,Digimon Worldwas a foundational first forayinto the Digital World at large.
Or at least, it is in retrospect.Digimon Worldgarnered mixed reviews at the time due to its frustrating gameplay.Digimon Worldwas basically as much of a pet simulator as it was an old-school RPG, and that meant moment-to-moment gameplay was dominated by cryptic and poorly translated pet mechanics. Raising a Digimon wrong and ending up with Numemon was a common experience for a reason. Combat was also frustrating, as it was mostly automated at first, with player input increasing as a Digimon’s intelligence stat increased.Digimon Worldis worth revisitingfor its sheer uniqueness, but the franchise wouldn’t be where it is if it didn’t experiment and begin to work out these kinks.
Digimon World 2 Pioneered A Lot While Doing Its Own Thing
“Roguelike dungeon-crawler” is not a term that modernDigimonfans likely associate with the series, but one showed up as early asDigimon World 2on the original PlayStation. This game was actually announced at the same time asDigimon World 1back in 1997, which may explain why both titles are so different. Released in Japan on June 15, 2025, and in North America on July 02, 2025, this is the firstDigimonRPG with a turn-based battle system involving parties of three Digimon, even if it had to coexist withDigimon’s only roguelike dungeon-crawling stint. It also introduced Digivolution, De-Digivolution, and DNA Digivolution fusion as a central focus in managing one’s team.
All of that may have been a huge step towards defining whatDigimon Storywould eventually become, butDigimon World 2had too many flaws and eccentricities for it to see much credit. For one, many of the firstWorld’s frustrations involving poor explanations were replaced by randomized shortcomings coupled with design oversights. Coming to grips with the odd leveling system is mandatory, and, eventually, even making story progress can be RNG-bottlenecked. This game’s merged human-and-Digimon setting is interesting enough to revisit andfans ofMystery Dungeongamesmay already be able to tolerate its flaws, butDigimon World 2is ultimately a stopover on the way to better things.
Digimon World 3 Is The Prototype Of Digimon Story
The secondDigimon Worldwas an interesting, if flawed, game that could be used as the basis for a more successful modernDigimonroguelike, but the RPG elements it introduced were refined and remixed inDigimon World 3and would go on to shapeDigimon’s modern years. Released mid-2002 and co-developed by Boom Corp., this entry opted for a JRPG approach similar to otherPlayStation RPG hits likeFinal Fantasy 7andLegend of Dragoon. It didn’t boast the same writing chops as those titles, but it did boast a similar epic adventure and more conventional RPG mechanics, broadening its appeal.
Set in the virtual world of the fictional MMO Digimon Online,Digimon World 3was made up of the series’ first sprite-based overworld and one-on-one battle screens with full 3D models. Both styles are well-remembered for being gorgeous, surpassing even theacclaimed visuals of prior PS1Digimongamesand rendering the 56 playable Digimon and even larger enemy Digimon cast in stunning detail. Unfortunately,Digimon World 3was only a little better received than itsWorldfellows, with fans and critics alike decrying how slow it was on top of an excessive amount of forced grinding. It sold well for its price, butDigimon World 3was merely a prelude to laterDigimonRPGs. In this phase,Digimonwas still very much laying the foundation.
Digimon World 4 Was A Bizarre Diversion
Those RPGs will have to wait, however, becauseDigimon World’s first entry on Nintendo GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox is completely different from any other game in the franchise.Digimon World 4is a co-op action RPG hack-and-slash in the vein ofFinal Fantasy Crystal Chroniclesand was released in 2005 to the same middling reviews the series usually saw. This time, it was because the game was generally underwhelming, with even fans admitting that it’s a good game butnot a goodDigimongame. With only four Digimon unlocked at first and just as many regions to fight through, it’s a compact curiosity whose only development of note is the introduction of non-Digimon enemies.
Digimon World Isn’t All Numbered Titles
MoreDigimon Worldgames exist, but they don’t have the impact of the mainDigimon Worldtitles.Digimon World: Digital Card Battlewas a card-based gamereleased in Japan in 1999, andDigimon World: Digital Card Arena, localized asDigimon Digital Card Battle, was released globally over the next three years. Another Japan-only game taking the originalDigimon World’s approach to monster-raising calledPocket Digimon Worldlaunched in June 2000 and gained threeBattle Discexpansions in the next eight months. Four other games gained the “World” subtitle due to its dominance in North America, but of these,Digimon World Data SquadandDigimon World Championshipwere standalone titles, whileDigimon World,DS,Dawn, andDuskwere actually the beginnings ofDigimon Story. This is where the foundation began to shift in earnest and the strengths of the franchise were put under the spotlight.
Digimon World Re:Digitize and Digimon World: Next Order Defined Digimon World’s Identity
But beforeDigimon Storycan be covered in earnest, its rise to power asDigimon’s dominant game series was actually interrupted byDigimon World’s sudden return.Digimon World Re:Digitizewas launched on the PSP by developer tri-Crescendo in July 2012, and its updated 3DS portDigimon World Re:Digitize Decodecame out roughly a year later. These games’ claim to fame was their return to the originalDigimon World’s focus on virtual pet mechanics with AI-driven action-RPG battles on the side, and they also marked the first time thatCyber SleuthandTime Stranger’s character designer Suzuhito Yasuda brought his signature style toDigimon’s humans.
Yasuda would sit out the 2016Digimon World: Next Orderfor the PlayStation Vita, but PAL and North American regions would finallyget in on theDigimon WorldrevivalwithDigimon World: Next Order International Editionin 2017 on the PS4, and later on PC and Nintendo Switch in 2023. TheInternational Editionboasted not only 232 partner Digimon but the first English dub thatDigimongames had seen in years, something whichDigimon Storyhas lacked so far. With a revival of the originalWorld’s more open navigation and the addition of a second partner Digimon to raise and command,Next Orderhas solidifiedDigimon World’s distinct role in the franchise.
Digimon World DS Marked The Transition To Digimon Story
It’s good thatDigimon Worldgot a few more chances to revisit the virtual pet formula it started with becauseDigimon’s “main” line of video games was already shifting gears. Back in 2006, Bandai releasedDigimon Story, localized asDigimon World DS, for the Nintendo DS system, and unknowingly kicked offDigimonRPGs’ most prosperous era. Just by comparing the review scores and generalsentiments surroundingDigimon Story’s humble beginningto theDigimon Worldseries’ reception, it’s apparent that Bandai stumbled onto a winning formula in this game that is still carrying theDigimon Storyline to this very day.
Specifically, that formula isDigimon World 3’s JRPG format, with some improvements and a few battle tips fromDigimon World 2. The story still isn’t up to par with theCyber Sleuthgames or evenNext Order, but it’s slowly getting more ambitious. More importantly,Digimon World DSis whereDigimon Storybegan solidifying its mechanics, both throughmore complicated evolution paths involving 239 Digimonand in combat. Teams of up to three Digimon on each side have returned, and both DS screens are made use of to give players a look at the turn order, enemy Digimon’s battlefield positions, and a closer look at the impressive sprite art that all the DS games are composed of.
Digimon World Dawn and Dusk Tried A Pokemon Twist
This approach would be refined across the followingDigimonRPGs, starting withDigimon Story Sunburst/Digimon World DawnandDigimon Story Moonlight/Digimon World Dusk. Released for Japan and North America in 2007, this DS entry took a page out of itslifelong rivalPokemon’s playbookand released two versions of itself to encourage partnerDigimontrading, with the shared species total rising to 397. This also had the unintended side effect of jacking up experience requirements for some of the stronger Digivolutions, contributing to fans pointing to the dual game system as this entry’s ironic worst feature. Otherwise,DawnandDuskare solid refinements of whatDigimon World DSstarted.
Digimon Story’s Unlocalized Games
Japan had a couple more DSDigimon Storyentries that never made it elsewhere, asDigimon Story: Lost EvolutionandDigimon Story: Super Xros Wars RedandBluewere both further refinements ofDigimon Story’s gameplay.Lost Evolutionwas released in 2010 with 314 Digimon, while the series’ last dual release came in 2011 with a combined 393 Digimon. Notably, although variousDigimongames have adapted anime seasons or included characters from elsewhere in theDigimonfranchise,Super Xros Warsis the only instance of an officialDigimon WorldorStorygame directly adapting the anime, withXros Warsbeing the season in question.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth Was Where Digimon Story Hit Its Stride
The game side of theDigimonfranchise has long had the problem of lacking a “big hit” for its fanbase to rally around.Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuthdidn’t entirely succeed at becoming one, but with it, its re-release, and its sequel pulling a combined 2.5 million sales by March 2025, it’s the closest aDigimongame has come. Arriving in Japan on the PlayStation Vita in 2015 and in other regions on PS4 as well in the following year,Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuthseems like another humbleDigimontitleon the surface, but it turnedDigimonon its head.
Cyber Sleuth’s claim to fame was pivoting to focus on older demographics, introducing a much more ambitious story that included frequent mature elements. There was even an original antagonist faction, called the Eaters, that was narratively and visually distinct from Digimon themselves. Layering in a streamlined version ofDigimon Story’s combat and Digivolution, a Digital World aesthetic that recalled the famousOur War GameOVA, adapted intoDigimon: The Movie, and employingDanganronpa’s Masafumi Takada as the composer,Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuthgot a lot right. Its handheld origins and low budget held it back and contributed to a rough translation with no vocal dubbing efforts, but there’s no doubt thatDigimonwas back in a big way.
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker’s Memory Kept The Train Rolling
Following upCyber SleuthwasDigimon Story: Cyber Sleuth - Hacker’s Memory, a midquel that is considered even better than its predecessor by those who know about it. Sales ofHacker’s Memorylikely suffered due to consumer confusion overDigimon World: Next Order International Editionreleasing before it and being so different fromCyber Sleuth, but at least this game’s December 2017 launch in Japan included the Vita and the PS4 and its global release only came a month later. Both RPGs reached theirbest form whenDigimon Story: Cyber Sleuth Complete Editionbrought bothCyber Sleuthgames to Nintendo Switch and PC worldwide in October 2019, while also backporting the mechanical changes and extra Digimon fromHacker’s Memoryback into the first game.
BeforeComplete Edition,Hacker’s Memoryenjoyed various advantages over its predecessor like the aforementioned jump from249 Digimon species to 341and an increased number of enemies in battles, but the big winner was the story.Hacker’s Memoryisn’t just a great companion toCyber Sleuth’s events; it tells its own, more personal narrative that drills down on its original protagonist more than otherDigimontitles have. There’s even a surpriseDigimon World Duskcrossover to complement theDigimon World Re:Digitize Decodecharacters that appeared inCyber Sleuth, so, while remaining low budget,Hacker’s Memoryis still very much worth experiencing.
Where Digimon Story: Time Stranger Fits In Its Franchise’s History
That brings the focus back toDigimon Story: Time Stranger. Nitty-gritty mechanical details are currently unknown, but it has trumped every otherDigimongame’s roster with its 450+ species count. One other improvement is that this will be the firstDigimon Storytitle not native to handheld hardware. Not only does that mean thatDigimonis returning to Xbox hardware for thefirst time outside ofDigimon Survivein years, but it also means that the game’s visuals and area design can be more ambitious than even what theCyber Sleuthgames attempted. Footage of the player using Digimon to sprint, swim, and fly has already shown the fruits of this labor.
Right now,Digimon Story: Time Strangeris on trackto be the bestDigimonRPG yet, assuming it doesn’t run into any major writing or mechanical foibles along the way. The notion thatTime Stranger’s world is already on the brink of collapse, multiple time eras are involved, and that the player avatar who isn’t selected will receive more characterization as the player’s operator shows a lot of promise, as does its high potential for an English dub based on rumors.Digimon Story: Time Strangermight not mark the moment thatDigimongames hit the big time, but it should be able to raise their bar of quality to the highest it’s ever been.
