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Digimon Survive

Digimon Survive feels like it was made with every kid who wanted to be a DigiDestined. It’s a darker twist on a fan favorite story. While the story is amazing, it is brought down by okay combat. 10 percent of the gameplay weighs down the other 90 percent.
79%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
grinding, stability
83% User Score Based on 3,554 reviews
Critic Score 68%Based on 3 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxWindowsPlayStation

About

"Digimon Survive" is a visual novel and tactical RPG hybrid where players navigate a dark story of survival and friendship after being transported to a mysterious world. Explore otherworldly areas, recruit Digimon companions, and make choices that affect gameplay and the outcome of your adventure. Thrilling turn-based combat and strategic gameplay add to the excitement of this rich and unique gaming experience.

Digimon Survive screenshot
Digimon Survive screenshot
Digimon Survive screenshot
Digimon Survive screenshot
Digimon Survive screenshot
Digimon Survive screenshot
Digimon Survive screenshot
Digimon Survive screenshot
Digimon Survive screenshot
Digimon Survive screenshot
Digimon Survive screenshot
+7
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83%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,554 reviews
story1k positive mentions
grinding150 negative mentions

  • Engaging and dark storyline that captures the essence of Digimon, appealing to both longtime fans and newcomers.
  • Well-developed characters with meaningful relationships and emotional depth, making players invested in their fates.
  • Beautiful art style and soundtrack that enhance the overall experience, creating an immersive atmosphere.
  • Gameplay is primarily a visual novel with limited tactical RPG elements, which may disappoint players seeking more action.
  • Repetitive dialogue and pacing issues that can drag the story down, making it feel tedious at times.
  • Combat mechanics are simplistic and lack depth, leading to a lack of challenge and engagement during battles.
  • story
    3,342 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of "Digimon Survive" is a significant departure from traditional Digimon narratives, presenting a darker, more mature tale that resonates with long-time fans of the franchise. Players engage in a visual novel format, where choices impact character relationships and story outcomes, although some critiques highlight issues with pacing and the illusion of choice. Overall, the narrative is praised for its depth and emotional weight, making it a compelling experience for those who appreciate story-driven games, despite the gameplay being secondary.

    • “The story is engaging and sometimes unexpected, while the gameplay is simple but still challenging on the hardest difficulty.”
    • “The story hit on a completely new level... digimon has definitely grown with its fanbase.”
    • “The story is excellent (if slow to pick up - ymmv though) and the characters are all portrayed realistically.”
    • “The story itself is unremarkable.”
    • “The game has multiple endings, and the point where the main story branches out could have been handled better.”
    • “The story starts ok, but you soon realize that the choices don’t matter at all, this story will stay mostly the same until the final chapters.”
  • gameplay
    1,101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Digimon Survive" is heavily criticized for being overly simplistic and primarily serving as a vehicle for its narrative, with many players noting that it feels more like a visual novel than a traditional tactical RPG. While the tactical elements are present, they lack depth and variety, leading to repetitive combat and minimal strategic engagement. Overall, the game is recommended for those who prioritize story over gameplay, as the latter is often seen as a secondary aspect that fails to deliver a compelling experience.

    • “The tactical gameplay in Digimon Survive added a refreshing layer to the classic Digimon formula.”
    • “With its captivating narrative, deep tactical gameplay, and heartwarming bonds, Digimon Survive offers an experience that I will cherish for years to come.”
    • “The story is engaging and sometimes unexpected, while the gameplay is simple but still challenging on the hardest difficulty.”
    • “Unfortunately, while the game tries a lot of new game mechanics, it fails in all fronts.”
    • “Simply put, there isn't much depth to the mechanics of this game and that makes it simply okay to play instead of great or even good.”
    • “If you were hoping to actually play the game, don't buy it cause the game only has 0.0001% gameplay.”
  • music
    324 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its beauty and emotional depth, particularly in how it complements the story and atmosphere. However, several players noted the limited variety, with only a handful of tracks that become repetitive over time, detracting from the overall experience. While some found the soundtrack to be a standout feature, others felt it lacked the necessary diversity to keep it engaging throughout the game.

    • “The soundtrack is super killer, I’ll be listening to it for years.”
    • “The art style is beautiful, and the music is top-notch, creating an immersive experience that will keep you hooked for hours.”
    • “The music is composed so well that you don't ever get tired of hearing it or a different rendition of it.”
    • “The music/sfx are incredibly bland and repetitive.”
    • “The music only has like 5-6 tracks in the game, 3 of which you will hear all the time.”
    • “Hearing the same 5 songs or so playing on repeat for 40 hours is unprecedented.”
  • graphics
    308 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in "Digimon Survive" are generally praised for their beautiful artwork and vibrant colors, showcasing a blend of 2D and 3D visuals that enhance the visual novel experience. While many reviewers highlight the stunning character designs and environments, some note inconsistencies in detail and quality across different segments of the game. Overall, the art style is well-received, contributing to an immersive atmosphere, though some players feel that certain graphical elements could be improved.

    • “Overall, I really enjoyed this installment, the beautiful art style/visuals, the soundtrack, the darker story/tone they explore with this game.”
    • “Bandai Namco's dedication to creating an immersive world is evident in the game's beautiful hand-drawn art style and attention to detail.”
    • “The graphics are great, the story so far is nice too.”
    • “The visuals are very low effort; the graphics and transitions are very low effort.”
    • “Frankly put, the 3D visuals look like dogsh!”
    • “Honestly, people sing praises about its graphic detail, but at this point, I've seen 10-year-old browser games that ran smoother and were more detailed than this piece of art.”
  • grinding
    158 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback, with many players finding it tedious and repetitive, particularly in the mid to late game. While some appreciate the focus on story over grinding, others feel that the need to grind for experience and evolution items detracts from the overall experience, leading to a sense of boredom and frustration. Auto-battle features and adjustable difficulty settings help alleviate some of the grind, but the overall sentiment suggests that the game could benefit from a more streamlined approach to progression.

    • “I'd recommend not grinding for the first playthrough, as you get over-leveled crazy fast.”
    • “I can count the number of times I had trouble during the battles on one hand, even with close to no grinding done.”
    • “Might not be everyone's cup of tea since it's a visual novel game with slow progression and turn-based tactical RPG, but I'm sure all Digimon fans would love this game since it's pretty linear and doesn't feel as grindy as other Digimon games.”
    • “This game feels tedious and boring... unable to skip through what feels like mundane chat boxes and being unable to go through tutorials quickly/easily... feels very bleh.”
    • “Grinding will definitely be necessary at least on your first play-through in order to beat some of the end-game bosses.”
    • “The combat eventually becomes just plain tedious.”
  • emotional
    82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Digimon Survive" is highlighted by its deeply engaging narrative that explores complex themes such as trauma, loss, and personal growth, often leading players to experience a range of feelings, including heartbreak and nostalgia. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to create meaningful connections between characters, making their struggles relatable and impactful, while also acknowledging the darker, more mature themes that may not be suitable for younger audiences. Overall, the game is praised for its emotional depth, compelling storytelling, and the significant weight of player choices on the narrative experience.

    • “Digimon Survive is an emotional, gripping, action-filled adventure that kept me invested from the moment I entered the digital world.”
    • “I had some truly meaningful moments, and some other heartbreaking ones in my first playthrough, and I got truly invested in the story itself.”
    • “The story itself centers around emotionally draining conversations, where you, as the leader, or rather, the main babysitter, is the one who tries to exorcise each friend's inner demons and clean out their closets from skeletons.”
  • atmosphere
    64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its dark, immersive quality, enhanced by a fitting soundtrack that complements the tense and creepy narrative. Reviewers highlight the effective use of lighting and art style, which contribute to a sense of isolation and gravitas, making the experience feel both engaging and emotionally impactful. While some critiques mention issues with dialogue and gameplay, the overall tone and aesthetic successfully draw players into its unique world.

    • “Excellent tone and atmosphere; the game manages to submerge you in its own terms and revels in the creepiness inherent in its franchise.”
    • “The story and atmosphere of the game is just too good to pass up on.”
    • “The music and atmosphere are excellent.”
    • “The atmosphere of the visual novel overall and the lighting and shadowing for the art makes me combust.”
    • “While I feel the Digimon aspect of this game was the least effective part of the story, the characters and atmosphere were worth the ride. Visuals have some strong points like the sprites but could be better in areas.”
    • “These kids are in over their heads, trying to survive in a strange world and finding their way home, and the dialogue does a great job of building tension and establishing a mysterious atmosphere with some elements of horror.”
  • replayability
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Replayability in this game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the multiple endings and the ability to explore different routes, others find the experience tedious due to slow gameplay and a lack of engaging content. Many reviews highlight that while the game is designed with replayability in mind, the necessity to replay lengthy sections to unlock new endings can diminish the overall enjoyment. Ultimately, fans of the genre may find value in the replay options, but others may feel dissuaded by the repetitive nature of the gameplay.

    • “It is a really fun game that has a ton of replay value.”
    • “Has a lot of replayability due to the different routes.”
    • “This is easily the best and most crucial part of the game, and it greatly enhances replayability as you seek out alternate endings and evolutions you might have missed.”
    • “There is 0 replay value even though you can decide how the game ends... it just doesn't feel worth it.”
    • “This makes replayability a painful, slow, and boring experience.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story was pretty cliché and weak with little desire for replayability, so I will likely just look up the other endings on YouTube.”
  • character development
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the growth of characters and their Digimon as the story progresses, others feel that many characters lack depth and that development can be inconsistent or superficial. The visual novel format allows for significant character interactions and choices that impact relationships, but some reviewers noted that the pacing and execution of character arcs could be improved. Overall, the art and design are praised, but the effectiveness of character development varies widely among players.

    • “The story was really well written, and I appreciate the character development along the way.”
    • “While this game may not be for everyone, I can say it is absolutely gorgeous and drags you into the story with their beautiful music and deep character developments as you play along, without ever feeling like it's a chore.”
    • “The game handles character development well as some characters you'll be hating at the start and you will end up loving at the end.”
    • “The children get little, if any, character development.”
    • “There is little character development of the cast.”
    • “The lack of character development across the board makes it hard to care about a lot of the characters, and it's not until NG+ that the characters causing problems start to develop into likable people.”
  • stability
    42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The stability of the game has received significant criticism, with numerous players reporting frequent freezes, particularly after the first animated cutscene, rendering it unplayable for many. While some users have not experienced any issues, the prevalence of glitches and visual bugs, along with a lack of timely patches, has led to widespread frustration. Overall, the game's technical performance appears inconsistent, with many urging potential buyers to wait for fixes before purchasing.

    • “Been great so far, no freezes, crashes, or errors.”
    • “Outside of a couple of technical issues with some video codecs, the game runs great and is amazing artistically.”
    • “The combat is engaging and has a more than decent story.”
    • “Can't progress past the prologue because of a cutscene hard freeze, and the time spent troubleshooting means I can't refund either.”
    • “Game is broken; it freezes after the first cutscene. Unacceptable, Namco Bandai.”
    • “As all the other reviews have mentioned, it literally cannot be played because it freezes when the animated scene ends after the tutorial.”
  • optimization
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is mixed; while it generally maintains solid performance and fast loading times, users report noticeable FPS fluctuations when loading new areas and limited graphics adjustment options. On the Steam Deck, performance is commendable, achieving 60 FPS in most scenarios, though issues arise primarily during animated cutscenes. Overall, while some optimizations are needed, particularly for specific platforms, the game remains enjoyable and playable.

    • “Game doesn't suffer from any optimization issues, loads up fast and fps is solid; however, there are not many options to adjust graphics outside of vsync and resolution.”
    • “Performance is excellent, maintaining 60fps throughout both visual novel and strategy RPG portions without much issue.”
    • “Considering the missing controller prompts is a minor annoyance at most, the game is very playable on a Steam Deck, with great performance at a lower wattage.”
    • “This feels rather unoptimized, but due to it being a visual novel and fights not being a major thing, I guess that's fine.”
    • “This is definitely not optimized for the Steam Deck, but it appears that the issues are mostly with the animated cutscenes and immediately after.”
    • “For what this game is, I think besides some optimizations that hopefully come with some patches, it's doing it well.”
  • humor
    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is characterized by a mix of cute and funny moments, particularly through the quirky dialogue of the Digimon, which adds charm to the experience. Players appreciate the blend of humor with darker themes, and while some translation issues exist, they often contribute to the game's comedic appeal rather than detract from it. Overall, the humor enhances the vibrant storytelling and engaging gameplay, making it a standout feature.

    • “I just love how cute, funny, and awesome Agumon is to the entire game.”
    • “But it also has a lot of funny moments, either by bad translation or intentional; it all adds to the charm and it is overall the best game I've played this year so far.”
    • “I love this game; the art is always so vibrant, the gameplay is fun, the story was both dark as hell, funny, and wholesome, and this coupled with (mostly) enjoyable main characters makes it all better.”
  • monetization
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn mixed reactions, with some players feeling that the advertising was misleading, particularly regarding the game's focus on story over gameplay. While the promotional materials highlighted the visual novel elements, expectations for a more traditional tactical RPG experience led to disappointment for some. Overall, the game is recognized for its visual appeal and narrative depth, but players are advised to manage their expectations regarding gameplay density.

    • “I think the advertising for this game was a bit misleading from the trailer; I was hoping for a game like Final Fantasy Tactics but with Digimon (maybe it is further into the game).”
    • “I think the advertising for this game can be a bit misleading from the trailer; you will spend a lot of time in dialogue and cutscenes.”
    • “The advertising is a bit of a bamboozle, but the game is truly a visual novel.”
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5h Median play time
8h Average play time
3-10h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs
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