Digimon World: Next Order

Digimon World: Next Order takes the classic V-pet formula and brings it into this century packing it with plenty of variety, a fun storyline, and plenty of interesting mechanics to discover and master.

74%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, stability

82% User Score Based on 1,200 reviews

Critic Score 66%Based on 21 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $12.74

Buy NowGet on Steam $59.99

About

In Digimon World: Next Order, players become a Tamer and embark on a journey to save the Digital World alongside two Digimon partners. Features include real-time battles, Digimon evolution, and the ability to build and manage your own DigiFarm. The game boasts a vast open world with various environments and landscapes to explore.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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82%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,200 reviews

story59 positive mentions

grinding225 negative mentions

Nostalgic experience for fans of the original Digimon World game.
Engaging gameplay loop with the ability to raise two Digimon simultaneously.
Quality of life improvements over previous titles, such as clearer digivolution requirements and a more user-friendly interface.

Grindy gameplay with a heavy focus on resource gathering and training, which can become tedious.
Poorly optimized PC port with limited resolution options and clunky controls.
Storyline is weak and often feels like a series of fetch quests, lacking depth and engagement.

story
356 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
78%
5%
The story in "Digimon World: Next Order" is generally considered weak and formulaic, often described as a typical "save the digital world" narrative that lacks depth and engaging character development. Players note that the pacing is disrupted by mandatory side quests and grinding, which can detract from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than an adventure. While some appreciate the nostalgic elements and the game's charm, many agree that those seeking a rich narrative should look to other titles in the Digimon franchise, such as "Cyber Sleuth."
- “The story works well for the game's target audience.”
- “Digimon World: Next Order is a unique role-playing game that combines the joy of raising and training virtual pets in a Tamagotchi-like fashion with good storytelling, exploration, and interesting turn-based battles.”
- “With its captivating story, extensive Digimon roster, and perfectly timed anime moments, this game is a love letter to all things Digimon.”
- “The story is weak, but I'm sure you don't play games like this for story.”
- “The story is so short and lackluster that it may as well not be there at all.”
- “The narrative is trash, the characters are trash, the graphics are trash, there is no combat, there is no control of digievolution until a certain point in the 'story' (I use that term lightly) which I never made it to because I'm so bored and confused that I have no drive to get there.”
gameplay
288 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
76%
4%
The gameplay of "Digimon World: Next Order" is a nostalgic homage to the original PS1 title, featuring a blend of creature-raising mechanics, resource management, and real-time combat. While many players appreciate the depth and complexity of the mechanics, including the unique rebirth and evolution systems, others find the gameplay loop repetitive and grind-heavy, with some mechanics feeling outdated or poorly explained. Overall, the game appeals primarily to fans of the series who enjoy its tamagotchi-like elements, though it may not resonate with those seeking a more traditional RPG experience.
- “Nice childhood game remake into a more beautiful atmosphere, bigger world to explore, better gameplay to execute, and longer time needed to complete all things.”
- “Diving into Next Order, you'll find a game that offers a uniquely compelling monster taming experience which at first is confusing and challenging, but as you play the game more, you come to learn the intricacies of Next Order's monster-raising mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is fun if you enjoy these types of games, and while I think it's not as good as the original, it is a great successor to it.”
- “Omg this gameplay is trash.”
- “As you get to know the mechanics and the world, you will quickly become demotivated and maybe even depressed.”
- “The game has a lot of fun aspects, but it also has a lot of frustrating gameplay features that makes it incredibly tedious.”
grinding
226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
100%
The reviews overwhelmingly highlight that the game is extremely grindy, often requiring players to invest significant time in raising and training Digimon, with many noting that the grinding can feel tedious and repetitive. While some players appreciate the nostalgic grind reminiscent of classic Digimon games, others find it frustrating, especially due to the mechanics that force players to repeatedly start over with new Digimon after they age and die. Overall, the enjoyment of the game seems to hinge on one's tolerance for grinding, with recommendations to play on easier modes for a less demanding experience.
- “No tedious, very low percentage encounter recruits.”
- “The grinding feels rewarding and keeps me engaged.”
- “I appreciate how the grind leads to meaningful progression.”
- “Now, if there is one thing that can turn away anyone from this game, it is how grindy it is.”
- “The game is incredibly grindy without any type of good story payoff.”
- “I can already tell this isn't a game for me; I bought it on sale and gave it a try, but it feels way too grindy and I need to spend way too much time taking care of my digimon every few minutes.”
graphics
117 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
64%
12%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they feel outdated and reminiscent of early 2000s titles, despite some updates from the original. While some appreciate the nostalgic anime aesthetic, others criticize the low effort in graphical design and lack of customization options. Overall, the visuals are seen as serviceable but lacking the polish and depth expected from modern games, leading to a consensus that they could be significantly improved.
- “The graphics are stylized in an anime aesthetic that aged quite well.”
- “Just like the original Digimon World, but with better graphics and a lot more possibilities.”
- “With its stunning visuals, engaging gameplay mechanics, and heartfelt storytelling, it stands as a shining example of how to adapt a beloved series into an exceptional gaming experience.”
- “The graphics are not good, and the initial story is confusing.”
- “Changes in the art style were something to be 100% expected, however it seemed like they used an engine meant for PS2 games and somehow ended up having graphics that are worse than the PS1 game, where the PS1 game had a unique art style in using pixel art that gave it a certain charm. For this game, they never polished any of the landscape, assets, or character models.”
- “The graphics, plotline, playability, dialogues, combat, sound effects, everything... is much worse than the original game that was launched around the 2000s.”
music
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
67%
4%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the nostalgic remixes of classic tracks from the original Digimon games, which evoke fond memories. While some find the soundtrack catchy and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others criticize it for being repetitive or jarring, detracting from the overall immersion. Overall, the music is seen as a highlight for its ability to transport players back to their childhood, despite some concerns about volume levels and the lack of variety in certain areas.
- “The music fits most of the maps perfectly, and the voice acting was cast and performed well.”
- “The music is surprisingly top-notch and catchy, especially the ambient music for the different areas, adding a lot of personality to them.”
- “One of the most endearing aspects of 'Digimon World: Next Order' is its music, which masterfully transports you back to the anime series.”
- “The rebirth mechanic made it a little too grindy and repetitive for me; also, the OST makes my head hurt.”
- “Making things worse for the starting areas is the music, which sounds like it belongs in the main menu where you only have to listen to it for one second max. It doesn't fit the atmosphere at all and becomes jarring really quickly.”
- “As briefly mentioned, there is no sense of adventure or mystery in this game, and even the soundtrack was designed to remove any sense of adventure by blaring in your ears the entire time, leaving no room for contrast in the battle music, let alone the laid-back and often mysterious tracks that instilled feelings of investment throughout the original.”
optimization
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
39%
17%
Overall, the game's optimization is mixed; while some players report smooth performance and quick loading times, others experience frame rate drops and long loading screens, particularly in larger areas. The game performs well on the Steam Deck and certain PC setups, but there are concerns about graphical fidelity and the lack of mouse and keyboard control prompts. Despite these issues, many players find the performance satisfactory enough to enjoy the gameplay experience.
- “That being said, I haven't encountered any crashes and the performance is good.”
- “Well optimized loading screens literally take no time at all and the 'running' is a good addition.”
- “With no changes needed to enjoy the game fully, this is also a best on deck game, though if you decide to go into settings, you can expand the screen to the entire deck and up some graphics quality without losing performance or battery!”
- “Performance: frame rate drops and long loading screens can take the wind out of the game’s sails, especially during transitions and in large areas.”
- “I really did, but the performance was horrible.”
- “But what about performance?”
stability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability is a mixed bag; while some players report minor glitches and bugs that are not game-breaking, others describe it as a "buggy mess" requiring frequent saves to avoid losing progress. Overall, many users appreciate the smooth frame rate and quick loading times, indicating that while there are issues, they do not significantly detract from the overall experience.
- “The game runs great and is perfect for anyone who likes to meticulously optimize pets for maximum power.”
- “The game is completely buggy and you will have to save your game all the time or you will simply lose your progress.”
- “This game is the most buggy mess I ever played.”
- “Stay away from this buggy mess!”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
46%
27%
Overall, the atmosphere in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players feeling that it lacks the charm and immersive quality of the original. Criticism centers on jarring music choices and a loss of the expansive, mysterious feeling that characterized earlier titles, while others appreciate the visual charm and the blend of energetic and atmospheric soundtracks that enhance exploration. The inconsistency in atmosphere has left some fans disappointed, particularly those nostalgic for the original game's ambiance.
- “The original game certainly had an atmosphere that has greatly struck a chord with me for over twenty years now, along with the feeling of exploring a large and mysterious world.”
- “The world is huge, even bigger than on PS1, and the areas actually are memorable and have charm visually and in terms of atmosphere, just like in the original game.”
- “The soundtrack perfectly blends energetic battle themes with more melodic and atmospheric tracks that set the mood for exploration.”
- “The dev really reset the sound during building changes in the same district, which ruins the chill atmosphere if you try to roam around in that district.”
- “I'm not a huge fan of this 'anime atmosphere.' It annoyed me in Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth, and it's just as irritating here.”
- “There's also a loss of atmosphere between these two games.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players enjoy the potential for over 100 hours of gameplay and the ability to experience different outcomes by raising various digimon, others find it limited, particularly after completing the main storyline. Some fans express disappointment compared to the original game, citing fewer incentives to continue playing, though discovering online guides can enhance the experience in subsequent playthroughs.
- “Great deal to get on sale for easy 100+ hours of replayability.”
- “It's great, and even has replayability since you can start over again just raising different digis throughout the main story for a somewhat different experience with different techs (yes, techs really do matter).”
- “The replayability is very low, so I guess at most I would continue to play and try to get more and more of the forms by cycling the generations, but I did get quite a bit of fun from this and I really didn't expect much initially, so it ended up being a good surprise.”
- “Limited replay value: some fans felt that Digimon World: Next Order lacked the replay value of the original game, with fewer incentives to continue playing once the main storyline had been completed.”
- “Finding out that internet guides exist in the second playthrough definitely made this game more playable.”
emotional
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
83%
17%
The emotional aspect of the game elicits mixed responses; while some players find it deeply engaging with heartfelt storytelling and nostalgic elements that evoke strong feelings during gameplay, others criticize it for lacking depth and emotional impact, particularly in its story and graphics. Overall, the game successfully taps into players' emotions through character interactions and challenges, though its value may be questioned.
- “There's this way this game tears at my emotional seams when my partners get hit in combat, train hard, lose a battle, and eventually die.”
- “With its stunning visuals, engaging gameplay mechanics, and heartfelt storytelling, it stands as a shining example of how to adapt a beloved series into an exceptional gaming experience.”
- “There are so many emotional cues not only in the story but in just normal gameplay.”
- “As a huge Digimon fan, honestly this game kind of sucks. It's just boring, really ugly graphically, has a dull story, and is overpriced for this version.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted for its lighthearted and nostalgic charm, reminiscent of PS2-era titles, with players finding amusement in quirky elements like crying emojis and the desire for cosmetic customization. Overall, the comedic aspects contribute to an enjoyable experience, even if some features are lacking.
- “Luche cute (and additionally, funny) crying emoji out of 10.”
- “The funny thing is that it looks, plays, and feels just like something from the PS2.”
- “I want to work as a retail employee again; it was funny.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
Character development has been criticized for its unappealing and uninspired design, particularly noting the male protagonist's exaggerated physical features, which detracts from the overall engagement with the character.
- “The character design is quite unappealing and lacks any real depth.”
- “The human characters are poorly designed and fail to engage the player.”
- “The overall character development feels shallow and uninspired.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy employed by Bandai Namco is perceived as exploitative, with many users labeling their offerings as low-quality cash grabs.
- “A continuing embarrassing trend of cheap, low-quality cash grabs by Bandai Namco.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, pushing players to spend more than they should to enjoy the game.”
- “It's frustrating to see so many features locked behind paywalls, making it hard to fully experience the game without spending extra money.”

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66%Critics’ scoreBased on 21 critic reviews

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29h Median play time

46h Average play time

6-60h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 14 analyzed playthroughs

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