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.

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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 Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 646 reviews

story36 positive mentions

grinding93 negative mentions

Captures the nostalgia of the original Digimon World game while introducing new features.
Engaging gameplay loop focused on raising and training Digimon, with a large roster of over 200 Digimon.
Quality of life improvements, such as the ability to see digivolution requirements and the addition of a run feature.

Grindy gameplay with a heavy focus on resource gathering and training, which can become tedious.
Lack of clear direction and guidance for new players, leading to confusion about progression.
Technical issues, including bugs that can corrupt save files and poor optimization for keyboard and mouse controls.

story
178 mentions
20 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The story in this game is generally viewed as basic and formulaic, often described as a typical "save the world" narrative that lacks depth and engaging character development. While some players appreciate the nostalgic connections to previous titles and find the story serviceable, many criticize it for being shallow, repetitive, and overly reliant on grinding to progress. Overall, the game prioritizes gameplay mechanics over a compelling storyline, making it more suitable for fans of creature-raising rather than those seeking a rich narrative experience.
- “The game's storyline is engaging, albeit somewhat simplistic.”
- “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 actually a direct sequel to the PS1 game too.”
- “The story is so short and lackluster that it may as well not be there at all.”
- “The game's story is really basic, and after having played it once before, I am just skipping all the cutscenes and dialogue as quickly as possible.”
- “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
154 mentions
22 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Digimon World: Next Order" evokes nostalgia with its tamagotchi-like mechanics, requiring players to care for and train their Digimon while navigating a more refined battle system compared to its PS1 predecessor. However, many reviews highlight significant frustrations, including grindy elements, repetitive tasks, and a lack of innovation, which can detract from the overall experience. While the game offers a unique and engaging gameplay loop for fans of the series, newcomers may find the mechanics daunting and the gameplay somewhat tedious.
- “The gameplay is similar - raise digimon by feeding them, going to the toilet (yes, the poop from the first game is here) and train them to get stronger as you recruit new digimon to the city to progress the story.”
- “The emphasis on raising and nurturing your digimon partners, coupled with vibrant visuals and engaging combat, makes for an enjoyable and immersive gameplay experience.”
- “This is the digimon game to play, especially if you're a big fan of the v-pet-esque type gameplay it offers, and it does it very well.”
- “The game has a lot of fun aspects, but it also has a lot of frustrating gameplay features that make it incredibly tedious.”
- “It's a game using the face of Digimon as a means to sell itself; the gameplay is rough and everything feels unpolished. Under no circumstances should you buy this at full price.”
- “The combat mechanics are incredibly lame; the whole premise of not being able to control movement is boring, and the need for so much grinding is incredibly tedious.”
grinding
94 mentions
1 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its excessive grinding, which many players find tedious and time-consuming, often consuming up to 60% of gameplay. While some appreciate the grind as a rewarding aspect of progression, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, making combat and exploration feel shallow. Despite its fun elements, the grinding mechanics can lead to frustration, especially for those who prefer a more streamlined RPG experience.
- “No tedious, very low percentage encounter recruits.”
- “The grinding feels rewarding and keeps me engaged.”
- “I love how the grind leads to meaningful progress and character development.”
- “This is a grindy mess with shallow exploration and shallower stats.”
- “To say this game is grindy would be an understatement.”
- “The excessive amount of grinding is what's holding back an otherwise good game.”
graphics
65 mentions
26 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they feel outdated and lack detail, especially for a title released in 2016. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and find the visuals serviceable, others criticize the poor quality of textures and assets, suggesting that the game appears more like a substandard port from older consoles. Overall, while the graphics may not impress, they do not detract significantly from the enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “The graphics are very nice, the camera is excellent.”
- “The emphasis on raising and nurturing your digimon partners, coupled with vibrant visuals and engaging combat, makes for an enjoyable and immersive gameplay experience.”
- “Awesome gameplay of course, 70 percent of the gameplay loop is you raising and caring for your digimon, evolving them and making them as strong as possible, while at the same time finding new digimon to recruit to your city (hub area) and exploring a big 'open world' (split up with short loading screens) being on PC the graphics are 10/10 for a game like this that's been ported from handhelds.”
- “Simply put, this game is ugly; the world map is devoid of detail, and many areas are just flat textures, with a severe lack of any forethought in design.”
- “Graphics are... well, this game was originally released in 2016 for a handheld console, and they never bothered improving anything for the ports to other devices.”
- “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 with graphics worse than the PS1 game, where the PS1 game had a unique art style using pixel art that gave it a certain charm. For this game, they never polished any of the landscape, assets, or character models.”
music
37 mentions
30 % positive mentions
70 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic elements and catchy tracks that evoke memories of the original series, while others find it forgettable or overly repetitive. Many players appreciate the remixed themes from the classic games, but express disappointment over the absence of several iconic tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as functional but lacking the depth and adventure that characterized the original music.
- “The music is surprisingly top-notch and catchy, especially the ambient music for the different areas, and adds 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.”
- “Great OST that makes me feel really nostalgic.”
- “Graphics feel kind of old, and the music is... forgettable for the most part.”
- “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, which was so well received and still loved.”
- “Soundtrack repeats every 3 minutes.”
optimization
8 mentions
75 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance and quick loading times, some experience significant issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. The PC port performs well on higher-end systems, but the lack of clear mouse and keyboard controls is a notable drawback.
- “Well optimized loading screens literally take no time at all and the 'running' is a good addition.”
- “The game runs smoothly on my GeForce 3xxx.”
- “The player will have a great experience with this game when it comes to performance.”
- “I really did, but the performance was horrible.”
- “The optimization is lacking, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering.”
- “Despite the potential, the game struggles to maintain a stable frame rate.”
atmosphere
8 mentions
13 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a mixed reception regarding the game's atmosphere. While some players appreciate the expansive and visually charming world reminiscent of the original, others criticize the loss of the original's immersive atmosphere and the jarring sound changes during gameplay. Additionally, the "anime atmosphere" has been polarizing, with some finding it irritating and detracting from the overall experience.
- “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 are memorable and have charm visually and in terms of atmosphere, just like in the original game.”
- “Next time that you reboot a franchise, don’t just put someone from your previous games in charge; find someone who legitimately loves the franchise, have them fill out an essay on what they loved about the original, and make sure they understand how to represent its atmosphere.”
- “The developers 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 is a loss of atmosphere and the feeling of a larger world you're exploring that the 1999 original had.”
replayability
6 mentions
33 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The replayability of "Digimon World: Next Order" is mixed; while some players appreciate the ability to raise different Digimon for varied experiences, others find the overall replay value limited, especially compared to the original game. Many feel that once the main storyline is completed, there are few incentives to continue playing, although discovering online guides can enhance the experience in subsequent playthroughs.
- “It's great, and it even has replayability since you can start over again, raising different digis throughout the main story for a somewhat different experience with different techs (yes, techs really do matter).”
- “+ good replay value.”
- “Finding out that internet guides exist in the second playthrough definitely made this game more playable.”
- “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. 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.”
stability
4 mentions
25 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The game exhibits some minor bugs and glitches typical of Unity-developed titles, but they are not severe enough to disrupt gameplay significantly. Overall, it runs smoothly, allowing players to enjoy the experience without major stability issues.
- “The game runs great and is perfect for anyone who likes to meticulously optimize pets for maximum power.”
- “The stability of the game ensures a smooth experience, allowing players to focus on strategy rather than technical issues.”
- “I appreciate how the game rarely crashes, making it easy to dive into long sessions without worrying about losing progress.”
- “The game is made in Unity, and you can tell; it's a bit buggy sometimes (thankfully never game-breaking), and there's nothing impressive graphics or animation-wise here.”
- “Great game for Digimon fans; it has a few glitches here and there, but not bad enough to rage quit.”
- “The game has some stability issues, with occasional glitches that can disrupt the experience.”
emotional
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game resonates strongly with players, evoking nostalgia and a sense of connection to the original title, though some feel that key backstory elements may be overlooked. While the experience is generally uplifting, the game's price point may lead some to consider waiting for a sale before diving in.
- “Touching on the original game, a lot of the backstory could actually be missed even by the time you beat the game's final boss.”
- “This game made me feel that nostalgic serotonin. It's pretty good! The price is a little steep, so if you're not craving the early 2000s Digimon World kick, maybe wait until it goes on sale. Or don't; you're an adult who can make your own choices without having to read reviews.”
humor
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users find humor in the game's retail employee theme, appreciating its comedic elements. However, there is disappointment over the lack of cosmetic customization options, such as the ability to add humorous accessories like funny hats to characters.
- “I want to work as a retail employee again; it was funny!”
- “There's no cosmetic customization like in Re:Digitize. Goddamn, I want to put a funny hat on my Craniamon!”
character development
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development has been criticized for its lack of creativity, particularly in character design, with specific mention of an unappealing male protagonist whose physical attributes, such as unusually wide hips, detract from the overall experience.
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy employed by Bandai Namco is perceived as a troubling trend, characterized by low-quality offerings that feel like 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.”