Octopath Traveler

Octopath Traveler's beautiful style and outstanding take on traditional turn-based combat make it a game that pushes JRPGs forward rather than simply paying homage to the greats.

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"Octopath Traveler" is a nostalgic RPG with a modern twist, taking place in a vividly rendered 2D world. The game features eight distinct characters, each with their own unique abilities and storylines. Players can explore a vast open world, battle enemies in strategic turn-based combat, and uncover the mysteries of the land and its people.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

87%

Audience ScoreBased on 4,185 reviews

story669 positive mentions

grinding394 negative mentions

Stunning visuals with a unique HD-2D art style that blends pixel art with modern graphical effects.
Engaging turn-based combat system that encourages strategic planning and experimentation with character classes.
Beautiful soundtrack that enhances the overall experience and evokes nostalgia for classic JRPGs.

Disjointed storytelling with eight separate character arcs that lack meaningful interaction and cohesion.
Repetitive gameplay loop that can become tedious, with a high frequency of random encounters and grinding required.
Final boss and post-game content are frustratingly difficult, requiring extensive grinding and preparation.

story
2,695 mentions
25 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story in "Octopath Traveler" is characterized by its segmented structure, featuring eight distinct character arcs that often feel disjointed and lack meaningful interaction. While some players appreciate the individual narratives and emotional depth of certain characters, many criticize the overall plot for being formulaic, predictable, and lacking a cohesive overarching storyline. The absence of significant character interactions during story segments detracts from the sense of camaraderie, making the experience feel more like a collection of short stories rather than a unified journey.
- “The storytelling is where it truly shines, with each of the eight characters having a unique narrative arc that is deeply emotional and relatable.”
- “Every battle, side quest, and hidden story moment pulled me deeper into its world, making it an experience I won’t forget.”
- “It's a story-driven game with plenty of heart, a soundtrack that elevates every scene, and gameplay that stays fresh from start to finish.”
- “The game gets boring quite fast because of its formulaic structure of story and side quests.”
- “The storytelling is painfully boring.”
- “The story is very linear, simple, and kind of cliché.”
music
1,044 mentions
63 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its orchestral quality and emotional depth, often describing it as one of the standout features of the experience. The soundtrack enhances immersion and complements the gameplay, with memorable themes that resonate long after playing. While some noted that certain tracks can become repetitive over time, the overall consensus is that the music is beautifully composed and significantly elevates the game's atmosphere.
- “The music is orchestral and has such a wonderful arrangement.”
- “The music makes the game immersive.”
- “The soundtrack is one of the best soundtracks for any game that I've ever played.”
- “The only thing redeeming about this game is the music and the visuals; there is literally nothing else of substance to be found here.”
- “The music is mediocre; it's trying too hard to be nostalgic but it's just not there.”
- “The music while neat gets insanely repetitive for an overly long game like this.”
graphics
964 mentions
56 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of *Octopath Traveler* have received widespread acclaim for their stunning HD-2D art style, which blends retro pixel art with modern visual effects, creating a nostalgic yet fresh aesthetic. Many players appreciate the attention to detail in character designs and environments, noting that the visuals enhance the overall experience, despite some minor graphical bugs and issues. However, opinions vary, with some critics finding the graphics underwhelming or overly simplistic compared to contemporary standards, leading to mixed feelings about the game's visual presentation.
- “The graphics, scenario, and challenge, everything is well balanced.”
- “The graphics are undoubtedly gorgeous, but when that lens flare effect shines off of 16-bit pixel art, it feels fake.”
- “Octopath Traveler truly excels in its graphics and sound design, earning a solid 10/10 rating in my book.”
- “Boring, bland, ugly visuals, uninteresting story and characters.”
- “The graphics could be better, but I like the charm the old mixed with more current graphics adds.”
- “The only thing redeeming about this game is the music and the visuals; there is literally nothing else of substance to be found here.”
gameplay
783 mentions
43 % positive mentions
51 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Octopath Traveler" is characterized by a blend of traditional turn-based mechanics and innovative features like the "break" and "boost" systems, which add strategic depth to combat. While many players appreciate the engaging battle mechanics and customization options, some criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay loop and the grind required for character progression. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of classic JRPGs, though opinions vary on the balance between gameplay enjoyment and narrative depth.
- “The combat system is incredible, giving turn-based strategy a fresh twist with a 'break' and 'boost' mechanic that keeps battles engaging and rewarding.”
- “The gameplay is excellent, with a deep combat system and a variety of abilities to choose from.”
- “The gameplay is fun and never gets tiring.”
- “The gameplay quickly feels repetitive, and I mean boring repetitive.”
- “The gameplay is very basic and repetitive, but I wanted an easy to play game which looks absolutely beautiful anyway.”
- “The gameplay loop is so formulaic that it hurts... there are 8 characters with their own (boring) plot that doesn't impact the plot of the other characters.”
grinding
403 mentions
1 % positive mentions
1 % neutral mentions
98 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and excessive, particularly due to the need to level up multiple characters and the long battles involved. While some players enjoy the grind as a core part of the JRPG experience, others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment, making the game feel repetitive and drawn out. Overall, those who appreciate grinding may find satisfaction in the gameplay, but it can be a significant barrier for players who prefer a more streamlined experience.
- “Not too grindy.”
- “The combat is well-designed and can be strategic if not farming levels too hard.”
- “Here again, it is not tedious which makes the experience more enjoyable in my opinion.”
- “The game is beautiful, but very tedious and grindy, especially if you plan on playing all the characters.”
- “The boss battles take far too long to complete, and there isn't enough reward for the hours of grinding needed to get strong enough to beat them.”
- “The only downside is it can get a little grindy leveling 8 different characters, but if you can deal with a bit of grind, you're in for a great time.”
emotional
65 mentions
83 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Octopath Traveler" receives mixed reviews, with many praising the heartfelt storytelling and unique character arcs that evoke genuine emotional depth. While some players find the narratives touching and the music enhances the emotional experience, others criticize the overall plot as bland and unengaging, leading to a lack of emotional investment. The game's ability to create memorable moments is often overshadowed by inconsistent character development and pacing issues, leaving some players feeling disconnected from the stories.
- “The storytelling is where it truly shines, with each of the eight characters having a unique narrative arc that is deeply emotional and relatable.”
- “Yet, it is the emotional resonance of Octopath Traveler that truly sets it apart.”
- “The stories are heartfelt and tragic, and the gameplay is cool.”
- “Very little character development, quite a boring story.”
- “It really does get to the point where you're skipping nearly every cutscene, because they drone on and on about each character's boring storyline.”
- “Once the novelty of the comfy visuals and satisfying (until you backtrack and one-shot bosses) combat wears off, then you are left with a boring story and characters.”
character development
52 mentions
40 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising the depth and uniqueness of individual character arcs, while others criticize the overall lack of compelling narratives and character growth. While certain characters, like Tressa and Cyrus, are noted for their engaging stories and designs, many feel that others are underdeveloped and predictable, leading to a somewhat surface-level experience. Overall, the game's character design is visually appealing, but the storytelling and character development do not consistently meet the expectations set by other titles in the genre.
- “Octopath Traveler is a visually stunning JRPG with an engaging storyline, captivating art style, and deep character development.”
- “The character development of and between the eight main characters is exceptional, and a detail I really enjoyed was the travel banter in different cities and towns.”
- “Great stories and character development; the jobs/classes system is well done, the boss fights and combat are fun, and the world feels like there is a lot to explore!”
- “Character development: because I played this after Octopath 2, I had a very hard time with how surface-level some of the characters in this game were.”
- “Tressa's story, though a good breath of fresh air compared to a multitude of tragic stories of betrayal and mystery, really has no purpose and offers very little character development.”
- “Ophelia's story is incredibly predictable and has no real character development, which is extremely disappointing.”
atmosphere
35 mentions
57 % positive mentions
34 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its enchanting blend of beautiful pixel art, immersive soundtracks, and well-crafted storytelling, creating a warm and cozy environment despite some darker themes. Many reviewers highlight the effective use of modern technology to enhance the nostalgic 16-bit aesthetic, resulting in a visually stunning experience that captivates players. Overall, the combination of visuals, music, and engaging narratives contributes to an atmosphere that is both nostalgic and modern, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The artistry that breathes life into the game's visuals and the enchanting melodies that accompany the journey create an atmosphere that is nothing short of mesmerizing.”
- “Using 16-bit textures for a majority of the characters and environment while using high-quality rendering for some aspects like lighting, water, and sand, creates an atmosphere that is both nostalgically familiar and modernly enthralling.”
- “This game has perhaps some of the best atmosphere I've ever experienced in a game between the visuals and the music (especially the music).”
- “The 2.5D art style is really beautiful for today's pixel-art standard, but some people may complain about the high contrast and excessively dark tone used for the game's atmosphere.”
- “Whole atmosphere of the game is very warm and cozy, even though some side stories and even main quests have quite horrendous implications.”
- “8/10 - the old Squaresoft glory channeled via a FFIII(6) thematic atmosphere with flaws.”
humor
28 mentions
89 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players enjoying nostalgic and lighthearted moments, while others find certain jokes and character interactions to be hit-or-miss. Characters like Cyrus and Tressa provide amusing scenes, though the humor can sometimes feel forced or overshadowed by darker themes. Overall, while there are funny moments and charming character dynamics, the humor may not resonate with everyone, particularly those familiar with more sophisticated storytelling in the genre.
- “The individual characters come together to make humorous and touching scenes.”
- “The unique ways each of the members can interact with the townsfolk is hilarious, from risking stealing candy from a baby to challenging an old lady to a duel in the street.”
- “There's a hilarious part where your party approaches the lone wolf thief who needs to steal a jewel in a heavily guarded mansion, and he goes 'Bah, I need to go alone but you're following me anyway, aren't you?' The true mark of friendship.”
- “It's okay, I guess, and kind of like a lot of other games that are similar: funny but not really funny, bouncy but not truly bouncy, neat but not consistently neat, kind of boring but not entirely, and somewhat groany but not always genuinely groany.”
- “It doesn't waste my time with labyrinths and is not a funny puzzle.”
- “If you feel this game is not funny, you can leave a negative review, but don't blame the price.”
replayability
28 mentions
32 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
Overall, the game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. Many players appreciate the extensive gameplay hours, diverse character stories, and the ability to choose different starting characters, which enhance replay value. However, some critics argue that despite the potential for varied playthroughs, there is a lack of incentive to replay, leading to a polarized view on its overall replayability.
- “The open nature of the game creates replayability for those who want that.”
- “Each character's story is enjoyable, and combining different characters to create a team changes the gameplay, providing a lot of replay value.”
- “I truly adore this game; it has constant replayability for most, as you can simply choose a different starter and do the storylines in whatever order you want.”
- “Not much incentive for replayability.”
- “There's no replayability, there's no desire to go back and maybe try something different.”
- “But replayability is 0.”
optimization
19 mentions
42 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while many players report smooth performance even on lower-end systems, others experience significant frame stuttering and poor optimization issues, particularly with post-processing effects. The visuals are generally praised for their quality, but some users feel that the game could have been better optimized for a wider range of hardware.
- “The game is optimized very well.”
- “Art style is great and the game runs smoothly on my not so great PC, so that's a plus.”
- “The performance is great too.”
- “Massive issue with frame stuttering.”
- “It seems to be a problem with the game being a giant, unoptimized piece of trash.”
- “Performance is poor with the post processing though.”
stability
12 mentions
58 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
42 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally praised, with smooth performance on both PC and Steam Deck. However, some users report occasional graphical bugs, such as shader issues and texture clipping, as well as input freezes when using the character swap menu. Despite these minor issues, many players find the game runs well and is enjoyable.
- “Glad to play it now, it runs great on Steam Deck.”
- “It runs great on PC and on the Steam Deck.”
- “The game runs great; I have a $40 processor and have had 0 issues with the game.”
- “There are some buggy graphics with the shaders and some floor textures clipping into each other.”
- “- Character swap menu freezes all inputs on multiple occasions if activated too quickly (5 forced restarts).”
- “Some of the effects are buggy, and can make dark dungeons difficult to explore.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy has been criticized as either a significant waste of resources or a blatant cash grab, with players feeling misled by marketing that suggested meaningful choices in character and path selection, which ultimately proved disappointing.
- “This was either a massive waste of resources or a cheap cash grab.”
- “Additionally, if you're like me and thought that the marketing and advertising about choosing your character or path meant anything, throw that out right now; it will only disappoint you.”