Bandai Namco and developer Media.Vision unveiled extensive new details about the upcoming Digimon Story: Time Stranger at Digimon Con 2025. The game, which was announced in February, marks the first new entry in the Digimon Story series in a decade, following the beloved Cyber Sleuth titles.

Story and Setting

The game takes place in both the Human World and the Digital World, with the protagonist serving as an agent of ADAMAS, a secret organization specializing in investigating anomalous phenomena. After encountering an unknown Digimon in a government-sealed Shinjuku district, the protagonist is caught in a mysterious explosion and awakens eight years in the past.

Players will pursue the mystery of an impending world collapse while searching for a way to prevent it, experiencing a narrative that explores the complex intertwining of opposing elements: past and future, the Human World and Digital World, and humans and Digimon.

The Human World portions will be centered primarily in Shinjuku and Akihabara, recreated with greater scale and detail than previous titles to maximize immersion. The Digital World, called “Iliad” in the game, features Central Town as the adventure hub, filled with Digimon residents and useful shops.

Unlike previous Cyber Sleuth games where Digital World visits were limited, Time Stranger will feature frequent trips to Iliad. The game implements a symbol encounter system where players battle enemy Digimon by touching them in the environment.

Characters and Digimon

Digimon Story: Time Stranger offers players the choice between two protagonists: Dan Yuki and Kanan Yuki, both agents of the secret organization ADAMAS. Unlike previous entries in the series, the character not chosen will actively participate in the story as the player’s operator, providing instructions and advice from headquarters throughout the adventure.

The game also introduces Inori Misono, a kind-hearted high school girl with a mysterious past who joins the protagonist on their journey. Accompanying Inori is her partner Digimon, Aegiomon, who plays a crucial role in the story and serves as an additional battle member for the player’s team.

At the beginning of the game, players will select one of three starter Digimon—Patamon, Gomamon, or DemiDevimon—as their initial companion. The Olympos XII, a powerful group of 12 Digimon who protect the Digital World: Iliad with strength rivaling that of the Royal Knights, will also feature prominently in the narrative.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger boasts the largest roster in the series’ history with over 450 Digimon to train, collect, and evolve, significantly surpassing the 250 Digimon in Cyber Sleuth and the combined 330 from Cyber Sleuth and Hacker’s Memory.

Development Details

The game features character designs by Suzuhito Yasuda (known for Yozakura Quartet and Durarara!! illustrations) and boss character designs by Oh! great (of Tenjho Tenge and Air Gear fame). The music is being composed by Masafumi Takada, who worked on previous Digimon Story titles.

The development team has paid special attention to creating immersive environments that enhance the storytelling experience, with each area in Iliad incorporating gear motifs that hold significant meaning within the game’s narrative. Digimon Story: Time Stranger is scheduled for release in 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, and PC via Steam.