The Octopath Traveler series has carved out a special place in the JRPG world since its debut. During Tokyo Game Show 2025, we got the first chance to preview and experience Octopath Traveler 0 and what might be the biggest changes the series has seen yet.

With its stunning HD-2D art style and classic turn-based combat, the Octopath Traveler series brought back the feel of 16-bit JRPGs while adding modern polish. The series has grown from its original eight-hero format to include mobile games and spin-offs, building a dedicated fanbase who appreciate its blend of old-school design and contemporary presentation.

Now, Square Enix is taking the series in a new direction with Octopath Traveler 0, a prequel that promises to shake up the familiar formula.  After spending about 1.5 hours with the PS5 demo, it’s clear this isn’t just another Octopath game with a different coat of paint. From character creation to expanded party sizes to town-building mechanics, Octopath Traveler 0 introduces systems that could change how players experience this world.

The demo was split into two parts – a brief character creation segment and a longer gameplay showcase that revealed the scope of these changes. The question isn’t whether these additions work individually, but whether they come together to create something that feels both fresh and true to what made the original games special.

Create Your Own Hero

The biggest change from previous games is character creation. Instead of picking from eight preset heroes, you now design your own protagonist from scratch. You can customize their appearance and choose starting Jobs, making this adventure feel more personal than before. The opening is straightforward – your character wakes up at home, has a brief chat with their mother, and then heads out to start their journey. It’s a simple beginning that focuses on getting you into the action quickly.

Combat gets a major upgrade with the ability to bring eight characters into battle at once. The party splits into frontline and backline rows, opening up new tactical options. You can swap characters based on enemy weaknesses – whether you need sword, bow, fire, or ice attacks – making each fight feel more strategic.

The classic Break & Boost system returns but feels more dynamic with a full eight-person team. You’ll still exploit enemy weaknesses to break through their defenses, but now you need to think about formation strategy too. Who should attack? Who should defend? Who stays in the back to heal? A helpful 2x battle speed option keeps encounters moving at a good pace, which is especially useful when you’re managing more characters than ever before.

Ultimate Attacks and Building your Team and Home

Ultimate Abilities add dramatic moments to combat. During the demo, the protagonist’s ultimate summoned a massive sword strike that dealt heavy damage to enemies. These powerful moves give battles extra impact when you need them most. The game includes over 30 recruitable characters, each with their own job, background, and role in your party. While the demo only showed a handful, this variety should give players plenty of options for building their ideal team.

A new Settlement System adds another layer to the adventure. Early in the story, your protagonist’s home gets destroyed, and part of your journey involves rebuilding and expanding it. You can construct different buildings like shops or training grounds that provide gameplay benefits. Assigning characters to these buildings improves both your settlement and your party relationships. This creates a sense of progression beyond just leveling up – you’re literally building a home base that grows with your adventure.

First Impressions

From this preview, Octopath Traveler 0 feels like a natural evolution of the series. The character creation and eight-person parties give players more control over their experience, while the settlement system adds a new way to engage with the world. Combat remains tactical and satisfying, with the increased party size opening up fresh strategic possibilities.

The demo showed enough to suggest that longtime fans will find familiar comfort in the HD-2D art style and turn-based combat, while newcomers get a more personalized entry point through character creation. How these systems work together in the full game remains to be seen, but this first look suggests Square Enix is building on the series’ strengths while adding meaningful new features.