You’ll Want to Live in the Digiworld — Digimon Story Time Stranger Makes Iliad Feel Alive
Digimon Story Time Stranger launches on Oct. 2 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X. Developed by Media.Vision and published by Bandai Namco, the game mixes time travel, creature collection, and turn-based combat in a newly realized Digiworld called Iliad.
Game summary
Digimon Story Time Stranger is a single-player monster-taming RPG from Media.Vision. Players choose either the male protagonist Dan Yuki or the female protagonist Kanan Yuki, but the main plot remains the same for both choices. You play an agent of the investigation bureau ADAMAS who travels to a past timeline where Digimon are not widely known. Early in the story the player-character meets Inori Misono, and a rescued Elecmon later digivolves into Aegiomon.
Story and characters
The narrative is structured around three distinct threads: ADAMAS operations, Inori’s past, and the mysteries tied to Aegiomon. In addition, the plot involves a faction called the Titans, who seek to destabilize Digimon society and pursue revenge related to a historical curse. Key named Digimon that appear in world spaces include Zudomon, Pegasusmon, Lillymon, and Aegiomon.
World and exploration
The game’s main non-human setting is the Digiworld called Iliad. Regions in Iliad include the Gear Forest and the Abyss Area. Furthermore, the world uses Digimon as functional NPCs: for example, Locomon and Blipmon operate as transportation, Whamon can be used to traverse deep ocean areas, and Submarimon assists in strong currents. Human-side areas include parts of Shinjuku and a location called the In-Between Theater where Mirei Mikagura handles certain interactions.
Combat and mechanics
Battles are turn-based and rely on a layered rock-paper-scissors system. Contributing factors include Digimon type (such as Vaccine or Virus), damage type (physical or magical), and elemental affinities. Boss fights introduce a break bar that can be depleted to interrupt strong attacks. In addition, the game includes a quick, on-field attack that one-shots weak enemies to speed up grinding and scanning.
Regarding capture, enemies are scanned for data. Once a player obtains at least 100% of a monster’s data (with 200% listed as the maximum), that data can be converted into a recruitable Digimon.
Digivolution and training
Digivolution depends on several prerequisites. These can include specific attributes (for example, a stat threshold), character personality, or unique items such as DigiEggs. As concrete examples: Veemon can become ExVeemon if it reaches a certain Speed value, while Veemon can become Flamedramon if the player owns the DigiEgg of Courage. Players can trigger digivolution directly from the main menu.
Training and evolution preparation take place at the farm, which is accessed separately from the main campaign. Mirei Mikagura manages farm interactions at the In-Between Theater. Consequently, placing or removing Digimon and changing their training often requires returning to the farm area.
Release details
Release date: Oct. 2.
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox Series X.
Developer: Media.Vision.
Publisher: Bandai Namco.
Note: This title follows seven years after the previous Digimon Story entry in the series.
