Octopath Traveler

 Switch
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 79 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 79
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 79
  3. Negative: 0 out of 79
Buy Now
Buy on
  1. Edge Magazine
    Aug 16, 2018
    70
    For better and worse, Octopath Traveler manages to evoke the games its creators grew up with, without ever quite matching the profusion of new ideas that made them so beloved in the first place. There's still much to enjoy here, but if Acquire had shared the courage of its protagonists' convictions, this could have been a journey worth making eight times over. [Issue#323, p.104]
    All this publication's reviews
  2. games(TM)
    Aug 9, 2018
    70
    Beautiful, but hampered by lackluster storytelling. [Issue#203, p.76]
    All this publication's reviews
  3. Gamer.no
    Aug 1, 2018
    70
    Octopath Traveler delivers incredible music and engaging gameplay, but the play structure sometimes becomes a bit tiring, even though the stories themselves are interesting.
  5. FANDOM
    Jul 12, 2018
    70
    Octopath Traveler is a gem of an RPG with genuinely brilliant battle mechanics and a world worthy of celebration, but it’s hamstrung by an ambitious structure that doesn’t suit its narrative ambition.
  6. RPG Site
    Jul 12, 2018
    70
    I really want to love Ocopath Traveler, but the messy nature of its story presentation is ultimately an enormous weakness. That stands out, but this game is also truly one of the most intriguing evolutions of the 'golden age' RPG formula out of Japan, managing to both build on and pay homage to the classics.
  7. Multiplayer.it
    Jul 12, 2018
    70
    As gorgeous as it looks and sounds, Octopath Traveler is a disjointed mess of different features, mechanics and narratives that kind of work individually but not really together.
  8. New Game Network
    Aug 8, 2018
    67
    If you’re just here for the combat and don’t mind a bad story, or if you’re looking to soak up the nostalgia of the golden age of the genre for hours on-end, there might be enough here to justify a purchase. It was perhaps too much to expect that Octopath Traveler would compete with the JRPG greats, as sadly it misses the mark in understanding the nuances of what made those titles so iconic.
  9. M3
    Aug 2, 2018
    60
    Octopath Traveler is a beautiful adventure that feels like the retro trip it desperately trying to be. But the design does very little to surprise us, the result being that the game starts to be very repetitive after ten hours or so.
  10. Slant Magazine
    Jul 19, 2018
    60
    For a game whose title seems to promise a winding journey of deep and dangerous discoveries, Octopath Traveler goes out of its way to put you on the most predictable and comforting of paths.
This publication does not provide a score for their reviews.
This publication has not posted a final review score yet.
These unscored reviews do not factor into the Metascore calculation.

In Progress & Unscored

?
  1. Eurogamer
    Jul 12, 2018
    Octopath Traveler is the kind of game that gets hand-waved aside as being for "the old school", but that's to overlook its charismatic innovations in battle and the curious, detached, even austere construction of its narrative. [Recommended]
  2. Giant Bomb
    Jul 12, 2018
    Quick Look...
  3. Kotaku
    Jul 12, 2018
    Octopath Traveler is a beautiful game with one of the best soundtracks I’ve heard. The combat system rocks and will hopefully be used in more Square Enix games to come. There are plenty of good ideas in here. But the game is too grindy, too repetitive, too full of structural problems to be viewed as much more than another botched JRPG experiment.
  5. Polygon
    Jul 12, 2018
    Every element of Octopath Traveler comes together brilliantly to create a refreshing take on the genre. While it channels the spirit of old favorites, it never feels derivative. It genuinely does feel like a 16-bit RPG that has evolved into something new rather than being mere nostalgia-bait.
  6. The Jimquisition
    Jul 20, 2018
    Octopath Traveler is exactly the kind of JRPG I’ve been needing. Yes please!
  7. The Verge
    Jul 12, 2018
    In almost every regard, Octopath Traveler has exactly what I want from a classic-style role-playing experience. It offers a huge world to explore, memorable characters to discover, challenging boss battles, and a complex series of systems that let you customize your explorers. And it’s a perfect fit for the Nintendo Switch, as you can absentmindedly grind for experience on the go and then soak in the beautiful visuals and soundtrack on your couch. It’s classic Final Fantasy reimagined for 2018. I just wish it felt more cohesive.
  8. Trusted Reviews
    Jul 12, 2018
    Octopath Traveler is a delightful JRPG that takes plentiful inspiration from the classics that inspired it while carving a new path with fun, inventive ideas I’ve never seen before. Its satisfying and methodical combat system is complimented by a world that’s brimming with life. Whether its through its sprawling cities of richly written characters, there’s plenty here for hardcore and casual fans of the genre to appreciate.
  9. VG247
    Jul 12, 2018
    A beautiful, challenging and often utterly brilliant throwback to the golden age of Japanese RPGs that somehow scuppers its chances of being a true classic through an ambitious but ultimately flawed narrative structure.

Awards & Rankings

51
#51 Best Switch Game of 2018
5
#5 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2018
5
#5 Most Shared Switch Game of 2018

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 1400 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1,136 out of 1400
  2. Mixed: 133 out of 1400
  3. Negative: 131 out of 1400
  1. MkSLee
    Jul 13, 2018
    10
    Played a fair amount of the game as of now. The character designs, stories, and graphics are what make Octopath Traveler the unique game thatPlayed a fair amount of the game as of now. The character designs, stories, and graphics are what make Octopath Traveler the unique game that it is. I have yet to complete the entire game but I am excited to dive further into the game and learn more about the different paths you take within the game. A must have for any JRPG fan and I highly recommend giving this game a try (Try the demo) even if you haven't played/like JRPGs. I'm sure it'll change your mind. A great quality game from a great quality company. Hope to see more gems like this in the future.… Full Review »
  2. Rtheom
    Jul 15, 2018
    6
    Unfortunately, the biggest flaw with this game is the fact that you're not playing 1 overaching story with 8 contributing paths, but 8Unfortunately, the biggest flaw with this game is the fact that you're not playing 1 overaching story with 8 contributing paths, but 8 parallel paths that really don't have much to do with each other and literally no interaction between the characters. You're not playing with a party of adventurers so much as a group of strangers silently hanging out together. In a game that gets half of its merit from story alone, this is a bit of a failure. The characters by themselves are fairly interesting with decent stories to them, but that just makes the lack of connection all the more frustrating.

    However, If you're looking for old school JRPG, that's what you're getting. But beware, there have been A LOT of "quality of life" upgrades RPGs have gained over the years that this game deliberately leaves out, to be more like the older games. Fights are very repetitive, menus are needlessly complex, the story is slow, and you're going to have to grind A LOT. If you're looking for all of that, which is what us older folks knew growing up, you'll be pleased. If you're a youngin' whipper snapper, this probably isn't the game for you. As an adult that grew up on these games with relatively little free time now, I'm torn. I want to like this, but I don't want to devote my life to it and the failing of the story to unite these individually interesting characters really ruins the momentum I had to play it. Buy at your own risk.    … Full Review »
  3. katieelizabeth
    Jul 13, 2018
    10
    This is the best RPG on Switch in 2018. I don't really get some of the professional critics... this game is a masterpiece. Everything is soThis is the best RPG on Switch in 2018. I don't really get some of the professional critics... this game is a masterpiece. Everything is so polished, and the game is amazing at what it does. The sprite work is amazing, the environments and HD effects (like snow, water, sand) are absolutely gorgeous. The writing and voice acting (when it shows up) is very good. The sound track is really one of the best sound tracks of the year.

    And damn, this combat system and character mechanics are so deeply layered and synergistic. This is by far one of the best JRPG battle systems ever. I mean, even 1-on-1 battles at the start of the game are interesting and exciting, and have some strategy to them. How many JRPGs can say that? You're never going to just be pressing A.

    The game is also really challenging as well. Octopath Traveler presents us with some of the BEST JRPG boss battles I've played in god knows how long! Even bosses 3-4 hours into the game are seriously epic in size and strategy to defeat them.

    And can you believe the game is open-world with tons of exploration and non-linear story progression? And did you know the game is 100 hours long?

    Overall, while so many things are the same and polished to a tee, much of the game is very different from JRPGs too, and that's a great thing - it feels modern and not just a remake of the days of yore on your SNES. Yes, the stories of the 8 characters might not tie into a whole, but that's okay - does every RPG have to have the same formula? Octopath Traveler had a vision, and it accomplishes what it set out to do perfectly. It's different, and different is good.

    This is easily going to end up somewhere in my top 10 games of the year. The game is awesome. And did I mention the soundtrack was the best this year? Seriously, that alone is a reason to play the game! It's that good!    … Full Review »
See all user reviews »