I came into Digimon Story Time Stranger already excited. Trailers and previews gave me flashes of a Digimon game I once played during a summer at my relatives’ house. I spent every waking moment of those two weeks trying to beat it — though I never did.

I don’t even remember which Digimon World title it was, but I was hooked. My aunt used to call me out for playing before I’d even had breakfast. That memory stayed with me, and this new entry in the franchise instantly felt like a chance to relive it.

I’ve had less time than I’d like with the game since getting the review code, so think of this more as a review-in-progress. But I’ve played enough to know it’s worth talking about.

Time travel and the inferno

The story sends your protagonist eight years into the past. Your role is to unravel the events that led to the “Shinjuku Inferno,” a catastrophe that left the world in ruins.

Not rolling credits yet actually helps here since it keeps things spoiler-free. What I can say is that there’s enough happening in the early hours to keep you intrigued. Things ramp up gradually. The mystery of what caused the Inferno pushes you along, and the more you progress, the more you want to connect the dots.

The characters I’ve encountered so far didn’t immediately latch on to me. I couldn’t fully identify with or feel invested in them. That does dampen how eager I am to move forward with their arcs, but it doesn’t take away from the pull of the central mystery. The looming Inferno itself is strong enough to keep you curious.

The joy of collecting

The monster-collecting gameplay loop is the real hook here — it’s addicting and built for completionists.

You begin by picking your first Digimon partner. From there, the system opens up. Every time you battle a Digimon, you add to your scan percentage of that species. At 100% you can convert it into a new companion, but waiting until you’ve scanned 200% guarantees you’ll get the Digimon at its max possible stats.

Digivolution is the next big mechanic. Each Digimon has multiple evolution paths that depend on its stats and level. For example, a Koromon can evolve into Agumon, Guilmon, Dracomon, and more. This branching evolution system encourages experimentation. You can also go backward through de-Digivolution, which not only helps with strategic flexibility but also lets you work toward completing your full Digimon compendium.

If your roster starts to get crowded, you can fuse duplicates to enhance another Digimon or break them down into digital currency. It’s another loop that feeds back into progression.

With over 450 Digimon available, there’s more than enough here for players who love collecting, refining, and tweaking their party until it’s perfect. The loop is layered and rewarding — not just about “catching them all,” but about shaping the collection into something uniquely yours.

Strategy meets nostalgia

Combat in Digimon Story Time Stranger doesn’t try to be revolutionary, but it’s polished and layered enough to feel engaging. If you’ve played JRPGs from the late ‘90s and early 2000s, this will feel instantly familiar.

Dungeons are where you’ll encounter hostile Digimon. By pressing R2 (on PS5), you can attack first to gain the upper hand. If your party completely overpowers the enemy, you’ll defeat them instantly. Otherwise, you’ll be pulled into the turn-based battle arena.

The backbone of combat is the type triangle: Data beats Vaccine, Vaccine beats Virus, Virus beats Data. On top of that, elemental affinities add another wrinkle to keep you on your toes.

Your bond level with your Digimon plays a big role too. The closer you are to them, the more likely they are to perform quick follow-up attacks. These little assists can swing momentum in your favor and give combat a more dynamic flow.

There are also quality-of-life touches that stand out. You can swap party members mid-battle without losing a turn, which makes tactical adjustments painless. And with a flick of the right analog stick, you can speed up combat animations — a small feature that makes grinding far more bearable.

The system feels like a culmination of mechanics you might have seen in Persona 5 and Shin Megami Tensei. It’s not redefining the genre, but it knows what works and sharpens it in smart ways.

A Saturday morning cartoon come to life

What struck me most about Time Stranger is that it feels like playing a Saturday morning cartoon. From the colors to the tone to the music, the whole package captures that vibe.

The anime-inspired visuals are sharp and bright, with Digimon designs that pop. I also had a personal chuckle at the protagonist customization options — the red-haired male and short-haired female were exactly how I might’ve designed them myself.

The soundtrack deserves mention too. It changes with each location, sometimes even from room to room in the same house. Every track is thoughtfully matched to the scene and the mood.

There’s also optional DLC music. The pricing feels a little steep, but seeing Butter-fly from Digimon Adventure included was almost enough to convince me. It’s one of my all-time favorite anime songs, and hearing it in the game would push the nostalgia factor even higher.

Is Digimon Story Time Stranger your GameMatch?

Playing Digimon Story Time Stranger has felt like reliving that summer memory — the excitement of discovery, the satisfaction of raising Digimon, and the pull of wanting to see what comes next.

It isn’t trying to reinvent anything, and that’s part of its charm. Instead, it offers a polished, nostalgia-driven JRPG that rewards the time you sink into it. The story pulls you in even without a standout cast. The monster-collecting systems are rich and addictive. The combat strikes a balance between old-school comfort and modern convenience.

For me, it became a welcome contrast. I had just come from another game’s bloody revenge quest, yet I felt just as thrilled hopping into this time-traveling, monster-collecting adventure. One scratched my itch for grit. The other gave me wonder and comfort.

If you ever spent a summer glued to a Digimon game, this will take you back instantly. And if you’re new to the franchise, there’s more than enough depth here to keep you invested.

Verdict: It’s a Swipe Right.