Octopath Traveler 0 is the third mainline entry in Square Enix’s HD-2D RPG series, Octopath Traveler. Unlike the first two games, however, this has a pretty different setup from what you might be used to. There’s quite a bit to get into here, so let’s jump straight in. Here’s everything you need to know about Octopath Traveler 0.
The Story and Setting
Just like in the first two games, Octopath Traveler 0 is set within the continent of Orsterra. The story begins in a town called Wishvale, located in the Woodlands region. However, due to plot things that have not yet been revealed to us, Wishvale gets completely destroyed.
Your player character — a resident of Wishvale — then embarks on a journey of revenge and restoration. You’re on a mission to get revenge on the people who destroyed Wishvale, while also rebuilding it in the process.
Character Customization
This is an exciting new feature that got revealed in the trailer. Octopath Traveler 0 will allow you to create your own character. In the previous two games, you could choose to play as any of the eight protagonists, but 0 lets you create one from scratch.
Customization options include gender, appearance, voice, motion, and according to Square Enix, even your favorite dish.
Over 30 Recruitable Characters and Eight-Character Parties
This is a huge change from the first two games. Outside of your player character, Octopath Traveler 0 will also allow you to recruit more than 30 characters to your roster. Previous games only limited you to eight, so I’m definitely interested in seeing how the game handles this many characters and how it’ll make them feel unique.
According to Square Enix, every character will have Path Actions as well. This was present in the first two games. For instance, the Thief job gets to Steal items, while the Merchant gets to buy items off NPCs.
In addition to that, the party size will increase from four to eight. There’s a front row (known as the vanguard) and the back row (known as the rearguard) with four characters each. You can either command the vanguard or the rearguard, and even move characters around. This has a lot of potential and could make combat feel even more dynamic.
BP Is Back
The iconic Break/Boost system is back in Octopath Traveler 0. Every turn, your characters get one BP (if they didn’t use any in their previous turn). BP can be used to charge up magic attacks to make them stronger, or let you use physical attacks multiple times in a single turn to potentially Break an enemy’s guard. BP can also be used to Boost other abilities and increase the potency of your buffs and debuffs.
It’s worth noting that all eight characters in the vanguard and rearguard will have their own BP for you to manage, which should make things more interesting.
Town-Building Elements
Yet another new feature to look forward to in Octopath Traveler 0 is the town-building system. This is also a journey of restoration, after all, and you’ll be tasked with rebuilding your settlement.
As you play through the game, you’ll get resources that can be used to invest in the settlement. You’ll be able to place buildings around a plot of land, decorate it with cosmetics, and also invite NPCs to come settle with you. In the trailer, we also got a glimpse of an info panel in the sidebar that stated that trade routes would be unlocked once we’ve made enough progress in a side story.
This suggests that side stories will be integral to the town-building experience and I, for one, am very eager to see what trade routes do. Can I have multiple settlements? Or maybe trade routes just allow me to ferry items and resources to my settlement from nearby towns?
Do You Need to Play Champions of the Continent?
Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent is a moblie game that Square Enix released some years ago. Octopath Traveler 0 draws quite a few elements from the mobile game, including the story setup and even the eight-character parties.
However, Square Enix states that you do not need to have played Champions of the Continent to enjoy this one. The script is new, complete with new narrative elements and backstories for the recruitable characters. Unlike Champions of the Continent, this game will also be fully voice acted.
Octopath Traveler 0 Release Date and Platforms
Octopath Traveler 0 will be available for the Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation, Xbox, and PC on Dec. 4, 2025.
If you’re looking to preorder the game, you can do so on PlayStation and PC. Physical editions for the Switch and Switch 2 are also available for preorder, but digital preorders aren’t available yet.
