OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 was an appointment at PAX West 2025 that I thought would have me completely out of my element—I don’t usually mesh well with turn-based combat—but instead I walked away a fan of the game and fully intend to jump into OCTOPATH TRAVELER II when I get home. I think OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 is a great entry point for new players, with so much content that veteran players will be satisfied.
To address the elephant in the room, OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 is not just a port of a mobile game. You won’t be faced with a gacha system, awkward controls or microtransactions. Square Enix has completely reworked Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent to make the game fun and functional for gameplay on Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S and PC. With that out of the way, let’s get on with my hands-on impressions of OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 on Nintendo Switch 2.
I’ve heard noise about people claiming this isn’t a proper “OCTO” game because there are over 30 characters to recruit. Instead, you have eight characters in your party in OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0. You recruit new members throughout the story and choose who to keep with you. This is where the gacha system was removed from the mobile title. You also begin the game with character creation, playing your own design rather than a pre-set model. Here you can alter your appearance and even your character’s voice.
“I thought OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 would have me completely out of my element—but instead I walked away a fan.”
The “0” in OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 comes from a few things. First, this story takes place before other games in the series, with the zero setting it as a prequel. It could also come from the fact that you start your journey in OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 on your own with no one in your party. You need to build your team from scratch, starting at square one. These are some of the major differences between this game and past games, and will likely take flak from previous players; however, as a newcomer, I think a bit of a refresh could do them some good.
The other new addition to the OCTOPATH series is OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0’s Town Build System. Just like you build your party, you will need to build the new zone called Wishvale. This is where your team will reside, and as you recruit new members, you will ask them to relocate to Wishvale as well. I was able to play around in this new mode in a small area and was pleased with the customization options. Wishvale also serves as a location to farm, raise livestock, and gain ingredients for cooking.
From what I saw in my short demo, I was able to place a House, Large Houses (they can hold a different number of people), Workshop, Hub, Fields, Ranch and Salon. Some buildings, like the hub, have a limit on how many you can have at any one time. Buildings can also be customized using different styles. This can change the colour of the roof and building, or even the facade of the building. Buildings can also be upgraded, though I wasn’t far enough to see what the upgrades offered. My guess would be more people in houses, more crops in fields or more animals in the ranch, like most other games with these mechanics.
“Octopath Traveler 0 looked great on the Nintendo Switch 2 and sounded impressive, with full voice acting.”
There are also decorations you can place around, and special decorations like the Tome of Records and Harvest Box that have limits, too. Everything you build comes from the materials you gather on your journey, like stone, lumber, cloth, and flowers. Paths are the only exception, where they don’t cost any materials, and there are several to choose from to customize your area.
A great feature OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 implemented, which more games with building mechanics should take note of, was the ability to hold down a button (ZR on the Nintendo Switch 2) to continuously build. I love some quality-of-life assistance! When you build in Wishvale, there doesn’t appear to be any build time that I saw, and items/buildings were functional instantly, but this could have been just a part of the demo build.
As far as standard gameplay goes, Octopath Traveler 0 plays very similarly to other Octopath games with its Break & Boost battle system. Classes I had access to and could add to my party included Warrior, Architect, Hunter, Merchant, Apothecary, Scholar, Cleric, Dancer and Thief. In battle, you can swap between weapons for each party member and choose from skills and learned abilities. For instance, the Warrior learned Spearhead and the Architect learned First Aid, giving them access to different moves and weapons.
The only element that could pose a problem for players in Octopath Traveler 0 is the size of the party. Although it preserves the “Octo” in the franchise, fighting with all eight members can make battles lengthy. Some people may find this tedious. On the other hand, if you enjoy combat and being directly involved in gameplay, it could be ideal.
Octopath Traveler 0 looked great on the Nintendo Switch 2 and sounded impressive, with full voice acting. I think it could be an excellent starting point for players who enjoy turn-based combat but are not yet familiar with the lore of the series. Veteran players will also benefit from the wealth of content in this reimagining. Fortunately, the wait will not be long: the game releases Dec. 4, 2025.
