Digimon Story: Time Stranger Preview—Surreal Worlds and Tactical Depth

Digimon’s back—and it’s not here to play nice. Time Stranger is the latest entry in the monster-taming RPG series, and based on my hands-on preview, it’s shaping up to be a genre-blending fever dream of underground Tokyo chaos, shimmering digital landscapes, and existential conversations with your pet Leomon. Yes, really.

Launching October 3 on PS5, Time Stranger doesn’t just evolve the franchise—it mutates it. In the best way.

Welcome to ADAMAS: Where Tokyo Is Broken and the Digital World Is Beautifully Unhinged

You start as Dan or Kanan Yuki (your choice, but it’s mostly cosmetic), a field agent for ADAMAS—a secret org tasked with fixing anomalies that are warping reality. Your first mission? Investigate a glitchy nightmare in Shinjuku that quickly escalates from “weird office vibes” to “skyscraper battle with rogue Digimon.”

Then the game flips the switch. You’re dropped into the Abyss Area, a kaleidoscopic slice of the Digital World that feels like Studio Ghibli met Evangelion and decided to throw a rave. MarineAngemon is leading a choir. Pools shimmer. Rocks glow. It’s unapologetically surreal, and it works.

Yes, It Gets Dark—And That’s the Point

Digimon’s always flirted with deeper themes, but Time Stranger leans in hard. Even in the preview, there were hints of interspecies war, societal pressure, and mental health struggles. One moment, you’re helping Shellmon navigate agoraphobia. Next, you’re decoding the ethics of bravery with Dinohyumon. It’s layered, it’s weirdly tender, and it’s not afraid to ask big questions.

But Don’t Worry—You Can Still Ride Your Digimon

For every heavy moment, there’s a dose of Saturday morning chaos. Your Digimon have idle animations, you can collect costumes and cards, and yes—you can ride them. Watching your agent hop onto Leomon’s shoulder and sprint through a neon wasteland? Peak serotonin.

Combat Is Familiar—Until It Isn’t