2018’s Octopath Traveler was a surprise hit for Square Enix when it launched as a Nintendo Switch exclusive. The game combined familiar elements from SNES-era JRPGs with fresh mechanics and storytelling while introducing the HD-2D graphical style (now a staple of the company’s games and remakes). Square Enix followed this up with Champions of the Continent, a mobile prequel that provided a simplified version of Octopath‘s gameplay and gacha elements.
Now, Octopath is getting a full-fledged sequel in the form of Octopath Traveler II, which looks to bring back what fans loved about the original while making some changes to elements that were more widely criticized. While the game was just recently announced, there’s quite a bit to be gleaned from its first trailer. Here’s what we know about Octopath Traveler II so far.
Octopath Traveler II’s Trailer
Octopath Traveler II was announced with a trailer featured during the September 2022 Nintendo Direct. This showed off the new cast of characters and their setting, Solistia. Square Enix then posted a release date trailer, which went a bit further into some characters and game mechanics, while also announcing the platforms the game will launch on.
What Is Octopath Traveler II About?
Like its predecessor, Octopath Traveler II follows eight travelers, each on their own journey to find what they need. The game is bringing back the eight base classes from the original and CotC, and like in the first game, the traveler’s names spell out “OCTOPATH.” Here’s what we know about them:
- Osvald: a Scholar who travelers to exact his revenge on a man who “took everything” from him
- Castti: an Apothecary with amnesia who seeks to rediscover herself
- Throné: a Thief searching for freedom from a tyrant called “Mother”
- Ochette: a Hunter who’s on a journey to hunt down legends
- Partitio: a Merchant whose goal is to eliminate poverty from the world
- Agnea: a Dancer who wants to become a star “just like Mama”
- Temenos: a Cleric seeking truth who says “doubt is what I do”
- Hikari: a Warrior prince from a nation at war who travels to find allies and bring peace to his homeland.
Already, it’s clear this new cast is distinct from the original eight, with Agnea’s quest for stardom being a major departure from Primrose’s goal of revenge and Temenos’ philosophical approach to his faith contrasting Ophilia’s more traditional pilgrimage.
Also new is Octopath Traveler II‘s setting. In addition to taking place on a new continent that’s more culturally diverse, the game is set during an industrial revolution that includes taller cities and trains. It’s not clear how or if Solistia connects to Orsterra, the setting of Octopath Traveler and CotC, though mentions of “the Flame” indicate the two share a major religion. Regardless of whether or not there are Easter eggs or connecting lore, Octopath Traveler II is a stand-alone game, so it’s a perfect starting point for those new to the series.
What We Know About Octopath Traveler II (So Far)
As far as gameplay is concerned, Octopath Traveler II seems to be keeping most aspects of the original intact, though it is adding some new mechanics. The most notable so far is the day/night system, which impacts each traveler’s path actions. The trailer shows the Warrior Hikari challenging a citizen during the day, just like Olberic from the first game. However, at night, he has the ability to bribe people for information, which seems to be a twist on Cyrus and Alfyn’s path actions.
So far, the trailers have not mentioned noble or rogue path actions, which impacted how NPCs reacted to failed attempts. Hikari’s in particular seems to have one noble and one rogue action, which may mean the day/night cycle replaces the designation or that characters won’t be defined by one or the other.
The sequel also seems to be addressing one of the major issues players had with the first Octopath: a lack of interaction between the travelers. While many praised the game’s individual stories and the true final boss did bring all the travelers together, there were only a handful of interactions between the characters themselves, all of which were easy to miss and has no bearing on the plot. In contrast, the trailer emphasizes intertwining stories and even shows travelers talking to one another in the overworld.
There are a handful of other new features as well, such as sailing and ship combat (which humorously puts each traveler into a little boat for battles). As for combat, the Break and Boost system is back with a new twist: Latent Power. This is a new gauge that fills as players attack and break foes. Once full, players can unleash a powerful attack, making it especially useful during boss fights.
When Does Octopath Traveler II Release?
While the original Octopath Traveler took quite a while from its announcement to its first demo to its eventual release, fans don’t have to wait that long for Octopath Traveler II. The game is slated to launch on Feb. 24, 2023 on Nintendo Switch, Steam, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. While no Xbox version has been announced, it’s possible the game will get a port, as the original is on Game Pass.
Fans can preorder the game now, and those who do so digitally will receive the “Travel Provisions” bonus content, which consists of various in-game consumables to help players get started. There is also a physical Collector’s Edition Set available for PS4, PS5, and Switch exclusively on Square Enix’s website, which includes the game, busts of each traveler, a 44-page art book, and a CD with extended versions of the game’s battle tracks.
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