In and amongst the madness of this week's Xbox Game Pass news, we've got a big new release from Bandai Namco on the way in just a few hours' time - a monster-taming RPG in the form of Digimon Story Time Stranger.
This game has been getting good feedback for a while now thanks to its free demo, which you can still access on the Xbox Store right now if you're interested (your save data can also be transferred over to the main game).
Those positive vibes extend to the reviews as well, with Digimon Story Time Stranger currently sitting on a 78 average rating for PS5 (based on 37 reviews) and an 80 average rating for PC (based on 12 reviews) over on Metacritic. It seems very few (if any) review codes were distributed for the Xbox version ahead of time though.
Here's what some of those reviews are saying about Digimon Story Time Stranger:
Noisy Pixel (9/10)
"Digimon Story Time Stranger is a standout entry in the Digimon franchise, blending rich storytelling with an expansive Digivolution system that rewards strategy and patience. Set across dual timelines, the game introduces emotionally engaging characters, deep combat mechanics, and a highly customizable team-building experience that longtime fans and newcomers alike can appreciate."
Destructoid (8.5/10)
"Digimon Story: Time Stranger is probably one of the best Digimon games ever to grace modern-day audiences and feels like it was made for the hardcore fan of the series that have played through every previous entry. It has a stunning amount of Digimon to find and train, and feels like a labor of love. In doing so, however, it somewhat alienates the core non-Digimon fan and the casual player, as many of the mechanics and story elements are challenging for those unfamiliar with the series. Even storied veterans might struggle to balance everything on offer here."
IGN (8/10)
"Digimon Story: Time Stranger builds on its predecessors to deliver one of the best Digimon RPGs to date. It has a much more engaging story this time around thanks to its clever time travel setup and a charismatic and lively cast of Digimon characters. Even though its human cast pales in comparison, it didn’t stop me from wanting to see this time-hopping adventure all the way through its roughly 30-40 hours campaign."
CGM (7.5/10)
"Digimon Story Time Stranger is a must-play for fans of the source material that is ultimately held back on consoles due to performance issues, making it best reserved for PC players."
Hardcore Gamer (3.5/5)
"Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a fun game with interesting gameplay mechanics that are unfortunately held back by simple enemy encounter design. Thankfully, the fun mechanics and respect for the concept of Digimon will still make this an enjoyable title for fans of the franchise. If you're craving a new story starring these beloved creatures, then you can't go wrong with picking this up."
Push Square (6/10)
"If Digimon Story Time Stranger just sat back and allowed its largely fantastic RPG systems to breathe, it could be counted amongst the finest of Digimon games. But instead, it gets bogged down in disappointingly linear design that limits combat and party-based progression at almost every turn."
If you're interested in picking it up, Digimon Story Time Stranger is available to pre-order on the Xbox Store at a price of £54.99 / $69.99, and it'll be going live late on October 2nd / early October 3rd depending on where you're located.
And again, don't forget about that demo! You may as well try it for free before committing to anything.