Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About December Xbox Release Octopath Traveler 0

It's sounding pretty darn good!

by Ben Kerry Wed 3rd Dec 2025

Here's What The Reviews Are Saying About December Xbox Release Octopath Traveler 0

The release schedule often dies down when it comes to big launches in the month of December, but 2025 has a few tricks still up its sleeve, including Square Enix's Octopath Traveler 0 - and the early reviews are starting to trickle in for this new JRPG.

So, we're going to round some of them up below to give you a flavour of what to expect from this new title. Octopath Traveler 0 arrives for Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S on December 4th!

Noisy Pixel (10/10)

"Regardless of its genre transformation, Octopath Traveler 0 is hands-down one of the best RPGs ever made. Its storytelling, characterizations, soundtrack, and densely interconnected gameplay loop are masterclass, even if it takes more than a little while for everything to click. Honestly, Square’s HD-2D output has been exceptional, and I’m eager to see where these efforts continue to grow."

Nintendo Life (9/10)

"In many ways, Octopath Traveler 0 feels like a ‘victory lap’ for the beloved series, remixing various elements that you’re familiar with from the past games while introducing some interesting new ones to spice things up a bit. Importantly, this prequel does not feel like a proper Octopath Traveler 3, but that doesn’t mean that it isn't still an incredibly good time and a much better JRPG than most genre peers."

Worth Playing (9/10)

"Octopath Traveler 0 might be a rebuild of a gacha game, but it's a fun, engaging and excellent stand-alone JRPG. There's no trace of the microtransactions and monetization, and what remains is a game that captures much of what makes the Octopath franchise so beloved. I expected something half-baked and got what might be my favorite entry in the franchise to date, and it's a title that I'd consider to be a must-play for fans of turn-based RPGs."

CGM (9/10)

"Ultimately, Octopath Traveler 0 offers the same strong JRPG experience fans expect, enhanced by a unique town-building mechanic and many hours of content, while remaining approachable for both new and returning players."

Console Creatures (8/10)

"Octopath Traveler 0 is a good prequel with stunning HD-2D graphics that stands shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the series. Taking what made the battle system great and adding a back row of four more party members to combat provides a new level of strategy. However, a mid-game difficulty spike is uneven in the big moments, so farming for better equipment breaks the pacing up to that point."

Push Square (7/10)

"Octopath Traveler 0 is a perfectly solid instalment in the Square Enix franchise, though its overwhelming familiarity will make large parts of it feel like a retread. Its town-building mechanic and expanded party system are smart expansions, and the move towards a single, centralised story is a benefit. However, Octopath Traveler 0 will still feel largely the same in an experience below that of its predecessors."

MonsterVine (3/5)

"While the combat system does feel like a significant improvement over the previous two games, the narrative doesn't come anywhere close to either of those experiences. Octopath Traveler 0 is still a solid turn-based RPG with great art and music, but it doesn't hold a candle to the other entries. It's impressive for an experience made by cobbling together a mobile experience, but knowing what it started as doesn't make it more than just fine."

At the time of writing, Octopath Traveler 0 has a Metacritic score of 85 and an OpenCritic rating of 83; both of which are very solid, we reckon. The new Square Enix title launches tomorrow, December 4th, and you can check out its Xbox tech specs down below!

Excited for this one? Talk to us about this December Xbox release down in the comments.

Ben is a News Writer at Pure Xbox, and is a fan of action, racing and straight-up shootin' in any Xbox game he can get his hands on. When he's not clutching an Xbox controller like his life depends on it, Ben spends his time listening to music that's far too old for him, watching football on the telly and probably eating somewhere.

1
somnambulance
Wed 3rd Dec 2025

If I was 25 years younger, this would be such a dream game, based on what I’ve read, but, man, that 100+ hour playtime makes it hard for me. I mean, I’ve still never beaten Persona 5 and I’ve tried. Believe me, I’ve tried. Long games are hard to beat. If 2026 has another drought like 2024 or 2025 though, I’ll get this on sale, I think. It looks fantastic.

2
jesse_dylan
Wed 3rd Dec 2025

Tough decision whether to buy it or wait and see if it goes game pass. I would have bought Octo 2 at release if it had been on Xbox. But when it finally did get there it was on game pass.

3
jesse_dylan
Wed 3rd Dec 2025

@somnambulance beating games is overrated. I’ve started just playing games til I quit, whether I finish or quit deliberately or accidentally quit and don’t come back.

That said, I have a habit of getting to the end of games and then stopping. That is a little frustrating…

I loved Octopath 2, but yes… it took me like three months. That’s not reasonable.

4
RadioHedgeFund
Wed 3rd Dec 2025

Now do final fantasy vi

5
BattleMonkey
Wed 3rd Dec 2025

I still have 1+2 to play 🤣

6
BattleMonkey
Wed 3rd Dec 2025

@jesse_dylan We are all different, i Love beating games 👍

7
jesse_dylan
Wed 3rd Dec 2025

@BattleMonkey me too, but if that’s a requirement I place on myself, I’ll play far fewer games, and continue playing games I’ve lost interest in at the expense of playing others

8
somnambulance
Wed 3rd Dec 2025

@jesse_dylan I don’t finish every game either, but I want to go in with the intention that I’m going to want to commit to finishing a game, you know? I do beat the majority of my games, but I also prefer my games to be 20-ish hour games because I know I’ll beat something like that in two weeks, play the next thing and so on and so forth. A long game’s gotta be REALLY special for me nowadays. Octopath 1 and 2 were both a little too long for what they were for me, personally, but, I mean, Triangle Strategy had me engrossed to the end. Realistically though, COVID was the last time I could easily commit to these styles of games without juggling.

If 2026 doesn’t bulk up soon though, there’s definitely room in the release schedule to hunker down and play something massive.

9
jesse_dylan
Wed 3rd Dec 2025

@somnambulance yeah I hear you. I just hate that not every hour is the best in such long games sometimes. It makes me indecisive, because if I start a long game willy nilly, I’m booked up for such a long time. I do really hate when I put a bunch of time into a game and don’t finish it.