Digimon Story Time Stranger – Demo First Impressions

Digimon Story Time Stranger Summary

Digimon Story Time Stranger is a sequel to 2017 Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth Hacker’s Memory video game. The plot is about two investigators Kanan and Dan Yuki. Both siblings are agents to investigate Digimon and humans’ activities. The game is developed by Media. Vision who known for Wild Arms series and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. Producer Kazumasa Habu stated that “Time Stranger is a completely new Digimon Stoy project and not to dampen the fans’ enthusiasm”. While I am still playing Hacker’s Memory, I played demo of Time Stranger last week. Time Stranger is a step ahead of previous Digimon games. Players can choose between Dan and Kana Yuki, depending on the choice. In demo, you have to investigate a construction site where there is a Digimon war.

While underground deepening on who player ‘s choice, you can choose three starters Digimon, Devimon, Patamon and Gomamon. Each Digimon has their pros and cons based on different types. In battle, you can analyze, attack, use cross arts and change in mid-battle. Protagonist meets other characters throughout the demo like Girl that Need to Be Protected and Minervamon. While traveling, you can use your Digivice to convert Digimon, Digivolution and load them to level up. You can change outfits and find materials to sell as well. Unlike Hacker’s Memory, there are no random encounters but operate like Persona 5 and Tales of Series. Players can use pre-emptive strikes to destroy Digimon or battle them for exp. Digimon Time Stranger is straightforward with its story. Surely, fans who played past Digi-story games will know.

More about Gameplay

Those strikes are called Digistrikes, which you can also break door and treasure box as well. During the demo, you will encounter bosses like Metal Greymon (Blue) and Kuwagamon. Don’t forget about artfical Digimon and shadow-beings that hinder the protagonist progress. In demo, you can help Digimon like Biyomon, who helps protagonist fly through spaces. Just like Hacker’s Memory, protagonists can help solve cases like finding Man with Glasses daughter. Afterwards, that’s basely the demo of Digimon Time Stranger. The gameplay is a huge improvement of Hacker’s Memory and takes it a step further. Yes, you have endless grinding and have use Digilab for converting along with having a Digifarm from last game.

In the full version, they might have something similar but make it little easier. My main problem with Hacker’s Memory is expensive farming goods and Eden dungeons getting repetitive. In Time Stranger, you Digivice will tell you different coordinates and what Digimon can Digivolve without going to a lab. Sometimes, I get items that don’t do anything for Digimon because there over 100 of them. How can I equip items to 100 Digimon that’s not going to happen. I am used to playing JRPGs with limited playable characters that I know I can level up with. Digimon games is another story, but I still had fun with demo as always. Time Stranger takes inspiration from other Japanese role-playing games that I enjoy. Surely, there is grinding for exp will drain you. I like this game more than any Pokemon game out there.

Digimon Story Time Stranger Thoughts

I love the anime opening that three main protagonists during intro. Yet, I haven’t met the Digimon boy in the demo. Probably, in the retail version of the game but did see him in trailer in Summer Game Fest 2025. I am not a huge fan of Digimon, but I watched tv shows back in early 1990s. Protagonist outfits remind me Kamen Rider during Tokusatsu days and Kanan us armed with a blaster. In the demo, there is mention of Digi-eggs as well. Graphic looks flesh out and vibrant that takes huge step from pervious game. The game didn’t feel limited anyway, but developers know that there is room for improvement. During my playthrough of the game, I had no issues with the game. It felt like a walk in the park for me because my experience with Hacker’s Memory.

I don’t expect this game to be ground-breaking, but still Digi-fans will be excited for this installment. Digimon will bond with you and travel alongside on an adventure. I don’t know what the full version will have but hope to watch a content creator or streamer try it out. For me, I am waiting until the price drops instead of $59.99 or 39.99 for Time Stranger because I have budget issues. In this game, you will be doing a lot of “Peppy Breath” or “Air Shots” to level up your Digimon. I am used to playing grindy jrpgs in my time. Time you help from Dan or Kanan to complete your mission or objectives. Therefore, If you’re new to Digimon Story series, there is tutorial that can help along the way. In the city, you can hear what people are saving in their daily lives.

Closing

Thus, making Time Stranger a must-have in your jrpg collection. Digimon Story Time Stranger demo was not bad and found myself playing it in 1-hour. Which that’s how long the demo was, I have to say this. Time Stranger burrow some elements from Digimon Data Squad like artfical Digimon like Akihiro Kurata had. What is going on with Digimon lately? You will have to see the retail version, and I forgot about dialogue option as well. What are your thoughts on Digimon Story Time Stanger demo, and have you played it? Digimon Time Stranger will be released on October 3, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and PC. I don’t know if it will come to Nintendo Switch 2 yet. because they might add it later. Thank you for reading this blogpost and Tune into the next article from yours truly.