Octopath Traveler Team's New IP Lands Solidly in the 80s — Launched June 18
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, a new action RPG from Square Enix and Claytechworks, launched simultaneously on PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on June 18, 2026. It marks the first time the team behind Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default has applied their signature HD-2D visual style to real-time action gameplay rather than turn-based combat. The first wave of reviews landed at 82 on Metacritic for PS5, 78 for PC, 79 for Switch 2, and 81 on OpenCritic with an 87% critic recommendation rate.
At a Glance
| Field | Details | |
|---|---|---|
| Game | The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales | |
| Developer | Square Enix, Claytechworks | |
| Publisher | Square Enix | |
| Release Date | June 18, 2026 | |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X\ | S, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Genre | Action / Adventure / RPG | |
| Price | $59.99 (€59.99) | |
| DRM | Denuvo Anti-tamper | |
| Controller Support | Full | |
| Voice Language | English, French, German, Japanese, etc. (Korean text only, no Korean voiceover) |
Developer Info
Square Enix self-publishes this title, co-developed with internal studio Claytechworks. The same team (Team Asano) behind Octopath Traveler and the Bravely Default series applied their HD-2D visual technique to real-time action combat for the first time, rather than the turn-based systems of their earlier work. The story follows adventurer Elliot and fairy companion Faie as they travel across four ages spanning a thousand years to lift a curse, supported by seven weapon types and a magicite customization system.
Platform Release Details
| Platform | Release Type | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| PC (Steam) | Digital | Prologue demo available, save data carries over to full game | |
| PC (Xbox App) | Digital | Simultaneous Xbox ecosystem launch | |
| PS5 | Digital/Physical | Physical preorders available | |
| Xbox Series X\ | S | Digital/Physical | Physical preorders available |
| Nintendo Switch 2 | Digital/Physical | Separate demo available |
Score Breakdown
| Outlet/Platform | Score | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic (PS5) | 82 (37 reviews) | Most stable optimization reported |
| Metacritic (PC) | 78 (16 reviews) | Resolution bugs, stuttering reported |
| Metacritic (Switch 2) | 79 (38 reviews) | Resolution/frame rate criticized |
| OpenCritic | 81 | Average |
| OpenCritic Recommend Rate | 87% | Critic recommendation |
| Cubed3 | 9/10 | "A must play for action RPG fans" |
| Vice | 9/10 (Best In Its Class) | "One of Square Enix's best original IPs in years" |
| Game-Meta | 8.5/10 | "A risk worth taking" |
Screenshots (Official Steam)
Key Review Quotes
""Make no mistake, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is a beautiful game top to bottom... a must play for action RPG fans." — Cubed3 (9/10)
""The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is one of Square Enix's best original IPs in years." — Vice (9/10)
""Critics are praising it as a flawless and solid action RPG, highlighting its refined HD-2D graphics... a compelling story that effectively supports its time-travel premise." — Inven Global
Drawbacks
| Drawback | Details |
|---|---|
| Price | $59.99 — criticized as steep for a new IP pixel-art game |
| Voice Language | English voiceover only; other languages text-only |
| Faie's Chatter | Companion fairy's frequent hint dialogue breaks immersion for some players |
| PC Optimization | Resolution setting bugs, stuttering in particle-heavy boss fights |
| Narrative Pacing | Some critics cite excessive dialogue slowing progression |
Community Reaction
Steam community sentiment is split between praise for the visuals and combat and frustration over price and language support.
- ▶"Playing the Switch 2 Demo. The game slaps (it's good)" — demo players generally praise the visuals and combat feel
- ▶Some users pushed back hard on price: "This game is more expensive than Dragon Quest 7 Reimagined... 340 BRL for a new IP pixel art game?"
- ▶A widely-discussed thread, "Cute game with great gameplay, but completely lacking in interest," raised concerns about thin NPC dialogue, repetitive fairy hints, and the weapon-wheel controls
- ▶Before launch, some players voiced concern over a "4 month pre order" with no demo, though a prologue demo was ultimately released, addressing part of the complaint
Buying Guide
| Profile | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| HD-2D visual fans | Strongly recommended — series-best visual polish |
| Skeptical of new IPs | Try the demo before buying |
| Players needing Korean/non-English voice | Caution — text-only localization in a dialogue-heavy RPG |
| Price-sensitive buyers | Consider waiting for a sale |
"Buy on Steam: store.steampowered.com/app/3483510
GamePeak Verdict
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is a rare strong launch for a brand-new Square Enix IP. The leap from HD-2D's turn-based roots to real-time action paid off with critics, and an 82 on PS5 Metacritic alongside 81 on OpenCritic is a solid showing for a first entry.
That said, the $59.99 price tag, lack of non-English voice acting, and Faie's repetitive hint dialogue are real friction points. HD-2D fans should try the demo first before committing to a purchase.
GamePeak Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5) — A polished debut for a new IP, held back by price and localization gaps