Editor's note: this article summarizes published reviews, store data and community reception. GamePeak did not run its own playtest, so no GamePeak score is given.
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.