I’ve been putting off playing Octopath Traveler 2 ever since I finished the first one on my Switch — and honestly, I really wish I hadn’t waited. This game was a full-on experience from start to finish, and after 25 years of playing RPGs (going all the way back to the Sega Genesis), this easily lands in my top 10 of all time.


Let’s get the not-so-great stuff out of the way first — and thankfully, there isn’t much:

- This is a JRPG with pretty much no puzzles. For some folks, that’s a big deal since puzzles can really help with engagement. The few that are here basically boil down to having a specific character in your party and using the right item. Most “puzzles” are tied to side quests, like finding a certain item or guiding someone to another NPC. That’s about it.
- The dungeons are kind of a letdown. They’re super linear — you mostly just head straight for the marker while grabbing any chests you see along the way.
- The cutscenes can drag a little sometimes. Characters will occasionally repeat things that were already said, either by themselves or someone else. It doesn’t happen constantly, but when it does, it can feel like filler.
- If you don’t like random encounters, be warned: this game has a lot of them. Until you get the Scholar job (or the character who starts with it) and unlock the skill to reduce encounters, you’ll be running into battles pretty often.

That’s really it for the downsides. Now for the good stuff...


- Hands down, the best part of this game is the music. Every single track feels like it was made with care and love, perfectly matching the setting and emotion of the moment. I’m a huge sucker for video game soundtracks, and this one absolutely blew me away — from the very first scene to the final battle. Song of Hope, Those Who Deny the Dawn, Critical Clash 2, The Winterlands Day... just, wow. I’d honestly put this up there with the likes of Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 6. Every piece just fits so well.
- The visuals are gorgeous for a 2D game made in 2023. I wouldn’t recommend playing it above 1080p since pixel art tends to blur when blown up, but man, the sprite work, attack animations, and backgrounds are all beautiful. Combat especially looks amazing with its flashy effects and clean transitions.
- Compared to the first game, the story in Octopath 2 is a big step up. One of the biggest complaints about the original was that the 8 character stories didn’t really connect in any meaningful way. This time, we get “crossed paths” — character pairings with unique storylines that tie into the bigger picture. They add so much context and emotional depth, and they help everything come together in the end. There’s still a lot of individual stories, but it feels like there’s more weight behind them now. Pay attention to the details — they matter more than you might think later on.
- Combat is smooth and even better than the first game. If you liked the break/boost system before, it’s back — but this time there are Latent Powers, more item variety, and cool armor and weapons that add unique effects. The new job classes are awesome, and the secret ones are super fun to discover and play around with.
- The difficulty is just right — it can be tough if you want it to be, or easier if you manage your party well. Toward the end of each character’s story, things really ramp up, and the final boss is no joke. There’s even a super tough secret boss if you’re up for the challenge. If you over-level, sure, you can steamroll some parts — but later on, raw levels won’t save you. You’ll need strategy.

Overall, I had an amazing time with this game. The music is phenomenal, the visuals are a joy to look at, and the story — if you’re paying attention — will pull you in and keep you hooked. If you love turn-based RPGs, especially the retro-style ones, Octopath Traveler 2 is a MUST BUY.