Waiting for a game can be hard. You sit there in fevered anticipation, watching the clock sloooowly tick tock away. Hours stretch into days, days feel like years, and you ponder to yourself: “If only I could play the game early.”

Well, Octopath Traveler fans (and those of you who are Octopath-curious), here’s some welcome news. A new demo for Octopath Traveler 0 is available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox for PC today!

This generous slice of the game lets you play through the opening of the game up to a certain point, or for up to three hours depending on how you play. And yes, progress does carry over to the main game, so when Octopath Traveler 0 releases on December 4, 2025, you’ll be able to carry on exactly where you left off!

But what can you expect from this demo – and the game itself? Read on, and we’ll tell you all about it.

What is Octopath Traveler 0?

Octopath Traveler 0 is an epic RPG that tells a tale of retribution and restoration. You play as a resident of the town of Wishvale, a beautiful settlement in the verdant Woodlands region. But your idyllic home is suddenly destroyed, as red flames burn it to cinders. In the aftermath, you set off on an epic journey across the land of Orsterra. Your goal: to find and bring to justice those responsible – and perhaps even restore your hometown in the process.

The game offers a fresh new take on the Octopath Traveler experience. Instead of eight protagonists, with their own distinct narratives, you create your own hero, choosing your own look and style.

As you travel the world, you’ll be able to recruit more than 30 potential allies and invite them to live in your town – each with their own stories to discover. You can use these allies in thrilling turn-based battles that use the series’ acclaimed Break & Boost system.

What’s in the Demo?

The new demo lets you play through the start of the game – so you can essentially start your adventure now ahead of the full release on December 4.

The game features three main antagonists– known as ‘masters’ of certain influences – and you can play through their story arcs in any order you like. The demo includes the first chapter of all three ‘Master of’ stories, as well as the first chapter of the ‘Kindlers of the Flame’ story, which introduces the restoration of Wishvale and the town building mechanics.

You can play through these chapters, or for three hours – whichever comes first.

Create Your Character and Experience the Explosive Intro

One of the first things you’ll do in the game is create your main protagonist. You’ll pick from a range of visual customization options to create a look that’s uniquely ‘you.’

You’ll then experience the opening of the game – and the tragic incident that sends you off on your journey for justice. It begins in the town of Wishvale, on the annual Day of Reverence festivities. The central ceremony is meant to preserve peace, but as you’ll discover, it’s about to take a terrifying turn.

Following this prologue, you’ll set off on your adventure!

Explore the World of Orsterra

Octopath Traveler 0 takes place in Orsterra, which fans will recognize as the same world as the very first game in the series. Don’t worry if you haven’t played that, however – the new game tells a completely standalone story, set as a prequel to the original Octopath Traveler.

It’s a beautiful land to explore – full of secrets to find, towns to visit and characters to engage with using Path Actions. You can use these special actions to probe people for information, ask to use their possessions, invite them to take up residence in your town and more.

Just be careful – some people are not so easily persuaded and if you offend them, your reputation may suffer…

Get a Taste for Battle

The series’ acclaimed Break & Boost battle system is back – but with a fresh new twist!

Here’s how it works: every enemy in the game has a shield but is weak to specific weapon types and elemental attacks. Exploiting these weaknesses reduces their shield points and when all are depleted, your hapless foe is ‘Broken’ and stunned for a turn. What’s more, they’ll take damage from attacks – the perfect opportunity to really cause some pain.

The key to success is Boosting. Each turn, your heroes will gain Boost Points (BP). You can spend BP to unleash multiple attacks in a single turn, strengthen special abilities and more. The system makes for some enjoyably tactic combat – for example, should you use BP to whittle down an enemy’s shields, or wait until they’re Broken and Vulnerable so you can deliver the biggest hits possible?

Your options increase as your party does – in the full game, you’ll be able to go into battles with up to eight characters at a time! This new eight-character party means that Octopath Traveler 0 now gives you more options than ever. You have two swappable rows in combat – a vanguard and a rearguard. Double the heroes – and double the BP – makes for much faster, even more strategic skirmishes! Not to mention, characters in the back row slowly replenish HP and SP, adding an extra level of strategy to switching characters between rows.

Begin to Rebuild Wishvale

Your adventures in Octopath Traveler 0 aren’t just about revenge and battle – they’re also about bringing your beloved home back to life.

The game features robust town-building mechanics that let you create your own, personalized settlement. You can build and arrange buildings, place decorations and much more. In the demo, you’ll be able to start construction and take the first steps towards creating the town of your dreams.

As you play through the full game, you’ll gain resources and potential residents you can use to expand the town, and as your town grows, and new facilities are added, you’ll have access to better items, food and more to aid on your adventures. And of course, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to express yourself creatively too. The demo’s a perfect opportunity to lay the foundations for what your town could become!

We hope you’re excited to start exploring the world of Octopath Traveler 0. For fans, the demo is a great way to start your adventure before release – and if you’re a new player, it’s an amazing (and free!) way to discover what the game and series is all about.

The demo is available to download today for Xbox Series X|S consoles and Xbox on PC.

Octopath Traveler 0 launches on December 4, 2025 and is available to pre-order. Doing so gives you some bonus in-game items, which you’ll get when the game releases:

• 5 Healing Grape (M)
• 5 Inspiriting Plum (M)
• 2 Revitalizing Jam
• Action Skill: Icewind Mastery

Save data bonuses are also available for players that have saved data on their Xbox Series X|S consoles for the following titles!

• OCTOPATH TRAVELER

Blue Cait Statue: A statue depicting a cait demihuman. Slightly increases EXP and leaves obtained while placed.

*Effects from decorations of the same type do not stack.

• OCTOPATH TRAVELER II

Blue Octopuff Statue: A statue depicting an octopoid demihuman. Slightly increases JP obtained while placed.

*Effects from decorations of the same type do not stack.

• DRAGON QUEST III HD-2D REMAKE

Nourishing Nut (M): Greatly increases max. HP.

• DRAGON QUEST I & II HD-2D Remake

Invigorating Nut (M): Greatly increases max. SP.

Visit the Microsoft Store to find out more:

OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 Prologue Demo

SQUARE ENIX CO., LTD.

☆☆☆☆☆
5

★★★★★

Get it now

A free demo is now available! You can create your own character, play for three hours, and carry over your saved game to the full game. Travel beyond starting areas is restricted, but you can explore those corners of Orsterra as you wish. Play through the story, build your town, or search for allies to accompany you. Embark on an adventure all your own.

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[Product Summary]
Start from zero and discover the newest entry in the OCTOPATH TRAVELER series. Experience a story of restoration and retribution over the divine rings—an epic saga that unfolds across the realm of Orsterra.

Embark on an adventure of your own creation.

Enjoy familiar features such as the series’ HD-2D graphics, a fusion of retro pixel art and 3DCG; the player’s ability to roleplay using Path Actions of their choice; and the Break and Boost system that can turn the tide of battle. Additionally, brand-new features such as character creation and town building allow you to create your own character and restore your hometown.

[Key Features]
1. You are the protagonist of the story. Choose your appearance, voice, motions, and favorite dish with the new character creation feature!

2. Restore your hometown through town building. Invite companions and allies to live in a town of your creation!

3. Engage in exhilarating and strategic command battles. Choose from over 30 allies to form a party comprised of up to eight characters!

4. Use Path Actions to invite people to your town, engage in battle, and obtain items. Where you go and what you do is entirely up to you.

5. Equip action skills with the new skill system. These skills can be learned by allies and passed on to others.