Summary
- Digimon Story: Time Stranger generates hype with Partner returns and new Digital Monsters
- Digimon World DS offers a vast world, numerous Digimon, and solid mechanics for fans
- Digimon Survive stands out for its compelling narrative and interesting characters, making it a decent starting point
Digimon Story: Time Stranger has players of the franchise absolutely hyped, with some of the most anticipated Partner returns, and some Digital Monsters making their debut on a game for the first time. Still, there are plenty of Digimon games to play before Time Sranger, and some are so good that they can trap players in the Digital World for hundreds of hours.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger Confirms 3 Partner Digimon
New information about Digimon Story: Time Stranger is revealed at Digimon Con 2025, including the choice of partners at the start of the game.
So, here's a list of the best games to play before Digimon Story: Time Stranger. From a title that dared to defy the supreme rule of Pokemon games, to a sequel to one of the best Digimon games of all time, that became a love letter for all fans of the franchise.
5 Digimon World DS
A Niche Game, But Still One Of The Best
Digimon World DS
- Released
- June 15, 2006
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo DS
Digimon World DS arrived at a time when Pokemon games were dominating the handheld console market, and still managed to score some decent sales and rally the fans of a franchise in decline. After Digimon World revolutionized the Playstation game world, and its sequels disappointed the fans, this game was just what the fans needed: A huge world to explore, tons of Digimon to meet and train, and some decent mechanics.
Nowadays, it has become a sort of niche game. For those who still have the Nintendo DS console, it is one of the best options to jump into the franchise before playing Digimon Story Time Stranger.
4 Digimon Survive
Some Say It's The Best Digimon Story Game
Digimon Survive
- Released
- July 28, 2022
WHERE TO PLAY
Digimon Survive offers some intense fights, a great and enthralling story, and some of the best developments that 'chosen children' will experience in the Digital World. Still, it has its flaws, like its exasperatingly slow pacing and similarities to other tactical JRPGs, which might drive some of the more conservative players mad.
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Nevertheless, it is undeniable that its narrative is compelling and attractive for all kinds of audiences, with characters who are not just there for the ride, and various protagonists that have been dubbed as 'the best of the franchise,' like Takuma (AKA The Leader) and his partner Agumon, and Aoi, the fan - favorite female character, with Labramon, one of the core Digimon of the team. If players are looking to dive into the Digital World for the first time, then Digimon Survive is a fairly decent starting point.
3 Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
A Decent Story With Interesting Characters
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth
- Released
- February 2, 2016
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- RPG
Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is unlike any other Digimon game, since it prioritizes story and the relationship between characters above combat mechanics. Similar to other titles, its combat system is turn-based (quite similar to Digimon World 2 and 3), and it has a Cross Combo feature that allows various Digimon from the team to act in unison to cause more damage.
But there's one thing to mention before players try this title: The main attraction of the title is the story. Partner Digimon are not the usual overpowered chosen partners who become world saviors (or destroyers), and are represented as normal Digimon trying to survive. The partners are well-balanced. Players can also enjoy a side story that happens at the same time as the events in the main game, called Hacker's Memories. It is recommended that players enjoy the original story first before playing the spin-off, to avoid spoilers and get the hang of the combat mechanics.
2 Digimon Masters Online
Once, It Was One Of The Most Popular Digimon Games
- Platforms: Steam (Only Available in America or Asia)
- Developer: Move Games/Bandai Namco
Digimon Masters Online (or DMO) is one of the best Digimon games ever made, since it offers access to some of the most popular (and strongest) Digi-Evolutions, and players can have endless Digimon Partners, as long as they have the grit to grind them all (during events, or from the various In-Game activities) or are ready to put in the cash for Eggs and Incubator Data. Though its Digimon Acquisition System has been fairly criticized as too micro-transaction focused, it still offers tons of hours of fun alongside some of the best Digimon in the franchise.
Want to have Apocalymon as a Partner? No problem. Or perhaps the vicious Lucemon (in all its forms)? Players can have dozens of partners, and even Jogress-Evolution them to get some of the most broken Digimon that have walked the surface of the Digital World. Every partner and the trainer can level up, unlocking new abilities, stats, and more partner slots to have even more Partners. Players can even get Fanglongmon, which is the Jogress evolution of four different Mega Digimon: Azulongmon, Baihumon, Ebonwumon, and Zhuqiaomon.
1 Digimon World: Next Order
A Must-Play For Fans Of The Franchise And Newcomers
Digimon World: Next Order
- Released
- January 27, 2017
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- E10+ For Everyone 10+ due to Crude Humor, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Mild Suggestive Themes
- Genre(s)
- JRPG
Digimon World: Next Order is the best choice for those old Playstation 1 players (and newcomers as well) that want to experience the Digital World in a direct sequel to the acclaimed Digimon World 1. With a standalone story, based on the same premise: To restore the Digital World by gathering all allied Digimon in the Village of Beginnings.
Alongside old friends like Jijimon, and new allies that will join the crew, players can have over 200 different Digimon from the In-Training phase to the powerful Mega stage. The main difference with the original Digmon World, is that players have 2 partners at the same time, which allows them to Jogress (AKA DNA Digi Evolution) into powerful forms like Omegamon, Belphemon, and more. All in all, it's an awesome game, with cool battle mechanics, and tons of quests to complete.