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Choose OCTOPATH TRAVELER for the original eight travelers and their stories in Orsterra. Choose OCTOPATH TRAVELER II for a new cast in Solistia and Nintendo’s advertised improvements to the HD-2D visuals, Path Actions, and mechanics. The Switch games are distinct entries; Nintendo’s official summaries do not establish that you must play them in a particular order.
What is different between the two Switch games?
| Game | Setting and cast | Nintendo Switch release | What Nintendo highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| OCTOPATH TRAVELER | Orsterra; eight travelers with individual storylines | July 13, 2018, according to Nintendo UK | Turn-based combat, HD-2D visuals, and character abilities used in the field |
| OCTOPATH TRAVELER II | Solistia; eight new travelers | February 24, 2023, according to Nintendo UK | Improved HD-2D visuals, Path Actions, and mechanics, as described by Nintendo |
The original’s official description sums up its premise as “Eight travelers. Eight stories to be told.” The sequel moves to a different world: Nintendo describes Solistia as “a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea.” These are publisher descriptions, not an independent assessment of how the games compare in quality.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
OCTOPATH TRAVELER 0 (NSW) | $49.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
OCTOPATH TRAVELER II | $35.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Octopath Traveler II - Nintendo Switch | $39.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Octopath Traveler (Nintendo Switch) | $53.99 | Buy on Amazon |
Which Octopath Traveler should I play first?
If you want to follow the series’ release history, start with the 2018 original and then play the 2023 sequel. If the newer setting and its eight new travelers interest you more, starting with OCTOPATH TRAVELER II is also a reasonable choice: Nintendo’s official summaries present it as a new entry, but do not establish that the first game is required beforehand.
Should I buy Octopath Traveler or Octopath Traveler II?
Choose the original for Orsterra
Pick OCTOPATH TRAVELER if you specifically want the first game’s travelers, individual storylines, and setting. It is the entry Nintendo describes as introducing the eight-traveler premise and the series’ HD-2D presentation.
#1 Best Overall
- Embark on an adventure of your own creation. The latest in the OCTOPATH TRAVELER series.
- New story content – Experience original, streamlined story content and quests with new paths to achieve.
- Character creation – Create a customized protagonist with unique appearance, voice, motions and more.
- Town building system – Rebuild the protagonist's town as the story progresses with evolving town reconstruction mechanics and development while inviting new people to live in the town.*
- HD-2D Visuals – The series’ iconic graphic style returns, bringing a striking blend of retro 2D characters in a beautiful 3D world.
Choose the sequel for Solistia and its advertised updates
Pick OCTOPATH TRAVELER II if you prefer a new cast and world, or if Nintendo’s stated improvements to visuals, Path Actions, and mechanics are the features you want. “Improved” is Nintendo’s product wording; the official material here does not provide a systematic, independently tested comparison or establish that the sequel is objectively better.
Do I need to play Octopath Traveler before Octopath Traveler II?
Nintendo’s product summaries do not establish a required play order or explain the full extent of any story connections. They do identify OCTOPATH TRAVELER II as a separate entry with eight new travelers and a new setting. If your decision depends on detailed continuity between the plots, these summaries alone cannot settle it.
Rank #2
- Begin your adventure as one of eight new travelers, each with their own origins, motivations, and unique skills.
- The series’ HD-2D graphics, a fusion of retro pixel art and 3DCG, have reached even greater heights.
- The story takes place in Solistia, where diverse cultures thrive from east to west and the industries of the new era flourish. You can sail the seas and explore every corner of a world that changes from day to night.
- Each traveler has a unique set of Path Actions they can use to battle townspeople, obtain items, take others along in their travels, and more. Where will you go? What will you do? Every path is yours to take.
- Familiar mechanics from the original game have been preserved, like the freedom to develop your travelers’ jobs and skills, as well as the Break and Boost system that made battles so exhilarating. New mechanics have also been added.
Check that you are looking at the Switch edition
Nintendo UK lists downloadable and game-card versions of OCTOPATH TRAVELER II. Nintendo also has separate Switch 2 listings, so verify that a store page is for the Nintendo Switch version if that is the console you own. The original comparison above concerns the Nintendo Switch releases, not performance on newer hardware.
How old sales and launch pricing should factor into your choice
Nintendo’s sequel description reported that the first game had sold over 3 million copies worldwide as of September 2022. That is a historical sales figure, not a current total or a measure of which game is right for you. Nintendo’s February 24, 2023 announcement listed OCTOPATH TRAVELER II at a regular US launch price of $59.99; that dated launch-page price should not be treated as a current price.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Traditional JRPG elements like turn-based battles, random encounters, deep story, party management, NPCs, side quests
- Paired with new innovative features, like 8 equally important heroes, Path Actions and Battle Boost
- Presented in impressive and never-seen-before 2D-HD graphics, which offer a classic pixel look with 2D elements in a 3D environment
- Play the free Prologue Demo today and carry over your progress when you buy the full game at launch
- Compatible with Nintendo Switch only
Rank #3
- Begin your adventure as one of eight new travelers, each with their own origins, motivations, and unique skills
- The series’ HD-2D graphics, a fusion of retro pixel art and 3DCG, have reached even greater heights
- The story takes place in Solistia, where diverse cultures thrive from east to west and the industries of the new era flourish; You can sail the seas and explore every corner of a world that changes from day to night
- Each traveler has a unique set of Path Actions they can use to battle townspeople, obtain items, take others along in their travels, and more; Where will you go, What will you do, Every path is yours to take
- Familiar mechanics from the original game have been preserved, like the freedom to develop your travelers’ jobs and skills, as well as the Break and Boost system that made battles so exhilarating; New mechanics have also been added
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
