Octopath Traveler

Octopath Traveler made the HD-2D visual style famous, combining nostalgic pixel-art characters and environments in the style of 16-bit RPGs with modern lighting effects, depth of field, and cinematic camera work, creating a wholly distinctive, picturesque visual language that Square Enix has since used in a number of other titles. Blurred image edges, flickering lantern lights, and layered rain give static backdrops a depth that pixel art alone would never have.

The game offers eight entirely independent heroes with their own story, motivation, and profession — from the scholar Cyrus through the dancer Primrose and the huntress H'aanit to a merchant, a thief, or a hardened warrior — and the player chooses one protagonist at the start, gradually recruiting the rest along the way, none of whom have any direct interaction with the main storyline of another, which was one of the points of criticism for insufficient interconnection between the stories. The battle system builds on the Break mechanic, where it's necessary to identify and exploit an enemy's weakness against a specific weapon type or elemental magic, and Boost Points allowing the player to multiply the strength or number of attacks in a single turn, which makes battles a well-thought-out tactical experience straddling classic and modern JRPG design. Saving up points for several rounds and then unloading them onto a just-weakened boss is one of the game's most satisfying moments.

Each character also has a unique out-of-combat ability, such as challenging passing NPCs to duels or stealing items, which affects town exploration and turns every minor resident into a small puzzle. Yasunori Nishiki's music ranks among the most acclaimed in the genre, and battle themes with punchy drums and brass quickly became some of the most frequently cited tracks in modern JRPGs. Octopath Traveler became an unexpected commercial hit and spawned an entire sub-brand of games in the same visual style.