The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is an RPG from Square Enix and the creators of Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default, combining stunning HD-2D visuals with exciting action-adventure gameplay for the first time. Set in Philabieldia—a beautiful but savage continent overrun by warring beast tribes—the game follows adventurer Elliot and his fairy sidekick Faie as they journey through four ages spanning a thousand years to lift a curse and reveal the world’s mysterious history. If you’re considering this game, here’s everything you need to know about it.
Game Basics
What it is: A brand-new action RPG from Square Enix and Claytechworks (creators of Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default) that combines HD-2D visuals with action-adventure gameplay.
Setting: Philabieldia, a continent overrun by beast tribes. You play as adventurer Elliot with fairy sidekick Faie, exploring ruins outside the Kingdom of Huther and journeying across four ages to fulfill a thousand-year mission.
Engine: Unreal Engine 5
Gameplay Highlights
Combat & Weapons
Exploration
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Open world: Fundamentally open world that slowly unlocks as you gain abilities
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Fast travel: Adventuring guideposts save + fast travel; encourages poking around between objectives
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Time travel: Overworld is broadly the same across four ages—switch eras to find new paths/shortcuts
Co-op Mode
A second player controls Faie to aid in battle, retrieve items, and help with puzzles/platforming.
Story & Writing
The story is the game’s Achilles’ heel: “painfully adequate,” familiar (princess in peril, world threat), with only one surprise twist. It’s competent but not sad, funny, or thought-provoking. If you value deep storytelling, this won’t impress—but everything else compensates.
Versions & Pricing
Preorder bonus (any version, until June 17, 2026): Elliot’s Departure Pack – Attack Up Sword Magicite + Departure Brooch (increases cash/magicite drops)
Before You Buy: The Bottom Line
Good if you…
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Love classic Zelda (especially A Link to the Past) or SNES-era action RPGs
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Want HD-2D visuals with smooth 60+ fps performance
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Prefer exploration over grinding—no crafting, no RNG gear, no “not high enough level” zones
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Enjoy dungeons that are small but clever without being frustrating
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Want 2-player co-op with a friend
Skip if you…
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Prioritize strong storytelling/writing (this is weak)
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Want turn-based combat or a party system (doesn’t have either)
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Expect deep gear customization/crafting (minimal)
Final Thoughts
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is “expansive without being intimidating, varied without being overwhelming, and familiar without being tired”. It’s Square Enix’s first HD-2D action RPG and may be their best original RPG in years despite the mediocre story. If you’re a fan of classic action-adventures and don’t mind a straightforward plot, it’s wonderfully designed and utterly compelling.
