Bandai Namco Entertainment America has begun streaming an anime short titled “Prelude” for its recently launched RPG, Digimon Story: Time Stranger. The short, which debuted on Monday, October 13, 2025, on the company’s official YouTube channel, serves as a prologue to the game, introducing elements of its world, characters, and overarching mysteries.
The “Prelude” anime short first premiered at New York Comic Con 2025 on October 12, followed by its online release at 7:00 a.m. PDT / 10:00 a.m. EDT the following day. The short focuses on the character Inori, providing fans with an early glimpse into the narrative before delving into the full game.
Delving into Digimon Story: Time Stranger
Digimon Story: Time Stranger is the seventh entry in the long-running Digimon Story series, an RPG with monster-taming elements. Developed by Media.Vision and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, the game launched globally on October 3, 2025, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam.
Narrative and Gameplay Overview
The game’s story revolves around an agent of a secret organization who, after encountering an unknown creature and a city-leveling explosion in Tokyo, Japan, reawakens eight years in the past. Players embark on an adventure spanning both the human world and the Digital World: Iliad, with a central mission to uncover the mystery behind the world’s collapse and save it.
Gameplay features include collecting and raising over 450 diverse Digimon, engaging in dynamic turn-based battles, and exploring intricately detailed realms within the Digital World. The game emphasizes the deep bond between humans and Digimon, a core theme throughout the Digimon franchise.
Pre-Launch Activities and Demos
Prior to its full release, Bandai Namco provided a free demo of Digimon Story: Time Stranger on all platforms, allowing players to experience the opening chapter of the story. Save data from the prologue section of this demo could be transferred to the full game, allowing players to carry their progress forward. The game also features a range of downloadable content, including additional Digimon, episodes, and costume packs.
