Best Digimon game to start with for someone who knows nothing about the series

[TruxtonTatsujin]

For me Digimon has always been that weird Pokemon copycat. I know that's not a fair assessment but that's how I've always seen it as a child. Anyway I finally wanna give the series a chance with one of the games. I don't really know how any of them play, but a turn based RPG similar to the old Pokemon games would be ideal for me.

 

[LiberoVulpesLiberoVulpes's icon]

Most Digimon games are self-contained stories, just start with whichever catches your fancy. There is rarely any relation to the anime series (outside of having fan favorite digimons).

Since you said turn-based, maybe try Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth, or, if you wanna start with the old ones, the first Digimon World which was the first Digimon game, it has some quirks but its an ok starting point.

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

Yeah, Cyber Sleuth is good for a turn-based one:

Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth (USA) VITA – RGT Repository

retrogametalk.com

There's also a fan translation for one on PSP based on the original Digimon Adventure Anime:

Digimon Adventure (English Patched) PSP ISO – RGT Repository

Digimon Adventure (English Patched) PSP ISO Game ID: NPJH-50686. Languages: English Patched. For Sony PlayStation Portable.

retrogametalk.com

Although, that might be better if you're familiar with said Anime

 

[Rorisu]

For me Digimon has always been that weird Pokemon copycat. I know that's not a fair assessment but that's how I've always seen it as a child. Anyway I finally wanna give the series a chance with one of the games. I don't really know how any of them play, but a turn based RPG similar to the old Pokemon games would be ideal for me.

As a digimon fan i would say that time stranger is probably the best choice for a new player, but if you want a more economic solution you could start from this version of digimon world 2003 https://retrogametalk.com/repository/psx-iso/digimon-world-2003-ntsc-hack/, i would say that cybersleuth is good too but in a similar way to digimon world 2, so they are more for "digimon fans" and not for new players to me, but still you can definitely give cybersleuth a shot if you want, it's definitely a great game even if it have it's own problems here and there.

With that said, those are for a gameplay similar to the one you asked, if you wanna see what digimon origins really are like, the gameplay will be a lot different, with games like digimon world 1, digimon world next order and digimon world re:digitize decode being the best rappresentation into a videogame of it

 

[TruxtonTatsujin]

As a digimon fan i would say that time stranger is probably the best choice for a new player, but if you want a more economic solution you could start from this version of digimon world 2003 https://retrogametalk.com/repository/psx-iso/digimon-world-2003-ntsc-hack/, i would say that cybersleuth is good too but in a similar way to digimon world 2, so they are more for "digimon fans" and not for new players to me, but still you can definitely give cybersleuth a shot if you want, it's definitely a great game even if it have it's own problems here and there.

With that said, those are for a gameplay similar to the one you asked, if you wanna see what digimon origins really are like, the gameplay will be a lot different, with games like digimon world 1, digimon world next order and digimon world re:digitize decode being the best rappresentation into a videogame of it

Time Stranger looks really good and is partially the reason for my recent interest, but I haven't given any of the older games a look so I'd rather start there, and of course, cheaper too.

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

Time Stranger looks really good and is partially the reason for my recent interest, but I haven't given any of the older games a look so I'd rather start there, and of course, cheaper too.

I'd be playing Time Stranger now myself, but I'm waiting on my local retailer to get stock in For the cost of the game brand new, I'd prefer the physical option

 

[Don Patch]

Another Vote for the Cyber Sleuth series.

 

[TruxtonTatsujin]

Cyber Sleuth looks to be the most approachable so I think I'll start with that. Will also give me a reason to dust off the ol'Vita. World 3/2003 looks interesting too, I like the art style.

 

[Yousef Yousef]

Cyber sleuth.

 

[garbodorman]

it's difficult because each game may have different gameplay. Choose the ones you like.

digimon world 1 is monster raising simulator.
digimon world 2 is a slow grind heavy dungeon explorer with turn based combat.
digimon world 3 is a bad pokemon game.
digimon world 4 is generic action rpg.
digimon data squad is turn based rpg where the whole tv screen could get filled with hexagons.
digimon world ds is a slow grind heavy turn based rpg.
digimon world dusk and dawn is the the same as DWDS.
digimon world lost evolution is turn based rpg, fast and not grind heavy like the previous games.
digimon world redigitize(psp)/decode(3ds), same as digimon world 1.
digimon story cyber sleuth is turn based rpg with too much talking.
digimon world the next order, same as digimon world 1.
digimon survive is visual novel + simple tactical rpg.

 

[Dartz]

as most people said cyber sleuth (both base and hacker's memory) was very good , i liked even world 2/3 on psx and the ds ones too(world ds/dusk/dawn/lost evolution) , even survive was pretty decent story-wise , probably even time stranger released recently will be good seeing last games but not played yet

 

[667]

Digimon world

 

[Jayonnaise6105 Jayonnaise6105]

as most people said cyber sleuth (both base and hacker's memory) was very good , i liked even world 2/3 on psx and the ds ones too(world ds/dusk/dawn/lost evolution) , even survive was pretty decent story-wise , probably even time stranger released recently will be good seeing last games but not played yet

Oh, right! I forgot about Digimon Survive.

@TruxtonTatsujin That's more isometric strategy RPG, like Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea. You might need to have, or be able emulate, PS4 or Switch if you want to give that a go. It gets really cheap fairly often in my country, but not sure about yours.

 

[TruxtonTatsujin]

as most people said cyber sleuth (both base and hacker's memory) was very good , i liked even world 2/3 on psx and the ds ones too(world ds/dusk/dawn/lost evolution) , even survive was pretty decent story-wise , probably even time stranger released recently will be good seeing last games but not played yet

Those DS games look pretty good visually, I like the pixel art in them. Been looking up screenshots from a bunch of the games the past little while.

Oh, right! I forgot about Digimon Survive.

@TruxtonTatsujin That's more isometric strategy RPG, like Final Fantasy Tactics or Disgaea. You might need to have, or be able emulate, PS4 or Switch if you want to give that a go. It gets really cheap fairly often in my country, but not sure about yours.

I see it's on Steam as well, its 85% off on some of the official stores right now I could grab it for like 10 bucks.

https://gg.deals/game/digimon-survive/

 

[Thinaxanel]

1. The "Cyber Sleuth" games are a fantastic starting point, for anyone (especially if your familiar with JRPG's.

2. But if someone wanted to get the original Digimon experience? Then I would say start with "World: Next Order". Especially, since that game added some quality-of-life improvements to the series, that make obtaining your preferred Digi-volution a breeze.

The problem with starting in "Next Order" though, is that it is a sequel to the original. And there are a couple of characters from the first, that do make an appearance in this game (which would ruin the surprise to anyone not familiar with "World 1").


Though, if someone doesn't care too much with any of those story revelations?
Then I say go for it.

 

[NOTthatHARD]

For turn based RPG Digimon games the best options you have right now are:

Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition

Digimon Story: Time Stranger

 

[Izzy]

There is the PSP version of Digimon Adventure and it's on here. I've played it and it covers the story for the most part and there are bits from Tamers and Xros Wars mixed in there.

 

[TruxtonTatsujin]

Alright still going to play Cyber Sleuth first, but here's a list of the rest of games that I plan to check out at some point.

Will also pick up Survive and Time Stranger on Steam at some point.