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Digimon World: Next Order Reviews: Is the Raising RPG Worth Playing?

Digimon World: Next Order is a slow monster-raising RPG built around two partners, indirect battles, and rebuilding Floatia. Reviews praise its depth but flag repetition and a steep learning curve.
Length4 min Posted Quest giverVGSources Team
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Digimon World: Next Order is worth considering if you want a slow, hands-on monster-raising RPG—not a conventional turn-based creature battler. You care for two Digimon, train them, explore, and recruit other Digimon to rebuild Floatia; in battle, your partners act on their own while you issue commands and encouragement. Reviewers praise the appeal of that raising loop, but repetition, grinding, and a learning curve are common sticking points.

What kind of game is Digimon World: Next Order?

The central activity is raising two Digimon partners. You feed and train them, manage their care and discipline, and build bonds as they grow and Digivolve. Their development is the main route to stronger partners, so progress comes from ongoing care and preparation rather than simply choosing attacks in a turn-based menu. Bandai Namco’s official game page describes exploration with two companions and the bond between player and partners.

Combat is cooperative but indirect: your Digimon fight using AI, while you issue commands and cheer them on. That system can make preparation and partner growth feel meaningful, but it offers less moment-to-moment control than a traditional turn-based RPG. The game also asks you to recruit Digimon and develop Floatia, the settlement that grows as newcomers arrive and buildings are upgraded.

This distinction matters if you are coming from Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth. Next Order is built around raising partners and managing their progression, rather than delivering the same kind of conventional RPG experience. Switch reviews specifically note that expectations shaped by Cyber Sleuth can lead to disappointment.

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#1 Best Overall
Sale
Digimon World: Next Order (PS4)
  • NEW RAISING FEATURES! Raise, train, feed and discipline in real-time to form strong bonds with your Digimon companions. Every interaction and action matters.
  • EVOLVED AI BATTLE SYSTEM. Strong bonds with your partners is key - train your Digimon to excel in AI battles on their own. Cooperation and synchronization between your partners and their feelings will increase your chances of winning. Shout commands and cheer them to victory!
  • ExE EVOLUTIONS. If your Digimon bonds are strong enough, trigger the ExE Evolution to merge them into a new stronger monster!

What do reviews say about the game?

Critic reactions point to a game whose appeal depends heavily on whether its slower raising systems click for you. The PS4 Metacritic critic index displayed 68/100, “Mixed or Average,” from 35 reviews when accessed in 2026; the index listed eight positive, 27 mixed, and no negative reviews. That is a PS4-specific snapshot, not a score for Switch or PC. Critics noted depth and the team-raising concept, while some found the mechanics unwelcoming to newcomers. See the PS4 critic index.

The Switch review picture is similarly divided, but its recurring concerns are especially useful for setting expectations. Some reviewers like the raising loop and the fit of playing portably; others point to sluggish grinding, repetitive training, limited fast travel, and a steep learning curve. The Switch critic roundup reflects that split. These are review themes, not a guarantee that every player will respond the same way.

Rank #2
Digimon World: Next Order - PlayStation 4
  • Over 200 Digimon from the animated series!
  • Choose between a male or female protagonist
  • For the first time ever in the series, explore the Digital World with not one, but TWO Digimon partners!
  • Your success in battles & the growth of your partners is totally dependent on you: Raise, train, feed, discipline, etc. in real-time to form strong bonds with your Digimon companions.
  • Evolved AI Battle System: Strong bonds with your partners is key - train your Digimon to excel in AI battles on their own.

Steam’s user reviews were favorable in the snapshot accessed on October 8, 2026: 81% positive from 1,241 English reviews, and 80% positive from 30 recent reviews. These are dynamic user-review samples, not critic ratings; the recent sample is relatively small, and both figures can change. Check the Steam listing for its current figures.

Is it a good fit for newcomers?

It can be, if you are willing to learn the raising systems and accept that progress is gradual. The same structure that gives the game depth can make its opening and routine feel demanding: you need to understand partner care, training, and development while adapting to indirect combat. A newcomer looking for a quick, clearly directed RPG may find that friction outweighs the appeal.

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Rank #3
Digimon World, Next Order, 1 PS4-Blu-Ray-Disc
  • BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Germany
  • Digimon World - Next Order
  • PHYSICAL VIDEO GAME SOFTWARE

Switch and PC releases include Beginner Mode, an option intended to make the game more approachable. Bandai Namco also announced a run ability at 1.4 times normal speed for those releases. These features help address difficulty and traversal pace, but they do not change the underlying focus on raising partners. The additions are documented in the publisher’s Switch and PC launch announcement.

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Which version should you choose?

Version What is established Best reason to choose it
PlayStation 4 Listed by Bandai Namco; B.B. Studio is identified for this version. Beginner Mode and the 1.4× run ability are not listed among the additions for PS4. You already play on PS4 and want this raising-focused entry.
Nintendo Switch Listed by Bandai Namco; HYDE, Inc. is identified for this version. It includes Beginner Mode and the 1.4× run ability. Portability matters to you, or you want the listed accessibility and speed additions.
PC Listed by Bandai Namco; HYDE, Inc. is identified for this version. Steam lists February 21, 2023 as its PC release date. It includes Beginner Mode and the 1.4× run ability. You prefer playing on PC and want the listed additions.

Bandai Namco lists the three platforms and version developers on its official game page. The available information establishes the Switch’s portability and the features added to Switch and PC, but it does not establish comparative technical performance across platforms.

Rank #4
Digimon World: Next Order - PlayStation 4 (Renewed)
  • Over 200 Digimon from the animated series!
  • Choose between a male or female protagonist
  • For the first time ever in the series, explore the Digital World with not one, but TWO Digimon partners!
  • Your success in battles & the growth of your partners is totally dependent on you: Raise, train, feed, discipline, etc. in real-time to form strong bonds with your Digimon companions.
  • Evolved AI Battle System: Strong bonds with your partners is key - train your Digimon to excel in AI battles on their own.

Who is most likely to enjoy it?

  • Good fit: players who enjoy gradual progression, caring for and developing a team, and seeing a settlement grow alongside an adventure.
  • Potential mismatch: players who want brisk pacing, minimal repetition, or direct control over every battle action.
  • Digimon fans: approach it as a raising simulation rather than assuming it will play like Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth.

The game’s strongest selling point is also its clearest dividing line: partner care and development shape the whole experience. If that loop sounds satisfying, the indirect battles and slower rhythm may feel like part of the design; if it sounds like busywork, the recurring review complaints about repetition deserve attention.

Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Digimon World: Next Order - PlayStation 4
Digimon World: Next Order - PlayStation 4
Over 200 Digimon from the animated series!; Choose between a male or female protagonist
$29.87
Bestseller No. 3
Digimon World, Next Order, 1 PS4-Blu-Ray-Disc
Digimon World, Next Order, 1 PS4-Blu-Ray-Disc
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment Germany; Digimon World - Next Order; PHYSICAL VIDEO GAME SOFTWARE
$9.69
Bestseller No. 4
Digimon World: Next Order - PlayStation 4 (Renewed)
Digimon World: Next Order - PlayStation 4 (Renewed)
Over 200 Digimon from the animated series!; Choose between a male or female protagonist
$29.49

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.

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