Digimon, the digital monsters, was the cornerstone of many childhoods in the late '90s and early 2000s. In the anime and real life pocket versions, these critters could attack, level up, and battle with other Digimon. The new game Digimon Survive will see players in the role of a hero as they realize they are lost in a dark digital world with their friends, potentially surrounded by evil Digimon.

This strategy RPG will have a far darker story, it seems, than the anime or manga. Digimon are affected by the player's choices, with death being an outcome for some in a few scenarios. Digimon Survive has a darker tone than previous games, and that's not necessarily a bad thing, as the anime has shown. That being said, the name Digimon Survive implies a very harsh experience for what seems to mostly be a story-driven game.

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While players will have to find a way to survive a dark manifestation of the digital world, Digimon Survive is more of a strategy anime JRPG before anything else, so the title is a bit on the nose: it's about making choices, avoiding death, and "surviving." The trailer specifically states the game will take place in a world where "death and danger awaits."

Players can also use those Free Actions to train their Digimon or spend time with allies, hoping to be prepared for battles and choices that come up later in the story. Digimon Survive certainly seems to be a darker tone than any of the past Digimon games and that's not necessarily a bad thing, and the title is certainly reflect, maybe too reflective, of that.

The collection of mechanics feels like it has casual game elements, even if there is the pressing threat of death for the player and their friends. These features might not work on any game other than Digimon Survive, and only time will tell if the digital monsters can pull it off themselves.  That being said, it is a new spin for the Digimon video game series that sounds like it isn't afraid to take chances for a good story. The branching narrative and consequences for the player's actions could have a huge impact on the game's longevity.

The upcoming Digimon Survive is a new direction for the monster battling franchise, and one that some childhood fans might be skeptical of. Of course, this much more mature version of a classic franchise might appeal to those fans who've gone on to appreciate more mature stories. The kids have grown up, and so have the Digimon games. Fans shouldn't have to wait too much longer for Digimon Survive, as the game is currently set to release in 2021.

Digimon Survive is currently in development for PC, PlayStation 4, Switch, and Xbox One.

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