You know that feeling when you play a game for just a few hours and immediately realize it was made with genuine passion and care? That's exactly how I felt about The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales.

After Final Fantasy XVI, which left many players—including myself—feeling somewhat disappointed, Square Enix has slowly started to regain my trust. With the Octopath Traveler series, Triangle Strategy, and now this title, the company proves that it still knows how to create games with real heart.

For me, The Adventures of Elliot is one of the biggest surprises of the year and the kind of action RPG we haven't seen in a long time—a warm, charming adventure that reminds me why I fell in love with the genre in the first place.

A Story That Spans a Thousand Years

You play as Elliot, a kind-hearted young adventurer who grew up in an orphanage and simply can't ignore people in need.

By his side is Faie, a tiny fairy that only he can see and hear. She's his constant companion, emotional support, and often the source of some genuinely funny dialogue. Together, they set out to save Princess Heuria from a mysterious curse by traveling through the Doorway of Time, exploring four completely different eras in the history of the world of Philabieldia.

Each era tells its own unique story, from the peaceful Age of Safekeeping (the present), through the dark and desperate Age of Reconstruction, the magnificent Age of Magic, and finally the dawn of civilization in the Age of Budding.

What impressed me the most is that time travel isn't just a narrative gimmick. Every jump through history transforms the world around you—architecture, culture, enemies, and even the soundtrack evolve, making each era feel like an entirely new adventure. The story is warm, slightly melancholic, filled with heartfelt moments, and carries that classic time-travel charm that constantly makes you think, “Just one more chapter.”

Gameplay That Is Both Accessible and Deep

Combat feels smooth, intuitive, and incredibly satisfying. Elliot wields seven different weapon types—swords, bows, bombs, hammers, spears, boomerangs, chains, and sickles—and each one offers a completely different playstyle. Being able to switch between them on the fly encourages experimentation and makes it easy to find a style that suits you.

The biggest surprise for me was the Magicite system. By combining different crystals with your weapons, you can create incredibly fun builds. You might equip a boomerang that constantly circles around you, knocking enemies back, or bombs that freeze opponents before exploding.

One of my favorite moments came when I accidentally discovered a combination that perfectly matched my playstyle. Instead of rushing toward the next objective, I found myself actively searching for enemies just to experiment with new Magicite setups. Those are the kinds of moments that stay with you long after you've finished playing.

Faie and Exploring the World

Faie is much more than a cute companion floating beside you.

You can control her directly or hand her over to a second player in local co-op, while her abilities—Sprint, Warp, Ignite, Vacuum, and Copy—are used both for solving puzzles and during combat.

The game also features Shrines of Life for extra lives, Temple of Trials challenge arenas, numerous side quests that reward useful items, and plenty of exploration mixed with platforming sections where Flutterer's Cape quickly becomes your best friend.

And yes, there's even a cat collecting mechanic, which had me wandering off the main path far more often than I originally intended.

What I Loved

• Beautiful HD-2D visuals that look like a living watercolor painting.
• Fantastic shifts in atmosphere between eras, each feeling unique and memorable.
• Faie is one of the most charming companion characters I've encountered in recent years.
• A flexible difficulty system that makes the game enjoyable for both casual players and genre veterans.
• A gorgeous soundtrack that perfectly complements each time period and enhances the emotional impact of every location.

What I Didn't Like

Platforming sections can occasionally become frustrating, especially during more precise sequences.

Some side quests are easy to miss if you don't regularly check the menu, which may be annoying for completionists.

Later in the game, players who spend too much time exploring every corner may start to notice a slight sense of repetition, although it never reaches a point where it significantly hurts the overall experience.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales Final Verdict

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is a refreshing reminder that Square Enix is still capable of creating heartfelt, charming adventures.

Rather than relying on massive open worlds or cinematic spectacle, it wins players over with memorable characters, satisfying gameplay mechanics, gorgeous HD-2D visuals, and a world you'll genuinely want to spend more time exploring.

If you're a fan of classic The Legend of Zelda games, Octopath Traveler, or simply enjoy optimistic adventures filled with heart and personality, this is easily one of my strongest recommendations of the year.

Score: 8.5/10

By the time the credits rolled, I was left with that rare feeling of wishing the journey wasn't over yet. I sincerely hope Square Enix continues down this path, because games like this remind us why we fell in love with action RPGs in the first place.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for an adventure with real heart.

Game Information

Developer: Team Asano / Square Enix Creative Studio
Publisher: Square Enix
Genre: Action RPG / HD-2D Adventure
Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC (Steam)
Planned Release: 2026

Disclosure: A review copy of the game was kindly provided by Iris Mega, the official distributor. Receiving a review copy did not influence our opinions or final score.