That Direct Sucked, but The Adventures of Elliot Sure Doesn’t

Nintendo broadcasted its latest Partner Showcase yesterday morning, and if you missed it … well, you didn’t miss much at all. Dedicated entirely to upcoming third-party Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 titles, this 27-minute direct could have covered plenty of ground (Hades II, Witchbrook, and a new Professor Layton are all slated to release sometime in 2025, but were noticeably absent). Instead, we got 22 minutes of filler, and about five minutes of tangible excitement.

The highlight of the direct — besides new entries in the Monster Hunter Stories and Katamari franchises — was easily the ending. Square Enix stepped up to the plate, teasing a new IP as well as a new Octopath Traveler title. And while I wouldn’t necessarily get too amped for the latter (Octopath Traveler 0 is based off a mobile game), it’s that first announcement that I suggest you keep an eye on.

What Is The Adventures of Elliot?

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales may have a verbose title, but the game itself is lean, mean, and exciting. Developed by Clay Tech Works (Bravely Default II) under the umbrella of Square Enix’s HD-2D unit, Creative Studio 5 (Octopath Traveler, Triangle Strategy), The Adventures of Elliot continues the trend of turning RPG experiences from old-school to new-school.

Where Octopath Traveler and Bravely Default hark back to classic Final Fantasy, and Triangle Strategy classic Final Fantasy Tactics, The Adventures of Elliot takes inspiration from deeper cuts in the Square Enix vault. The Mana series is an obvious muse, as Elliot eschews turn-based strategy for colorful action, flashy cooldowns, and even two-player co-op by way of the titular Elliot’s fairy sidekick, Faie.

But that’s not where the influences end. As I played through the game’s generous “Debut Demo,” which lasts about 90 minutes, I noticed some surprise mechanics ranging from shield blocking (and parrying!) to wall-bombing and even challenge shrines. As evidenced by even the title, The Adventures of Elliot sure does owe a lot to The Legend of Zelda.

Elliot’s Awakening

The demo tasks Elliot, a renowned explorer, with leaving the safety of a local town to explore a dangerous monsters’ den. Along the way, you’ll battle snails, skeletons, and other creatures that roam the countryside using a trusty set of tools: your sword, a bow (and bundle of arrows), and a pack of bombs. Each controls how you’d expect from a top-down Zelda-like, but The Adventures of Elliot adds some seasoning of its own thanks to two special mobility abilities: a dash, which lets you weave around enemies and obstacles; and a warp, which lets you immediately flash to where Faie is located.

On its own, this combat wouldn’t move the needle much for me. But where I already see The Adventures of Elliot standing apart is in its strong sense of style and tireless commitment to adventure. Creative Studio 5 has made HD-2D visuals, folk-fantasy music, gravelly voice acting, and a “mysterious yet merry band of adventurers” its entire brand. And though some may see that as a crutch, I see it as a strength. It was joy to see Final Fantasy-isms translated to the surprisingly rich world of Octopath Traveler, just as many are enjoying seeing Dragon Quest I–III reimagined for a new era. These games didn’t need to have a bloom-heavy, voxel style, but I’d argue they’re more distinct and therefore better off because of it.

Let ‘Em Cook!

That’s all I really have to say about The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. So far, Square Enix has really only show us the “Elliot” and the “adventure” bits: You’ll get acquainted with your main character (albeit via a super-short cutscene), explore an optional dungeon (which I highly recommend), conquer some shrines, and battle a pair of bosses before all is said and done. But the whole “Millennium Tales” subtitle remains a tantalizing mystery.

In a press release, Square Enix cryptically teased what’s to come: “When a mysterious set of ruins is discovered just beyond the protective walls of the Kingdom of Huther, humanity’s sole bastion, a young adventurer named Elliot and his fairy companion, Faie, embark on a perilous journey—one that will unfold across the fabric of space and time.”

Whether the whole time and space thing pans out is beyond me. But The Adventures of Elliot has earned my trust after an impressive hour and a half, and I can’t wait to see more.

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The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, developed by Clay Tech Works and published by Square Enix, is set to release sometime in 2026 for PC (via Steam and Microsoft Store), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. A “Debut Demo” is available now on the Nintendo eShop.