The Pokemon comparison has haunted Digimon since the late 1990s. Despite having more in common with Tamagotchi initially, Digimon debuted a year after Pokemon and its anime followed shortly after, creating a perception that’s stuck for nearly three decades. Now Ryosuke Hara, producer of the recently released Digimon Story Time Stranger, is finally addressing the elephant in the room. In a recent interview with MCV/Develop, Hara acknowledged that while comparisons are natural and even expected, he hopes the new game will show players that these franchises are fundamentally different beasts with unique strengths that go way beyond surface-level monster collecting.
- Why the Comparison Exists in the First Place
- Hara’s Perspective on the Constant Comparisons
- How Time Stranger Highlights the Differences
- The Core Gameplay Differences That Actually Matter
- The Development Journey Behind Time Stranger
- Critical Reception and Player Response
- What This Means for the Digimon vs Pokemon Debate
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Why the Comparison Exists in the First Place
Digimon’s timing was unfortunate from a perception standpoint. The franchise launched in 1997 as a virtual pet toy for boys, essentially Tamagotchi’s edgier sibling with monster battling capabilities. Pokemon had debuted just a year earlier in 1996 and was already a cultural phenomenon by the time Digimon arrived. When the Digimon anime premiered in 1999, it came roughly a year after the Pokemon anime started airing in English markets, cementing the copycat narrative in Western audiences’ minds.
The surface similarities didn’t help. Both franchises feature collectible monsters with evolution mechanics, anime series about kids partnering with creatures, and video games focused on team building and battles. For casual observers, especially parents buying games for their kids, the differences weren’t immediately obvious. The perception that Digimon was riding Pokemon’s coattails became conventional wisdom, overshadowing what actually made each franchise distinct.
Hara’s Perspective on the Constant Comparisons
When asked directly if he wishes the Pokemon comparisons would go away, Hara’s response was diplomatic but pointed. He acknowledged that there are certainly similarities when it comes to monster collection, and many players enjoy both franchises, so comparisons are understandable and even expected. However, he emphasized that Digimon and Pokemon are fundamentally different in their core concepts and appeal, with each franchise having its own unique strengths.
Hara believes these differences will naturally become apparent as players experience Digimon Story Time Stranger. Rather than getting defensive about the comparison, he sees the new game as an opportunity for more people to discover and appreciate what makes Digimon distinct. This approach shows confidence in the product and understanding that fighting against comparisons is less effective than simply demonstrating the differences through quality gameplay and storytelling.
How Time Stranger Highlights the Differences
One of the key ways Digimon Story Time Stranger demonstrates what separates Digimon from Pokemon is by targeting newcomers rather than existing fans. The protagonist is a secret agent working for an organization called ADAMAS who doesn’t know what Digimon are when the game begins. This design choice makes the game more accessible to players unfamiliar with the franchise while naturally explaining core concepts through discovery rather than assuming prior knowledge.
Hara explained that simply delving into the appeal of powerful Digimon like the Olympos XII would only resonate with existing fans. Instead, the game introduces several mysteries at the beginning designed to spark curiosity and encourage all players to move forward with interest. As the story progresses into the middle chapters, the game gradually explains what Digimon are and how they fit into the world, building a natural sense of intrigue and engagement.
The Digital World Introduction
The pacing of when players access the Digital World also demonstrates intentional design thinking. Rather than sending players immediately to the Digital World like previous Digimon games might have, Time Stranger allows exploration of the real world first. This approach helps enhance the overall sense of immersion when players eventually transition into the Digital World, making it feel like a genuine discovery rather than a starting location you’re expected to accept without context.
The Core Gameplay Differences That Actually Matter
Beyond narrative framing, the actual gameplay systems reveal how different these franchises really are. In Pokemon, you catch creatures by weakening them and throwing Pokeballs, building a collection through encounters and luck. In Digimon Story Time Stranger, you scan enemy Digimon during battles to generate data that eventually lets you create copies. This system fundamentally changes how you approach team building, focusing on strategic scanning rather than luck-based capture mechanics.
The battle system aligns more closely with traditional JRPGs than Pokemon’s rock-paper-scissors elemental system. Time Stranger features strategic turn-based combat with more than 450 Digimon and deep customization options that provide limitless approaches to challenges. The Cross Arts system lets your human agent unleash powerful moves once you’ve accumulated enough CP, adding another tactical layer that doesn’t exist in Pokemon battles.
Maturity and Stakes
Perhaps the biggest difference is narrative tone and stakes. Pokemon games center on sport battling and gym challenges, where conflicts are relatively low-stakes adventures about becoming the best trainer. Digimon Story Time Stranger follows an agent investigating the Shinjuku Inferno, a catastrophic event that devastates Tokyo and threatens the collapse of both human and Digital Worlds. The narrative explores time paradoxes, sacrifice, and themes of fate and connection that wouldn’t fit Pokemon’s more lighthearted framework.
The protagonist in Time Stranger isn’t voiced and isn’t assigned a specific partner Digimon, allowing players to project themselves into the role rather than playing a pre-built character. This design philosophy extends to outfit customization and the freedom to build teams based entirely on personal preference rather than being pushed toward specific partnerships. The game respects player agency in ways that Pokemon’s more structured narrative doesn’t always allow.
The Development Journey Behind Time Stranger
Understanding Time Stranger’s significance requires context about its turbulent development. The game was first announced in December 2017 by original producer Kazumasa Habu, who referred to it only as “a completely new Digimon Story project.” Habu revealed that Hacker’s Memory was developed in parallel with Time Stranger specifically to prevent fans’ enthusiasm from dampening during what he knew would be a long wait.
A year later in September 2018, Habu reconfirmed the game’s development and announced Digimon Survive, scheduled for 2019, because Time Stranger’s development “still had some time to go.” Survive itself faced massive delays and didn’t release until July 2022. In February 2024, Habu revealed he was no longer working on Digimon games as of April 2023, with someone else taking over his role. That someone was Ryosuke Hara, who inherited a project that had been in development for over six years.
Eight Years From Announcement to Release
Time Stranger finally launched on October 3, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, eight years after its initial announcement. The extended development included building over 450 Digimon models entirely from the ground up rather than reusing assets from Cyber Sleuth. Producer Hara emphasized during pre-release events that the game’s creation was a labor of love, hoping players would find joy in their adventures through the Digital World Iliad after such a lengthy wait.
Critical Reception and Player Response
The wait appears to have been worth it based on critical reception. Time Stranger currently holds a Metacritic score of 79-80 depending on platform, with critics praising its comprehensive battle system, deep monster collecting mechanics, and polished presentation. GameSpot’s preview called it “a promising comeback” with “possibly the most comprehensive battle system the series has seen yet.” Even Kotaku’s Ethan Gach, who admitted he doesn’t care about Digimon, said he was “still hyped” after a 90-minute preview.
The Reddit gaming community response has been largely positive, with players on r/digimon and r/JRPG praising quality-of-life features like auto-battling, fast-forward options for battle animations, difficulty settings, and the ability to change character gender whenever desired. These features demonstrate modern design sensibilities that recent Pokemon games have been criticized for lacking, giving Time Stranger a genuine edge in player convenience.
What This Means for the Digimon vs Pokemon Debate
Hara’s comments and Time Stranger’s execution represent the best possible response to decades of unfavorable comparisons. Rather than defensively insisting Digimon deserves respect or attacking Pokemon’s design choices, the team simply made a high-quality JRPG that naturally demonstrates what makes Digimon unique. The strategic depth, mature storytelling, accessible design for newcomers, and respect for player agency all combine to create an experience that stands on its own merits.
For players who grew up with the Pokemon vs Digimon schoolyard debates, Time Stranger offers validation that both franchises can coexist with distinct identities. The surface-level monster collecting similarities don’t define either series – it’s the execution, tone, systems, and design philosophy that create meaningfully different experiences. Time Stranger proves you can appeal to the same general audience of JRPG and monster-collecting fans while delivering something fundamentally distinct from what Pokemon offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Digimon Story Time Stranger producer say about Pokemon?
Producer Ryosuke Hara acknowledged that comparisons between Digimon and Pokemon are natural due to monster collecting similarities, but emphasized they are fundamentally different in core concepts and appeal. He hopes Time Stranger will help players discover and appreciate what makes Digimon distinct.
When did Digimon Story Time Stranger release?
Digimon Story Time Stranger launched worldwide on October 3, 2025 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC. The game was first announced in December 2017, making it an eight-year development cycle.
How is Digimon different from Pokemon?
Digimon uses scanning mechanics to collect monsters rather than catching them, features more traditional JRPG combat systems, tells mature stories with higher stakes about world-ending threats, and provides more player agency in team building without assigned partner creatures or voiced protagonists.
Who is Ryosuke Hara?
Ryosuke Hara is the producer of Digimon Story Time Stranger who took over the project after longtime Digimon producer Kazumasa Habu left the franchise in April 2023. Hara previously worked on titles including Star Wars Outlaws.
How many Digimon are in Time Stranger?
Digimon Story Time Stranger features more than 450 Digimon with deep customization options. All models were rebuilt entirely from the ground up rather than reusing assets from previous games like Cyber Sleuth.
Is Digimon Story Time Stranger good?
Time Stranger received generally favorable reviews with Metacritic scores of 79-80 across platforms. Critics praised its comprehensive battle system, deep collecting mechanics, quality-of-life features, and polished presentation. Even reviewers unfamiliar with Digimon reported enjoying the game.
Why did Digimon Story Time Stranger take 8 years to develop?
The extended timeline included building a completely new game engine, reconstructing over 450 Digimon models from scratch, leadership changes when producer Kazumasa Habu left the project in 2023, and the technical challenges of creating seamless transitions between the real world and Digital World.
Can you play Digimon Story Time Stranger without knowing Digimon?
Yes, Time Stranger was specifically designed for newcomers. The protagonist doesn’t know what Digimon are at the start, allowing the game to naturally introduce concepts through discovery. Producer Hara emphasized making the game accessible to players unfamiliar with the franchise.
Conclusion
Ryosuke Hara’s comments about Digimon Story Time Stranger represent the confident, quality-focused response that the franchise has needed for decades. Rather than defensively arguing against Pokemon comparisons, the team built a game that naturally demonstrates what makes Digimon distinct through excellent execution and thoughtful design. The strategic combat depth, mature narrative stakes, accessible newcomer framing, and respect for player agency combine to create an experience that stands proudly alongside Pokemon rather than in its shadow. After eight years of development and nearly three decades of unfair copycat accusations, Digimon finally has a flagship title that lets the gameplay and storytelling speak for themselves. Whether you’re a longtime fan who’s defended Digimon on playgrounds since the 90s or a curious newcomer wondering what the fuss is about, Time Stranger delivers the definitive answer to what makes this franchise special. The Pokemon comparisons will probably never completely disappear, but at least now there’s a fantastic game that proves those comparisons were always missing the point.