Square Enix is putting its painterly HD‑2D style into motion. The studio's action‑leaning adventure The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales now has a firm release date for Switch 2: June 18, 2026 — and a demo you can try today.
The game reappeared during Nintendo’s Partner Showcase with a new trailer that fills in how Elliot’s time‑hopping quest will play out. Rather than a turn‑based romp like Octopath Traveler, this one borrows more from classic Zelda: real‑time combat, exploration and a fairy sidekick (yes, Faie is very much a Navi wink). Elliot travels across four distinct eras — the Age of Safekeeping, Reconstruction, Magic and Budding — and each era changes the look and life of his hometown while offering unique weapons, items and magic.
What to expect from the gameplay
Think HD‑2D aesthetics with action RPG pacing. Square Enix has described the project as its first serious attempt to marry that visual style to more action‑oriented systems: weapon types behave differently in combat, some tools are better against certain foes, and era‑specific gear will encourage you to adapt as you jump between centuries. Faie can attack autonomously or be taken by a second player, which opens a local co‑op option.
Trailers show a handful of slick boss encounters and environmental variety across the ages — the Reconstruction era, for example, hints at a world where humanity nearly vanished, while Budding feels like the dawn of civilization. If you liked the look of HD‑2D but wanted more immediate, Zelda‑style action, this is Square Enix's stab at that middle ground.
Platforms and demo
Switch 2 is confirmed for June 18; versions for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC are listed as planned and will likely follow the same date, though those platforms haven’t been 100% nailed down publicly yet. If you want an early taste, the free demo is available on the eShop now.
If you’re tracking how third parties are handling Nintendo’s new hardware, Elliot’s Switch 2 slot is another sign of growing support for the platform as publishers line up titles for the system — something Nintendo has been pointing to as momentum builds for Switch 2 and its release calendar. For broader context on the platform’s outlook and third‑party schedules, see Nintendo’s recent updates on Switch 2 sales and release planning: Nintendo Raises Switch 2 Forecast as Console Sales Soar and Nintendo Reconfirms Big Switch 2 Release Schedule as Third‑Party Support Surges.
Should you care? A quick read
Square Enix’s HD‑2D look has become synonymous with beautiful isometric dioramas and charming lighting; this project tests whether that aesthetic can carry action combat without losing its signature charm. The co‑op fairy and era‑specific toys make it feel like more than a style exercise — there are real mechanical hooks. Whether it lands will depend on pacing, how satisfying the weapon systems feel, and whether the time‑shifts produce memorable level design instead of a visual gimmick.
If you play on PlayStation hardware, the game’s multi‑platform nature makes it relevant there too — and if you’re shopping for a console this year, consider the PlayStation 5 Pro console as an option to run the PS5 version should Square Enix confirm simultaneous availability.
Try the demo, watch the new trailer, and keep an eye on Square Enix’s updates as we get closer to mid‑June. For now, Elliot looks poised to be one of the more visually arresting action RPGs on the horizon — and an interesting experiment in extending HD‑2D beyond turn‑based design.