In September Square Enix is releasing its next RPG, The DioField Chronicle. The fantasy strategy RPG is described as a "hard-hitting" story with real-time combat. It's co-developed between Square Enix and Lancarse, the studio known for Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey. The result is an interesting mix of real-time strategic combat, akin to Valkyria Chronicles, and a classic style of JRPG influence, like from Final Fantasy Tactics. And with the release of a new demo, RPG fans can try The DioField Chronicle for themselves.Square Enix has released the demo for The DioField Chronicle across all supported platforms, including Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. The demo will feature a slice of the game, as well as three difficulty levels, Casual, Normal, and Hard. Altogether, the demo will include around three hours of gameplay, though playing multiple times with different difficulties will increase that. And save files for the demo will carry over into The DioField Chronicle's full release.To be more specific about the demo's content, the first five missions from The DioField Chronicle's story will be available to play. This includes a lengthy, story-rich prologue that sets the tone for what's to come. The gameplay starts as the game's protagonists join a mercenary group and begin to take on tasks. Of course, there's more to this group than first meets the eye and increasingly important tasks before them.
Each mission will, naturally, have its own combat component. The DioField Chronicle will task players with eliminating enemies, capturing bases, and interacting with various map gimmicks that change from mission to mission. The depth of The DioField Chronicle will be up to players to discover, with Square Enix hinting at some interesting features included in the demo that might surprise those who play it all the way through.
The DioField Chronicle may not be as large of an experience as Square Enix's major franchise offerings, like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, but this growing niche of classically-inspired RPGs, like Octopath Traveler and Triangle Strategy, has certainly found an audience. Releasing an early demo is a key part of Square Enix's strategy, too, offering a free glimpse at each game's epic story.
Those interested in The DioField Chronicle can try the JRPG's demo out right now, as it's launched across all supported platforms. It will remain available through The DioField Chronicle's full launch and, as noted, will carry over progress for those that purchase the full game. Expect further details regarding The DioField Chronicle over the coming month.
The DioField Chronicle releases on September 22 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.