Triangle Strategy Devs On Creating a 'Mature' Story for One of the Decade's Best RPGs

"In just five short years, Square Enix's HD-2D games have become a phenomenon, a beloved new sub-genre of RPGs that hearken back to the glory days of old - while pushing role-playing games forward in bold new ways. With the third Octopath game, Octopath Traveler 0, right around the corner, HD-2D is about to enter a new era - especially in terms of darker, more brutal storytelling."

"The first, and currently only, HD-2D strategy game, Triangle Strategy remains one of Square Enix's standout games of the decade - and brought a unique new perspective on the strategy RPG genre at large. But perhaps most crucially, it's story wasn't fantastic but grounded, a gritty and gripping Game of Thrones-esque experience heavy on politics, economics, and ideology. All of that still gives Triangle Strategy a distinctly different feel from any other HD-2D game, and even most RPGs."

Square Enix's HD-2D games have become a popular sub-genre that blends nostalgic aesthetics with modern RPG design. Octopath Traveler 0 will expand HD-2D into darker, more brutal storytelling. Triangle Strategy, released in 2022, applied HD-2D to strategy RPGs and delivered a gritty, politically driven narrative focused on politics, economics, and ideology. That grounded, Game of Thrones-esque story gave Triangle Strategy a distinct tone compared with other HD-2D titles. The game's design and narrative approach significantly influenced how subsequent HD-2D projects handle storytelling. Strong player demand prompted ports of Triangle Strategy to PlayStation and Xbox.

Read at Inverse