Even beautiful sprites can’t save this repetitive idle RPG

Digimon has always been a franchise loved by long-term fans for the bond built around tamers and their partner Digimon. Naturally, Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. aims to capture some of that magic with DIGIMON UP, an idle RPG that lets players collect, train, and strengthen tons of Digimon through auto-battles and a mountain of enemies. So let’s see what the fuss is about with our DIGIMON UP Review.

While DIGIMON UP looks the part, fans are not quite sure if this is the Digimon experience they have been waiting for. So in this DIGIMON UP Review, I’ll share my experience after spending several days with the game on my iOS device, clocking over 20+ hours.

I’ll be talking about the gameplay mechanics, visuals, controls, game modes, and monetization to help you decide whether this latest Digimon adventure deserves a place on your mobile device. Also, take a look at our Beginners Guide and Reroll Guide for tips, and our Redeem Codes article for freebies.

Gameplay mechanics offer plenty but very few meaningful interactions

From the start of the game, I was introduced to several gameplay systems. Beyond raising my partner Digimon, the game gradually introduced me to support Digimon, Skill Cards, the Hologram device, and much more. At first glance, the abundance made the game have depth.

There was a notification popping up with something I had to do. But after several hours, that sense of depth began to fade. Unlike traditional Digimon RPGs that let players command their Digimon during battles, the combat in DIGIMON UP plays out almost entirely on its own.

My partner Digimon did all the heavy lifting automatically, attacking any enemy without any input. So did my Support Digimon, and my Skill Cards activated automatically, too. So victory in this game largely depended on how high my combat power was. Because of this, I didn’t need to focus on combat, and I spent most of my time in the game menus.

But to be fair, the gameplay felt satisfying initially. Watching my partner Digimon evolve, assembling a team of support Digimon, using Skill Cards, and increasing my combat power felt rewarding. Ultimately, DIGIMON UP succeeds at creating the illusion of depth through its numerous systems, but underneath those layers lies a straightforward idle RPG.

Rather than encouraging strategic gameplay or meaningful player interaction, the game primarily rewards patience, farming, and steadily increasing Combat Power. For players who enjoy idle games, that may be enough. However, fans hoping for a deeper Digimon adventure may find themselves wanting much more.

Game modes offer a lot to do, but the story struggles to leave an impression

Although the game is built around idle mechanics, I wasn’t stuck with a single mode to grind. Instead, DIGIMON UP gradually unlocked a variety of activities like PvP battles, Dungeons, Battle Stages, and so much more. On paper, that sounds like plenty of content to keep players occupied, and initially, I certainly felt that way.

The main Battle Stages are the center of the entire experience. Here, my Partner Digimon automatically fights through waves of enemies while collecting resources. However, because the combat in this game is automated, the stages began to feel like I just had to boost my combat power and nothing else. Luckily, there are several side activities I could use to break that routine.

Regardless of these other modes, the game’s overall narrative feels underwhelming. For a franchise known for memorable adventures across the Digital World and the emotional bonds between Tamers and their partners, DIGIMON UP offers surprisingly little story to become invested in.

DIGIMON UP certainly offers enough daily activities to keep players busy, especially those who enjoy checking into idle games multiple times throughout the day. However, most of those activities ultimately serve the same purpose: gathering more resources to increase Combat Power. Without a stronger narrative or more engaging gameplay to tie everything together, the variety of modes begins to feel repetitive despite the sheer number of systems available.

The charming pixel sprites were part of my highlights

One of the first things that caught my eye in DIGIMON UP was undoubtedly its visual presentation. From my first hours in this game, the beautifully animated pixel sprites stood out. And nearly every Digimon has expressive animations that successfully capture each creature’s personality.

Even better, the game has an enormous number of Digimon available, which I’m sure longtime fans will love. Unfortunately, once the excitement surrounding the sprites fades, the rest of the presentation struggles to leave the same lasting impression.

Battle environments quickly become repetitive, and because combat is fully automated, players spend much of their time watching similar animations repeat across hundreds of battles. The background music fits the game’s relaxed idle atmosphere well enough, and sound effects also do their job competently, giving attacks enough impact without becoming distracting.

Controls and UI remain easy to navigate

Since DIGIMON UP is an idle RPG, it doesn’t demand fast reflexes or complicated inputs. Most of your interactions revolve around navigating menus, claiming rewards, upgrading your Digimon, and managing the game’s many systems. Thankfully, the controls themselves are responsive and straightforward, making it easy to settle into the gameplay loop.

Moving between menus only takes a few taps, and most features become available directly from the main screen. The game generally performs well from a technical standpoint. Menus load quickly, transitions remain smooth, and I rarely encountered noticeable lag while navigating the interface. That level of polish helps prevent the UI from becoming frustrating, even if it often feels overly busy.

Free-to-play players can make good progress without spending

Like many mobile RPGs today, DIGIMON UP adopts a free-to-play model supported by gacha mechanics. To its credit, the game doesn’t completely lock free players out or stop them from progressing. In fact, I was regularly handed out summon tickets, daily rewards, mission bonuses, and enough DigiEmeralds to perform a free multi-summon on certain premium banners every day.

That generosity is worth mentioning because it allowed me to obtain lots of Digimon for free. While the game remains playable without spending, it constantly reminds you that paying can make you progress faster. Regardless, DIGIMON UP isn’t impossible to enjoy as a free-to-play player. Dedicated fans can absolutely make meaningful progress without opening their wallets.

Final Verdict

After spending a considerable amount of time with DIGIMON UP, I walked away with mixed feelings. At its core, DIGIMON UP feels like a generic idle RPG that happens to feature Digimon rather than a game built around what makes the franchise unique. While that loop may appeal to fans of idle games, it lacks the strategic depth and sense of adventure many longtime Digimon fans may have been hoping for.

As things currently stand, however, DIGIMON UP feels like an average idle RPG wrapped in an outstanding Digimon presentation. Players who already enjoy idle mechanics in games and simply want to collect their favorite Digimon may still find enough reasons to stick around. However, if you’re looking for a deeper monster-raising RPG that captures the heart of the franchise, this one may leave you wanting considerably more. And that brings us to the end of our DIGIMON UP Review.

That’s all from us for the DIGIMON UP Review! Did you find my DIGIMON UP Review helpful? Let me know in the comments below!

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