Square Enix's HD-2D Style Evolves With The Adventures of Elliot

Square Enix has officially expanded its HD-2D catalog this week with the launch of The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. As the ninth official release to feature this signature visual style, Elliot marks a shift for the brand, moving into the action-RPG genre while maintaining the aesthetic roots established by Octopath Traveler in 2018.

The HD-2D approach uses 16-bit style pixel-art sprites placed within 3D environments. By utilizing an elevated camera angle paired with modern lighting and depth-of-field rendering, the games aim to bridge the gap between 1990s nostalgia and current-generation visual presentation.

A Growing Portfolio of HD-2D Titles

The internal Team Asano at Square Enix, led by producer Tomoya Asano, has utilized this technical framework to support a variety of projects. The catalog includes a mix of original titles, such as the Octopath Traveler series, and remakes of classic games like Live A Live and various early Dragon Quest entries. The studio has also applied the style to different genres, including the tactics-based Triangle Strategy and the newly released The Adventures of Elliot.

For Square Enix, the HD-2D initiative has become a consistent platform for both reviving older design philosophies and testing new concepts. Because the style is established and recognizable, it allows for original works like Elliot to receive resources and attention that might otherwise be difficult to secure for a retro-styled project. These are positioned as full-price, premium releases rather than niche experiments.

Looking Beyond the Aesthetic

While the visual style is the most immediate hook, the technical platform has proven to be highly portable across different development partnerships. Team Asano has collaborated with various studios, including Acquire, Artdink, and Claytechworks, to maintain a consistent quality standard across the library. This consistency has even allowed for the critical re-evaluation of mobile spinoffs, such as Octopath Traveler 0 and Final Fantasy Resonance, by bringing them to a broader audience via the HD-2D format.

While other studios have attempted to iterate on this look—such as Rabbit and Bear Studios with Eiyuden Chronicles—the core of Square Enix's success lies in using the aesthetic to preserve the spirit of 1990s game design without compromising its original intent. The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales is currently available as the latest entry in this ongoing effort to evolve the RPG genre by looking back at its foundations.