The upcoming JRPG One Piece Odyssey, set to release in early 2023, will feature plenty of iconic characters from the franchise. A turn-based RPG that aims to tie into the famous One Piece series itself, One Piece Odyssey will follow the Straw Hat Pirates as they explore the brand-new setting of the mysterious island they've been stranded upon. New quests, dungeons, and enemies should provide an entirely original experience for even the most dedicated One Piece fans, and the ability to play as multiple different characters opens the game up to a wide range of play styles.
Although Bandai Namco first announced the One Piece Odyssey RPG in March 2022, the game was speculated to exist as early as 2021 when the name was trademarked without any other details. Although quite a few One Piece video games have released since the series first launched, including everything from fighting games to platformers, the intricate design and story-driven nature of One Piece Odyssey was seen as particularly exciting for fans. It seems like a fitting tribute to the One Piece series' 25th anniversary, especially given that creator Eiichiro Oda is involved with the game's story.
With visuals that rival that of an animated film, at least according to Oda, who compared One Piece Odyssey to watching a movie, the game's trailers have certainly managed to catch the attention of One Piece fans. Additional footage was revealed at Summer Game Fest 2022, and then at Tokyo Game Show 2022 in September. Viewers were also treated to a lengthy gameplay preview, a concrete release date of January 13, and a list of pre-order bonuses for the different versions of One Piece Odyssey. Thanks to all the footage that's been released over the past year, it's fairly easy to at least get a halfway-decent idea of which One Piece characters will be included in the game.
Every Iconic Character Coming To One Piece Odyssey
The Straw Hat Pirates make up the bulk of the game's familiar cast, though fans quickly noticed that Jimbei isn't playable in One Piece Odyssey and is absent from both the JRPG's trailers and website. This means that there are only nine playable characters in One Piece Odyssey, at least when it comes to returning characters. However, each comes with their own unique skills to utilize in combat, offering a great deal of flexibility. The playable crew members are as follows:
- Monkey D. Luffy
- Nami
- Nico Robin
- Roronoa Zoro
- Usopp
- Sanji
- Franky
- Brook
- Tony Tony Chopper
That said, more of the One Piece cast could potentially be added if the game receives additional DLC following its release. If the game's longevity is indeed extended, it should help make up for the fact that One Piece Odyssey's release time is awkward for fans of the ongoing series. Additionally, on top of the returning One Piece characters, there are quite a few new characters created just for One Piece Odyssey: Lim, Adio Suerte, and The Colossus. A few other familiar faces including Smoker, the Five Elders, and Nefertari Vivi have shown up in trailers, too. As more details are revealed ahead of the official One Piece Odyssey launch, prospective players may be treated to glimpses of even more unexpected icons from the broader franchise.