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Star Ocean: The Divine Force
Tier 1

Star Ocean Timeline: How to Play the Star Ocean Series in Order

The Star Ocean timeline can be explored in various ways, allowing players to experience the series in release or chronological order.
Image of Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
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Published: Jul 3, 2023 06:17 am

Star Ocean is a series that spans eight mainline games but has eighteen entries that have been released to fans in total. The games work as standalone adventures but have common elements that tie them together. Still, it’s hard to know what the official Star Ocean timeline is for anyone, newcomer or hardcore fan. That’s why we’ve put together this guide, outlining the two best timelines that players can use to experience the franchise in the best ways possible.

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Contents

    Related: Star Ocean: The Divine Force full Achievements and Trophies list

    What is the Official Star Ocean Timeline?

    star-ocean-the-second-story-r-battle
    Image via Square Enix

    The official Star Ocean timeline is easy to follow when the games are lined up chronologically. However, that’s not the order they were released in. The first part of the series was released in the 90s and early 2000s, but it would take the popularity of remakes released much later to bring any new entries to the market. As a result, the timeline is all over the place, and that’s without even mentioning the plethora of spin-offs within a series where each game could be a standalone title.

    Below is the agreed Star Ocean timeline based on the dates and years the games are set.

    1. 2097 AD – Star Ocean: The Last Hope (released 2009)
    2. 2432 AD – Star Ocean (released 1996)
    3. 2452 AD – Star Ocean: The Second Story (released 1999)
    4. 2454 AD – Star Ocean: Blue Sphere (released 2001)
    5. 2623 AD – Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness (released 2016)
    6. 2635 AD – Star Ocean: Anamnesis (released 2016)
    7. 2670 AD – Star Ocean: The Divine Force (released 2022)
    8. 2858 AD – Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (released 2003)

    When do Other Star Ocean Games Take Place?

    star-ocean-the-divine-force
    Image via Square Enix

    Star Ocean games outside of the mainline series and timeline all take place at some point before, after, or between the other games. These spin-off titles might sometimes lean on themes and visual elements from a particular release, or they could be their own thing entirely. However, they’re all official and part of the series, so they take place somewhere within that same established universe.

    While most Star Ocean games, such as First Departure, Second Evolution, The Last Hope, and Till the End of Time, are originals, remakes, or remasters, there are some games that don’t fit within the established timeline. That’s not to say they don’t take place within the same universe, more that their exact setting is unknown. A good example of a game like this is Star Ocean: Material Trader, which is an RPG card game that uses Star Ocean visuals and aesthetics but is very much its own game separate from even other spin-offs.

    What is the Star Ocean Timeline in Release Order?

    roddick-speaking-in-star-ocean-first-departure-r
    Image via Square Enix

    The Star Ocean timeline in release order organizes the games by release date, regardless of whether they’re mainline entries or spin-offs. Fans can play the series in this timeline order if they want, and we believe it makes sense because this is the order the games were given to players in. While it might not be the best order to play for those that want to understand the structure of the Star Ocean universe, it’s a solid order to follow and makes up for the lack of direction from Square Enix.

    Below, we’ve listed the Star Ocean Timeline in release order so fans can plan the next entry they want to play.

    1. Star Ocean (released in 1996)
    2. Star Ocean: The Second Story (released in 1998)
    3. Star Ocean: Blue Sphere (released in 2001 for Game Boy Color)
    4. Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (released in 2003)
    5. Star Ocean: First Departure (released in 2007)
    6. Star Ocean: Second Evolution (released in 2008)
    7. Star Ocean: The Last Hope (released in 2009)
    8. Star Ocean: Blue Sphere (released in 2009 for mobile devices)
    9. Star Ocean: The Last Hope International (released in 2010)
    10. Star Ocean: Material Trader (released in 2013)
    11. Star Ocean: Second Evolution (released in 2015)
    12. Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithfulness (released in 2016)
    13. Star Ocean: Anamnesis (released in 2016 for mobile devices)
    14. Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (released in 2017 for PS4)
    15. Star Ocean: The Last Hope (released in 2017 for PS4 and PC)
    16. Star Ocean: First Departure R (released in 2019)
    17. Star Ocean: The Divine Force (released in 2022)
    18. Star Ocean: Second Story R (released in 2023)

    What is the Star Ocean Timeline in Chronological Order?

    woman-looking-in-star-ocean-the-last-hope
    Image via Square Enix

    The Star Ocean timeline in chronological order follows the mainline games, with a few of the spin-offs dotted in between. While there’s no official year setting for some of the games, we’ve used our best judgment and the agreed upon closest setting from the community to place every game in a rough chronological order below. Any fans that want to try to experience the Star Ocean universe from the ‘official’ start to the ‘official’ end can find the order below.

    1. 2096 AD – Star Ocean: Material Trader (released in 2013)
    2. 2097 AD – Star Ocean: The Last Hope (released 2009)
      • 2907 AD – Star Ocean: The Last Hope International (released in 2010)
      • 2097 AD – Star Ocean: The Last Hope (released in 2017 for PS4 and PC)
    3. 2432 AD – Star Ocean (released 1996)
      • 2432 AD – Star Ocean: First Departure (released in 2007)
      • 2432 AD – Star Ocean: First Departure R (released in 2019)
    4. 2452 AD – Star Ocean: The Second Story (released 1998)
      • 2452 AD – Star Ocean: Second Evolution (released in 2008)
      • 2452 AD – Star Ocean: Second Evolution (released in 2015)
      • 2452 AD – Star Ocean: Second Story R (released in 2023)
    5. 2454 AD – Star Ocean: Blue Sphere (released 2001 for Game Boy Color)
      • 2434 AD – Star Ocean: Blue Sphere (released in 2009 for mobile devices)
    6. 2623 AD – Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness (released 2016)
    7. 2635 AD – Star Ocean: Anamnesis (released 2016)
    8. 2670 AD – Star Ocean: The Divine Force (released 2022)
    9. 2858 AD – Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (released 2003)
      • 2858 AD – Star Ocean: Till the End of Time (released in 2017 for PS4)

    Which Star Ocean Games Are No Longer Playable?

    star-ocean-ananmesis-banner
    Screenshot via Square Enix

    The Star Ocean games that are no longer playable are Star Ocean: Material Trader and Star Ocean: Anamnesis. These games were mobile applications that are now defunct and have been delisted from their storefronts. Star Ocean: Material Trader was shut down in February 2014, and we are unaware of any efforts from fans to preserve it or publish a fan-made version. Star Ocean: Anamnesis’ global version was shut down in 2019, and the Japanese version was shut down in 2021. While no fan remakes or preservation efforts of this title are underway, the Subreddit is filled with fans that revisit the community to remember the game now and then.

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    Author
    Image of Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
    Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp
    Jamie Moorcroft-Sharp is a Staff Writer at Gamepur. He's been writing about games for ten years and has been featured in Switch Player Magazine, Lock-On, and For Gamers Magazine. He's particularly keen on working out when he isn't playing games or writing or trying to be the best dad in the world.
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