Octopath Traveler 0 is a reimagined version of the free-to-play mobile game Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. Several changes were made to differentiate it from the original game, including an overhaul of the story and gameplay to accommodate the removal of a gacha system (with the player instead recruiting party members by progressing through the story), expanding the Japanese voice acting while also re-recording lines to sound more realistic, and updating the art style to use a hand-drawn style and muted colors. Producer Hirohito Suzuki described Octopath Traveler 0's story as being akin to the Crossed Paths stories from Champions of the Continent, and that depending on the player's choices (i.e. whether or not they recruit the original eight player characters from the first game), it could be seen as either a prequel or an alternate timeline. However, it's story only covers content from before the release of Champions of the Continent's v2.14 update, meaning there are no references to later story campaigns such as Side Solistia and the Crossed Paths, both of which involve content from Octopath Traveler II.

According to producer Hirohito Suzuki, one of the main themes he wanted to convey in Octopath Traveler 0 was "the idea of having a home to return to in between adventures." This was reflected in the game's town-building mechanics, which was designed so that Wishvale and its restoration would be deeply interconnected with the game's story. Suzuki also asked illustrator Naoki Ikushina to theme the game's box art around the idea of returning home.