Metaphor: ReFantazio

Atlus did it again ! It's Persona but with travels and on another setting ! Wondeful game through and through !

This game is essentially the spiritual successor to Digital Devil Saga, featuring press turn, combo skills, and mantras, as well as elements from the Persona series, such as "social links" and calendar features. This game is also full of nods to earlier series including [spoiler] Etrian Odyssey [/spoiler] Overall, it's a pretty good love letter for their 35th anniversary.

great game atlus :DD i give 9.5/10 i like story and strohl is bestest i think you should make better dungeons next time >_< 1st one was good and 4th i didnt have problem with like others but others and side dungeons a bit iffy :(( and have the class system be more meaningful in endgame looking forward to sequel :)))

This is partly a visual novel with tons of dialogue. I mean hours of text saying the same thing over and over. You might have two hours of just text and not even be able to save. The characters are very one dimensional but I still ended up caring for them. The combat is pretty good but I often found it frustrating. This is a JRPG and visual novel so know that going in. This is a very long game and the story is not great. I still enjoyed it and recommend it as long as you know what you are getting into.

Great combat, great art, great music, absolute dogsh*t writing. If you care about that sort of thing and you have a single critical bone in your body — don't waste your time. Go play Atlus' other games — SMT or Persona (yes, this makes Persona writing look good) — or better yet, go play E33.

This is the JRPG I knew once was, having story rich with political and social issue but still enjoyable with great animation. As a working adult with little time to play game, I can ensure this game can still be enjoyable as the grinding is not that time consuming and still `fun`. The `Atlus` Aspect of `SMT-ish` and `Persona-ish` is also having strong nuance in this game. totally worth the money and time 10/10 (Haven't finished the story yet)

Banger OST, Gorgeous Artstyle, Fun Combat System, Solid story. This is as anime as it gets.

A lot of people say this game doesn't live up to Persona 5, but honestly, I think it holds up just as well—if not better—in many aspects like art design, music, and especially combat. The battle system feels way more refined. There’s more depth in how you build and use your characters, and it’s not just about Personas or skill cards anymore. The class system actually encourages teamwork and strategy, which I really liked. Overall, the difficulty is higher too. I played P5 on the hardest difficulty and didn’t struggle much, but here, even on normal, Metaphor is giving me a some challenges. The UI is also more intuitive in Metaphor, and the story isn’t nearly as bad as people say. I’d even say it’s pretty solid. Both games are great in their own ways—no need for Persona 5 fans to keep trashing Metaphor. This game deserves more love.

One of my favourite games of all time. The narrative is brilliant, and references all sorts of old myths and story telling archetypes. The higher difficulties are very engaging for fans of turn based RPGs, and later battles are as challanging as the atlus 90s classics. the art direction is sublime, thoughtful and based on old political propaganda posters from the late 19th century and early 20th century, brought to life with a mix of atlus' iconic artstyle. last but not least, the soundtrack mixing classical music, eletronic, monk chants... and all in experanto, is very unique, striking and well executed giving the game a very unique identity, and the lyrics when translated reinforce the messages and themes of the game. 10/10 highly reccomend fo whoever likes political plots, nerve wrenching turn based combat and classical thetre inspired narratives.

It really plays the hits from classic JRPG tropes while also offering the freshest, smoothest version of the Persona formula yet. The pacing stumbles in a few places, but the core gameplay is tight, the characters are all charming, and the designs are spiffy. Also: Bat Dad is Best Dad.

Atlus really went all out for that 35 anniversary with this game. Although lacking replayability due to it's one-time experience story and disappointing NG+, It nonetheless was an overall great experience. The story, although holding themes I've seen in other JRPGs, was still executed in a way that felt refreshing to the genre like most JRPGs do. However, this game also boasts an amazing soundtrack, visual style, and gameplay. Truly a culmination of the things learned from both the SMT and Persona games that no doubt earned it's spot as a nominee of GOTY. And even though it lacks replayability on paper, it's an RPG, and the limits of one's imagination is the only thing that can hold them back from finding many hours of enjoyment out of this game.

i wish the game mechanics were a little more original and not just a straight persona clone but the story is good and i feel the game as a whole is on par with the rest of Atlus`s RPGs

[h1]Things I liked[/h1] + Music + Setting + Combat System + UI + Enemy Design [h1]Things I disliked[/h1] - too grindy (I know it's an JRPG) - Characters (too shallow) - Dungeons are very uninspired - Last Dungeon is a slog [h1]Neutrals[/h1] # Story is alright, but also rather shallow I'm happy that ATLUS is trying new things and hope that they will continue to do so. By branching out they can find new things and prevent their games from becoming stale. But even with the attitude that Metaphor is "the first" of it's IP, I can't recommend Metaphor. I hope they gathered some knowledge from this game, that they can use to make another good game.

The world building and story are top tier, but the game is bogged down by some negatives. Outdated graphics and dungeon design, along with some questionable difficulty scaling especially during late game, makes it a frustrating, but rewarding experience. The graphics are poor, and in some spots this is very noticeable / detracts from the game, which is a shame as the art style is fantastic. The music is great, and accompanies the story every step of the way. Wraps itself up nicely by the time you're done with the game, but it does drag on near the end. Would recommend if you're a fan of any of the other ATLUS games. 8/10

If you like Persona, you will like this game. Some positive differences include that every playable character, not just mc, can be customised with skills to fit your strategy and that you can finish all the main confidants very easily in one play through. It also isn't in high school so if you are sick of school uniforms and exam questions, hooray! I really like the Archetype system and hope to see it again in future games. The battle music slaps so hard and the graphics were really fun and innovative.

Just finished the game. Was pretty good, gameplay was snappy and intuitive as expected of ATLAS. The story was fine but had a few twists that I just thought "Why?" about. I was able to beat it with minimal grinding on medium difficulty but the last boss I had to retry a few times with good RNG. Overall enjoyed my experience and it felt like I saw everything the game had to offer,

Shitty game that looks cool sometimes. Early game balance issues that aren't supported by its systems at all, even if you do side content and follow its in-game tips to a T. Generic combat animations, which is unfortunate given how cool everything else looks. Hard cuts every few seconds in story beats rather than actually using the environments. This is for anime people who can look past poor game design.

With Metaphor, I had three questions. The first was: why the hell did I buy this boring, sluggish mess? I don't even like anime. It was too late to refund, so I shelved it. A few months later, in a fit of extreme boredom, I fired it up again. Then 20 hours flew by. Then 30. Then 50. It’s 4 a.m., and I’ve just killed a dragon I’d been fighting for three hours. Feels good. Great, even. Which brings me to the second question: how the hell did this game do it? How did it pull me in so deep I forgot to sleep -- or play anything else? The third question was how it managed to sweep every award last year. ...But I think I’ve got the answer now.

Metaphor: ReFantazio invites players into a lush, fantastical realm where magic and mystery weave into every corner of the world. This action RPG combines fluid combat, rich storytelling, and breathtaking environments to create an experience that feels both familiar and refreshingly imaginative. If you’re looking for a game that balances heartfelt narrative with vibrant exploration and combat, ReFantazio is a compelling journey worth embarking on. The core of ReFantazio lies in its dynamic combat system that blends melee, magic, and tactical maneuvering. You control a young hero awakened in a fragmented world, charged with restoring balance by forging bonds with enigmatic spirits called “Metaphors.” Combat feels responsive and rewarding, encouraging you to mix up spells and weapon attacks to exploit enemy weaknesses. The game also features customizable skill trees, letting you tailor your character to your preferred style—be it a nimble mage, a brute warrior, or a balanced hybrid. Exploration is another highlight. The world is full of secrets, hidden paths, and puzzles that require clever thinking. The vibrant art style makes wandering through forests, ancient ruins, and floating islands a joy in itself. The narrative centers on themes of identity, memory, and rebirth. The protagonist’s journey is woven with encounters with memorable companions and foes, each with their own motivations and backstories. The writing balances epic fantasy stakes with intimate moments, making the story both grand and personal. Visually, ReFantazio shines with painterly landscapes and fluid animations that bring the magical world to life. The color palette is rich and diverse, enhancing the sense of wonder. The soundtrack complements the atmosphere beautifully, blending orchestral arrangements with ethereal tones that underscore both moments of action and quiet reflection. Pros: -Engaging and fluid combat system -Beautiful, richly detailed fantasy world -Deep character customization and growth -Compelling story with emotional depth -Strong balance of exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat Cons: -Some side quests feel repetitive -Occasional camera issues in tight areas -Difficulty spikes can frustrate casual players -A few narrative threads feel underdeveloped Metaphor: ReFantazio offers a magical adventure that blends solid action RPG mechanics with a heartfelt story and a gorgeous world. While not without flaws, it manages to capture a sense of wonder and discovery that will appeal to fans of fantasy and immersive gameplay alike. If you crave a journey full of mysticism, strategic combat, and emotional storytelling, this game is a worthy stop on your RPG path. Recommended for fans of Tales series, Ni no Kuni, and anyone looking for an evocative fantasy action RPG. Rating: 9/10

This game is super long, but the story was worth it every second. It reminds me of Attack on Titan in a way, but that's a good thing. This was definitely one of the best games that came out in 2024.

This game is great. The visuals are clean and pretty, the combat and gameplay is fun, the characters are good, the music is on point as expected from ATLUS, and the plot hooks you in pretty early on. It's a great setup for what is probably an amazing game. However I have a deep rooted issue that completely ruins this game for me. There is a complete lack of accessibility settings or any equivalent. It may not be a big deal for others, but I have bad eyesight, and this game strains my eyes more than any other game I have ever played. Be it the constant particles in the air, or the always moving UI, it's a recipe for disaster for my eyes and I cannot do anything about it. I'm not the only person that deals with this either. The lack of accessibility settings has always been something I've noticed in ATLUS games, however I have never struggled without it until now. It just seems ridiculous that in 2024 and now 2025, there aren't any accessibility settings whatsoever. I physically cannot play this game unless something is changed.

metaphor refantazio is the best game ever made but unfortunately most people have the attention span of a peruvian 16 year old that watches instagram reels and are convinced that "elden ring" is the best game of all time so are unable to enjoy gods greatest gift

This is a mix of so many different SMT games. One of my favorites is Digital Devil Saga and I'm happy to see that learning and leveling up is like that game. I thought some of the designs in Tokyo Mirage (SMTxFireEmblam) were fantastic and this game reminds me of that. Then of course, bopping encounters on the head instead of invisible RE is my favorite thing about Persona 3-5, and this game makes it like a Zelda before you start your turn based fight. Everybody wins.

Truly amazing game. Persona with medieval setting, sign me up!

Overall a solid story and good turned based gameplay. The basic gameplay loop is similar to Persona games with each chapter having limited time, but I felt there was much more flexibility in this one. (I completed all relations/events etc easily without having to use a routing guide) Basically if you like Persona series you will like this one. (although there is no romance system in Metaphor)

After Beating Metaphor, i can actually say i really love the Story and a fresh enough take on the Atlus Game play formula, when it comes to difficulty i played the game on Hard mode for awhile and once i got towards the end of the game it became really hard to enjoy since i was low lvled for most of the end game till i found a guide to lvl up faster. The final boss of metaphor was so annoying towards end man kinda ruined the final moments for me but overall a great game.

A deeply satisfying game to play - and unlike Persona, Metaphor Refantazio respected my time and gave me ample opportunities to spend time with late-game characters and tie off all loose ends in the social links. This is what I'd like Atlus to include in their games from now on.

A breath of fresh air from Atlus' typical Persona student-life games, Metaphor is a fantasy game that tackles really good themes such as hope, fate, anxieties, and lot of racism. Storytelling was phenomenal and every character has their own time to shine. Their Game play is really fun with right amount of needed strategy, while difficulty is just right with some frustrating boss encounters as challenges. Overall a must play for JRPG fans. I enjoyed every sing time spent playing this game.

I can't recommend this game. I played Persona 3, Persona 3 FES, Persona 4, Persona 5, and Persona 5 Royal and while the mechanics and characters are compelling, the execution of this game with the graphics and calendar system is too dated. I really cannot bring myself to play this game. And knowing Atlus, they will sell us the "updated" version in a few years with purposefully cut content.

To be honest, this game is mid at best. I’ve played Persona 2 through 5 along with some SMT titles, but this is the first Atlus game I couldn’t be bothered to keep playing. It started off promising and having it set in a fantasy world instead of the usual high school setting was good and all. First 3 dungeons were awesome but after that was meh. As the game progresses the new characters feel like they have no chemistry. They come off as super generic and one-dimensional. The introduction of the Archetype system didn’t help either, it just made everyone feel less unique, both in gameplay and design. Nothing about them really stood out. Dungeon exploration just wasn't fun imo. There wasnt enough unique mechanics that made them feel distinctive, so progressing through them felt repetitive and only thing it made me keeping going was the music. The music itself was good. I get the vibe they were going for, but I'd like more variety. I even watched the ending out of curiosity. Wasn’t anything special. It’s not a bad game ofc, but if you’re looking for deep characters with non-linear story, play something else. 6/10

Cool evolution of the Persona brand of JRPGs. The day to day mechanic is not particularly stressful due to the ease of grinding in dungeons without running out of mana so most tasks are very straightforward to get done between story beats. The story is good but not ground breaking, and the archetype mechanic is cool. Would recommend if you want a good JRPG to play for 60+ hours. Play the prologue, and if you dont like it, dont get it.

If you're giant persona-pilled gremlin, boy is this a game for you. Not going to lie, this probably the best persona game as a total package. I still think P3, 4, 5 have something over this game in some regards. If you hate or have grown out of the persona series, yeah stray away.

The journey of this game is awesome- there are some twists you see but the characters are interesting and varied. I believe that there was some content/story content that was cut , but even the ending characters that join late were well thought out and had great backstory/side content. I played on the middle difficulty and did grind a bit but completed most content at endgame as well as all side story content. The combat and strategy was interesting to build comps and switch out when needed- my one critique is that some of the game was pretty repetitive in combat or felt like you had to run a certain comp. But it gets better at the end and I had a fairly good time figuring out some end game bosses. Overall it is an absolute must play if you enjoy good stories and jrpgs in general.

persona with a job system + fantasy setting = bomb. They gotta improve the dungeon design in the next one though. Feels like barely a step above a PS2 game with how barren the environments are.

I recommend the first 20 hrs. It’s fun. You have hopes for something great. But it drags and drags on and I just couldn’t finish it. I loved Persona 3 ReLoad although I did have to take a long break halfway through. I’m not finishing this later.

Excellent gameplay, style, and a very concentrated style. The world building is immense and has you wanting to explore the more you discover. Although the final leg grew pretty stale and repetitive especially with some boss fights that felt like a steep power spike.

A great game with an amazing story. Having played a few Persona games before this was a more than enjoyable experience. If you are a fan of those games, then I highly recommend this one. Absolutely earned its GoTY Nomination.

Do you enjoy Persona games? This is for you. If you don't enjoy the school-part in Persona but would like to play something similar? This one is for you.

Great game, should have won game of the year. Persona, teenagers fight god or whatever, romance included. This game, adults fight god or whatever, romance not included. Kinda weird Atlus... kinda weird.

Metaphor ReFantazio takes a different presences to your typical Atlus games, being set in a separate universe as to the SMT one. The game is immersive, enthralling, and beautiful. Coming from the persona series, I was really impressed by how the game is able to utilize horror/unnerving elements as well as utilizing character death so well. This isn't a game where everyone lives and gets their happy ending. There will be sacrifices and they use it damn well amazingly. Every character is very well written and it is worth (or likely you will) meet and bond with all the characters. Gameplay wise the turn based formula remains the same. Old time fans will recognize it and newcomers to the Atlus format should get that first time feeling as you battle enemies. Only thing different is positioning and slight tweaks to the turn mechanic system, but it flows fluidly. Even on hard mode you shouldn't really need to grind, the combat does get a little bit tiring at some points but I still enjoyed it thoroughly. About to finish the last few hours of the game and well let us see if it hits hard or not! Despite being out of the format, I would probably rate this as one of my favorite Atlus games, a solid 9/10. I would love to see a continuation of the series one day... Play it!

This game is very good! The customization of character builds is insane! Combat is great! 9/10

A fantastic adventure with lots of heart and awesome visuals. Lots of grinding as with any SMT-like ATLUS title. Now, ATLUS! Drop Persona 6 and my life is yooooursss!

Fairly decent. As expected it inherited a lot of mechanics from the SMT series, though it does have some divergences as well. Reminded me a lot of Persona 3 - both in the protagonist's appearance as well as some of the story beats. Louis is a surprisingly compelling villain. I am glad some of the writers got to explore outside the confines of the SMT series and settings, though I honestly probably would prefer more remasters of older games in the series. All that said, I would suggest Metaphor for fans of the SMT series willing to try a more fantasy setting, especially if you enjoy the "open world" like parts of SMTV and the time management and pacing of Persona 3/4/5.

good story amazing combat system however, the dungeons can be repetitive to some and I gotta say , the last boss is pretty damn hard still really good tho 8/10

Great game, trying to 100% it rn, lord shoot me i hate that dragon

I went into this blind and I liked the story, all the characters, the art and music direction, and the combat mechanics. I'm familiar with the Persona series, and this game is accurately nicknamed 'Fantasy Persona'. To be honest I think the game is maybe 2% overhyped but it's still a really good game. Some of the boss fights were insanely tedious though, this game needs a fast-forward button so bad. If I have to watch another enemy scream, gain extra turns, use one to self-buff and another to charge up an attack for a good fifteen seconds all over again, I'll be tempted to throw my monitor out the window. But that's one complaint for a package that's pretty solid. Just be sure you're okay with the game getting kinda anime in some places, lol.

Even though it doesn't change anything with the JRPG formula, Metaphor ReFantazio is a breath of fresh air, with its political fantasy setting as compared to the sea of high school-filled JRPGs that ATLUS is known for. If you played Shin Megami Tensei, and Persona games, you will feel right at home with its similar progression systems, such as the persona/archetype/job roles, press turn mechanic, calendars, and social links/bonds. The choices you make actually matter, which is a key gameplay element of RPGs. An absolute fantasy of a game, backed up by amazing and memorable battle music themes for which JRPGs are known.

I place Metaphor: Refantazio in the Top 3 of my personal Best JRPGs Of All Time. I find the characters to be some of the best from any Atlus game, and their social links flesh them out in a really appealing way (for the most part). The battle system is engaging and decently challenging, and you are given plenty of time to max out follower ranks and your kingly virtues before the end of your gametime. It also has a baller soundtrack and, like Persona, have great menus. This is good, because you will see the menus a lot. The downsides would be that, although the story is fun, it is pretty simple. It also can drag along a bit at times. For example, some people just *refuse* to die to the point where it's ridiculous. The pacing of some of the dungeons is pretty gross too. Other than that, this is one of my most favorite games of all time.

Amazing game 10/10, since the start I knew this game would have a deep lore and a lot of plot twists, but i never imagined it would be that great! the gameplay is amazing, feels like they grab lots of mechanics of their previous games such as persona 5, shin megami tensei, persona 3 and combined them in a perfect way that never bores you, the story and music are so good, and the way it connects the "fantasy" with our real world is fantastic, excelent game, one of my favorites.

The best game atlus has ever made, this game got me through hard times and i doubt i will ever forget it, a masterpiece in every sense i hope there is another game in this style in the works