Summary
A lead developer from Atlus’s Studio Zero division has alleged that the company’s next big JRPG,Metaphor: Refantazio, will be considerably harder than thePersonagames. As beloved as they may be, the latest mainline entries in thePersonafranchise aren’t exactly known for having brutally difficult turn-based combat; if anything, they’ve been made easier and more beginner-friendly over the years, which has disappointed some. Fortunately, it seems that players looking for a more challenging experience from Atlus will finally have their wishes granted withMetaphor: ReFantazio.
Helmed by the newly-formed Atlus subsidiary Studio Zero,Metaphor: ReFantaziois the next project fromPersona 3,4, and5creative director Katsura Hashino. Serving as Atlus’s first foray into the high fantasy genre, the game is poised to be the company’s next pillar franchise, establishing itself alongside the likes ofShin Megami TenseiandPersona. Despite some surface-level similarities to prior titles from the Japanese publisher, Studio Zero’s next project aims to distinguish itself from Atlus’s previous efforts and stand out as its own unique work. As such,Metaphor: ReFantazio’s gameplay loopwill be quite different from the aforementionedPersonagames, which is something that the game’s director has taken to interviews to explain in greater detail.
Speaking to GamesRadar+during 2024’s Summer Game Fest, Katsura Hashino revealed thatMetaphor: ReFantaziowill “definitely [be] harder thanPersona” in terms of where it places on the difficulty scale compared to the Atlus veteran’s previous titles, which include many tough games likeShin Megami Tensei 3andDigital Devil Saga. Hashino elaborated on this point of his, stating that the decision to makeMetaphora morechallenging turn-based RPGwas justified by “the concept of the game” itself, as it features “elements that make it more difficult in general.”
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Gameplay Elements Will Make It More Challenging Than Persona
“You have different Archetypes, different party combinations, different areas you can go to, the freedom to explore a world… and choose what you want to fight,” Hashino said. These intricate gameplay systems demand a level of challenge, according to the developer, as without it, “it won’t feel right, it won’t feel like it’s worth playing.” Despite his comments, though, Hashino noted that players concerned aboutMetaphor: ReFantazio’s difficulty need not worry, as he confirmed that the upcoming title will have “multiple difficulty modes” to choose from. In that way,Metaphorwill still be more forgiving compared tohard PS2-era RPGslikeSMT 3: Nocturne.
Based off the information that’s been shared so far, it looks likeMetaphor: ReFantaziois shaping up to be another inventive, genre-defining experience from Atlus. With the amount of features that are seemingly crammed into this upcoming JRPG,Metaphor: ReFantaziocould end up becoming one ofAtlus’s best games everwhen it launches on July 16, 2025, for PC, PS4/5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
WHERE TO PLAY
From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince.Control your destiny, face your fears, and awaken magical Archetype powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an Archetype, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.
