Don't Sleep On One Of The Best RPGs Of 2024

2024 has been host to a number of incredible RPGs, including the likes of Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Dragon's Dogma 2, and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Naturally, some of these, namely Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, got more of a look-in than others, with certain incredible RPGs being swept aside, their trailers barely hitting 100,000 views. However, these RPGs are worth a shot as they bring so many amazing qualities to the table.

Of course, there are the obvious contenders for best JRPG of 2024, but there is one game in particular that everyone has seemingly forgotten. Despite getting rave reviews and coming from one of the best RPG developers around, this game has largely been swept under the rug. Fortunately, word of mouth will hopefully see it skyrocket in the charts and potentially even nab it a GOTY nomination.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Is Shaping Up To Be The RPG Of The Year

It's Being Called One Of Atlus' Best Games

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Metaphor: ReFantazio is easily one of the best games of 2024, having reached critical acclaim already, scoring an impressive 94 on Metacritic from 35 different reviewers. It's a sprawling epic JRPG filled with a huge cast of memorable characters and stylish turn-based combat that comes from one of the greatest JRPG publishers around, Atlus. It is responsible for the Persona and Shin Megami Tensei series, both of which are incredibly popular.

So, it would make sense that everyone would flock to Metaphor: ReFantazio, but, surprisingly, it's being overshadowed by bigger games. It launched around the same time as Silent Hill 2 Remake, which garnered a lot of media attention, and in the same year as the enormous Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, which got millions of views on its 2023 Summer Game Fest trailer, while Metaphor reached just over 150k on its 2023 Game Awards one. It's shocking to see, although it is likely because Metaphor: ReFantazio is a brand-new IP with a unique aesthetic that may not appeal to everyone.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Is Like Medieval Fantasy Persona

It Blends Stylish Turn-Based Combat With A Unique Politcally-Driven Narrative

Metaphor: ReFantazio borrows a lot of elements from the Persona series, although it also manages to forge its own path, ensuring it feels unique and appeals to those who weren't fond of Persona's setting. In Metaphor: ReFantazio, players embark on an epic adventure across the United Kingdom of Euchronia to help the prince - whom everyone believes is dead - to take his rightful place on the throne. Unlike Persona's high school setting, Metaphor: ReFantazio takes place in an original medieval fantasy universe filled with its own gaggle of weird monsters only Studio Zero knows how to make.

Metaphor: ReFantazio takes place in an original medieval fantasy universe filled with its own gaggle of weird monsters only Studio Zero knows how to make.

When fans aren't engaged with the central narrative, they'll be set to freely explore, using each day to the fullest to perform a variety of tasks. Metaphor: ReFantazio runs on an in-game calendar system, so players will need to make the most of the time they've got to explore dungeons, build up their bonds, and battle deadly monsters. The sheer variety of things to do is one of the best parts of Metaphor: ReFantazio, but it naturally pushes its runtime up quite high.

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Combat will be familiar to fans of the Persona series as it's a stylish turn-based affair, although instead of catchy jazz music, it's a triumphant orchestral soundtrack with a lot of chanting. Players will unlock Archetypes, which serve as Metaphor's form of Personas, with each one completely changing the flow of combat. It's up to players to figure out the best combination of Archetypes to overcome even the hardest of battles.

Metaphor: ReFantazio Is Available On Most Platforms

Players Can Pick It Up On PlayStation, Xbox & PC

Metaphor: ReFantazio is available to buy on almost every platform, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. Unfortunately, it's not yet available on the Nintendo Switch, although a Switch port of Persona 5 Royal came several years after the original game launched, so the same may happen with Metaphor. Regardless, those who are interested in its unique blend of turn-based action and political intrigue can pick it up for $69.99.

Additionally, there's a huge Metaphor: ReFantazio demo that players can try for free, which gives them access to the entire prologue, a lengthy several-hour portion of the game that introduces the main narrative, key characters, combat, several locations, and the Archetypes. It's a great way to test whether it's the right fit, especially as all the progress made in the demo carries over to the full release. There's really no reason not to try Metaphor: ReFantazio, especially as it's bound to be one of the best RPGs of 2024, and perhaps even the most fondly remembered.

Sources: Metacritic, YouTube/Official Atlus West