Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 429 sampled Steam reviews (411 positive / 18 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing36% mention it
- Music & audio16% mention it
- Grind & repetition13% mention it
- Combat9% mention it
- Visuals & art7% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Story & writing39% mention it
- Grind & repetition39% mention it
- Music & audio28% mention it
- Combat28% mention it
- Visuals & art22% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
90%
30 reviews
5-15h
95%
61 reviews
15-40h
94%
50 reviews
40-100h
96%
178 reviews
100h+
99%
110 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 87 | 139 |
| Creator reviews (2 tracked) | – | 90 | 3 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 94% | 89 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 90 | 520 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 95% | 90 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.5, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 64,747 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Sep 24, 2025) · 300 reviews sampled · 12125 total reviews in window · weighted 237.6 up / 14.4 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (196)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“From its music to the new battle enhancements to even how certain characters convey more empathy in their line delivery, Reload is a labor of love that modernizes Persona 3 while still retaining the alluring charm of the original.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Persona 3 Reload is a tough nut to crack. It's undeniably the worst Persona I've had the opportunity to play. However, it's still Persona! It's a great title that sucks you in and is addictive. It's a game that you sit down to first thing in the morning and only stop playing late at night, because you notice that you're sort of struggling to sleep.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Persona 3 Reload's strengths are in its details. The game's turn-based combat and social aspects should become repetitive, but they build effectively throughout. More importantly, the style, story, and characters are continually compelling, driving to a finish that will stick with you well after the game's finished.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Persona 3 Reload is the remake that every game deserves. The title doesn't try to alter the game design frantically but instead carefully tweaks the audiovisual side of the game and slightly enriches its already unique gameplay. It offers an incredibly fun gameplay loop that even in the middle of the game comes up with new gameplay mechanics, and above all a great story and characters that you'll enjoy almost every dialogue with. While the game fails to eliminate all the oversteps of the original 2006 game, it mixes up as unique a recipe as you'll ever taste in the gaming world.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“The original Persona 3 was a game that solidified the overall formula the franchise is renowned for today. Reload is a JRPG that stays true to its essence and is a great and approachable choice for fans of the genre.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“If you enjoyed the original Persona 3, you’ll enjoy this revamped version even more. Persona 3 Reload is bigger, better, and more action-packed. Whether we’re talking about the visuals, the music, the voice acting, or the turn-based combat system, everything is fantastic. I’m having a blast with this game, it completely draws you into the story, and you’ll lose track of time. Whether I’m fighting in Tartarus or hanging out with friends after school, none of it ever feels repetitive or boring. I love being able to decide for myself where to go, when to go, and who to go with. For me, this is definitely one of the best remakes I’ve ever played.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“After years of waiting, Persona 3 returns to modern platforms in a new, modernized version. Is it worth returning to SPOE's adventures? Still like - Reload is in no way inferior to the newer parts of the series, and now it also offers Polish localization.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Persona 3 Reload is a beautiful game, and it being on the Switch 2, imperfect as it may be, means that more people will get to see that beauty for themselves and come away from it with a greater love for what games can really be.”
read full review ↗ - 82
“Even if you don’t think you’re into big RPGs with a lot of social business attached, it’s worth taking a look into Persona 3 Reload, especially if you’re subscribed to Game Pass; still, though, you should prepare yourself for the long journey ahead. And remember, you will die. Now it’s time for me to play this dancing game I’ve heard so much about.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Persona 3 Reload delivers on the long wanted dream of a Persona 3 remake. It brings one of the series’ best entries into the modern age with a ton of quality of life improvements and new features. It’s certainly a long story, but one filled with an addictive drive to uncover what happens next as there are multiple mysteries you’re simultaneously trying to uncover more about intermingled within the game’s other mechanics and the day-to-day social forward gameplay loop.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Persona 3 Reload is a bridge between the old and the new. It is perfect both to newcomers who want to approach the Persona franchise and delve into a historical title in the series, and to those who already know the impact this videogame had in the past and want to relive those same feelings.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Persona 3 Reload remains one of the best JRPGs out there, and what I encountered here does little to deter me from that sentiment. Switch 2 owners might not be getting the best version performance-wise, but they’re still getting a version that’s worthy enough to play on the go. Those who care about smooth framerates will be better served playing it on more powerful platforms. But if you’re looking for a solid enough port on Nintendo’s shiny new Switch, you can certainly do a lot worse than this.”
read full review ↗
Gamepressure
ZdobywcyGier.eu
Pure Nintendo
INDIANTVCZ
GameMAG
Gaming Professors
GRYOnline.pl
RPGamer
Paste Magazine
ani-game.com
SpaceNerd.it
Gamer Escape…and 184 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- New Version of Persona5: The Phantom X Now AvailableSep 24, 2025significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes 1.06/1.07Sep 10, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Patch Notes 1.05May 31, 2024
- Patch Notes 1.04May 2, 2024