Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 310 sampled Steam reviews (266 positive / 44 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing31% mention it
- Combat16% mention it
- Music & audio13% mention it
- Visuals & art8% mention it
- Grind & repetition6% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Story & writing64% mention it
- Combat36% mention it
- Grind & repetition27% mention it
- Difficulty & balance18% mention it
- Music & audio16% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
68%
19 reviews
5-15h
73%
33 reviews
15-40h
79%
43 reviews
40-100h
88%
111 reviews
100h+
93%
104 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) | – | 93 | 163 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 90% | 84 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 90 | 610 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 89% | 83 | 3000 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: since the last significant patch (Oct 18, 2024) · 300 reviews sampled · 21610 total reviews in window · weighted 211.2 up / 34.1 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (189)
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.
- 85
“Metaphor: ReFantazio is to the Persona series what Elden Ring was to Dark Souls or Pokémon Legends: Arceus was to the classic installments. The skeleton of the gameplay remains virtually the same, with minor changes and setting in a different world and universe. Despite a few flaws and numerous imperfections, I had a great time with this game. It's a title that I can recommend not only to Persona fans. Nevertheless, I can't help feeling that this production was created mainly to satisfy the hunger of the developer's biggest fans in anticipation of the upcoming release of Persona 6.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Metaphor: ReFantazio is considered one of the best modern JRPG experiences, as it offers a deep epic story full of political and human conflicts, along with distinct characters written with care that leave a clear impact throughout the journey. The massive game world is rich in exploration, secrets, and puzzles waiting to be discovered, which enhances the sense of adventure and immersion. This is completed by a genius and tactical gameplay system that embodies the turn-based style in the best possible way, granting players the freedom of thought and planning in every encounter.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Metaphor: ReFantazio is an excellent story about hope and the pursuit of a better world that is both overtly naive and fully honest. The game can feel truly inspirational when it reminds us that virtuous heroes can exist even beyond the limits of fantastic reality.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Atlus presents Metaphor: ReFantazio, a JRPG with a captivating story, great music, and appeal for both seasoned and new players. While its aging engine and slow narrative pacing may deter some, the game offers a rich experience for those ready to invest many hours.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“A huge JRPG that takes Atlus to a new level. A wonderful story, exciting battles, and the same brilliant visual style - almost everything here is done perfectly.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“ReFantazio has a nearly hour-long, combat-free epilogue that jumps forward in time to demonstrate the consequences of the decisions you’ve made, and it’s not only as compelling as everything prior, but it’s perhaps the most political part of the whole campaign. Here, too, ReFantazio shows you what it values, which is both the big life-or-death boss battles that put your ideals to the test and the ripple effects of their consequences.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Metaphor: ReFantazio has lived up to the hype and is the "best non-Persona Persona" we have right now. Persona fans are eating good this year.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Metaphor: ReFantazio is an exceptional demonstration of creativity and years of experience within a well-known studio that is not afraid to experiment with a completely new world and IP. A must-have for all RPG fans. ”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Metaphor: ReFantazio is a very good RPG with great gameplay and a superbly constructed world. But it's important to remember that it's a fairy tale - then the convention adopted won't be so glaring. Maybe I myself subconsciously fell into the trap of constantly referring to Persona? Because of this, it's a little difficult for me to talk about a groundbreaking work of art, but only about a truly unconventional game. Check it out for yourself.”
read full review ↗ - 100
“The balance between combat, exploring, quests, and deepening bonds is excellent and the story, world-building, and presentation providing superb support to make Metaphor: ReFantazio a game contending to be among Atlus's greatest titles.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“As Metaphor: ReFantazio constantly reminds us, both micro and macro problems are intertwined. What’s the perspective of somebody looking for an abortion in a red state, a family separated by the border, a kid in Gaza? The examples are everywhere, and they’re visibly blunt, too. They’re there while we scroll down on the timeline or in three-second-long attention span cycles while we swipe reels. If only more people made the effort to see things through somebody else’s eyes, perhaps we could regain some semblance of hope that change might stop being a fantasy.”
read full review ↗ - 92
“Its endearing cast of characters populate a fascinating fantasy world with fictional layers that I just want to peel back until I see everything there is to see. Enhanced turn-based combat with real-time elements, combined with wholesome friendship mechanics and great road trip vibes, all work to seal the deal for me.”
read full review ↗
ZdobywcyGier.eu
Eternal Games
GameMAG
INDIANTVCZ
3DNews
Slant Magazine
GameFM
PLAY Zine
GRYOnline.pl
RPGamer
Paste Magazine
Mashable…and 177 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch Update 10/27/2025 - Security UpdateOct 28, 2025
- Patch Notes 1.0.11Jan 15, 2025
- Patch Notes 1.09Nov 1, 2024
- Patch Notes 1.03Oct 18, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Prologue Demo Patch 1.02Oct 5, 2024significant · resets scoring window
- Prologue Demo PatchOct 1, 2024significant · resets scoring window