ReFantazio’s Success Might Propel Atlus to a Powerful Three-Pronged Release Approach

Metaphor: ReFantazio, the captivating fantasy role-playing game from Japan’s Atlus, unexpectedly became one of the standout hits in 2024. Launching in a year teeming with top-flight JRPGs like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Persona 3 Reload, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and Granblue Fantasy: Relink, Metaphor: ReFantazio still managed to carve out its own identity amidst fierce competition. Fans were already optimistic about its quality, mainly because it hailed from the developers of the highly praised Persona 5. However, it went beyond these high hopes and surprised everyone.

After it hit the shelves in October 2024, Metaphor: ReFantazio swiftly racked up praise from the gaming community. Garnering scores above 90 on aggregators like OpenCritic and Metacritic, it even snagged a nomination for the prestigious Game of the Year award at The Game Awards 2024. In terms of sales, it was an outright triumph. It moved a whopping 1 million copies globally on its launch day, earning the title of the fastest-selling game in Atlus’ history. With such a resounding success story, it’s almost certain that Atlus will want to keep the momentum going by establishing Metaphor: ReFantazio as a key franchise, alongside Shin Megami Tensei and Persona.

Surprisingly, while Atlus has been around for nearly four decades, only a few of its titles have reached widespread recognition. Series like Trauma Center, Etrian Odyssey, and Growlanser never quite achieved the household status of titans like Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest. The exceptions are the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series, which have each developed substantial fanbases, supported by approximately 100 games between the two since the 80s, often released at a steady pace.

Interestingly, Persona is actually an offshoot of Shin Megami Tensei, meaning all Persona entries technically fall under the Shin Megami Tensei banner.

Hoping to expand Metaphor: ReFantazio into a major franchise, the game’s director, Katsura Hashino, hinted at this ambition in a conversation with Famitsu (translated by MP1st). While he mentioned having plenty of ideas for a follow-up, he noted that nothing concrete was on the table just yet. Still, Hashino expressed a strong desire to develop Metaphor: ReFantazio into a flagship franchise for Atlus.

If Hashino’s aspirations come to fruition, Atlus might someday cycle through new releases for Persona, Shin Megami Tensei, and Metaphor, treating players to a consistent stream of fresh adventures. Given the rich world of Metaphor: ReFantazio, it’s ripe for further exploration, whether with the original cast or fresh faces entirely. Atlus could even branch into spin-offs in different gaming genres. A tactical strategy game inspired by the likes of Tactics Ogre and Persona 5 Tactica could be an exciting way to extend the franchise’s reach.

Though nothing official has been confirmed concerning a Metaphor: ReFantazio sequel, whispers of a spin-off for mobile devices are making rounds. This rumored project is said to be a collaboration with Netflix Games. Should this spin-off be real, it might be some time before Atlus makes an official announcement. In the interim, fans can look forward to new Shin Megami Tensei and Persona installments, some of which might be unveiled soon.