If you were to infuse a fantasy RPG with the excellent combat of Persona, Metaphor: ReFantazio is what you'd get - and this combination works really well. Offering excellent characters, a gorgeous world, and a gripping narrative, it's no surprise that it was my favourite RPG of 2024. I highly recommend giving it a go, and since it's currently at its lowest price ever for the Fanatical summer sale, it's the perfect time to buy. - but be quick, as the deal will run away as quickly as the Phantom Thieves.
There have been some excellent games released this year, with newcomers like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 immediately earning a spot in our best RPGs list. But, if you're looking at which series is consistently excellent, chances are Persona is there, and Metaphor: ReFantazio takes Persona's nuanced relationship system and stylish approach to battle, removes it from its usual modern, urban setting, and drops it into a fantasy kingdom.
The United Kingdom of Euchronia may sound like an idyllic fairytale land at first, but Metaphor's world is far from perfect. Instead, the driving heart of the narrative follows an egotistical and powerful villain, Louis, who assassinates the King, creating a power vacuum that sees the citizens of Euchronia vying to take the throne. As you can probably guess, you play as one of the contenders, an orphan of the Elda tribe, whose people face an enormous amount of discrimination.
While the game has a heavy political and social narrative, it's also filled with many bombastic and interpersonal moments. You'll also have a lot of fun battling monsters and other foes, using an "Archetype" system which will be very familiar to Persona fans, giving you powerful abilities to use against your foes.
It's easily one of the best PC games I've ever played, and I spent two weeks solidly grinding it and hitting the 100-hour mark before finally seeing the end. I'm not alone in my thoughts, as our very own Aaron Down said that the game is "a must-play for anyone with even a passing interest in JRPGs" in his stellar Metaphor: Refantazio review.
If you want to spend hours enjoying a truly fantastic world, Metaphor: ReFantazio is just £32.39 at Fanatical, a whopping 46% off the usual price and a great deal for anyone looking to dive into an RPG right now. It's easily my favorite game of 2024, and one that I constantly recommend to friends and family.
Check out our upcoming PC games list to find more games to get yourself excited for. Alternatively, you can read our list of the best JRPGs for something similar to Metaphor, if you want to scratch that same itch.
Love a great JRPG and want to discuss your time in Euchronia? Well, we'd love to hear about your experience with Metaphor in our community Discord, where we discuss the latest games and those anticipated titles. Personally, I can't wait for Lost Soul Aside.