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SEGA has announced that Metaphor: ReFantazio, the fantasy RPG from ATLUS’s Studio Zero, has earned the Grand Award at the Japan Game Awards 2025. The honor recognizes the title’s exceptional storytelling, creativity, and design, celebrating it as one of the year’s most distinguished games.
A Continued Legacy of Excellence
From the creators of Persona 3, Persona 4, and Persona 5, Metaphor: ReFantazio continues ATLUS’s tradition of deep, emotional RPGs. Before this milestone, the game had already received Future Division Awards in 2023 and 2024, building excitement long before release.
After launch, it received glowing reviews from both fans and critics. The PlayStation 5 version achieved a 94 Metascore on Metacritic, a testament to its storytelling and gameplay quality. Its blend of rich world-building, powerful themes, and engaging combat made it one of the year’s standout RPGs.
Global Recognition and Critical Acclaim
The game’s success extended far beyond Japan. At The Game Awards 2024, one of gaming’s most prestigious shows, Metaphor: ReFantazio earned six nominations, including Game of the Year. It went on to win Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction.
These victories highlighted the creative vision of Studio Zero and reinforced ATLUS’s reputation for crafting bold, genre-defining experiences. With its distinctive art and emotional storytelling, the game became one of ATLUS’s most celebrated new IPs in years.
A Celebration of its First Anniversary
To commemorate the game’s first anniversary, creative director Katsura Hashino and character designer Shigenori Soejima shared a heartfelt video message for fans. They reflected on the game’s development and the overwhelming support it has received since launch.
Soejima also revealed a special anniversary illustration, shown in a time-lapse video that highlights his creative process. Both the video and artwork are available on ATLUS Asia’s official Facebook page, inviting fans to revisit the world of Metaphor: ReFantazio.
A free demo is now available for new players. It lets users experience the opening chapters of the story and carry their save data into the full version. This makes it the perfect time for newcomers to begin their journey through the kingdom of Euchronia.
The Fantasy World of Euchronia
Set in a land ruled by conflict and haunted by monstrous beings known as humans, Metaphor: ReFantazio tells the story of a young hero’s desperate quest. To save his cursed childhood friend—the prince of Euchronia—he must enter a royal tournament for the throne and uncover the secrets threatening the realm.
Combat combines real-time and turn-based mechanics, rewarding players who think fast and act decisively. Using the Archetype system, they can unlock and customize over forty unique forms of power. Each Archetype adds new strategies and abilities, encouraging creative approaches to battle.
The development team includes Katsura Hashino as creative director, Shigenori Soejima as character designer, and Shoji Meguro as composer. With striking art, evocative music, and a deep emotional core, Metaphor: ReFantazio has become one of ATLUS’s defining RPGs of this generation.
Metaphor: ReFantazio is available now on Xbox Series X|S, Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Steam. For more information, visit the official website.
