Metaphor: ReFantazio (Demo)

Play it on: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S
Current goal: Change the world

Last month, I played about four hours of Metaphor: ReFantazio, the upcoming fantasy RPG from the Persona team. Now, much of what I played is available to the public as a free demo on your favorite online shop (though, you should read up on some of the technical trouble folks are having on PC before you download). This early slice of the game will take you through the fantastical world of the United Kingdom of Euchronia and your progress will carry over to the main game if you decide to jump in on October 11. Metaphor brings in a lot of the time management and social sim elements from Persona, as well as the smooth and stylish turn-based battle system that makes even the most complex fights breezy. While it’s built on the foundations of Persona, Metaphor: ReFantazio feels more grown up than its predecessors because it’s not about high school. The political drama seems pretty compelling in these early hours, and it seems to be planting seeds for a big meta reveal about the divides between fantasy and reality. These four hours had me hooked when I played them, and if you’re even vaguely interested in what Atlus is cooking, you lose nothing by checking out the demo. — Kenneth Shepard