Summary
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s director, Katsura Hashino, confirmed the length of the upcoming JRPG, comparing it to other entries in Atlus' library likePersona 5.Metaphor: ReFantaziois a brand-new RPG by Studio Zero, a subsidiary of Atlus led by formerShin Megami TenseiandPersonadevelopers. This includes the likes of Katsura Hashino, the director and producer of many modern Persona games, who is now the lead director onMetaphor: ReFantazio. Like thePersonaseries,Metaphor: ReFantaziois a turn-based RPG with social simulation elements.
It’s likely not surprising thatcomparisons betweenMetaphor: ReFantazioandPersonahave cropped up before the game’s October launch. The most obvious parallel isMetaphor: ReFantazio’s archetypes, which are essentially an RPG job system enhanced by the social simulation gameplay fromPersonaby building bonds with the protagonist’s followers. The player can also engage in a variety of activities to boost their social stats, such as making speeches. Since games likePersona 5are quite robust, having a nearly 100-hour playtime average, some players had been wondering ifMetaphorwill have the same amount of content, which Hashino recently addressed.
In an interview withVandal, Hashino confirmed thatMetaphor: ReFantaziowould be comparable toPersona 5’s playtime. Based on the website HowLongToBeat.com, anaverage playthrough ofPersona 5takes about 100 hours or more to finish the main story. Any playthroughs spent on the extra content make the length go up to 110, and a completionist playthrough takes nearly 200 hours. “Persona 5was a very bulky game, a very robust game, andMetaphor: ReFantaziowill be able to match that and match [its length] as well,” Hashino said, according to a rough translation. Based on Hashino’s comment, players will likely spend the same amount of time onMetaphor: ReFantazio.
Metaphor: ReFantazio’s Length Comparable to Persona 5, Will Have Post-Game Content
Hashino also confirmed an important feature of the upcoming JRPG, in thatMetaphor: ReFantaziowill have post-game content. Hashino states that there are a lot of “fun things” added to the game after the credits roll, hoping that after fans have beaten the game, they will come back to enjoy what offerings are left. He also notes that he hopes that the developers managed to create a well-paced game by includingaction elements intoMetaphor: ReFantazio’s gameplay.
Hashino notes that the studio considered making the game a little shorter, but due to the amount of content that was ultimately added, the game feels comparable toPersona 5’s own playtime. Hashino also confirmed that there will be several 2D-animated cinematics, withMetaphor: ReFantaziohaving roughly the same number of animated cutscenes asPersona 5did.Metaphor: ReFantaziowill be launching July 13, 2025, and has impressed a lot of gamers with its style of gameplay.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
WHERE TO PLAY
From the creative minds behind Persona 3, 4, and 5 comes Metaphor: ReFantazio, a unique fantasy world, where your protagonist will journey alongside his fairy companion, Gallica, to lift the curse from the kingdom’s lost prince.Control your destiny, face your fears, and awaken magical Archetype powers that lie dormant in your heart. By awakening to an Archetype, you will unlock the power to channel and combine the abilities of unique job classes. Strengthen your bonds and build your party to take down powerful foes and discover the kingdom’s true nature.
