Atlus seldom misses with its Shin Megami Tensei games, and Persona 3 Reload is set to continue the trend following a slew of glowing reviews. What will already be a treat for PS5 and Xbox players will be doubly sweet for Xbox Game Pass enjoyers who’ll get to attend Gekkoukan High School on day one.
Currently sitting with an excellent Metacritic score of 89 across 47 reviews, Persona 3 Reload has cemented itself on the list of best RPG games. Boasting an enhanced story with new cutscenes, engaging sidequests, a slew of quality-of-life improvements, and current-gen graphics, it’s easy to see why it’s gone down a storm.
Kicking off the proceedings, PCGamesN’s Persona 3 Reload review rates it at a solid 8/10. According to Dave Irwin, “whether you’re a new player experiencing it for the first time or a veteran on your latest playthrough, Persona 3 Reload is the best way to play the classic JRPG, even if it’s missing some key content.”
The absence of Persona 3 Portable’s Kotone Shiomi, as well as the missing ‘The Answer’ epilogue from Persona 3 FES have not perturbed Windows Central, however. Its five-star review calls it a “must-have” for Persona and JRPG fans, noting that “the revamped combat system is fun, the improved graphical presentation is a sight to behold, and the story and characters have been refined.”
Next up, representing the PlayStation gang is Push Square. Once again, the absence of content from P3 iterations past has been noted, but it only leaves a small blemish on the outlet’s 9/10 review. Persona 3 Reload is a brilliant remake,” it reads. “In terms of gameplay, it’s easily the best incarnation of a classic RPG, boasting countless quality of life and mechanical adjustments that place it alongside the outstanding Persona 5 Royal.”
Though the vast majority of reviews are overwhelmingly positive, Persona 3 Reload hasn’t quite struck a chord with everyone. RockPaperShotgun, for example, brands it “a repetitive journey through a year of quirky yet cheesy high school relationships, interspersed with tedious turn-based combat.” While it’s a dissenting opinion from the masses, it’s worth remembering that, as long as it’s a well-founded one, it’s valid.
Ultimately, it looks like Game Pass subscribers are going to be getting more than their money’s worth when Persona 3 Reload joins the list of Xbox Game Pass games on February 2. With seven reviews giving it full marks, it’s clear that this is a contender to be one of the best Xbox Game Pass games on the service.
For more of the latest Xbox news, check out why Xbox Game Pass won’t be getting Visions of Mana after all, as well as why this February day-one Game Pass addition has been delayed. Fortunately, it’s not Persona 3 Reload because we can’t wait to get our mitts on it.