One of the best RPGs of 2024 is now available onXbox Game Pass, for both PC and console, and now may be the perfect time to play it, especially if you’re just finishing upClair Obscur: Expedition 33. Game Pass has been a big hit this year, with the aforementionedClair Obscur,DOOM: The Dark Ages,Blue Prince,The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remastered, and several more.Game Pass’s second wave of releases for May, though, has one title that stands even taller than the rest.
Metaphor: Refantazio, the newest IP from Atlus, the legendary JRPG developer best known forPersonaandShin Megami Tensei,is out now on Game Pass. The game features a turn-based battle system, aFollower Bond systemsimilar to the Social Links from thePersonaseries, and an engaging narrative, which led it to being nominated for Game of the Year and several other awards at The game Awards 2024. If you missed it in 2024 and want a game similar toExpedition 33, oryou’re still waiting for the confirmation ofPersona 4remake, you should check it out.
Metaphor: Refantazio Is Available Now On Game Pass
Atlus' Magnum Opus Delivers In Almost Every Way
Metaphor: Refantaziocombines elements of almost every game Atlus has made, and in doing so,it ends up asone of the greatest RPGsever made. The story follows a nameable protagonist as he must work to save his friend, the prince, and stop Count Louis from taking the throne of the kingdom of Euchronia.The game’s story has themes of prejudice, propaganda, and longing for fantasyto escape reality. The narrative is also a bit shorter than thePersonagames, making it ideal for newcomers.
While the protagonist is nameable, his official name in canon is Will. Also, despite being shorter thanPersona, the game is roughly 60 hours on a first playthrough to do the main story and all the major side content, making it a great value without overstaying its welcome.
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33’s recent release set a new standard as thehighest-reviewed game of 2025so far and provided a major new GOTY contender. If you have finished that game and want another turn-based RPG to sink your teeth into,you couldn’t do much better thanMetaphor: Refantazio.Expedition 33has several references and pulled a lot of inspiration from Atlus' games, including the slick UI elements during combat and the relationship levels of your party members.
Much likeExpedition 33,Metaphorfeatures possibilities for numerous build varieties withthe game’s Archetype system, which is essentially a version of the “job system” from theFinal Fantasyseries. The amount of variety and strategy in battles keeps combat engaging throughout its runtime, and coupled with an engaging story and stellar music,Metaphormight be the game that delivers everything players could want in an RPGif they enjoyedExpedition 33.
The Summer Is Long, And Persona 4 Remake Is Still Not Confirmed
But Metaphor Might Be The Game To Get You Through The Summer Days
Summer is right around the corner, and it’s bringinga lot of major game eventswith it, like Summer Games Fest, kicking off on June 7, the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, and rumors of a PlayStation State of Play and possibly another Nintendo Direct, all in the same month. Therumors of aPersona 4remakeare heating up, too, with the game allegedly being in development according to two of the original voice actors. It’s possible we may see an announcement of the title at the Xbox Games Showcase, likePersona 3 Reloadgot in 2023.
That game will still more than likely be a ways away, however, anda longer RPG might be what a lot of fans will crave during those intense summer days.Metaphorcould be the perfect fit, delivering a great experience across a respectable length and fixing many complaints with thePersonaseries.
We are in a sort of turn-based RPG renaissance at the moment, and if you enjoyedExpedition 33orPersona,I think it would almost be a disservice not to giveMetaphora try, especially now that it’s on Game Pass. 2023 broughtBaldur’s Gate 3, 2024 broughtMetaphor, and 2025 broughtExpedition 33— all of them outstanding titles — to say nothing of other recent turn-based RPGs likeSea of StarsandOctopath Traveler 2.Metaphor: Refantaziois a game that RPG fans shouldn’t miss, and it fits in perfectly onXbox Game Pass.
