Atlus fans have seen an onslaught of great releases over the past year, with Metaphor: ReFantazio being the breakout hit of the bunch. As a new IP from the developer, Metaphor: ReFantazio seems to have a bright future ahead of it after earning critical acclaim and snagging several awards at The Game Awards 2024, including Best RPG, Best Narrative, and Best Art Direction. With a sequel seeming more than likely, many fans have been speculating what direction a follow-up to this game could take.
Metaphor: ReFantazio director Katsura Hashino has gone on record saying there are no concrete plans to make the game a series, but that he hopes one day it will become one. While it may be some time before a Metaphor: ReFantazio sequel manifests, the game already has the perfect foundation for a potential sequel to build on. Some theories speculate that a sequel would be more of a spiritual successor than a direct follow-up, but the game's ending leaves one plot thread hanging that makes a direct sequel more likely.
The following contains MAJOR spoilers for Metaphor: ReFantazio.
A Metaphor: ReFantazio Sequel Seems Like a Matter of When, Not If
At this point, there is little doubt that Metaphor: ReFantazio will get a sequel one day, especially after some comments made by the game's director.
Metaphor: ReFantazio's World Seems Far Larger than Just the Kingdom of Euchronia
Metaphor: ReFantazio's Sequel Could Explore New Continents
Following the defeat of Louis and the coronation of the protagonist as the new King of Euchronia, players are treated to an epilogue that sees the cast fitting into their new roles within the kingdom. The majority of the game's Followers end up with places within the new royal court, such as Strohl becoming the new general of the Royal Army and Hulkenberg becoming the captain of the King's Royal Guard. However, one Follower in particular may hold larger implications for a Metaphor sequel.
Talking to Catherina during Metaphor: ReFantazio's epilogue reveals that she has become an emissary to other kingdoms outside Euchronia. While players travel around the majority of the continent that comprises the Kingdom of Euchronia over the course of Metaphor: ReFantazio, this dialogue with Catherina suggests that there are other continents that weren't accessible in the game. With these continents potentially having their own struggles, a sequel to Metaphor: ReFantazio could follow a new story set in the same world by placing its setting in a kingdom situated on one of the continents that Catherina travels to after the events of the game.
Catherina Could Hold the Key to Connecting Metaphor: ReFantazio and its Sequel
A sequel following this premise could still be a follow-up to the original Metaphor: ReFantazio without necessarily featuring all of the same characters as before. Catherina would be the perfect way to connect the two games, acting as both an in-universe envoy between the Kingdom of Euchronia and the new game's setting, as well as an envoy to the player to acknowledge the two games' connections. This type of sequel setup would likely offer the best of both worlds, as it could build on the mysteries of Metaphor's world left unresolved by the end of the game, such as the history and destruction of the old world, while still feeling like a fresh experience.
Framing a sequel like this would allow Metaphor to follow a similar trend to Persona, where each game takes place separately from each other with Igor and the Velvet Room—along with some small cameos and spin-offs—connecting them.
What also makes Catherina a great character to link Metaphor: ReFantazio and its potential future sequel is her lack of playability. Many fans wished Catherina would have been a playable party member as the Paripus representative on the team, but that role ended up falling to Basilio. The sequel could right this wrong and include Catherina as a playable party member, even if only temporarily like Grius was in the first game, and use her as an envoy of Euchronia sending aid to another nation in need.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 93 /100 Critics Rec: 98%
- Released
- October 11, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Studio Zero
- Publisher(s)
- Atlus
- Engine
- GFD
- Number of Players
- 1
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Playable
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.
- PC Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- October 11, 2024
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- How Long To Beat
- 65 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- File Size Xbox Series
- 81.15 GB
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
