Persona 3 Reload

97%
Game Brain Score Based on 17,679 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Persona 3 Reload Game Cover
Persona 3 Reload improves the original version of the game in so many ways, and is absolutely essential for all RPG fans.
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Step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an unexpected fate when entering the hour "hidden" between one day and the next. Awaken an incredible power and chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fight for your friends, and leave a mark on their memories forever. Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era. Key Features: - Exp…

  • PC
  • Windows
  • Cloud
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

97%
Audience ScoreBased on 17,679 reviews
story1,266 positive mentions
grinding254 negative mentions
  • story3,244 mentions

    The story of "Persona 3 Reload" is widely praised for its emotional depth and character development, often regarded as the best in the Persona series. While it retains the core narrative from the original game, it introduces new content and character interactions that enhance the overall experience, making it more accessible to newcomers. However, some players note pacing issues and the absence of the female protagonist route and the epilogue "The Answer" at launch, which has led to mixed feelings about the game's completeness. Overall, the storytelling is compelling, tackling heavy themes of life, death, and personal growth, resonating deeply with players.

    • “Fantastic story (seriously will make you cry at times)”
    • “The story is masterfully crafted, with compelling characters and emotionally charged moments that will stay with you long after the credits roll.”
    • “The story, characters, visuals, sound design, and soundtrack (oh god the soundtrack) are all stellar.”
    • “The story struggles to keep me invested during its +70 hour long runtime.”
    • “The pacing is very bad for the story and the social links are as shallow as ever.”
    • “The story is incredibly lackluster and boring in the first half and takes a while to build towards the ending.”
  • music2,133 mentions

    The music in "Persona 3 Reload" has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its blend of nostalgic remixes and new tracks that enhance the game's emotional depth. While some fans express disappointment over changes to classic songs and the lack of an option to switch to the original soundtrack, the overall quality and catchiness of the new compositions, such as "Color Your Night" and "It's Going Down Now," have been highlighted as standout additions. Despite some mixed feelings about specific remixes, the soundtrack remains a defining feature of the game, contributing significantly to its atmosphere and player experience.

    • “The soundtrack is phenomenal and the gameplay loop is fun and interesting!”
    • “The music is so good that it is not even funny.”
    • “The music, the characters, the story; everything is sublime.”
    • “Though I'm sure diehards will have mixed feelings about changes to the soundtrack, censorship or other changes for better or worse.”
    • “The music is a let down, but gods the other sound design is good.”
    • “The remixed music are bangers, but the original tracks have been altered in ways that don't capture the same emotional impact.”
  • gameplay1,580 mentions

    The gameplay of "Persona 3 Reload" has been significantly enhanced compared to the original, incorporating modern mechanics from "Persona 5" while retaining the core elements that fans love. Players appreciate the streamlined combat, the introduction of new features like theurgy and shift mechanics, and the removal of outdated systems such as the fatigue mechanic, making the experience more accessible and enjoyable. However, some critiques highlight that the gameplay can become repetitive, particularly in the dungeon-crawling segments, and that the overall challenge has been reduced, which may not appeal to all long-time fans.

    • “Fantastic JRPG gameplay combined with one of the most classic narratives ever released by Atlus or others.”
    • “The gameplay is smooth and enjoyable the whole way through.”
    • “The gameplay has been modernized, and the visual style has that trademark Persona flair that so many people adore.”
    • “The battle mechanics at first are pretty cool but get boring and repetitive over time, sadly.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive, grindy and personally I liked Persona 5 way more.”
    • “The gameplay loop is really poor.”
  • graphics1,054 mentions

    The graphics of "Persona 3 Reload" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual overhaul, which brings the game in line with modern standards while retaining the essence of the original. Players have praised the vibrant art style, detailed character models, and immersive environments, noting that the graphics enhance the overall experience and emotional impact of the story. However, some critiques mention that the new visuals may detract from the darker atmosphere of the original game, and there are occasional performance issues on lower-end systems.

    • “The graphics are stunning and a massive step up from FES as you'd expect.”
    • “The visuals are astonishing.”
    • “The graphics update is insane.”
    • “The graphics are... subpar, for lack of a better word.”
    • “The graphics, UI, and soundtrack are obviously top-notch.”
    • “The visuals can be confused at times, and the camera isn't the best, but the game as a whole is looking to be promising.”
  • emotional592 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Persona 3 Reload" is overwhelmingly praised, with many players reporting that the game made them cry multiple times due to its deeply engaging narrative and well-developed characters. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke a wide range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak, particularly during pivotal moments and the impactful ending. The enhanced voice acting and soundtrack further amplify the emotional experience, making it a must-play for fans of emotionally resonant storytelling in video games.

    • “The story is masterfully crafted, with compelling characters and emotionally charged moments that will stay with you long after the credits roll.”
    • “This game is an emotional journey filled with joy and sadness that leaves you aching for more, with plenty of opportunities to both smile widely and sob uncontrollably in equal measure.”
    • “The emotional depth of the story and the unforgettable characters remain intact, while the new features, like voice acting for every line of dialogue, elevate the experience.”
    • “The story felt flat and uninspired, making it hard to connect emotionally with the characters.”
    • “The repetitive tasks and dull environments left me feeling disengaged and uninterested in the emotional journey.”
    • “I found the narrative lacking depth, which made it difficult to feel any real emotional investment in the game.”
  • grinding266 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the quality-of-life improvements that make grinding in Tartarus more tolerable, others find it tedious and repetitive, especially towards the end of the game. Overall, grinding is a significant part of the experience, with some players enjoying the challenge while others feel it detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.

    • “Merciless should be merciless for a reason, and yet I was able to beat the entire game solo using only Orpheus with no grinding.”
    • “Similarly to the original, Tartarus gets extremely boring and tedious for me at around 75% of the way through the game to the point that I checked out and set the difficulty to the easiest just to get it over with faster, which I don't usually do for Megaten games.”
    • “It is advertised as a 25-ish hour epilogue, yet 22 of those hours are spent grinding through Tartarus-lite, and the story beats aren't worth the grind.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive, grindy, and personally I liked Persona 5 way more.”
  • optimization154 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players praising its smooth performance on high-end PCs and the Steam Deck when ray tracing is disabled. However, some users reported significant frame rate drops and stuttering in specific areas, particularly on the Steam Deck, indicating that while the game is generally well-optimized, it may require adjustments for optimal performance. Despite these issues, the majority of players found the game to run well, especially on capable hardware.

    • “The game runs smoothly with minimal bugs.”
    • “This is how you do a remake, well optimized, amazing new voice cast, modern mechanics.”
    • “The game is optimized and runs extremely well, better than many other games I play.”
    • “The release itself is utterly pathetic, being riddled with performance issues, and outright preventing some individuals (myself included) from playing the game on PC.”
    • “Badly optimized FPS drops not worth 70 dollars; if you bought this at max price, you are on crack. Wait for a sale or buy a cheap game key.”
    • “One major caveat is if you're buying it to play on your Steam Deck; there are some pretty large performance issues.”
  • atmosphere117 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its captivating visuals and engaging soundtrack that enhance the overall experience. However, some players feel that the remake lacks the darker, more haunting qualities of the original, resulting in a less impactful emotional tone. While the new art style and music are appreciated, they sometimes detract from the eerie ambiance that defined the original Persona 3, leading to a sense of nostalgia for the more somber atmosphere of the past.

    • “The haunting melodies and energetic battle themes perfectly complement the game's atmosphere.”
    • “The visual overhaul is breathtaking, with modern graphics that still capture the dark, atmospheric tone of the original game.”
    • “The game boasts crisp, high-definition graphics that enhance the immersive atmosphere of its urban setting, modernizing the aesthetics while staying true to the original art style.”
    • “The atmosphere has definitely gone, with the game being a lot less horror-y and the dark hour being way less scary in general.”
    • “For better or worse, Reload keeps the gameplay and story beats mostly intact, but something crucial is missing: the atmosphere and vibe is severely watered down.”
    • “The eerie, brooding atmosphere of the original is entirely absent.”
  • humor105 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever balance between comedic and dramatic elements, with many players highlighting the witty dialogue and funny character interactions that evoke genuine laughter. Characters like Junpei and the humorous situations they find themselves in contribute to a lighthearted atmosphere, while the localization team is credited for enhancing the comedic aspects compared to the original. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with emotional depth, making it an engaging experience for players.

    • “There are a lot of subtle details in the new dialogues maintaining balance between drama and humor.”
    • “Great music, funny characters, thoughtful combat, all rolled into one addictive package.”
    • “The story is serious, funny, and sad—it has everything.”
    • “Not funny, cried.”
    • “Slight negatives are combat, a bit of grinding, nostalgia cash-grab DLCs, and that most Persona fans are unfunny weirdos.”
  • character development83 mentions

    Character development in "Persona 3 Reload" is widely praised for its depth and integration into the narrative, with many players noting that each character undergoes significant growth throughout the story. The game effectively weaves together personal backstories and themes of loss and acceptance, allowing for a more cohesive and impactful character arc compared to previous titles in the series. While some critiques mention pacing issues and the reliance on social links for development, the overall consensus highlights the game's ability to evoke strong emotional responses and create relatable, well-rounded characters.

    • “The mechanics, dialogue, and character development all flow with ease and ramp up throughout the game.”
    • “Every character, Yukari, Junpei, Mitsuru, Akihiko, Fukka, and Aigis get their own character development throughout, as well as having to face the reality of Persona 3 Reload's finale and how they will choose to live on after these events.”
    • “The game's theme is always present, and instead of regulating character development to just a short portion or the social links, every character's development is spread evenly throughout the story in a way that feels natural.”
    • “Being a game by Atlus, it has terrible storytelling and character development as well as the best art and UI design.”
    • “The middle of Persona 3 can drag pretty hard, as they've tied most of the character development to the plot (none of the male party members are social links) you end up sitting around waiting for big events to advance the plot.”
    • “A big flaw I find in the later titles in the series is that by moving the character development of the main characters to their social links, they lose a lot if not all of their impact in the story.”
  • monetization37 mentions

    The monetization practices of the game have drawn significant criticism, with many reviewers labeling them as "cash grabs" that exploit fans through expensive expansion passes and microtransactions. Despite the game's quality, players express frustration over the lack of transparency and the feeling that essential content is being withheld for additional costs. Overall, while the game itself is praised, the monetization strategy is seen as a major detractor from the experience.

    • “While I don't agree with the monetization model of the game, I recommend it nonetheless.”
    • “I'm also okay with the $70 price tag, but the inclusion of an expansion pass and all the microtransactions for things that really should be in the game at release (or released later for free or at least much lower price) is not appreciated.”
    • “Persona 3 Reload is a magnificent remake of the original PS2 classic JRPG that is only hindered by Atlus forcing microtransactions.”
    • “One thing I can't overlook is Sega's way of monetization to nickel and dime their fans.”
    • “I love the game, but Atlus truly grinds my gears with its monetization practices.”
    • “This should have been the definitive edition of Persona 3, but at this point it just looks like a massive cash grab on Sega’s and Atlus’ part to cash out on nostalgia.”
  • replayability27 mentions

    Overall, "Persona 3 Reload" offers a mixed bag in terms of replayability. While the game features multiple story paths and social links that enhance replay value, some players find the lengthy grind in Tartarus and the absence of a female protagonist option to be significant deterrents for multiple playthroughs. However, many still appreciate the game's addictive gameplay and expanded content, which contribute to its overall replayability.

    • “With multiple story paths, social links, and the addictive nature of the gameplay, Persona 3 Reload offers incredible replay value.”
    • “One of the highlights of Persona 3 Reload is the expanded content that adds depth and replay value to the experience.”
    • “The game has a lot of replayability.”
    • “Social links add replay value, but the grind in Tartarus may deter multiple playthroughs.”
    • “Definitely not much in the way of replayability though, Tartarus is just far too long and tedious for me to ever face it again, even for a story that good.”
    • “My only gripe with Reload is the decision to not include the female protagonist option from Persona 3 Portable; including this inclusive and loved feature would vastly improve this game's quality and replayability immensely.”
  • stability27 mentions

    Overall, the game demonstrates strong stability, particularly on the Steam Deck, where users report smooth performance and minimal issues. However, some players experience significant problems on PC, including crashes and freezing, often requiring hard reboots. While there are workarounds available, they are not universally effective, indicating that the PC version may need further optimization.

    • “Runs great on Steam Deck, achievements work in offline mode without issues.”
    • “Regardless, the game runs great with no issues that I could notice.”
    • “Phenomenal story, amazing quality of life changes, and the game actually runs great which is a crazy achievement for any game released in the 2020s.”
    • “Every time I try loading my game, it freezes my computer and I have to perform a hard reboot to get my PC back to a working state.”
    • “Apart from all of the DLC shenanigans going on and numerous crashes and troubleshooting before the game would function again, it's pretty damn good.”
    • “On top, the PC version has no support for widescreen, buggy resolution settings, poor lighting in lots of areas, and a messy family sharing system (perhaps due to the included mandatory DLC that cannot be shared).”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

95% average critic score

Buy Persona 3 Reload

Play time

51hMedian play time
59hAverage play time
13-100hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 52 analyzed playthroughs

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