RPG fans should know all about Atlus by now, but those with only a passing interest in the genre will likely just know it as the developer behind the hugely successful Persona series. Whilst the latter is certainly true, it’s perhaps a little reductive considering just how many other great games and franchises the studio is responsible for.
While RPGs are undoubtedly Atlus’ forte, the company has a broad back catalog that spans a variety of different genres. There have certainly been a few duds here and there, but many of the developer’s games released over the past decade have been truly fantastic and show that there’s much more to Atlus than just Shin Megami Tensei and Persona.
10 Catherine (82)
Anybody who has played Catherine or the Full Body enhanced port already won’t need to be told that it is a very strange game. Even so, there’s something about its well designed puzzles and bizarre narrative that makes it a very difficult game to put down.
Vincent’s nightmares alternate between absolutely terrifying and laughably bizarre on a regular basis. The social sim elements are also a nice addition, as too are the game’s multiple endings which help to make it a lot more replayable than it might otherwise have been.
9 Persona Q: Shadow Of The Labyrinth (83)
Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth is a crossover title that features a number of characters from the series’ third and fourth entries. It also borrows elements from the Etrian Odyssey franchise which was likely the result of many of Etrian Odyssey IV‘s team working on the project.
The game also holds the honor of being the first Persona game to be developed for a Nintendo console, although its 3DS exclusivity has made it difficult for some series fans to get their hands on it. Those who did will have found some decent puzzles, solid gameplay and an adorable deformed chibi art style that really helps to differentiate it from some of the other Persona games.
8 Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (84)
Much like Persona Q, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse is another Atlus game that’s trapped on the 3DS and one that not a lot of people have played. This problem was further compounded by the limited number of copies of the game released in the west which has since led to the game becoming one of the rarest on the console.
Apocalypse is a direct sequel to Shin Megami Tensei IV; another game that only released for the 3DS. As the name might suggest, it is set in a post-apocalyptic world and follows an alternative timeline to its predecessor. Although very similar in quality, Apocalypse just has the edge over the original thanks to a few quality of life updates.
7 Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan (84)
The Etrian Odyssey series is nowhere near as popular as some of Atlus’ other heavy-hitting IPs, but that’s not to say that it isn’t worth a look. Those who do will find a charming series of RPG dungeon crawlers with a distinct yet familiar artstyle and some of the best video game music of the last decade or so.
The pick of the bunch is undoubtedly Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan, which is the most polished and fully realized title that the series has to offer. Its story is interesting, its characters are relatable and it looks fantastic for a 3DS title. It’s also the series’ best selling title too, although lags some way behind the likes of Persona 5 when it comes to total units sold.
6 Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology (85)
Such is the popularity of Radiant Historia in Japan, that despite releasing for the 3DS several months after the launch of the Switch, Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology was able to claim the top spot in the country’s weekly video game charts. Considering it was up against the likes of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Breath of the Wild, that’s quite the achievement.
Like the original release, this remake impressed critics with its original storyline, dark tone and intuitive battle system. It does suffer from a few minor issues here and there, but for the most part is a fantastic little RPG with an engaging narrative and a fulfilling conclusion.
5 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim (85)
Those with the patience to unravel complex narrative threads will likely find a lot to love about 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. This complexity is one of the things that makes the experience so rewarding, with the game’s beautiful soundtrack and stylized visuals also playing their part.
The game stumbles a little in certain areas, with the real time strategy sections in particular leaving a somewhat sour taste. Considering how polished the rest of the game is though, most should be able to forgive their clumsiness. When all’s said and done, they’re a minor blemish on an otherwise flawless work of art.
4 Persona 4 Arena (86)
The Persona series has its fair share of spinoff titles with Persona 4 alone having three of them. The pick of the bunch is definitely Persona 4 Arena though, which took the series in a brand new direction. Rather than an RPG, Arena is a fighting game and allows players to do battle with characters from both Persona 3 and Persona 4.
Considering this was the series’ first venture into the fighting genre, the combat is incredibly impressive and there’s a surprisingly fleshed-out story thrown in there just for good measure. The game was both a critical and commercial success, which led to a direct sequel being released just a few years later.
3 Persona 4 Golden (93)
Following the huge success of Persona 5 Royal, its not too surprising that Sega and Atlus decided to bring Persona 4 Golden to Steam. What is a little surprising, however, is that it is the first and only Persona game to appear on the platform. At least until Persona 5 Strikers arrives in a month’s time, anyway.
Much like Royal, Golden is an enhanced port of the original release and is hands down the best way to experience the game. It’s also available on PlayStation Vita, although the larger screen and enhanced visuals make the Steam release the better of the pair. Yu might not be quite as interesting as Joker, but his game is every bit as enjoyable.
2 Odin Sphere Leifthrasir (93)
Odin Sphere Leifthrasir is a love letter to a bygone era in which 2D side-scrollers reigned supreme. The game is an absolute joy to behold thanks to its beautiful hand drawn artwork and fluid animation and its wonderful soundtrack perfectly complements what’s happening on screen.
While the original game still holds up fairly well today, the Vita and PS4 ports are undoubtedly the best ways to experience this wonderful hack-n-slash title. It features a surprising amount of depth considering its genre and a detailed and well-written narrative which ties everything together just perfectly.
1 Persona 5 Royal (95)
Persona 5 was already a fantastic game, but the extra content added in the Royal enhanced port really helped to take it to the next level. The presentation is sublime, the story is compelling and the characters are all incredibly interesting too. Just for good measure, Atlus even removed some of the offensive heteronormative rhetoric that blighted the original release.
For a game to demand such a substantial amount of the player’s time, it has to provide something special in return and Persona 5 Royal definitely delivers in this regard. Fans of the RPG genre owe it to themselves to not only play this game, but to see it through right to the very end.
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