ReFantazio Won at The Game Awards 2024

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 13, 2024 24 Views 6 Min Read
ReFantazio Won at The Game Awards 2024



Atlus has been known to produce consistently high-quality JRPGs for years now, but even so, Metaphor: Refantazio feels like a massive accomplishment. It has enjoyed more mainstream success and critical acclaim than just about any game from the studio, which is saying something, as Atlus and its subsidiaries have not only spawned the Persona franchise, but Shin Megami Tensei and other darlings like Catherine.




Metaphor: Refantazio surpasses its predecessors in a number of crucial ways. In terms of gameplay, its take on the Persona/SMT class system is perhaps the most polished one yet, honing in on the most satisfying aspects of progression and party composition to make an endlessly addictive gameplay loop. The more structured, classically designed narrative also buttresses Metaphor‘s calendar system, which feels more compelling than it ever did in the Persona franchise. But really, Metaphor Refantazio‘s greatest accomplishment is its mature and endearing narrative, stuffed to the brim with well-written characters, interesting lore, and enough twists to constantly keep players on their toes.

The Game Awards 2024: Every Metaphor: Refantazio Nomination

  • Game of the Year
  • Best RPG
  • Best Narrative
  • Best Score and Music
  • Best Art Direction
  • Best Game Direction

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Despite its Great Nominations, Metaphor: ReFantazio Still Feels Snubbed in One Category

Though Metaphor: ReFantazio has seen wide praise and attention for its Game Award nominations, fans have been let down by its absence in one category.


Every 2024 Game Award Metaphor: Refantazio Won

  • Best RPG
  • Best Narrative
  • Best Art Direction

Metaphor: Refantazio‘s three victories last night were all from major categories. One could argue that Metaphor was an obvious choice for Best Art Direction, as every element of the game, right down to its UI (or especially its UI, depending on who’s asked) is impeccably, wonderfully realized. Character and creature design deserve special mention, with the Bosch-inspired Human enemies standing out as particularly bizarre and novel, boasting unsettling characteristics rarely seen in the gaming medium.

While Metaphor certainly deserves this Best Art Direction victory, it would be a mistake to call it easily won. It was up against a number of stunning titles, including Neva, which is perhaps one of the most gorgeous games ever made, and Astro Bot, whose glossy, exuberant design makes it visually spectacular. Such strong competition merely emphasizes how impressive Metaphor Refantazio is from the perspective of visual design.


Best RPG is another category that Metaphor fought tooth-and-nail to win. Its greatest competition here was almost definitely Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but Dragon’s Dogma 2, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and even the Shadow of the Erdtree Elden Ring DLC all had solid chances to take home the award in Metaphor‘s stead. Ultimately, Metaphor: Refantazio‘s success in this area relates not just to its RPG mechanics and features, but perhaps its most crucial Game Award: Best Narrative.

Metaphor’s Award for Best Narrative Is Its Most Significant

Metaphor: Refantazio has a lot of strengths, but at the end of the day, its storytelling is what makes it so special. The narrative, which unfolds over 70–100 hours, depending on how long a player spends on the main campaign, is chock-full of unexpected twists, surprisingly nuanced social commentary, and grand character moments. On that last point, Metaphor‘s obscenely lovable cast deserves particular recognition. Every member of the player’s main party is intriguing, charming, and well-realized in their own right, and even the more unlikable or villainous characters are interesting and often relatable, with antagonist Louis Guiabern being especially fascinating and intimidating.


Again, Metaphor was up against some stiff competition for this award, and again, FF7 Rebirth was perhaps its greatest direct competitor. But Rebirth being the middle entry in a trilogy, and including a lot of filler while Metaphor is more rich in value, probably hurt the former’s chances. The Silent Hill 2 remake is another title that could have conceivably beaten Metaphor here, but its status as a remake means that its shocking narrative and mature themes don’t hit quite as hard as they did in 2001.

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