10 Finest ATLUS Video games, Ranked

ATLUS has been round for a very long time and has garnered a repute for being a premier developer of JRPG experiences. Their titles at all times function difficult gameplay, novel mechanics, sturdy storytelling, and charming characters.

Associated

Digital Satan Saga Is Atlus’ Darkish Sci-Fi RPG That The World Forgot About

Hidden inside the PS2 period is likely one of the Atlus’s finest narratives.

As such, it is a worthy problem to slim down their huge library to only a handful of titles. However that is precisely what we’re doing with our listing of finest ATLUS video games.

10

Soul Hackers 2

Ghost Within the Machine

It is in all probability truthful to say many players by no means performed the unique Soul Hackers, because it was a Japanese-only journey. And even when ATLUS ported it to the 3DS in 2012, the sport did not fare all that properly.

Regardless of that, ATLUS introduced us a compelling sequel in Soul Hackers 2.

Top-of-the-line issues in regards to the sequel is the stellar visible model, which has a contact of cyberpunk and a coat of neon paint. It additionally contended with the potential risks of sentient AI, one thing most video games by ATLUS have not lined, and one thing relatively poignant on the planet as we speak with Chat GPT looming giant.

Combine within the common demon-based fight and cementing bonds together with your group, and you’ve got a strong RPG.

9

Persona 5 Tactica

Chibi XCOM Mayhem

Most of us consider turn-based video games after we consider ATLUS. Nevertheless, we do not often equate these to tactical adventures like XCOM.

Persona 5 Tactica threw expectations to the wind, giving us a streamlined and pleasing spin-off journey filled with chibi heroes.

Very like the unique Persona 5 Royal, Persona 5 Tactica had a charming artwork model. It additionally introduced many acquainted faces to the journey, and launched new ones like Erina.

Whereas the gameplay might need initially thrown Persona followers, it clicked after spending a while mastering methods. Methods like Triple Risk, in addition to making good use of canopy and As soon as Extra assaults.

8

Catherine: Full Physique

Attractive Time in Nightmare Land

Like Persona 5 Tactica, Catherine: Full Physique was a little bit of an odd duck. It is a mature recreation about romance and nightmares.

If that wasn’t unusual sufficient, it additionally options quirky puzzles, greater than a dozen attainable endings, and three potential love pursuits.

Associated

Catherine: Full Physique On Swap Is A Strong Port Of A Weird Recreation

Atlus’ romantic cult-classic puzzle recreation is true at residence on Nintendo’s console/handheld hybrid.

Although you won’t play ATLUS video games for puzzles, Catherine: Full Physique makes it work. Push some blocks, make life-changing selections, and check out your finest to not go loopy on this dreamy and absurd journey.

7

Shin Megami Tensei V

Dwelling Huge within the Apocalypse

Waking up in a godless (actually) world filled with angels and demons is fairly par for the course with ATLUS. Nonetheless, Shin Megami Tensei V was a definite and modern journey from the prolific writer.

The sport efficiently took SMT’s conventional mechanics and introduced them right into a extra three-dimensional setting.

You wander a desolate wasteland, and the overworld map is a endless dungeon. That stated, fight will probably be acquainted to followers, and total, the sport is an apocalyptic delight.

6

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

Time-Touring Kaiju Journey

Techniques

Launched

September 22, 2020

Engine

unity

ESRB

T For Teen on account of Fantasy Violence, Language, Partial Nudity

How Lengthy To Beat

30 Hours

PS Plus Availability

N/A

Broaden

Whereas tactical video games aren’t the usual fare from ATLUS, they actually printed some nice ones. An ideal instance is 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim.

It options real-time technique and even visible novel components. As if that weren’t sufficient, it is also largely nonlinear. Oh, and did we point out that it additionally has loads of kaiju?

For these on the lookout for extra causes to gush about 13 Sentinels, Aegis Rim additionally options time journey, large mecha, and only a ton of actually distinctive techniques that someway mesh completely collectively. It is a fantastic mashup of Vanillaware and ATLUS’ skills, and it would not simply be a one-off both.

5

Persona 3 Reload

Climb Tartarus With Type

It’s almost unattainable to fee the Persona video games in an unbiased vogue. Most players’ favourite title is whichever one they performed first. Regardless, players have numerous causes to fall in love with each Persona recreation.

Persona 3 Reload overhauled a darkish and fascinating premise with extra streamlined techniques and an excellent new coat of paint.

15:57

Associated

Is Persona 3 Reload BETTER Than Persona 3?

I’ve by no means felt like; so comparable.

Although the unique Persona 3 did not profit from the mainstream love of later entries, Persona 3 Reload bridged that hole properly. It additionally options new story occasions for forged members who did not get as a lot time initially.

Fortunately, the improved fight makes exploring Tartarus a lot much less nerve-racking than the primary journey.

4

Unicorn Overlord

My Little Pony Prince

Unicorn Overlord is one other tactical title that Vanillaware teamed up with ATLUS to publish. It was much less like a Persona or SMT title and shared rather more in frequent with one thing like Hearth Emblem.

It takes place in a war-torn kingdom, the place a younger prince in exile should struggle to honor his betrayed mom.

If that wasn’t sufficient, Unicorn Overlord additionally options real-time fight, class promotion, and an enormous roster of characters that may be a part of your ranks.

Mixed with Vanillaware’s lush art work and loads of problem, it is a worthy addition to any recreation library.

3

Persona 4 Golden

TV Time for Teddie

One Persona journey that basically struck a chord with players was Persona 4 Golden. Not solely does the sport have an exquisite forged of characters, together with a deranged Teddie Bear, however the plot can also be actually darkish and interesting.

Fixing a homicide thriller in a city beset by mysterious fog was a novel twist within the sequence.

Fortunately the journey bought re-released on PC and consoles fairly lately, so much more followers bought to expertise this gem. The dungeon exploration was extra streamlined than in Persona 3, and the fight was extra forgiving.

Whether or not you are wandering round Inaba or unearthing ghastly clues, this is a superb instance of why ATLUS is so beloved.

Fiction vs. Actuality

You would be forgiven for assuming Metaphor ReFantazio was one other Persona recreation. It was made by most of the similar people, and it undoubtedly exhibits.

It options comparable techniques like a day and night time cycle of exploration and fight that stresses capitalizing on enemy weaknesses. What units it aside is a concentrate on the ability of fiction to have an effect on actuality, and a common lack of literal demons.

One factor that helps set Metaphor ReFantazio aside is the Archetypes, basically job courses you possibly can change between. Better of all, bonding together with your group unlocks new courses, and helps you maintain your floor towards cataclysmic battles.

Although we have commented in regards to the artwork course in different video games on this listing, Metaphor ReFantazio might be probably the most beautiful of the bunch – an sudden delight.

1

Persona 5 Royal

Stealing the Present

It would seem to be a basic case of recency bias when putting the latest Persona recreation the very best, however there is a good cause for it. Persona 5 Royal took all of the ideas from earlier entries and used them to make a balanced, difficult, and classy RPG.

Whereas the forged of each recreation is improbable, the Phantom Thieves actually stole the present. Their fits have swagger, they usually summon highly effective demons to help them in battle.

One of the crucial distinctive components was utilizing stealth to make your approach by difficult dungeons, in addition to the post-game problem of Mementos and the Third Semester.

Subsequent

10 Finest JRPGs With No Grinding

Do not have time anymore to grind JRPG boss fights? Take a look at our grinding-free listing of JRPGs to strive as a substitute.