By Metaphor: ReFantazio‘s battle system stands as another achievement in Atlus’ already remarkable portfolio, yet the game’s principal combat architect believes that challenge plays a significant role in enhancing turn-based engagements.
Kenichi Goto is quite familiar with crafting this genre, having spearheaded the combat mechanics for Persona 5 Royal, Persona 4 Golden, and various cherished titles before contributing to Metaphor: ReFantazio.
With a wealth of experience, GamesRadar+ inquired about his perspective on the optimal difficulty for turn-based experiences during an interview at the Game Developer’s Conference 2025, where he stated that he favors scenarios in which “one incorrect step can result in failure.” According to Goto, incorporating some level of challenge in turn-based games is essential “to maintain the sense that [players] cannot afford to be careless or else face a complete game over,” especially since it’s easier to mentally disconnect from a straightforward turn-based encounter compared to an action-oriented one.
“A major advantage of a turn-based battle framework is the opportunity for players to deliberate on their next move and in return receive suitable feedback based on those decisions,” he elaborated. “This design choice enables individuals who may struggle with fast-paced action titles to still relish the experience. Ultimately, the ‘impact’ achieved through skill animations, combined with meticulous camera work and visuals, are singularly possible through this gameplay style.”
Nonetheless, Goto remained acutely aware of the frequent criticisms regarding the genre while developing Metaphor, particularly about how numerous turn-based JRPGs can seem to bog players down with unnecessary encounters. To address this, Goto underscored the significance of enabling players to “retry battles more effortlessly” and “manage their gameplay pace” through features like adjustable difficulty settings and “shortcut controls.”
Metaphor: ReFantazio dev once believed turn-based JRPG combat “was starting to feel outdated