The Meaning Behind Metaphor: ReFantazio’s UI

& How the Atlus Team Shaped its Successful UI to Blend into a New Theme

As a UI enthusiast, in particular to Atlus’ now well-known UI in the recent Persona 5 and Persona 3, I was thrilled to have learned that the company’s new game, Metaphor: ReFantazio didn’t skimp out on their designs as well.

Related Articles
> Is Persona 5’s UI a Hit or a Miss?
> Can Persona 5’s UI be Justified by its Style?
> A Love Letter to Persona 3 Reload’s UI

This will merely be a discussion of the creative decisions Atlus took with some of the user interfaces, and the symbols that went behind them. Though, there’s a lot to talk about even from the tip of the iceberg, so make sure to buckle up as we discuss the striking UI of Metaphor: ReFantazio.

About Metaphor: ReFantazio

Metaphor: ReFantazio is a roleplaying game developed by Studio Zero and published by Atlus in 2024. The game is set in a completely new setting, the United Kingdom of Euchronia, a medieval-inspired fantasy realm that explores the themes of equality, prejudice, and the dissonance between an ideal world and the real world.

The main story follows an orphaned boy named Will, who has decided to journey to the land to rally support from its people to lift the curse on the prince following the former king’s assassination. Aside from its traditional turn-based battle mechanisms, the game also features…