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Persona 3launched on thePlayStation 2in North America on July 25, 2025, and quickly became one of the most stylish and unique RPGs on the platform. Since then, the game has received multiple iterations, with each edition including visual enhancements, different protagonists, and improved narratives.
Persona 3 Reloadis the latest version of the game and includes a bunch of enhancements like updated UI, new music, and so much more. Whether you’ve played any version of Persona 3 before or want to hop in for the first time, we’ll help you decide whether Persona 3 Reload is worth it.
Review
In Lead Features Editor Jade King’s article “Persona 3 Reload Review: What It Gains In Style, It Loses In Soul”, she praises the game’s visuals, enhanced combat system, and the new vocal performances, but feels like some of the original Persona 3’s personality was left on the cutting room floor. Despite some disappointing aspects, King gave Persona 3 Reload a review of 4 out of 5 stars.
Its writing is sharper, combat is more satisfying, and it brings this world to life in ways that just weren’t possible several generations ago. Reload might lack its signature rough edge, but those coming around for the first time will find plenty to love.
Persona 3 Reload takes many of the aesthetic choices that helpedPersona 5become the best-selling entry in the series to make it feel more modern to great effect. If you didn’t know that Persona 3 came out during the 2000s, it would be easy to believe that Persona 3 Reload is a new RPG with a number in its title for some reason.
After spending some time with Persona 3 Reload, King was ultimately able to overlook any glaring issues with the remake to spend more time with characters she’s loved since the original game. “Atlus may have hindered its artistic vision in the jump to Unreal, but beneath it all awaits the same beating heart of emotion built of poignant themes and exceptional character arcs that made the game what it was 18 years ago.”
Persona 3 Reload changes some dialogue and scenarios that felt inappropriate even when Persona 3 first launched, and even includes new scenes and opportunities to hang out with your peers.
One ofReload’s newest mechanicsis a feature on your phone that notifies you whenever asocial link wants to meet up, when stores are hosting specials, and more. This makes knowing what you can do on any given day much easier, and a new network mechanic shows you how other players spend their time.
While Tartarus has always been a slog in Persona 3, Reload remedies this with an improved combat system that feels much smoother and quicker than ever before. King writes in her review that “The battle system is immaculate, and easily the dominant enhancement Reload brings to the table”.
The combat is also improved with anew mechanic known as Theurgy, which provides each party member with a gauge that eventually allows them to unleash a devastating attack once it’s full. “Each attack is gorgeously animated and personally befitting of each character.”
King concludes that Persona 3 Reload is simultaneously brilliant while still being a tad disappointed with the final product. “Inconsistent graphics and the lack of a female protagonist we had in Portable aside, however, this remains a solid means of enjoying one of the finest RPGs of the past two decades. Its writing is sharper, combat is more satisfying, and it brings this world to life in ways that just weren’t possible several generations ago. Reload might lack its signature rough edge, but those coming around for the first time will find plenty to love.”
Time Expenditure
Though it’s originally from the mid-2000s, Persona 3 is an ambitious RPGthat will take more than a school day to complete. Variables like time spent exploring Tartarus and using the Rewind feature to go back in time will affect your total playtime, but if you focus on the main story, it should take you somewherebetween 55 and 60 hoursbefore you roll credits.
Suppose you’re a student who loves extracurricular activities and plans on exploring 100 percent of Persona 3 Reload. In that case, you may expect to spendjust over 80 hoursmaxing out social links, completing Elizabeth’s requests, and completing your social stats.
Cost
While the Persona series has typically been exclusive to Sony hardware in the past, Sega started publishing the games on other platforms at the beginning of 2023. Currently, you can purchase Persona 3 Reload on every major platformexcept for the Nintendo Switch. To purchase the game digitally on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC, the base version will cost you$69.99 USD.
There is also a Digital Deluxe Edition which includes a digital art book and soundtrack for$79.99 USD, and a Digital Premium Edition which includes all of that and some costumes for$99.99 USD.
If you prefer to purchase physical editions of games, there are a few options out there for you, though special editions may already be incredibly hard to find. The standard version will cost you$69.99 USD, the same as a digital copy.
You can upgrade to the Persona 3 Reload Limited Box for$94.99 USD, which includes the game, the CD soundtrack, a physical art book, a SEES Battle Armband, and some of the costume DLC.
Finally, there is the Persona 3 Reload: Aigis Edition, which will cost$199.99 USDif you may find one at retail price. This version includes everything from the Limited Box but replaces the SEES Battle Armband with an Aigis figurine.
What Players Are Saying
Not Definitive, But Definitely Worth It - Gabrielle Castania
Persona 3 was the first to add life outside dungeon-crawling in Persona games and is without question the darkest of the Persona titles, but with it relegated to aged consoles until recently, its antiquity was tough to get around if you wanted to play more recently than a decade ago. Now, though, Persona 3 Reload has arrived with splashy 3D visuals, mechanical overhauls to add polish to 2006 PlayStation gameplay that’s new and improved in a way that maintains its original heart, and more animated and voiced scenes than any other Persona game to help bring the SEES team to life more than ever before.
Atlus warns that this isn’t the definitive version of Persona 3, but there’s so much to it that the DLC rumored to be coming later to round it out will be a welcome addition to an already incredible remake. The story is gut-wrenching and forces you to learn to say goodbye along the way, and by the time the final day rolls around, you’ll be more than glad you dove into the splashy blue waters of Persona 3 Reload.
I’ve Been Waiting For This - Zoë J. Osik
While it’s not the definitive version we all hoped for, this is by far the best version of Persona 3 yet. It’s everything you know and love but completely refreshed. It sets the standard for what a remake should be - engaging, vibrant, and unique. You won’t have social links with half your party members, unlike the female protagonist of Persona 3 Portable, but you’ll still be able to get to know them closely with new hangout events. Whether you’re returning to the series or this is your introduction to it, Persona 3 Reload does not disappoint.
