Metaphor: ReFantazio, much like thePersonaseries, has a number of characters that will join the player’s party, aiding them in challenging combat situations and accompanying them as they explore the United Kingdom of Euchronia.While the roster of playable characters isn’t quite as large asPersona 5 Royal’s, there are still plenty of people for players to control throughoutMetaphor. Each character comes with their own Archetype too, a powerful being that they transform into that imbues them with unique abilities.
Of course, there are plenty of otheramazing characters inMetaphor: ReFantazio, but the supporting cast isn’t playable and instead acts as Followers. These are essentially the Social Links from thePersonaseries, ways for players to enhance their Archetypes by building up their bonds with their respective Followers. However,there are seven total playable characters, including the Protagonist, and while they’re all amazing, some stand out more than others.
8Grius (Arvid Alces)
The Temporary Hero
Grius - real name Arvid Alces - joins the main party early on in Metaphor: ReFantazio, aiding in their quest to assassinate Louis Guiabern. He’s a tough swordfighter who once served the Prince as his sword teacher, and now strives to protect him and help the Resistance.While he’s certainly a memorable character, his brief appearance puts him lower on the list, simply because he doesn’t get nearly enough time to shine.
Grius is a mentor to the Protagonist before he is cruelly snatched away and murdered by Louis early on inMetaphor: ReFantazio. Unfortunately, he’s reanimated and forced to fight the player and their party in a challenging battle. However, his kind and brave demeanor shines through in his final moments as he asks the player to continue their journey and protect his daughter, Maria.Despite his untimely death, his time with the gang is funand a reminder ofwhyMetaphor: ReFantaziois so great. Had Arvid stuck around for longer, he’d likely be much higher on the list.
7Will (Protagonist)
The Blank Slate Character
The main character inMetaphor: ReFantazioisn’t particularly compelling, despite having more voiced lines than previous Atlus' protagonists.While he’s not completely one note, largely thanks to his interesting backstory with the Prince, his agonizing sincerity can make him a little dull at times, only propped up by Gallica and her charm. When compared to the rest of the cast, the main character just simply isn’t half as interesting, which, naturally, earns him quite a low place on the list.
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Of course,Gallica does the majority of the heavy lifting as her outspoken personality blends well with the rest of the cast. She’s an Atlus character through and through, with her blend of brash humor and wit making every interaction with her immensely enjoyable. Additionally, her relationship with the protagonist is sweet and funny, which largely makes up for his flaws, and makes her the more memorable part of the duo. While certainly not theworst Atlus main character,Metaphor: ReFantazio’sprotagonist could definitely do better.
6Junah
A Once Close Companion Of Louis
Junah is a really interesting character inMetaphor: ReFantazio, having once been a close confidant of Louis, the main antagonist. However, after she is ultimately betrayed by him, she ends up joining the main party, making her, like the majority of the party members inMetaphor, a bad guy turned good.Her role as a songstress also gives her a unique personality traitthat is seen throughout the entire game, helping to diversify the cast even further.
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Junah is definitely unique, and leagues ahead of the protagonist when it comes to the best playable characters. There isn’t anything particularly wrong about her as she adds a lot to both the game and the party, proving once again thatMetaphor: ReFantaziois one of thebest JRPGs of 2024. Despite being just ever so slightly beaten by the other playable characters thanks to their unique qualities,Junah is a lot of fun to have around and more than makes up for the personality vacuum left by the Protagonist.
5Eupha
The Three-Eyed Wonder
Eupha is an incredibly unique character and one that helps greatly expand the world ofMetaphor: ReFantazioand its diverse tribesthat the player will encounter. She is a priestess of the Mustari tribe and has three eyes with which she can see Magla, making her stand out both narratively and visually. She also has one of the more unique Archetypes - the Summoner - which makes her a fun character to use in battles.
Once again, just like Junah, there isn’t anything inherently bad about Eupha, and just like thebestPersonaparty members, she’s a genuinely amazing addition to the team. Her unique traits and qualities make her a more memorable character, as too does her position in the story.Unlocking her and her Archetype is a great part ofMetaphor: ReFantazio, and she’s likely to be a fan-favorite character and regarded as one of Atlus' best.
4Basilio
One Half Of The Magnus Brothers
Basilio Magnus, alongside his brother Fidelio, are close confidants of Louis during much ofMetaphor: ReFantazio, before eventually aligning themselves with the Protagonist and his party. They’re a double act for the most part, although Basilio is the only one who actually becomes a playable character very late into the game.While he’s not a part of the team for long, Basilio manages to prove his worth pretty quickly, largely because both he and Fidelio are so present throughout.
Their backstory is touching, proving to be one of the more memorable parts ofMetaphor: ReFantazio, and the moment Basilio finally comes on board cements all the time the player has spent both with and against him.He’s a powerful fighter, a great character, an even better brother, and a joy to have aroundfor the time he spends with the party. While he’s not quite as compelling as some ofMetaphor’sother characters, Basilio, and by extension Fidelio, are more than welcome inclusions in the game.
3Heismay
The Valiant Knight
Heismay’s brave demeanor and fancy way of talking clash drastically with his cute, bat-like appearance, which is largely what makes him such an endearing character from the moment players meet him. He’s part of the eugief tribe, one that is visually very different from the rest of the United Kingdom of Euchronia, and also suffers from acute sensitivity when it comes to sounds. However,while he experiences a lot of discrimination throughoutMetaphor: ReFantazio, Heismay manages to rise above it all, proving definitively that he’s a fascinating character.
He’s also got a classic hero backstory as he was once a brave knight of the eugief tribe before his son died, and he left in self-exile. However, upon joining the party, he decides to redeem himself for his failures - although, naturally, the party doesn’t see it that way - and eventually bonds with them, creating a new family.Heismay is great, not just from a design perspective, but from that archetypal brave knight with a heart of gold standpoint, and having him around is a constant joy throughout all ofMetaphor: ReFantazio.
2Hulkenberg
The Stoic Hero
Despite being quite the tropey JRPG character, Hulkenberg is easily one of the best playable characters in all ofMetaphor: ReFantazio, giving some much-needed stoicism to a game packed with bizarre characters. Her story of wanting to repent for her failure to protect the prince, her formal and occasionally goofy attitude, and her penchant for fighting make her and Heismay closely linked, yet she still manages to stand out as a unique character. While she shares a lot in common with some ofPersona 5’sbest characters. she offers a new dimension to the party inMetaphorwhich is appreciated.
Of course,Hulkenberg is a fan favorite because of just how badass she can be, her skills with a blade proving to be incredibly impressive throughout all ofMetaphor: ReFantazio. Her bond with the Protagonist and Strohl especially is always fun to watch, with her seriousness and hardworking attitude clashing with the main character’s more oblivious attitude. While she doesn’t quite reach the top of the best playable characters list, it’s easy to understand why so many players regard her as the very best.
1Strohl
The Best Friend
Strohl is easily the best playable character inMetaphor: ReFantaziofor one simple reason: he perfectly fills in for the best friend archetypethat Atlus games absolutely adore. From Ryuji inPersona 5to Yosuke inPersona 4, every Atlus game seems to have this type of character, and Strohl does a great job of filling that role while also managing to elevate it. Traditionally, this best friend archetype is goofy and clumsy, but Strohl is intelligent, driven by his passion for justice, and also a noble, although he wouldn’t even let it on.
What makes Strohl so compelling is his relationship with the Protagonist, as he bonds with him almost immediately, helping him in his quest from the moment they meet. There is so much more to him than meets the eye, with his sarcastic and brash attitude often getting in the way of his goals and turning others away from him. Srtohl is a great character inMetaphor: ReFantazioand extremely memorable, especially to those who are particularly drawn to the best friend archetype.
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Of course,Metaphor: ReFantaziois blessed with having such a wide roster of great and fleshed-out characters, which is fairly typical of an Atlus game. It’s what makes it such a draw in the first place, and an easy game to recommend for those looking for acompelling RPG in 2024. While Strohl may be the best playable character,Metaphor: ReFantazio’sentire party is incredibly memorable and will likely enter the JRPG Hall of Fame.
