Persona 3 Reload Review (Nintendo Switch 2)

Reviewing this port of one of the best JRPGs of this decade has been one of the trickier reviews that I think I’ve ever had, simply put, it’s because the quality of the base game is so high that it completely overshadows the port’s flaws, which in turn affect the game’s quality. It’s a vicious cycle, yet it’s an incredible experience weighed down by technical limitations that, hopefully, future patches might address. As of writing this, the game’s port director Yoshihiro Komori revealed to Nintendo Life that they were ‘taking steps’ to improve the criticisms drawn from this game. 

I truly hope ATLUS continues to optimise this version because it’s just a few steps away from greatness. If they can iron out the stuttering, add performance options, and perhaps roll in the DLC, the Nintendo Switch 2 release could easily become the best way to play Persona 3 Reload. For now, though, it sits in an interesting middle ground. It’s not the best-performing version, nor the most complete, but it’s also the most convenient and portable, and for a game as absorbing as this, that’s worth something.

If you’ve never played Persona 3 Reload before, this is still a decent way to experience it. But if you already own it elsewhere, you might find the Switch 2 edition a little underwhelming, at least in its current state.

If you’re after a deep dive into the game’s story, systems, and overall design, you can read our original review of the game in 2024, where Jamie scored it a 9.5/10.  That review captures everything that makes Persona 3 Reload such a powerful remake, and since all of the game’s core elements remain unchanged here, it serves as an excellent reference point.

I had a fantastic time visiting this world. This was my first time playing through Persona 3. The art, the music, the combat; everything about Persona 3 Reload feels like the time I played Persona 5, which was my starting point. It’s one of those games that stays with you long after you put it down. I can’t help but admire just how stylish and emotionally rich it remains. The Switch 2 port might not be perfect, but the heart of the game beats as strongly as ever. With a bit more technical polish, it could easily stand as one of the best JRPG experiences on Nintendo’s new system.

For those who haven’t experienced Persona 3 Reload yet, it’s worth reiterating just how special this game is. ATLUS has taken one of the most influential entries in the Persona franchise and rebuilt it from the ground up, infusing it with the sleek presentation and mechanical polish of the modern series. From the moment you start the game, you’re greeted with a sense of confidence and style that few developers can replicate. The bold menus, vibrant colours and seamless transitions all carry that unmistakable ATLUS DNA. It’s a game that oozes personality and atmosphere, from its anime cutscenes to its jazzy soundtrack, and every time I boot it up, I’m reminded of just how much care and craftsmanship went into bringing this world back to life.

As impressive as the game itself is, the Switch 2 version presents a unique consumer proposition. It’s not a new or definitive edition. It’s a straight port of a remake from a game almost over 2 decades ago. There are no major additions, enhancements, or exclusive features to set it apart from the versions on PlayStation, Xbox, or PC. What it does offer is a new way to play, portability. For some players, that alone makes a big difference. Being able to experience Persona 3 Reload on the go, on a sleek new handheld system, is what many fans have wanted, myself included. For others who value top-tier performance and visual fidelity, this version is not the ideal choice.

Performance is where the cracks start to show. I encountered noticeable stuttering and framerate dips during busy moments, which can be distracting in a game built so heavily on rhythm and presentation. The smoothness that defines Persona 3 Reload’s animations and transitions feels slightly undermined when, right after these moments, the frame rate falters. I found myself immediately looking through the settings menu for an option to prioritize performance over graphical fidelity, a feature that’s become fairly standard in most modern games, surprisingly there wasn’t one. It’s a small omission, but one that stands out, particularly given how important fluid motion is to a game with this much visual flair. When your battle animations or exploration sequences hitch or blur, it breaks that stylish immersion that ATLUS works so hard to create.

Tarturus, the game’s main dungeon, also felt flat, uninspired, and all this was due in part to the issue of performance blur and low-res textures. I usually don’t really think graphical issues can ruin a game, but in this case, it was very off-putting, especially if you are going to spend up to 90 hours playing through the game and its almost endless dungeons. Still, I don’t want to make it sound worse than it is. The Switch 2 version is absolutely playable, and in handheld mode it’s genuinely impressive due in part to the game’s strong art direction, which does a lot of heavy lifting. Even with some visual compromises, it still looks fantastic on the Switch 2’s display. 

The colours pop, the UI remains razor-sharp, and the character designs retain their striking detail. Play on a larger screen, and some of the visual and performance shortcomings become harder to ignore. Docked mode does run a bit smoother overall, but not dramatically enough to make it feel like an upgrade; they are both relatively equal. Frame pacing issues and some nauseating motion blur remain noticeable no matter how you play.

My last frustration is that this version still doesn’t come with the DLC content released since the original launch. This can also be found on our website by our Persona super fan, Jamie, who reviewed it in 2024. For a port that arrives well after the initial release, you’d hope to see a more complete package.  Perhaps bundled with the downloadable extras to make it feel like a ‘Definitive Edition’. 

Unfortunately, that’s not the case here. Those add-ons are still sold separately, which makes the overall price a bit steep when you consider that you’re essentially buying the same game again on a new platform. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it does make the Switch 2 version feel like a missed opportunity. A “Complete” edition would have been a great way to celebrate this port, especially given how long fans have waited for a portable version.

In the end, I can’t deny that Persona 3 Reload is still a phenomenal game. The story remains one of the darkest and most emotionally resonant in the series. The characters feel fully realised, their struggles and relationships interwoven with the larger themes of mortality and identity. The day-to-day life simulation, balancing classes, social bonds, and dungeon crawling, is as addictive as ever. 

ATLUS’s attention to detail, especially in presentation, art direction and sound, gives every moment a sense of polish that’s rare even among big-budget RPGs. You can tell this remake was made with genuine love and respect for the original game, and that passion shines through even when the technical side stumbles a bit on this platform.

The Switch 2 port isn’t the best way to experience it from a performance standpoint, but it’s still an option for fans who want to take this masterpiece on the go. I just wish ATLUS had taken a little more time to optimise performance and include all the DLC from the start. Stylish, emotional, and endlessly replayable, this version is marred by far too many technical hiccups, which stop it from reaching its full potential.