Persona 3 Reload is one of the most impressive remakes in recent years. It was first released last year for PS4, PS5, Xbox Series, and PC. When the game skipped the Switch, many fans wondered when it would arrive on a Nintendo platform. The answer is the Switch 2. The newly launched console, which debuted this summer, has enough hardware power to deliver a solid port of Persona 3 Reload, and Atlus has done a great job with it.
Having played the original version on PC and Xbox, I was surprised by how similar the experience felt on the Switch 2. While the hardware is clearly weaker compared to the PS5 and modern PCs, Atlus has managed to prioritize visuals and maintain steady performance close to their intended target. Persona 3 Reload runs at 60 FPS on PS5, Xbox Series, and PC, but drops to 30 FPS on the Switch 2. It’s a reasonable trade-off given the effort to preserve visual quality.
Since Persona 3 Reload is a turn-based RPG, the 30 FPS cap doesn’t impact gameplay much. However, one thing I think should have been included is ray tracing. It’s available on other consoles and even works on handhelds like the Steam Deck. Despite the lower frame rate, the developers decided to skip it for the Switch 2 version, which feels like an odd choice. If the goal was to target 30 FPS, I would have preferred they push the visuals further instead.
The game follows a high school student who returns to their hometown. After coming back, they move into the Iwatodai Dorm, which serves as the headquarters of the Specialized Extracurricular Execution Squad (S.E.E.S.). This group is tasked with uncovering the mystery behind the Dark Hour and fighting the creatures known as Shadows that appear during this hidden time. The story unfolds in two phases. During the day, the player lives as a student—attending classes, exploring the school, and building relationships with other characters. At night, they enter a mysterious tower during the Dark Hour to battle Shadows and climb through its many floors.
Persona 3 Reload’s story carries a dark and mature tone but mixes in moments of humor and lightheartedness. Much of this comes from how the characters interact with one another—like Junpei often being the target of jokes or the amusing exchanges between Yukari and Aigis. The game features one of the strongest casts in the Persona series, including Mitsuru, the strict yet charismatic leader, along with Akihiko and Fuuka. The main group starts small but expands as new characters join throughout the story.
The gameplay in Persona 3 Reload is very similar to that of Persona 5 Royal. The remake introduces several quality-of-life improvements, and the user interface has been completely redesigned, adopting the same stylish presentation seen in Persona 5 and later titles. Players can now take direct control of party members and issue individual commands during battles. The game also features a new Shift system, which allows players to perform chain attacks against enemies. Another welcome addition is that all Social Links now include fully voiced cutscenes, giving these moments more emotional weight and depth.
Although Persona 3 Reload was released nearly a decade after its initial launch, it does not include the final epilogue known as “The Answer” from the original version. Instead, this content was reintroduced separately as Episode Aigis. Unfortunately, the Nintendo Switch 2 version does not bundle this episode and offers it only as an additional purchase. This is somewhat disappointing, as the episode is an essential part of the story and provides a more complete experience of Persona 3. At the time of writing this review, it was not yet possible to play Episode Aigis on the Switch 2, so I cannot comment on its performance or presentation on the platform.
Speaking of the Nintendo Switch 2 version’s performance, it maintains a stable 30 FPS. However, I noticed that the handheld experience feels slightly uneven at times, even though the frame rate stays consistent. When docked, the game runs much smoother overall. Load times are impressively short, which makes Persona 3 Reload one of the best portable experiences currently available on the Switch 2. While the game does not include ray tracing, that feature was a minor element in the PC and console versions, mainly affecting a few reflective surfaces. Its absence here is not a major loss, though a performance mode would have been a nice optional feature.
I was genuinely impressed by how good the game looks when played in docked mode. Having also tried it on the Steam Deck, I found that the visuals and resolution on a 4K display look noticeably cleaner and sharper, while performance remains steady. Fast travel transitions are quick, keeping load times short. In terms of visuals, this version looks better to me than the PlayStation 4 release. When playing portably, it performs better than the Steam Deck version, offering a higher resolution and taking advantage of the Switch 2’s larger screen. That extra screen space makes a real difference for an RPG like Persona 3 Reload, where reading text and navigating menus is a big part of the experience.
Persona 3 Reload Game Information
- Price: $59.99
- Publisher: Sega
- Developer: Atlus
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
