Persona and Metaphor: ReFantazio Composer’s New Turn-Based JRPG Gets A Free Steam Demo

If you're a fan of the Persona series and eagerly awaiting Metaphor: ReFantazio, you'll be thrilled to know that the composer behind these iconic games, Shoji Meguro, is leading a new project called Guns Undarkness. This upcoming tactical stealth RPG is set to make waves, and you can get a taste of it with a free demo during the upcoming Steam Next Fest.

Guns Undarkness Will Launch Demo At Steam Next Fest

Mark your calendars for February 24, 2025, as Guns Undarkness will be showcasing its free demo at Steam Next Fest. This exciting project is not only led by Shoji Meguro, who has been a stalwart at Atlus since 1995, but also features the artistic talents of Ghost in the Shell character artist Ilya Kuvshino and the musical prowess of rapper Lotus Juice, known for his contributions to Persona 3.

Meguro's journey from composing for the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series to becoming an indie game developer in 2021 is nothing short of inspiring. Even after leaving Atlus, he continued to collaborate with them on music while venturing into new territories. Guns Undarkness is a testament to his vision, a Sci-Fi Stealth Action JRPG that will be published under Kodansha Game Creators Lab.

First unveiled at Indie Live Expo Winter 2021, Guns Undarkness successfully met its Kickstarter goals in 2022. Following the demo at Steam Next Fest, the game is slated for an early access release later in 2025.

Inspired by Metal Gear Solid and Persona

According to its Steam page, Guns Undarkness is a "turn-based tactical JRPG inspired by games like Metal Gear Solid and Persona." Set in the year 2045, the game plunges players into a world teetering on the edge of destruction. You'll take on the role of a member of a private military company, embarking on missions with allies to unravel the world's secrets and save humanity.

The gameplay is split into two key aspects: stealth and battle. During stealth sections, players can navigate the field undetected, gaining a strategic advantage in battles. When combat ensues, it shifts to a turn-based system where players command their characters and utilize various firearms to emerge victorious.

The demo for Guns Undarkness will offer around 20 minutes of gameplay, including a tutorial on basic controls, the battle system, weapons, and strategies for the game's early stages. The full game is set to launch in Spring 2025 for Early Access, promising about 10 hours of playtime on PC. While no specific release date has been announced yet, the anticipation is building for this unique blend of tactical stealth and turn-based JRPG elements.