Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengance

Atlus’ Shin Megami Tensei series is the other name that pops up in virtually every conversation about Metaphor, and it’s not just because Persona is technically a Shin Megami Tensei spinoff. Metaphor most obviously inherits the battle mechanics of Shin Megami Tensei, namely the “Press Turn” system that awards extra turns for hitting enemy weaknesses and punishes players for missed attacks. The darker story moments and music in Metaphor are also reminiscent of Shin Megami Tensei. If your main draw to Metaphor was its crunchy RPG gameplay, this is the series you should dig into.

If you’ve never dipped your toes into Shin Megami Tensei before, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is easily your best starting point. Not only do you get two massive story paths to experience that each have multiple endings, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is also filled to the brim with quality of life enhancements that make it accessible to series newbies. Meanwhile, Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne is a fan favorite entry that is readily available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, and PlayStation 4 via an HD Remaster. Shin Megami Tensei IV and Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse also offer more Press Turn combat, though keep in mind they’re exclusive to the 3DS as of writing.