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

Persona and Metaphor: ReFantazio Composer Leads New Tactical Stealth RPG

Guns Undarkness Will Launch Demo At Steam Next Fest

Exciting news for fans of tactical RPGs and the Persona series! The much-anticipated game, Guns Undarkness, is set to launch a free demo during the upcoming Steam Next Fest. This project is helmed by none other than Shoji Meguro, the renowned composer behind the Persona series and Metaphor: ReFantazio. Joining him are the talented Ghost in the Shell character artist Ilya Kuvshino and the acclaimed rapper Lotus Juice, known for his contributions to Persona 3.

Shoji Meguro's journey in the gaming industry began in 1995 at Atlus, where he crafted memorable soundtracks for iconic titles like the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series. In 2021, Meguro ventured into indie game development while still collaborating with Atlus on their musical scores. Post-Atlus, he focused on developing a Sci-Fi Stealth Action JRPG, which will be published under Kodansha Game Creators Lab.

Guns Undarkness was first unveiled at Indie Live Expo Winter 2021, followed by a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2022 that met its stretch goals. Gamers can experience the game's free demo during Steam Next Fest on February 24, 2025, with the game slated for early access release later in the year.

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's narrative unfolds in a world teetering on the edge of destruction. Players assume the role of a member of a private military company, embarking on missions with allies to unravel the secrets that threaten humanity's survival.

The gameplay of Guns Undarkness is divided into two main components: stealth and combat. In stealth sections, players navigate the environment to avoid detection. Successfully engaging enemies without being noticed grants strategic advantages in the ensuing turn-based battles, where players command their characters and utilize a variety of firearms to secure victory.

The demo for Guns Undarkness offers approximately 20 minutes of gameplay, including a tutorial that introduces basic controls, the battle system, weapon mechanics, and early game strategies. The full game is scheduled for an Early Access release in Spring 2025, promising around 10 hours of playtime on PC. While no specific release date has been officially announced, the anticipation for this title continues to build among RPG enthusiasts.