The best Shin Megami Tensei games on Switch and Nintendo Systems
Mega Tensei – also known as Shin megami tensei — is one of the longest-running RPG franchises in the world. But most of us don’t know it. First released in 1987 on the Famicom, it wasn’t until the Virtual Boy that Nintendo gamers (well, a few, really) became aware of this demon-summoning series. And now, the series boasts multiple spinoffs, revivals, remakes, and enhanced versions. That’s a pretty big hole to dive into.
Since becoming popular in the West — thanks Shin Megami Tensei III And Character 3 on PS2 — Atlus’ star was only just rising, with the spin-off series becoming its own beast. But what about the more traditional, hardcore games you can get in the West? To be Best Shin Megami Tensei game?
We let you lovely readers vote for your favorite SMT games. With the recent release of Shin Megami Tensei V: Revengewe’re sure there are plenty of people who want to get involved in this sometimes extremely difficult franchise. But there’s nothing better than the dark, philosophical and heavy nature of SMT, so we’re here to get you involved.
We’re leaving Persona out of this ranking because while it still shares many of the same demons and mechanics, it’s essentially its own thing at this point (don’t worry, we’ll be voting soon best Persona games) – this list is to shed light on the name that started it all.
Other appendages, like The Devil Survives And Tokyo Illusion Sessionare games, however, along with remakes, ports, and base and enhanced versions of certain games. We’ll also only include games that are available in the West and only on Nintendo systems—so, yes, while Shin Megami Tensei Although available on mobile devices in the West, the Super Famicom version of the game has never been playable in the West with an official English localization.
Miss: This ranking is not fixed. Registered Nintendo Life users can click on the stars below and rate the games on a 10-point scale. The list order is generated from NL User Ratings and is therefore subject to change, even after publication. You can change or add points to any of the games below by clicking on the star next to the title.
Make a pact, start negotiating, and check out our rankings of the best Shin Megami Tensei games on Switch and Nintendo systems. We start from the bottom…
Once you get the hang of it Jack Brothers is a short game, and it’s a shame there aren’t more puzzles. However, the multiple characters and two difficulty settings add to the longevity of an already enjoyable game. The game has great music and looks nice too – although it doesn’t really benefit from playing on the Virtual Boy. Overall, the game’s strengths more than make up for any weaknesses, making Jack Bros. an essential Virtual Boy purchase.
For fans of Shin Megami Tensei or Persona, this is a no-brainer — Soul Hacker is a great entry in the series and you won’t be disappointed. Even better, it’s a great place for beginners to start, with a relatively smooth difficulty curve and user-friendly tips to help you out of sticky situations. If you’re a die-hard SMT fan then you might find the dungeons a little bland, but if you’re looking for a good place to start or are a fan of deep, dark, story-driven dungeon crawlers with soul, Spookies is waiting to be called.
Shin Megami Tensei III HD Remaster There’s no denying that this is the best way to play the classic RPG, but it’s also pretty clear that the nearly two-decade-old game is showing its age. A compelling story, fun combat system, and engaging demon recruitment and fusion mechanics make Shin Megami Tensei III well worth your time, but outdated visuals, poor music, and sometimes unforgiving mechanics hold it back from being great. We’d recommend this to both longtime fans and newcomers, but with the caveat that you might want to wait for a sale.
With fun tactical battles, a never-ending dramatic storyline, and a wonderfully upbeat, apocalyptic style, Devil Survivor 2 is a total blast from start to finish. If you missed the original release, you’re in for a treat, and the Triangulum scenario adds another long-form adventure that’s instantly accessible to the experience. It’s also a more enjoyable experience than most other games in the series. Whether you’re a longtime MegaTen fan or just enjoy deep, strategic RPGs, take the plunge and dive into Nicaea; you won’t regret it.
As a sequel, we think Shin Megami Tensei IV: Doomsday It’s nearly perfect, but we know it’s more controversial among diehard fans. It lets players revisit a familiar world from a new perspective and adds some small but important mechanical improvements that make the game smoother throughout. We recommend playing through it. SMTIV first to get the most out of Apocalypse and experience one of the 3DS’s best JRPGs, but Apocalypse is still a delightfully dark adventure steeped in dystopian charm. Between the endearing demons, deeply satisfying combat, and killer aesthetics, we couldn’t get enough—end times have never felt so good.
If you already own or play The Devil Survives on DS, then Overclocking may not be the new version you expected. However, for those new to the title, prepare to be impressed. While the game isn’t much of an improvement, it’s still an excellent, stylish RPG that cleverly blends strategy and turn-based combat. This is certainly one of the more robust 3DS games available today, with multiple endings and tons of content to explore.
From demon collecting and deadly combat to a sci-fi setting in Antarctica, Strange Journey Redux is a thoroughly enjoyable adventure and a great excuse to get lost in the 3DS once more. A remake of the DS classic, Redux adds enough new content to make a replay worth your time, along with a number of welcome accessibility improvements to help newcomers get to grips with one of Shin Megami Tensei’s best-kept secrets. Many have argued that the game is inferior to the original DS game, but we think Strange Journey – Redux or otherwise – is a must-see for JRPG fans.
Tokyo Mirage #FE version about 85% Shin Megami Tenseiand 15% Firebut somehow feels like something completely separate from both. It makes up for that by boasting a dynamic and energetic combat system wrapped in a setting that takes J-Pop cheesiness to sublime heights. It’s a remarkably long and enjoyable experience for anyone who hasn’t had stage fright given its relatively narrow offering. ‘Encore’ Switch Port makes it easy to catch up these days, but like so many other quirky (and wonderful!) games, it was originally part of the Wii U’s wonderfully diverse and underrated library.
