Shin Megami Tensei IV on 3DS (Korean version), Atlus JRPG in a post-apocalyptic demon-infested Tokyo. Recruit demons, choose your alignment and explore multiple endings. Deep and demanding. An SMT masterpiece.
Your verdict
Category
Simulation1 player16+
Description
A Samurai from Mikado explores a post-apocalyptic world above and below his fortress where demons are invading reality. Published by Atlus, released in Japan in May 2013. Turn-based battles with recruitable and fusible demons, explorable open world, multiple endings based on alignments. Japan exclusive.
Shin Megami Tensei IV review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Mild"
Addictiveness
"Captivating"
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Exploring a post-apocalyptic world above and below the fortress of Mikado unfolds a JRPG dense with exploration and demon negotiation. The ample main quest, demon fusion and multiple endings stretch the adventure over long hours. That depth, signed Atlus, earns the title a stubborn reputation among Shin Megami Tensei fans.
Shin Megami Tensei IV is the Japanese original pressing of the first mainline SMT on 3DS, a major step in the sub-series' return after Nocturne. Collector value anchored in that threshold position: the entry that took Megaten into the HD handheld generation, with domestic success triggering Atlus's entire 3DS strategy. Decent local print but sustained foreign demand.
Is Shin Megami Tensei IV still worth playing in 2026?
Released in 2013 on 3DS and known in the West as Shin Megami Tensei IV, Atlus' project extends the great post apocalyptic RPG series, where a samurai tips from a medieval kingdom into an underground Tokyo ravaged by demons. The turn based combat built on the Press Turn system, which rewards exploiting weaknesses, demon fusion and the freedom of moral alignment install a demanding strategy and a cold atmosphere. The choices leading to multiple endings feed the replay value. The abrupt difficulty and the austerity put off. A dark and deep Japanese RPG, recommended for demanding fans of the genre.
