also known as Shin Megami Tensei - Strange Journey Redux
Nintendo 3DS
🇯🇵
Reviewed in 2017
80
✪ Reviewed on October 9, 2025
74
Shin Megami Tensei Deep Strange Journey on 3DS, enriched version of Strange Journey with new character Alex. Expedition to Antarctica in the Schwarzwelt. Exclusive narrative content that deepens the original story.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player16+
Description
A soldier from the Schwarzwelt organisation plunges into a mysterious vortex that appeared in Antarctica in this enriched Strange Journey remake. Published by Atlus, released in Japan in October 2017. Turn-based battles with recruitable and fusible demons, new character Alexandra and original storyline, multiple endings. Japan exclusive.
Shin Megami Tensei - Deep Strange Journey review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
4/5
Story
★★★★★
"Captivating"
Everything is seen through a visor. The corridors scroll past in first person, framed by the rim of a helmet, with readings displayed as overlays and a map drawing itself progressively on the same pane. The members of the expedition wear thick angular suits, closer to polar equipment than to armour, which anchors the story in the scientific mission.
The soundtrack is almost entirely synthetic and deliberately cold. Sustained pads without vibrato, slow pulses, sounds of ventilation and of breathing filtered through a helmet: you hear the equipment as much as the music, and the rare melodies stay out of reach, as if picked up through a wall. The fights alone reintroduce a clear rhythm, immediately taken back by the silence of the corridors.
The story takes the form of a mission report. An international team enters an anomaly that appeared at the pole, records what it observes, loses members, revises its hypotheses, and the player follows that progression through successive readings rather than through dramatic scenes. The anomaly turns out to be a verdict passed on the human species, and the ending is chosen the way one would draft a recommendation.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"Mild"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Roaming a labyrinthine space station in first person, bargaining with demons to enlist them and fusing your creatures sets up a progression where each pact widens your options. Mapping the layout and untangling the plot rekindle the urge to push on. The difficulty and pacing demand patience, yet the oppressive atmosphere and the demon collecting exert a stubborn grip.
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Plunging into a vortex that appears over Antarctica unfolds a dense dungeon-RPG where demon negotiation and fusion take centre stage. The ample main quest, first-person exploration and multiple endings stretch the adventure over long hours. That depth, signed Atlus, earns the title a stubborn reputation among Shin Megami Tensei fans.
Technical info
💾1,3 GB📅26/10/2017
Published by Atlus
Shin Megami Tensei - Deep Strange Journey (3DS) price, value & rarity
Japanese version of Shin Megami Tensei Deep Strange Journey, an enhanced remake of Strange Journey published by Atlus, the NTSC-J original strike before the Western release. The Japanese cartridge keeps the original voice acting and interface of a dark RPG prized by the SMT community. Desirability rests on its status as the Japanese version of an end-of-life 3DS remake, sought by enthusiasts of the Shin Megami Tensei franchise in its original form.
An underrated gem
An enriched remake of Strange Journey, this SMT sends a soldier to face a demonic vortex erupting from Antarctica, with negotiation and fusion at hand. Released in the shadow of bigger JRPGs and demanding to boot, it stayed niche. Dark, deep, and atmospheric, it's a feast for fans of mature RPGs and thorny moral dilemmas.
Is Shin Megami Tensei - Deep Strange Journey still worth playing in 2026?
An expanded remake of Strange Journey, this Redux edition follows a soldier of the Schwarzwelt expedition pulled into a vortex that appeared in Antarctica. This demanding dungeon crawler marries meticulous mapping, demon negotiation and fusion, and the series' famously harsh turn based combat. The additions, including a new character and a fresh dungeon, flesh out an already dense and mature adventure. For a fan of punishing old school RPGs, a Megami Tensei fan or someone curious about dark science fiction tales, the title keeps a remarkable depth and atmosphere.
