Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore

 Switch
User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 258 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 145 out of 258
  2. Mixed: 34 out of 258
  3. Negative: 79 out of 258
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. Fallingroy
    Apr 22, 2020
    5
    Like it isn’t a bad game but it escapes being bad narrowly. The actual battle gameplay is great and the graphics are nice and the music is good but the character designs get pretty silly, the plot is dumb, and the characters are all cliches. It feels sad because there was clearly effort in the importance parts and if it had some good writers it could have been a super game but it is so not.
  2. Goodnightmoon
    Jun 7, 2021
    10
    This is a wonderful game that deserves way more recognition. While it may be a little too cheesy and it has some annoying anime tropes, TMS is a very special game.
    The setting and story are pretty unique, the characters are trying to make their way into the Japanese show business and along the way they have to fight with the obstacles of the industry and their own personal demons, this is    This is a wonderful game that deserves way more recognition. While it may be a little too cheesy and it has some annoying anime tropes, TMS is a very special game.
    The setting and story are pretty unique, the characters are trying to make their way into the Japanese show business and along the way they have to fight with the obstacles of the industry and their own personal demons, this is represented with demons and dungeons in a similar style as Persona.
    The gameplay is fantastic, one of the best combat systems of any JRPG ever, its addictive, accesible but deep and very eye-candy. The presentation of the game as a whole is really good, very vibrant and colorful with a ton of style. The music, while not my style, its really well produced and fitting with the game, its high quality J-pop for the most part.
    The whole vibe of the game is quite light-hearted, maybe a bit too much for a Shin Megami Tensei spin-off but its really charming and quite engaging.
    An absolute gem, a game that always makes me happy, great gameplay, great presentation, likeable characters, unique story, its just really good.    … Expand
  3. Bure1088
    Dec 3, 2020
    10
    Shame on all of you that rated this so low. This game may have a fairly uninteresting main character but the support characters are more lively and the combat is awesome. At first this game was kinda boring but once it picks up, I was hooked and played it for hours at a time. Not every game does that for me. If you like persona type games then give this game a try.
  4. weskergamer
    Mar 22, 2020
    9
    I never played the original Wii U game, but i am so happy that Nintendo ported it. This is one of the most fun rpg games i had ever play, the combat system is great and the characters very charismatics. I didn't care much about the story, only when they were doing Fire Emblem references, that were so damn cool for me. A very recommendable game
  5. greninjaX
    Jul 19, 2020
    9
    one of the best JRPGs on the switch. very under rated. has very little to do with shin megami tensei or fire emblem, but you know what, that's ok.
  6. JulioZamudio
    Aug 21, 2020
    10
    If you enjoy the gameplay of the Megami Tensei series, this game is right for you. The story is focused in the entertainment industry in Japan from idols to models. It may be unappealing for some, but behind it , there's a great story with well-rounded characters and backstories.
  7. foolishren
    Apr 4, 2020
    8
    It's not a perfect game. The main protagonist is pretty boring tbh. All he really does is support the other characters and be dense when it come to romance stuff. The combat you need to do sessions or you have little chance of winning. And sidequests are basic gather this or kill these. The party members sidequests have story though.
    I think one reason this game didn't do as well is    It's not a perfect game. The main protagonist is pretty boring tbh. All he really does is support the other characters and be dense when it come to romance stuff. The combat you need to do sessions or you have little chance of winning. And sidequests are basic gather this or kill these. The party members sidequests have story though.
    I think one reason this game didn't do as well is because people thought it would be different with the smt x fire emblem theme. And honestly I was too. But it's still an enjoyable game.    … Expand
  8. Bondage
    Nov 25, 2020
    3
    There is censorship in this port.
    The story is shallow and uninteresting.
    There are times I skipped the dialogue because there is only one redeeming factor: the combat. Sadly that's all that is going with this game. If you've played other games of the JRPG genre, you'll soon notice that this game can barely hold a flickering candle in comparison. My regret was buying this digitally    There is censorship in this port.
    The story is shallow and uninteresting.
    There are times I skipped the dialogue because there is only one redeeming factor: the combat.
    Sadly that's all that is going with this game.

    If you've played other games of the JRPG genre, you'll soon notice that this game can barely hold a flickering candle in comparison. My regret was buying this digitally because now I can't get a refund.    … Expand
  9. LolInTheDark
    Mar 25, 2020
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I've honestly enjoyed this game ad much as I ever enjoyed a RPG.
    I can't probably say this is "the best rpg ever", but I can sure say "this RPG is one of the most unique" I ever played.
    The artistic content is itself worth playing the game.
    I've lost myself in re-watching most of the video content and enjoyed as never before watching over and over battle animations (which, don't get me wrong, as every JRPG are substantially always the same).
    The battle system itself is genuinely beautiful, even being based on the not-so-special persona-like system.
    Moreover, skins are great (for all the baby-crying jerk out there, yeah, I enjoyed skins even if censorship took away most of the fan-service from the game) and I never lost myself so much in changing and appreciating theme during a game.
    Overall, this game is artistically impeccable and this itself is enough to give a rate deserved from UNIQUE games.    … Expand
  10. GamErin8622
    Aug 2, 2020
    9
    Tokyo Mirage #FE (Encore) is a brightly-colored, silly, and very fun experience. With interesting characters, stunning graphics, fun gameplay, and downright amazing music, it’s one of my favorite RPGs, if not my favorite. The gameplay, while not extremely deep, is still very stylish and enjoyable. I was having so much fun with it, I accidentally grinded all of my characters to level 90Tokyo Mirage #FE (Encore) is a brightly-colored, silly, and very fun experience. With interesting characters, stunning graphics, fun gameplay, and downright amazing music, it’s one of my favorite RPGs, if not my favorite. The gameplay, while not extremely deep, is still very stylish and enjoyable. I was having so much fun with it, I accidentally grinded all of my characters to level 90 before chapter four. Speaking of chapters, there’s only six (plus the prologue), so the game’s a little bit shorter than I’d like. Even with its short length (for an Atlus JRPG, of course), the game we do have oozes style and charm with its likable characters and music. The short length also kind of affects the characters; with only six chapters, each character only has three side stories (like Confidants from P5R, but a bit longer and minus having to get friendship points, with one exception), but they’re still well-developed and fit into the team. And since most of them are singers, the music has a wonderful J-Pop theme. Standout tracks include: “Give me!!” (my favorite), the theme song “Reincarnation”, and the very cute “Raindrop Memories”. The vocal tracks are all absolutely fantastic (take a listen if you haven’t!).
    Among all the bright colors, there’s also the evil Mirages whom our main characters work to defeat. Going along with that, the plot is a typical save-the-world adventure set in Tokyo. The plot, while nothing special, works well enough. The main focus isn’t really that; it’s more about the characters and their careers. The game also has its dungeons, and they’re all good. Dungeon crawling wasn’t my favorite thing about the game, and I got lost quite a bit in the photographer’s dungeon, but progressing and finding treasure chests was still satisfying, and the puzzles were interesting (I used a guide for the maid dress one, though).
    Encore doesn’t add a lot, but it adds some: a couple more characters can now help you chain attacks (these chains are called Sessions) and that adds even more to the already very team-based battle system. The updated version also adds more costumes for the characters and even a new song: “She Is...” which is pretty dang good.
    I only have a few real problems with this wonderful game: the short length (again, for an Atlus game), the small party size (only three; having only three party members bugs me, always has), and how characters slide out of focus after their arc’s done (Touma, Ellie, and Mamori all suffer this). Other than that, though, it’s one of my favorite Switch games and one of my favorite games in general.    … Expand
  11. XanderSo156
    Jan 6, 2021
    8
    One of the greatest JRPG's on the switch, and id even say one of the best recent JRPG's. The battle system is one of the best ive played (I even prefer it over P5 Royal's system), and while each character starts out feeling like a normal anime caricature they're all fleshed out greatly. Also, while the game makes references to the SMT and Fire Emblem games, you can play this with zeroOne of the greatest JRPG's on the switch, and id even say one of the best recent JRPG's. The battle system is one of the best ive played (I even prefer it over P5 Royal's system), and while each character starts out feeling like a normal anime caricature they're all fleshed out greatly. Also, while the game makes references to the SMT and Fire Emblem games, you can play this with zero knowledge of either franchise and understand almost everything other than some nods those two franchises.
    Even if you don't like the idol genre of anime and games (i'm not a big fan of it either) I suggest you look past it as there's a great game underneath it.

    One thing: this is NOT a persona game. There is not deep social links like in the persona series. Many people in the negative user reviews don't seem to understand that Shin Megami Tensei and Persona are different series that are just linked and expected social links in this game. Its not Persona x Fire Emblem, its SMT x Fire Emblem.

    I should probably also touch on the Fire Emblem aspects of this game. Story wise, Fire Emblem characters play a big part which increases as the game goes on, but at the end of the day this is very much a Shin Megami Tensei Game with Fire Emblem Characters in it, not the other way around or even an even mix of the two game's playstyles.

    Overall, if you are even remotely interested in JRPG's id check this game out. Great Story/Characters, fantastic turn based combat and dungeon crawling, and the soundtrack is incredible.    … Expand
  12. Heiwa
    Jan 22, 2020
    5
    I really tried to like this game. I'm a huge fan of Atlus and SMT/Persona, but Tokyo Mirage is just shallow. It has a very shallow plot and I didn't care for the events nor the characters at all. All the Characters are super cliche and the main Protagonist is just bland. It tried to picture the Entertainment Industry in Japan, but does that in such a cheesy and ridiculous way, that I justI really tried to like this game. I'm a huge fan of Atlus and SMT/Persona, but Tokyo Mirage is just shallow. It has a very shallow plot and I didn't care for the events nor the characters at all. All the Characters are super cliche and the main Protagonist is just bland. It tried to picture the Entertainment Industry in Japan, but does that in such a cheesy and ridiculous way, that I just couldn't take that game seriously. Everything is just super colorful and flashy, glittery. They tried to put some "darker" and more emotional moments into the game, but even those didn't work for me, due to their rather poorly execution. For example, in the first chapter of the game during supposingly emotional mometn, a Character sings a song to a person, but since the actual song just contains "lalala" instead of actual lyrics it's rather ridiculous than emotional. The few things I enjoyed during my 15 hours of playtime tho , were the battle system and the dungeons. The Battle System was definitely the best part of the game for me, since it's pretty much like SMTs/Personas battle system, but with a few twists and turns. The dungeons worked rather samey, but I did enjoy the different designs of them. Overall I have to say, that I'm rather disappointed with Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore. In my opinion, a more serious tone highlighting the darker sides of that industry and a more fleshed out story and characters would have made that game a lot more interesting. It is a solid RPG at its core, but it's dragged down, by a poor Story and forgettable characters.… Expand
  13. thersus
    Jun 17, 2020
    6
    This game is not *that* bad... It's just a long series of strange design choices.
    If you like SMT for the dark and blasphemous themes, Fire Emblem for the political shenanigans, or Persona for the deep psychological and social interactions, forget it, you won't find any of that here.
    In terms of mechanics and systems, there are a lot of *inspirations* that can be found here - the skills    This game is not *that* bad... It's just a long series of strange design choices.
    If you like SMT for the dark and blasphemous themes, Fire Emblem for the political shenanigans, or Persona for the deep psychological and social interactions, forget it, you won't find any of that here.
    In terms of mechanics and systems, there are a lot of *inspirations* that can be found here - the skills you can use, the way you can learn them from your Mirages, the dungeon crawling, everything is very reminiscent of both the SMT series and a little bit of FE too. But they didn't carbon copy any of the games (or, at least, none that I played yet), so I can't say this game plays "just like X or Y", it is its own thing.
    You'll find fanservice in forms of costumes, characters and small nods to the original franchises, but nothing too connected to the sources - there are stores named after demons in SMT, there's the market clerk that is definitely-not-Anna, there's even some costumes based on Etrian Odyssey... But nothing makes sense in-universe whatsoever. Actually, not even the main plot makes much sense...
    ...And that's something that holds the game back. If you forget this game is supposed to be a SMTxFE crossover, you can really enjoy it as something unique. But then, from time to time, characters and situations get on the way of the plot in a way that I feel are there only to push the crossover idea forward. The Fire Emblem characters especially felt so out of place it hurts. And not only that, but the plot in general had potential at the beginning, but then turned into a drag 1/3 of the way.
    About the characters, I actually like some of then, others I don't mind, and one of them (Barry) I can't stand. But the writing sometimes gets really cringe worthy and boring to read. And since you're kind of forced to do all side stories in order to get some good skills, more often than not you'll feel the urge to just skip some (or all) of the dialogues. And no, side stories in this game are not even close in character depth and writing as the Social Links in Persona 3, for example.
    Now, after all that, what did I actually like in the game? Well, first of all, I think it looks beautiful. I played the game entirely on handheld mode, and it's one of the best looking games I have played on the Switch yet - it looks very smooth on the edges and textures, something that even first party games like Fire Emblem Three Houses get rough sometimes - and the animations are quite nice and full of life. The songs and movies are really well produced in general, even though I don't like J-POP, I feel they did a really good job.
    And the gameplay per se, I actually enjoyed it a lot. Most people will say the combat boils down to spamming sessions, and well, that's true - but doing that is somewhat fun and entertaining. After some time playing, most sessions will trigger automatically without putting much thought on it, and some powerful skills let you extend those sessions. The only problem is, those skills, as well as some other advanced attacks, will trigger randomly, which is a big letdown.
    As I am not a hardcore turn-based player, I found the game a little bit hard at the beginning (even playing on normal), until I started to grind a little bit and discovered more interactions between characters and their skills. But at the end of the game, it was actually too easy...

    My bottomline is, this game had a lot of potential that was thrown away with its weird concepts, but it is a fun experience if you take it lightly and go with the flow. And please, forget it is a Shin Megami Tensei / Fire Emblem game, it will be better for you.    … Expand
  14. Afenger
    Jan 19, 2020
    9
    Um Jrpg que poucos tiveram a oportunidade de jogar no Wiiu onde eu terminei, neste port para Switch nao se teve um ganho real na parte visual, nem se quer o uso mais apurado do hd rumble, isso somado as poucas novidades inclusas nao o coloca em prioridade para quem jogou no Wiiu, espero que venha ter uma continuavção com novos personagens de Fire Emblem.
  15. SainxtrichX
    Mar 14, 2020
    7
    Está bien a secas. Los elementos de fire emblem son mínimos y se toman tantas libertades creativas que ni sé notan.
    El combate es divertido pero se transforma en sumamente tedioso y repetitivo para las últimas horas del juego.
    El inicio es lento pero a la mitad el juego se pone bastante interesante. Los más entretenido es la interacción con los personajes pero incluso esto es muy    Está bien a secas. Los elementos de fire emblem son mínimos y se toman tantas libertades creativas que ni sé notan.
    El combate es divertido pero se transforma en sumamente tedioso y repetitivo para las últimas horas del juego.
    El inicio es lento pero a la mitad el juego se pone bastante interesante. Los más entretenido es la interacción con los personajes pero incluso esto es muy limitado.
    Solo lo recomiendo a los fans hardocre de Shin megami tensei por lo demás mantente alejado de este juego si no eres fan de los JRPG y de la cultura japonesa.    … Expand
  16. Prrgangsta
    Mar 20, 2020
    5
    This game was my first game I played for my switch and I am just disappointed with it. I thought this would be like persona/smt x fire emblem but it is mostly just a reskin of persona. The only thing 'Fire Emblem' about it are the mirages who are named after FE characters. There is also the class change which is like FE but that is all there is to it.

    Before I start on anymore ranting    This game was my first game I played for my switch and I am just disappointed with it. I thought this would be like persona/smt x fire emblem but it is mostly just a reskin of persona. The only thing 'Fire Emblem' about it are the mirages who are named after FE characters. There is also the class change which is like FE but that is all there is to it.

    Before I start on anymore ranting though I want to say what this game does right and that is the combat and music. It feels good to combo an enemy with different attacks and stack up possibly a 10-hit combo or more. It feels rewarding for exploiting enemy weaknesses.

    The music is upbeat and is overall enjoyable

    Sadly those are the only good things about the game. Everything else is rather boring.

    Characters are uninteresting and the story is very generic for a jrpg. The main character is possibly the most boring and uninteresting character I have ever played in any game EVER! He has no motivation other than the main story's objective. The others are maybe slightly better since they have goals but you barely learn anything about them. As you progress their stage rank you unlock side stories but these side stories don't really go into their personal characters, instead it is just them learning how to get ready for their next gig. I don't learn how Touma and Itsuki are friends? why does Kiria want to be an idol?why did touma's parents abandon him? And so many more unanswered questions which would have made them interesting characters, but nope we gotta learn how to get ready for the next audition by killing monsters.

    The dungeons, while colorful and interesting, have boring puzzle design and are so easy to get through it barely challenges me as a gamer.

    Between each chapter there is an intermission that allows a player to perform sidestories or requests but it slows the pacing of the game so bad I have to force myself to play through these parts. Sidestories are useful for party member to learn other radiant skills but since they don't serve much of a story purpose I skipped through the dialogue after the fifth sidestory just to get through them faster. Requests are pointless DON'T DO THEM unless you want to save your money on slightly expensive items, seriously most of the stuff you get from requests can be easily bought from the stores in game.

    And the topic (cellphone) is the most annoying thing in any game ever. The characters more than half the time send you either messages telling you to basically move your ass to where ever they are or pointless bs that served no purpose. Hey Atlus remember how you did the phone messages in Persona 5? Stick to that.

    I picked this up because it is Atlus and I heard it was a sleeper hit but it is just a sleeper, as in it puts me to sleep.    … Expand
  17. Woofoof
    May 3, 2020
    2
    I’d call it a persona knock off if Atlus hadn’t worked on it. It is like they didn’t realize people like Persona for the strong stories and characters, not shallow cutouts and idol nonsense.
  18. RealCritic69
    Jan 18, 2020
    7
    If you enjoy the Persona games and their combat you will most likely enjoy this game. I absolutely love the combat and dungeons, however, it was very hard to feel engrossed in the world or story. If you’re not interested in J-Pop or Idol Culture it can be very painful to sit through segments of this game. The characters are interesting and likable, even if they are very cliché. The lack ofIf you enjoy the Persona games and their combat you will most likely enjoy this game. I absolutely love the combat and dungeons, however, it was very hard to feel engrossed in the world or story. If you’re not interested in J-Pop or Idol Culture it can be very painful to sit through segments of this game. The characters are interesting and likable, even if they are very cliché. The lack of a dub doesn’t make the game any better or worse, however, one would’ve definitely helped immerse myself in this world better. Overall, this is an enjoyable game but it may be too niche for most people to find value out of.… Expand
  19. CDizzness
    Mar 11, 2020
    4
    Once I found out the game was censored I opted out of purchasing it. Why are Americans so scared of the human body being exposed, yet so desensitized to gore. The game is good, and the graphics are nice...but give us the original Japanese version via anupdate. Ratings exist for a reason, and showing off cleavage can still maintain a Teen rating, just hide the nips.
  20. Rikoyasha
    Mar 7, 2020
    4
    when the game was announced with more content i was hoping the voices would be added in english but the main thing that really bothers me was the CENSORING!!!

    Censoring is never really a good but most of the time its tolerable but this game is taking it too far changing background posters, turning swimsuits to 3 lays of clothes, turning a wedding dress that just shows shoulders and half    when the game was announced with more content i was hoping the voices would be added in english but the main thing that really bothers me was the CENSORING!!!

    Censoring is never really a good but most of the time its tolerable but this game is taking it too far changing background posters, turning swimsuits to 3 lays of clothes, turning a wedding dress that just shows shoulders and half arms to an ugly full body dress, etc.
    its a rated T game for damn's sake not like E or eC    … Expand
  21. Leejustin99
    Mar 20, 2020
    2
    Combat is dull and story is so boring and bland. Also does not help that this game is so censored.
  22. Alecseus
    Feb 26, 2020
    4
    Why remove negative reviews written month ago?
    I will list why this game is not worth your money.Again.
    1) Boring 2) The fight comes down to session-spam . And yes, without this you won’t beat ANYTHING. In Persona 5 you can, here you can’t 3) Bosses are terrible 4) Characters flat cliches 5) The protagonist is even worse 6) No plot 7) Crossover with FE comes down to character names    Why remove negative reviews written month ago?
    I will list why this game is not worth your money.Again.
    1) Boring
    2) The fight comes down to session-spam . And yes, without this you won’t beat ANYTHING. In Persona 5 you can, here you can’t
    3) Bosses are terrible
    4) Characters flat cliches
    5) The protagonist is even worse
    6) No plot
    7) Crossover with FE comes down to character names and one mechanic
    8)"New features" are not worth the word features.
    9)Media convinced you that gameplay outside the dungeons is similar to P5? Nope, it is a boring set of give-bring-talk tasks.
    10)And of course, having to run to the office every 10 minutes to create new weapons / skills is very convenient and not annoying at all.
    Port quality is good at least.    … Expand
  23. Rpg89
    Jan 17, 2020
    10
    Amazing... the disappointment of not getting a persona 5 on the switch is being cured by this game. Forget about censorship and just play the game, if you're a fan of persona series or SMT you will enjoy this game. Didn't play on wii U back in the days. But this switch version i believe is the best. Faster loading screen and beautiful in handheld.
  24. NelsonVGC
    Jan 17, 2020
    10
    Colourful and entertaining. Battle system is fantastic! I’m glad I’m given a chance to play this gem as I had no WiiU. Amazing port! Worth the price for any JRPG lover.
  25. Gamingking007
    Jan 19, 2020
    10
    Amazing jrpg! The graphics are a little outdated but the story , gameplay and everything else is perfectly polished and implemented! If you loved any of the persona series and enjoyed the characters of fire emblem then don’t even ask yourself if it’s worth trying! It is WORTH BUYING! What an unexpected treasure ! Thanks Atlus once again for a masterpiece !
  26. dundee
    Feb 22, 2020
    9
    i think someone gave review-bomb to this game, what's with so many negatives in just short time?
  27. Sunshadow87
    May 8, 2020
    8
    Es difícil valorar este juego como fan de FE y de SMT. Lo primero es que penséis en él como un SMT con personajes de FE y temática muy desenfadada.
    Si te gustan los sistemas de combate de los JRPGS, disfrutaras este juego ya que es sin lugar a dudas lo mejor de él. Adictivo, pudiendo estar horas batallando sin llegar a cansar.
    El resto de aspectos del juego son simplemente decentes, pero    Es difícil valorar este juego como fan de FE y de SMT. Lo primero es que penséis en él como un SMT con personajes de FE y temática muy desenfadada.
    Si te gustan los sistemas de combate de los JRPGS, disfrutaras este juego ya que es sin lugar a dudas lo mejor de él. Adictivo, pudiendo estar horas batallando sin llegar a cansar.
    El resto de aspectos del juego son simplemente decentes, pero lejos de ser memorables: personajes, historia, etc (las mazmorras son bastante decentes y diferentes eso sí).
    El computo completo lo convierte en un juego muy disfrutable pero también olvidable. Si te gusta el genero lo disfrutaras mucho, o también si eres fan de la cultura del Jpop.
    Si no estas en estos grupos seguramente deberías probar primero con otros jrpgs o buscar una manera de probar el juego previamente.    … Expand
  28. Oldskoolberk
    Jan 25, 2020
    8
    I am not one who typically plays JRPG games and I hesitated to get this but I am very glad I got this game. The graphics are ok but the play and the controls are excellent. I like the strategy of this game and how it plays out. There are a few things that could improve on albeit trivial such as finding exactly where to go for missions and so forth but aside from that I have reallyI am not one who typically plays JRPG games and I hesitated to get this but I am very glad I got this game. The graphics are ok but the play and the controls are excellent. I like the strategy of this game and how it plays out. There are a few things that could improve on albeit trivial such as finding exactly where to go for missions and so forth but aside from that I have really enjoyed playing this game.… Expand
  29. Scven
    Feb 27, 2020
    10
    Plays like a really good JRPG, has a persona feel to it with fire emblem characters 10/10 would buy again
  30. HeyNacho
    Apr 11, 2020
    9
    I absolutely enjoyed more than expected this game. The battle system is so much fun. Sessions aka combos, are great dynamic attacks that links one after each other. The game is episodic, every chapter centers around aspects of entertainment industry, like modeling, acting, singing, etc. The plot is rather simple, but I don't see the problem on that, since the characters are witty and fun,I absolutely enjoyed more than expected this game. The battle system is so much fun. Sessions aka combos, are great dynamic attacks that links one after each other. The game is episodic, every chapter centers around aspects of entertainment industry, like modeling, acting, singing, etc. The plot is rather simple, but I don't see the problem on that, since the characters are witty and fun, and the real protagonist is one of the players partners, Tsubasa Oribe. The graphics are Ok, but gameplay and controls are outstanding. The music is great, provided by Avex Track. I was hesitant to play this, as the Wii U version was surrounded by a lot of unfair and malicious feedback, but this game deserves a chance. It may not be the SMT X FE we all were hoping for, but it's a good game under all the undeserved criticisms.… Expand
  31. Luckenzio
    Jan 18, 2020
    10
    Incredibly charming game. The battle system is very fun and the colorful aesthetic grows on you. The story is kind of whatever but most of the main cast barring the MC are actually very solid characters with lots of funny interactions.
  32. Gustrash
    Jan 17, 2020
    9
    This game is really good! I've played the Wii U version and I fall in love with it
  33. NouZeM
    Jan 19, 2020
    9
    Un juego que no es para todo el mundo, pero que no merece las malas palabras que está recibiendo por parte de los medios españoles.
    Juegazo con todas las letras.
  34. Bruh69
    Feb 17, 2020
    10
    Another great JRPG by Atlus. It has amazing gameplay and graphics. My only problem with the game is that they censored some things for the international release.
  35. Charthero
    Mar 6, 2020
    0
    When this game was announced I was hyped and i was really looking forward for it, but in the end we ended with a butchered game, thanks to Treehouse for ruining it 0/10
  36. pockets6794
    Jan 17, 2020
    9
    This game doesn't have much FE content but the game itself is colourful, light-hearted and fun.
  37. vodkaffee
    Jan 20, 2020
    7
    i had low expectations for this game. and boy was i wrong. this is way better than persona 5. not better than smtiv but is a nice addition to the smt library. the battle system is way better and more complex than the press turn system. yes the jpop may be cringe sometimes but u can skip all of it. the story is actually pretty ok.
    the characters are likeable and u can change the stupid    i had low expectations for this game. and boy was i wrong. this is way better than persona 5. not better than smtiv but is a nice addition to the smt library. the battle system is way better and more complex than the press turn system. yes the jpop may be cringe sometimes but u can skip all of it. the story is actually pretty ok.
    the characters are likeable and u can change the stupid oitifts right away, a must buy for smt fans waiting for smt5    … Expand
  38. ColorMeSchad
    Jan 26, 2020
    9
    The lack of English voice acting is the only thing that, in my opinion, is holding the game back from being truly special, but it’s definitely a really fun time - especially the combat.

    Also, Kiria = best girl.
  39. TalionSwift
    Jan 30, 2020
    6
    Great game, its really nice it came to the switch. The Combat is enjoyable, and i like the story and characters. But... i have to dock it 2 points for the pointless censorship i mean come on. We already have a niche genre and on top of it the Japanese idol premise makes it even more so, and with all that considered they think this stupid censorship helps them? The people who buy this typeGreat game, its really nice it came to the switch. The Combat is enjoyable, and i like the story and characters. But... i have to dock it 2 points for the pointless censorship i mean come on. We already have a niche genre and on top of it the Japanese idol premise makes it even more so, and with all that considered they think this stupid censorship helps them? The people who buy this type of game with somewhat odd premise for the west honestly dont care about the things they think need censoring. And the people who are the level of sensitive snowflake that this would be necessary for probably were not gunna play it to begin with.… Expand
  40. Starfree
    Jan 21, 2020
    9
    Amazing Game on Wii U, and amazing game on switch! This is my favorite Wii U game, and there’s not a lot of new content that the switch version added but what they did is amazing. And the load times are almost non existent in the switch version, there clearly was a massive technical upgrade. Any fan of Persona or shin megami tensei will love this game. My one gripe about this game is thatAmazing Game on Wii U, and amazing game on switch! This is my favorite Wii U game, and there’s not a lot of new content that the switch version added but what they did is amazing. And the load times are almost non existent in the switch version, there clearly was a massive technical upgrade. Any fan of Persona or shin megami tensei will love this game. My one gripe about this game is that it’s too short but that not entirely a bad thing. The music is what makes this game so incredible tho, and imo there has yet to be a game that beat this game out in music. This game is also extremely anime! So weebs check it out! :p… Expand
  41. MarkDream35
    Feb 8, 2020
    8
    A bit easy even on higher difficulties. The game is more repetitive than other modern Shin Megami Tensei games I have played. Still fun, and I'd recommend it to anyone who likes turn based RPGs.
  42. Manchester_20
    Feb 24, 2020
    10
    Para los fans de este tipo de juegos de nicho es muy bueno, definitavente Nintendo acertó con este port, encantado de el.
  43. Zeriel000
    Jun 23, 2020
    0
    This game was vandalized with censorship and anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what he's talking about. I played the original version in Japanese on Wii U and this version makes the stupid decision to ruin a lof of the outfits (In a game where modeling and fashion matters) because someone in America may be offended at some cleavage or panty shot because everyone over here is 12This game was vandalized with censorship and anyone who says otherwise doesn't know what he's talking about. I played the original version in Japanese on Wii U and this version makes the stupid decision to ruin a lof of the outfits (In a game where modeling and fashion matters) because someone in America may be offended at some cleavage or panty shot because everyone over here is 12 apparently.

    Allow me to explain, one of the main character is a GRAVURE model, basically she models underwear and bathing suits. There's also a part of the story that revolves around this. She's also a Pop Idol and does various songs in different cute outfits. Well apparently being cute is considered disgusting in the west and so even the japanese version has to suffer these clown outfits instead.

    To Summarize, this is a NICHE game with a hardcore fanbase and they basically managed to piss off the Persona fans, piss off the puritans (because they don't like cute anime girls anyways) and piss off fire emblem fans.

    Good Job! NOBODY is happy because of the stupid localization and tons of people cancelled their game in Japan getting the Wii U version instead. All you had to do was include both versions like in the Wii U but you went above and beyond the call of duty to prove how stupid you are and for that you deserve a big fat 0.    … Expand
  44. TuffinUp
    Jan 18, 2020
    8
    Not for everyone. But it does what it set out to don’t fantasticly. Super fun combat system. Never had a Wii U, so I’m super happy I got to play this on my switch.
  45. AstralXF
    Jan 19, 2020
    10
    Muito bom! Não comprei mas sei que é bom por que é e acabou, e pau no cu de Junior Flwww
  46. Wonkypotato
    Jan 17, 2020
    9
    If you are looking for a persona style game fix then this is an definite purchase. Thought I would hate how cutesy and poppy it all was but it turns out I really enjoyed this one. Fantastic game on the go aswell.
  47. gaboblack
    Jan 30, 2020
    10
    Este juego es increíble! Una experiencia unica llena de música pegadiza y un gran sistema de combate, un JRPG altamente recomendado para los fans del género.
  48. Drakoh
    Feb 17, 2020
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Aburrido y malo, lento y sin gracia. Es preferible saber que estas comprando antes de siquiera conseguir este juego.… Expand
  49. zjyy13
    Feb 29, 2020
    10
    Very very a good game！！The malicious negative feedback NMSL！Very very a good game！！The malicious negative feedback NMSL！
  50. eriestmo
    Feb 18, 2020
    10
    I love it!! perfect combination for Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei, I recommend it to everyone
  51. Myronjfs
    Jun 28, 2020
    9
    A very colourful, charming and fun crossover of Persona and Fire Emblem games, full of every cute JRPG trope you can think of. I played this on the Wii U and found it to be a very enjoyable game and this time around is no different. There isn't much changed in this version, although some added extras (new songs, training ground, dungeon, sessions etc) and some censorship. Personally not aA very colourful, charming and fun crossover of Persona and Fire Emblem games, full of every cute JRPG trope you can think of. I played this on the Wii U and found it to be a very enjoyable game and this time around is no different. There isn't much changed in this version, although some added extras (new songs, training ground, dungeon, sessions etc) and some censorship. Personally not a problem for me, it doesn't affect much, but there are a few people displeased with this. If it's your first time playing, you wouldn't even know.

    The battle system is pretty fresh, it is not an overly difficult game (even in hard mode) but it is incredibly fun and flashy. All of the characters of likeable, the design of the game is unique and carries that special flair that Persona games have.

    It is well worth your time, so pick it up and give it a go, it oozes charm and will grip you instantly!    … Expand
  52. Lesh0
    Mar 6, 2020
    10
    I still haven`t finished the game but for now i can say that i really like the combat and character design. The text is very clear and readable really how they should make game dialogue text!! 10/10 . Started it 5 days ago and i wont put it down till i finish it . I also really like the story but as i see many people dont really like it so this is personal thing some like it some dont. II still haven`t finished the game but for now i can say that i really like the combat and character design. The text is very clear and readable really how they should make game dialogue text!! 10/10 . Started it 5 days ago and i wont put it down till i finish it . I also really like the story but as i see many people dont really like it so this is personal thing some like it some dont. I just dont understand the review bombing of this amazing Title and really deserves more love overall but for now is one of the best releases of 2020 !!… Expand
  53. Kenmei
    Jan 23, 2020
    8
    Objectively speaking, this is a very good JRPG from the end of the Wii U's life cycle that didn't get a lot of attention when it first came out. It felt like a precursor to Persona 5's visual style and the combat was excellent, some of my favorite combat sequences in JRPG's to date. While the story is a VERY cookie-cutter JRPG/Anime snorefest (with a ton of "Friendship is Magic!" sceneriosObjectively speaking, this is a very good JRPG from the end of the Wii U's life cycle that didn't get a lot of attention when it first came out. It felt like a precursor to Persona 5's visual style and the combat was excellent, some of my favorite combat sequences in JRPG's to date. While the story is a VERY cookie-cutter JRPG/Anime snorefest (with a ton of "Friendship is Magic!" scenerios throughout), the characters are fairly fun and entertaining to play through it with.
    However, if you had, like me, played the game on the Wii U, there's nothing here that would would constitute a second play-through. There is one very basic and short extra dungeon that adds next to the nothing to the game, except to get a few new costumes and 1 brand new song. That's it. Personally, that makes this closer to a 6-7 for me since I was under the impression there was more here for returning players. However I can't deny how good the game actual is and how well it functions for people who may have not played a Persona game before and are wanting to see what they're like before diving into P5: Royal in a few months. For that reason, this game is a solid 8/10    … Expand
  54. Tomerv
    Feb 4, 2020
    8
    Great and interesting game play but the story is the best and sometimes there are terrible loading but the gameplay shines through so this gets a 8/10
  55. Phuz
    Jun 3, 2021
    4
    If I have just pissed another 30+ quid up the wall on another **** game, I will be really **** off.

    The intro was great, dungeon was crap and characters were crap but I enjoyed the battles and it had a really nice vibe, tone and atmosphere, with lovely graphics. Now I don't drink Stella and beat women, I don't agree with hitting girls at all but last night I did have a wee bit of rum, it    If I have just pissed another 30+ quid up the wall on another **** game, I will be really **** off.

    The intro was great, dungeon was crap and characters were crap but I enjoyed the battles and it had a really nice vibe, tone and atmosphere, with lovely graphics.

    Now I don't drink Stella and beat women, I don't agree with hitting girls at all but last night I did have a wee bit of rum, it was a nice sunny day earlier and I was happy. After all of 2 minutes of chapter 1, I was ready to jump in to the TV, grab that irritating little **** Tsubasa by the throat and cave her head in. Without a doubt one of the most itritating little ****s ever created. Who the hell designed that character and thought yes, we've made an absolute **** of a character, lets put her as the lead role in a video game to really piss off everyone that just spent nearly £40 on the game?

    If she is that prominent and that annoying for much more than another 15 minutes, then this game is going on ebay and I'll be really **** annoyed.

    Seriously, which **** designed that character and dialogue and that voice, which sounds like an orgy of gay chimpanzee's on acid and went yeah, this is good, this is someone I want to be around for the next 40 hours?

    The censorship, how dare they. Get real you **** Can you really not just type ecchi in to google, or go on xvideos or something. Get a **** life instead of wanking over cartoons of girls that look about 8 years old you twisted paedo ****    … Expand
  56. Nintendoboyblog
    Feb 18, 2020
    10
    I love it!! perfect combination for Fire Emblem and Shin Megami Tensei, I recommend it to everyone
  57. Kndygrm
    Jan 30, 2020
    8
    Gameplay is great! Reminds me a lot like the Persona games. The story was engaging and the art style A+ . The story was good, I liked the plot premise, but honestlyThe ending left me unsatisfied. Another issue I had was some text that had been mixed up such as “And I’m poing to groove it to you!” It should read “And I’m going to prove it to you” there was a bunch on this type of thingGameplay is great! Reminds me a lot like the Persona games. The story was engaging and the art style A+ . The story was good, I liked the plot premise, but honestlyThe ending left me unsatisfied. Another issue I had was some text that had been mixed up such as “And I’m poing to groove it to you!” It should read “And I’m going to prove it to you” there was a bunch on this type of thing throughout. still a really great game, I just would have expected it to have been fixed being this is a port, kind of a big issue to me personally. Overall it was a pretty fun game though. May it play again.… Expand
  58. AJCk19
    Apr 28, 2023
    4
    A improvement on the Wii U release, including all the dlc content plus some updated visuals. However, they still choose to leave the censorship in there, and it was universally for all releases. Doesn't matter if you get a euro, na, or jpn version. If you already have the wii u release, not worth upgrading to this version, especially if you have some of the uncensored releases.
  59. Slyphert
    Feb 4, 2020
    10
    Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is that kind of game that makes your day a little bit brighter in a realm of sadness. Atlus and Intelligent System did a really good job in this crossover. Of course, there are some flaws but the whole game is really outstanding.
    The combat is really dynamic and beautiful, it is a different kind of the turn based standard.
    Characters despite MC have good    Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore is that kind of game that makes your day a little bit brighter in a realm of sadness. Atlus and Intelligent System did a really good job in this crossover. Of course, there are some flaws but the whole game is really outstanding.
    The combat is really dynamic and beautiful, it is a different kind of the turn based standard.
    Characters despite MC have good personalities and their stories are very solid.
    The OST, specially the concert songs, are incredible enthralling, and most of the time you will find yourself cheering for the characters to get their roles and jobs they are so eager to have.
    I have never played the WiiU version, and I am glad that Nintendo brought this masterpiece to Switch, as I have said, it made my days a little brighter.    … Expand
  60. pmasterfunk
    Feb 3, 2022
    6
    The first thing you need to know before even considering playing Tokyo Mirage Sessions (TMS) is whether you are a weeb or not. Don't know what the word weeb means? Don't play this game. You know what weeb means and you ain't one? Don't play this game. You are a weeb? Read on.

    Now, for you weebs, you have to consider how much weebness you can tolerate, because I myself - a good 6/10 on    The first thing you need to know before even considering playing Tokyo Mirage Sessions (TMS) is whether you are a weeb or not. Don't know what the word weeb means? Don't play this game. You know what weeb means and you ain't one? Don't play this game. You are a weeb? Read on.

    Now, for you weebs, you have to consider how much weebness you can tolerate, because I myself - a good 6/10 on the weebish scale - could not endure the onslaught on J-Pop imagery and saccharine neon colors and cheesy characters this game threw at me. I dislike the characters. I low-key hate the music. I feel insulted by the stupidity of the plot. And I despise the musical numbers above all else.
    Which is too bad, because beneath that indigestible mix of Idol tarts and Boy Band dorks lies a mechanically solid game.

    It plays a lot like a mainline SMT game, which may not be for everyone, but I sure like it. The battle system is very similar to Strange Journey's, where hitting an enemy's weakness will make other party members do a follow-up attack. And it's fun, and can be surprisingly challenging. The first time I saw an enemy cast Javelin Rain, I knew I was going to get rekt. TMS can create a peculiar sense of impending dread not unlike what the PS2 SMT games did. Running into a tough enemy in TMS can feel like encountering Flauros in Nocturne or Samael in DDS, like, feces just got real. It's really refreshing to have to seriously consider your actions in a random battle where failing to kill an enemy before it strikes can be the difference between a washout victory and total annihilation. Most battles are over pretty quickly, and random encounters can be avoided, so exploring dungeons doesn't end up as an exercise in tedium. Said dungeons are reasonably varied, and not so long as to cause nocturnal anxiety and perspiration. It's not bad.

    But once the boss is beaten, a ridiculous cutscene will remind the player how dumb this all is. One worrying instance involves the main character - an oblivious 18-year old Japanese student - putting his hand on an 11-year old girl's chest, making her gasp in semi-orgasmic fashion, causing a ball of concentrated friendship to come out of her body.

    Yo wtf

    One of the first main plot points involves a "great disappearance", where a bunch of people disappear during a concert. Five years and some hijinks later, one person reappears, and you'd think that would play an important part of the story, but it's just like, "Yay, she's back!" and that's the end of that arc. No PTSD, no reporters showing up to ask what happened, no issues reintegrating into society, no asking what was it like during those five years, we're all just one big happy family. NGHHHHHHH

    Visually, the game is a mixed bag. Battle models are pretty good, battle actions are really well animated, enemy designs are okay, locales look decent enough (better than the last few Tales' games I've played at least), but some basic stuff kinda looks bad. All characters have this weird janky walking animation that falls directly into uncanny valley, and character's everyday life models aren't great. Menus look pretty good, and the game is responsive all around, but getting new skills and weapons is terribly bloated. To get new weapo- er, I mean, a new Carnage (yes, another Japanese game with stupid made up words), these can't be simply purchased, they need to be created by doing a "Carnage Unity". Le sigh. Anywho, that's not that annoying yet, but every time a new "Carnage Unity" happens, there's a magical-girl styled transformation animation that takes place. Every single time. I wanna create 7 new weapons right now, I'm tired of pressing B to skip. The same thing happens when creating new skills. I don't know, show it to me once and never again, this is not necessary.

    I'd be willing to look past most of the minor issues in the game considering how engaging the action is, but the story is so dumb that it actively disincentivized me from playing. If you happen to enjoy the visual style and J-Pop tomfoolery of Tokyo Mirage Sessions, you may be able to enjoy this game completely, minor mechanical gripes aside. I just can't.    … Expand
  61. ThePSButton
    Mar 26, 2021
    7
    'Tokyo Mirage Sessions' es un juego curioso y único, pero está muy por debajo de la calidad que usualmente manejan por separado las dos series que busca fusionar.

    Lo bueno: -Es muy interesante la manera tan lateral en la que combinaron ambas franquicias con el tema de las Idol y su industria. -La jugabilidad es como la versión amigable de Shin Megami Tensei. -Los personajes con    'Tokyo Mirage Sessions' es un juego curioso y único, pero está muy por debajo de la calidad que usualmente manejan por separado las dos series que busca fusionar.

    Lo bueno:

    -Es muy interesante la manera tan lateral en la que combinaron ambas franquicias con el tema de las Idol y su industria.

    -La jugabilidad es como la versión amigable de Shin Megami Tensei.

    -Los personajes con carismáticos.

    Lo malo:

    -Por muy interesante, esto es lo último que uno hubiera pensado que sería el resultado de combinar FE y SMT.

    -Lo que aporta Fire Emblem a la mezcla es más bien anecdótico. En su gran mayoría esto en SMT.

    -Demasiado fácil para su propio bien.

    En conclusión, es un título original en su concepto, entretenido y técnicamente muy pulido, pero que no tiene la calidad de las series que combina. Y bueno, temáticamente ni las representa bien realmente.    … Expand
  62. ValkyriaDG
    Nov 7, 2020
    8
    Este juego es increíble! Una experiencia unica llena de música muy pegadiza y un gran sistema de combate, un JRPG altamente recomendado para los fans del género. Eso si, el que solo venga en Inglés y en Francés puede Ser un impedimento para Algunoas personas.
  63. Weesst
    Aug 30, 2021
    10
    At first I didn't think I would like the game, but after I gave it a try, I was pleasantly surprised, this is a very solid rpg, I enjoyed my playthrough
  64. nahobino5_
    Jun 22, 2021
    2
    As a huge fan of SMT and Fire Emblem releases from 2010 onwards, I really tried to like this game. But it's just so flat. The characters have absolutely no depth to them and the whole idol concept wasn't executed very well. Combat is great though, as expected of a game related to SMT!
  65. Topictopic
    Dec 13, 2021
    1
    First hour and a half, felt like whiplash. Me and my friend thought this was a joke, as big fans of persona 5 and liking emblem, very disappointed. It felt like I was reading some crappy fanfic of persona and emblem where the person writing it had WAY to much caffeine and maybe some hard drugs
  66. daimon72
    Feb 17, 2022
    9
    The gameplay is TOP tier. I love the ability to make long chains of combos with party members. The very colorful, up-beat, JPOP tone of the game is visually appealing. I'm NOT a fan of JPOP or idols but I still found the character special moves entertaining due to their novelty and it seeming kinda goofy to me. All in all a good time if you don't take it too seriously. The dungeon puzzlesThe gameplay is TOP tier. I love the ability to make long chains of combos with party members. The very colorful, up-beat, JPOP tone of the game is visually appealing. I'm NOT a fan of JPOP or idols but I still found the character special moves entertaining due to their novelty and it seeming kinda goofy to me. All in all a good time if you don't take it too seriously. The dungeon puzzles and mechanics are very mediocre and so is the story. Even with this though, the gameplay is so great I feel I have to give this a high score.… Expand
  67. colme
    Jul 17, 2022
    5
    The story is not only predictable but also excessively cringy, especially on the first person dialogues. The combat system and the dungeons are real smooth though
  68. YamiKasai
    Dec 3, 2022
    10
    Very underrated in the west compared to how good it is. Awesome combat system, characters and music also makes it a very enjoyable experience. A must-play JRPG on Switch and Wii U.

Awards & Rankings

41
#41 Best Switch Game of 2020
19
#19 Most Discussed Switch Game of 2020

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 62 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 62
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 62
  3. Negative: 0 out of 62
  1. Nintendo Force Magazine
    May 1, 2020
    75
    It's probably kindest to think of Tokyo Mirage Sessions as a necessary stepping stone on the path to better games for everyone. [Issue #46 – May/June 2020, p. 74]
  2. ZTGD
    Mar 19, 2020
    90
    Time hasn’t aged this game one bit; I still found it as adorable as I did back in 2016. It is great that TMS is now available to a wider audience and hopefully will it get the sales it deserves. In my opinion it is not only the best JRPG on the Switch, but stands shoulder to shoulder with the best of all time.
    Read full review
  3. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Mar 6, 2020
    79
    Compared to Wii U version, Encore offers not only prettier graphics, but new content as well. It’s not limited to a few new clothes or songs either; Encore has an additional storyline, as well as lots of nifty little additions. [Issue#243, p.52]
See all critic reviews »