MeinMMO editor Niko likes Persona and he really likes action games. An action RPG from 2025 impressed him with both aspects. Currently, there is even a good discount.
What game is it? On June 19, 2025, just under 2 weeks after the release of the Nintendo Switch 2, Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army was released. As I was looking for new games for the console, I grabbed the RPG that mixes the demon mechanics from Persona and Shin Megami Tensei with an action RPG.
After just a few hours, I was fully into it, as collecting monsters like in Pokémon also suits an action game well because it creates a different dynamic than regular role-playing games.
Currently, you can get the game as part of the Black Friday on Steam, in the Nintendo eShop and in the PSN-Store with a discount of 30% and I can assure you: It’s worth it.
An Action RPG that kept me engaged until the end
What is Raidou Remastered? As the name suggests, the game is a remaster. The original was released in 2006 on the PS2.
You play as Raidou Kuzunoha, a detective from a long line of demon summoners. In the remaster, he must solve a case that the fate of Japan depends on. Unlike Persona or Shin Megami Tensei, this title does not rely on a turn-based combat system but rather on direct action.
As Raidou, you are not only armed with a sword, you have the ability to actively use spells and special abilities in combat. The combat system is not particularly complex, but offers minor combo opportunities that were sufficient for me throughout the entire gameplay time of nearly 20 hours.
As in other titles of the Megami Tensei universe, the focus of the combat is on the various demons that you must persuade to join you. You can obtain more powerful demons through the fusion function.
In combat, the demons act independently, but with the press of a button, you can have them perform abilities. This also involves a tactical component, as the demons have various abilities, buffs, and traits that are more useful depending on the enemy type.
But demons prove to be useful companions not only in combat.
You don’t just fight, but also work as a detective
What do you do outside of battles? As Raidou, you must solve various cases together with a talking cat. The story takes place in fictional Japan in the early 1930s. So you are right in the middle of industrialization. Accordingly, your weapons are rustic, as are the buildings and vehicles in the game world.
You solve the cases not only through your detective skills but also with the help of the many demons. Besides their attacks, they also have abilities that assist you in the game world. You can find hidden items and also manipulate NPCs.
As someone who doesn’t enjoy puzzles, I had fun with it, especially since you usually have funny dialogues with the demons that represent various personalities. Additionally, this makes the relatively linear game world a bit more lively.
I also enjoyed the story and the side quests. Thanks to the unique characters and villains, I always wanted to know how it continued. If you like silliness and absurd situations, you will particularly enjoy the game’s finale. Atmospherically, the game is somewhere between Persona and Shin Megami Tensei. It is less apocalyptic than Shin Megami Tensei, but since you don’t play as students, it is also somewhat more serious than the Persona games.
The pleasant length of the game prevents it from being tiring and creates a nice pacing. If you want more after the story, you can discover new demons in New Game Plus or complete the side quests. Completionist players will have plenty to do with over 120 demons even after the story.
I played Raidou Remastered on the Switch 2 and I had a lot of fun. Thanks to the hybrid console, I could grind in handheld mode when needed, and I defeated large bosses on the TV. The best part was that it is finally a title in the universe that does not take almost 100 hours to complete. However, you will still find enough: A dark Pokémon alternative on Steam is so good that I even bought the game 2 times
