Persona 3 Reloadshowed that Atlus can stay remarkably loyal to the spirit and structure of an older game while modernizing its systems. However, that approach, while fitting forPersona 3, isn’t necessarily the best path forPersona 4, which is already more accessible and less structurally dated thanPersona 3was. Therefore, a one-to-one remake risks creating something redundant. To truly elevatePersona 4in a way that feels worthwhile and exciting in 2025, Atlus would be better off using the remake as a platform for fresh additions.
WhilePersona 3needed modernization primarily because of mechanical stiffness (such as no party control, limited exploration, and slower pacing),Persona 4already has many modern conveniences at its core. The main opportunity for a potentialPersona 4 Remake, therefore, is to push the game’s design into spaces it has never explored — usingP4’s strong core story and characters as a foundation while expanding gameplay systems, world-building, and combat design that align better with today’s RPG standards.
For Starters, Persona 4 Could Use a Super Dungeon
One major missing piece inPersona 4was a persistent, overarching dungeon akin toTartarus inPersona 3or Mementos inPersona 5. Each ofP4’s dungeons was thematically rich but self-contained, and once a dungeon boss was defeated, that dungeon became largely obsolete, save for grinding or fetch quests. This not only hurt replayability but robbed the game of the sense of ever-present mystery and challenge that Tartarus and Mementos added to their respective games.
APersona 4 Remakecould address this by introducing a new, evolving dungeon space tied to the Midnight Channel. It would thematically fit too, as the game is about uncovering hidden truths, so a shifting, mysteriousdungeon inPersona 4that evolves based on player actions could mirror that theme beautifully. This addition would also help address the pacing issue thatP4sometimes faced in its back half.
The Remake Should Focus On Fresh Systems, Not Just Fresh Graphics
If structured cleverly, this new dungeon could even integrate new mini-stories, shifting dungeon modifiers orside-bosses inPersonathat keep the player engaged without undermining the murder mystery at the game’s center. An addition on this scale is critical, because simply givingPersona 4thePersona 5 Royalpolish won’t be enough either. Expanded systems likePersona 3 Reload’s Theurgies and new hangouts justify a remake existing in the first place.
Persona 4has room for new side quests that meaningfully alter Social Links, as well as revamped battle mechanics that borrowP5R’s best ideas, like Baton Pass, Showtime attacks, Technical synergies, and deeper dungeon puzzles. Atlus could even use the remake to tie Marie andPersona 4 Golden’s Hollow Forestcontent into the main story more organically, instead of making it feel like optional post-game padding as it arguably does now.
Persona 4’s Tone Could Be Pushed Further
Another subtle but important area for growth isPersona 4’s tone.Persona 4often danced between slice-of-life warmth and dark, psychological mystery, but the original sometimes pulled its punches narratively. APersona 4remakecould lean harder into the contrast, and make the dark elements more disturbing, the stakes more personal, and the exploration of identity, repression, and truth more raw and complex.
With today’s storytelling expectations, there’s room to do that inPersona 4and sharpen the game’s commentary without making the game lose its heart. Therefore, by being less faithful in strict structure to the original but deeply respectful to its themes and spirit, Atlus could create something more lasting than just a graphical upgrade, something that breathes and feels like a true new era ofInaba inPersona, for players.
