A spin-off of the main Shin Megami Tensei series and an homage to the original Megami Tensei, Digital Devil Saga is comprised of two sequels subtitled Avatar Tuner^[J] featuring serial story-lines. Eschewing the typical goals of demon negotiation and fusion found in the main Megami Tensei series, Digital Devil Saga is primarily oriented around the development of individual characters granted the ability to shape-shift between a human and 'fighting demon,' or Ashura^[J] -form.

In Digital Devil Saga: Avatar Tuner the Embryon tribe comprises the main cast of playable characters and is one of many militant factions struggling for dominance in the might-makes-right world of the Junkyard. Together, with the appearance of a strange young girl named Sera, they battle it out with the other tribes, while the enigmatic Karma Temple dictates the terms of ascendancy to "Nirvana," the promised paradise. Avatar Tuner 2 details the events after Embryon has reached Nirvana, only it's not quite the paradise they envisioned.

True to form, DDS: Avatar Tuner features many of the same recurring themes presented in other Megaten installments. Though there is a marked focus on the gods and goddesses of Vedic and Hindu mythologies, many of the enemies in the series can also be found in other games. The world is presented as post-apocalyptic and dystopian, dominated by a "kill or be killed," mentality.

Gameplay is essentially the same in both 1 & 2, and borrows heavily from its predecessor Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne - most notably with the use of its 'Press-Turn' battle system. The two games even share some of the same character models for enemies, though there aren't many similarities beyond this. In keeping with the "kill or be killed" philosophy, in the Avatar Tuner games you are encouraged to "eat or be eaten," and gain added Karma (experience) and "Atma" energy for devouring your enemies at the end of battle. You learn various skills by mastering "Mantra," which are unlocked as you gain Atma energy. As opposed to Nocturne, Mantra function much differently than Magatama, and skills gained by mastering them are kept in a list of available skills to be set to your characters as needed. This offers you endless opportunities for customization, though this becomes a necessity to defeat the series' unforgiving enemies and bosses.

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