Persona 5 Royal takes everything that made the original great and polishes it to another level with great improvements and extra story content that fans will adore.
Persona 5 Royal is a enhanced port of the acclaimed RPG Persona 5. As a Phantom Thief, explore Tokyo, uncover the secrets of the Metaverse, and battle distorted desires using Personas. This edition includes new characters, story content, and gameplay features for a deeper, more rewarding journey.
The music in 'Persona 5 Royal' is exceptional, with a jazzy and funky soundtrack that enhances the game's atmosphere and emotional depth.
The story is rich and layered, exploring themes of rebellion and personal growth, with well-developed characters and engaging arcs.
The gameplay features innovative mechanics and a seamless blend of social simulation and dungeon exploration, making it addictive and enjoyable.
The game suffers from performance issues on PC, with many players experiencing stuttering, frame drops, and crashes.
Some humor in the game feels forced or inappropriate, particularly regarding sensitive topics, which detracts from the overall experience.
The lengthy narrative can make repeated playthroughs feel daunting, and some players find the grinding aspect tedious and time-consuming.
story
11,418 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
52%
3%
The story of "Persona 5 Royal" is widely praised for its depth, emotional resonance, and engaging character arcs, making it a standout in the JRPG genre. Players appreciate the intricate narrative that explores themes of justice, rebellion, and personal growth, often highlighting the well-developed relationships between characters as a key strength. However, some critiques mention pacing issues and a tendency for the story to feel overly long or repetitive, particularly in the middle sections, which can detract from the overall experience.
“The story is rich, full of twists and emotional depth, making every decision feel meaningful.”
“The game’s story is captivating, thrilling and entertaining from start to finish.”
“The story, characters, the gameplay, the soundtrack, the art design, everything is incredible.”
“The story is filled with unexpected twists, intrigue, and emotional moments.”
“The story, which as I said ends up falling flat on its face pretty early, stretches over for an outrageous 120 average hours of play time, filled to the brim with superficial dialogues and self-centered morals.”
“The story is very well thought out and the gameplay keeps you on your toes.”
music
6,028 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
43%
1%
The music in "Persona 5 Royal" has been universally praised, with many reviewers highlighting its exceptional quality and memorable compositions. The soundtrack, primarily featuring a jazzy and funky style, enhances the game's atmosphere and emotional depth, making it a standout element that players often listen to outside of the game. While some mention a lack of variety in tracks during extended gameplay, the overall consensus is that the music is a defining feature of the game, contributing significantly to its charm and appeal.
“The music is incredible and only helps to hype you up in battle and truly enhance the atmosphere of your experience.”
“The soundtrack is a masterpiece in itself, perfectly complementing the game's mood and atmosphere.”
“The music, the story, everything about this game, changed who I was as a person.”
“The music is so damn awful that it gave me a huge headache.”
“The music in persona 5 is straight garbage.”
“The battle music gets actively irritating after a while, it might be because it has vocals?”
gameplay
5,496 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
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The gameplay of "Persona 5 Royal" is widely praised for its engaging turn-based combat, innovative mechanics like baton passing and showtime attacks, and a seamless blend of social simulation and dungeon exploration. While many players appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay elements, some note that it can become repetitive and overly easy, especially with the introduction of new mechanics that simplify combat. Overall, the game is celebrated for its stylish presentation, captivating story, and addictive gameplay loop, making it a standout title in the JRPG genre.
“The gameplay has some interesting battle mechanics with techs, persona negotiations, baton passing, etc. and lastly, the persona fusing system is unique and sufficiently complex.”
“The gameplay, music, art, pacing, bosses, ideas, story, concept, ending, even just the menu... almost everything is just so satisfying.”
“The gameplay is very fun and surprisingly unrepetitive.”
“The jrpg gameplay can actually be frustratingly easy even on the hardest difficulty, which means the bulk of actual game time is spent listening to or reading dialogue.”
“The gameplay is okay but the 'royal' edition adds ridiculously overpowered things that trivialize the game even at the hardest difficulty.”
“The other side of the gameplay is rather boring too, consisting either of solving mediocre puzzles, grinding endless NPCs or partaking in endless battles with bosses.”
graphics
2,480 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
50%
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The graphics of Persona 5 Royal are widely praised for their striking, anime-inspired art style and vibrant color palette, which create a visually captivating experience. Many reviewers highlight the game's unique aesthetic, dynamic menus, and attention to detail, contributing to an immersive atmosphere that enhances the storytelling and gameplay. While some critiques mention that the underlying graphics may feel dated, the overall artistic direction and stylish presentation are considered top-notch, making it a standout title in the JRPG genre.
“Visually, Persona 5 stands out with its bold, anime-inspired art style and slick presentation, enhanced by an unforgettable jazz-infused soundtrack.”
“The art style is stunning, and the soundtrack will stick with you long after you’re done playing.”
“The visuals for this game are incredible, the menus, the little items with lore, even if they do the same thing, you still get from different places in different conditions and names.”
“The in-game graphics are way outdated but that didn't hinder the enjoyment at all.”
“Far behind in graphics technology and low budget as is typical with Japanese games, and overall not worth it.”
“Graphics and world/dungeon/location design so horribly ugly that it is unplayable to me that it is x15.”
emotional
696 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of Persona 5 Royal is profoundly impactful, with many players reporting that the game made them cry multiple times due to its rich storytelling, character development, and heartfelt moments. The game's exploration of themes like friendship, personal growth, and social justice resonates deeply, creating a strong emotional bond between players and characters. Overall, the game is described as an emotional rollercoaster, leaving players feeling a mix of joy, sadness, and nostalgia as they navigate the journey alongside the characters.
“The emotional payoff at the end of the game was something else entirely since I felt I had grown alongside all of these people.”
“I was so invested in this game that I cried when the credits rolled.”
“This game made me feel emotions and I'm very angry about it.”
grinding
630 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
14%
84%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some appreciate the ability to grind in Mementos and find it manageable, others criticize it as tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the later stages of the game. Features like instant kill abilities and quality of life improvements help alleviate some of the grind, but many still feel that the game could benefit from a more streamlined approach to leveling and resource gathering.
“And hey, no grinding being necessary is a big plus for a JRPG!”
“There's (almost) no grinding, just straight up an interesting story and so much of it.”
“I only passively gained money and XP while collecting stamps in mementos (no grinding sessions), but still ended up so rich and overleveled that I was able to complete most of the game with little to no effort after about the second palace.”
“Typically when a JRPG takes that long to complete, it means grinding for hours against hordes of lazily recolored enemies.”
“However, its design is awful and only serves to waste more of your time by grinding (yes, it's supposed to help you grind between story arcs; however, it only adds tedium in my opinion).”
“You will spend hours grinding levels, and after a while, it started to feel more like a chore than anything else, which diminished my fun as I just wanted to get back to building up social ranks.”
optimization
592 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
51%
20%
The optimization of Persona 5 Royal on PC has received mixed reviews, with many players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and frame drops, particularly in crowded areas. While some users report smooth gameplay on high-end systems or the Steam Deck, others with capable hardware struggle to maintain consistent frame rates, often attributing these problems to the Denuvo DRM and overall poor optimization. Overall, while the game has potential for solid performance, many recommend caution for PC players until further patches address these issues.
“Performance-wise and bug-wise, the game is practically perfect.”
“The game is well optimized on PC, being able to play it even at 120 fps at high graphics, without frame drops, bugs, or crashes.”
“The optimization is top-notch, allowing for silky-smooth gameplay even on mid-range rigs.”
“The game is very poorly optimized, with the main issue being all the background NPCs being rendered moving around.”
“While this game is great from a narrative and gameplay perspective, Persona 5 Royal is an extremely unoptimized game on PC with requirements that are much higher than the game should need in theory.”
“The problem is that this game is so freaking unoptimized that it sometimes feels like I'm playing a slideshow, even on lowest settings.”
humor
474 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
3%
The humor in the game is a mix of dark, absurd, and character-driven comedy, often balancing serious themes with lighthearted moments. While many players appreciate the witty dialogue and funny interactions among characters, some critiques highlight instances of humor that feel forced or inappropriate, particularly regarding sensitive topics. Overall, the game is celebrated for its engaging and entertaining comedic elements, making it a memorable experience for players.
“The story is rich and layered, dealing with themes of rebellion and personal growth, all while maintaining a perfect balance of humor and seriousness.”
“The characters and the game story are well-developed and rich in backstories, with many hours of non-stop laughing at the characters' jokes and the choices you make.”
“This game will have you laughing at the absurdity, swooning over the romance, and maybe even learning a thing or two about self-improvement.”
“The game seems to expect you to laugh at people lusting for underage girls/boys on several occasions, and it comes off as extremely creepy on the writers' part and not funny at all.”
“Every single anime joke that was not funny, cringe-worthy, or even borderline illegal is something you can find here.”
“Some anime tropes that are insufferable and unfunny are also squished into this game, and I find that to be pretty annoying, like casual sexual harassment from the main male cast.”
character development
362 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
40%
2%
Character development in Persona 5 is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players noting the well-crafted growth of both main and side characters. The game's vibrant character designs and engaging storytelling enhance the player's connection to the characters, making their journeys feel relatable and impactful. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies in character development, particularly with new additions in the Royal edition, suggesting that not all characters receive the same level of attention and depth.
“Persona 5 excels in its character development, world-building, and addictive gameplay loop.”
“The character development is insanely good—each character's growth is so well-crafted that it adds a whole new level of depth to the game.”
“The character development in the game is outstanding and really speaks to you; I may have teared up on a couple of occasions, but that just speaks to the wonderful storytelling.”
“There's no challenge combat-wise since you're so over-leveled, the story feels a little cheap with them taking back character developments to give reason for what happens and for 'more' character development.”
“What this game did worse than P4G, in my opinion, was the introduction of too many characters late in the game, with not enough character development for some party members as a result.”
“Character development is lacking, especially for new characters added in the Royal edition.”
replayability
200 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
32%
65%
3%
The game boasts high replayability due to its numerous personas, choices, and endings, allowing players to explore different strategies and character builds. While the main story remains largely the same across playthroughs, the ability to transfer progress and engage in various side quests enhances the experience, making it appealing for multiple runs. However, some players note that the lengthy narrative can make repeated playthroughs feel daunting, despite the wealth of content available.
“The ability to customize builds and exploit weaknesses makes combat strategic and dynamic, adding even more replayability.”
“It took me 100+ hours just to beat the game and more when I did a second playthrough, and I'm already starting my third at the time of making this review; it has a ton of replayability despite having such a long story.”
“The high duration of the game and the ability to play it multiple times with different choices and characters make Persona 5 Royal one of the most replayable games in the JRPG genre.”
“I was positively surprised by this game... unfortunately, I do not think there is much room for replayability since the game gives you more than enough time to max most confidants and do most activities in your first playthrough, besides speedrunning or choosing a higher difficulty.”
“Also yes, there are tons of activities, but they are mostly walled by the time (even during weekends on non-school days, that's ridiculous) or by story (you're too tired to do anything, just go to sleep), so basically you will have to be forced to play through a 70+ hour game again (with little to no replayability on the story itself, but just the romances/friendships) just to max out some other stats or just by 'building' another character stat-wise.”
“Now replaying the game I realize... the game has very little replayability.”
atmosphere
192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
51%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its vibrant and immersive qualities, enhanced by a phenomenal soundtrack that seamlessly complements various settings and emotional moments. Players appreciate the stylish art design, innovative scene transitions, and the ability to evoke a range of feelings, from joy to nostalgia, making the experience deeply engaging. Overall, the combination of music, visuals, and character interactions creates a unique and memorable atmosphere that resonates with players long after they finish the game.
“The game's intricately crafted world, diverse characters, and striking art style create a rich and immersive atmosphere that draws players in and keeps them engaged throughout the entirety of the journey.”
“The soundtrack is a masterpiece in itself, perfectly complementing the game's mood and atmosphere.”
“The game exudes an atmosphere that is both sleek and rebellious, setting the stage for an epic tale of high school students moonlighting as phantom thieves.”
“9/10, sadly it doesn't convey the sinister/creepy atmosphere that Persona 3 has, but it's still a very fun game with more of the same things that you like from the previous games.”
“The color palette so far in the game is great but I am still nostalgic about the bloomy atmosphere Persona 4 Golden had.”
“The tone is definitely more mature than Persona 4, and this is shown with the dialog, level design, and general atmosphere.”
stability
142 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
1%
45%
The stability of the game varies significantly across platforms, with many users reporting a smooth experience on consoles and the Steam Deck, while the PC version has been plagued by bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly in open areas. Some players experienced no glitches or crashes at all, while others faced frequent freezes and frame drops, often attributed to Denuvo's impact on performance. Overall, while the game runs well for many, the PC version's stability remains inconsistent, leading to mixed reviews.
“The game runs great, a little skint on graphical options knocks off half a point but in a game with basic models and a lot of style it doesn't completely need it. It runs fantastic too, on consoles regardless of the platform you will have a locked and stable framerate (30fps on Switch, last gen and PS3 | 60fps on current gen). The PC version allows for 120fps, it looks just as good as you're imagining.”
“Bug free and a wonderful port of this most recent addition to the Persona franchise.”
“Runs great on Steam Deck at a smooth 60 fps on high settings while also being one of the greatest JRPGs of all time.”
“It's a very buggy experience on PC, keeps crashing and I have to restart the same level again and again.”
“Upon visiting the first open area (back streets after leaving the subway), the game runs very poorly, stutters, and ultimately freezes up when trying to access a menu or even turn the camera around despite not using even 50% of available resources.”
“It's a damn shame that Denuvo makes the game perform so badly that at the lowest settings on my PC the CPU maxes out and the game freezes up.”
monetization
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
18%
63%
The monetization model of Persona 5 Royal is criticized for being a cash grab, as it includes all original DLC and the royal expansion without additional microtransactions, yet still feels unnecessary and tedious to some players. Many reviewers express frustration with the game's design choices, which they believe detract from the overall experience, labeling the monetization approach as poor and indicative of a lack of value. Overall, while the game is fully packaged, the added content and gameplay changes have not been well-received.
“Persona 5 Royal is a fully packaged game which includes all of the original game's DLC as well as the Royal expansion, so there are no additional DLCs or microtransactions within the game whatsoever.”
“Usually in-game purchases, I always have a mindset of higher price = longer playtime/content.”
“[b]Price point/monetization model[/b]”
“Sega, your monetization choices are awful (this has nothing to do with this game).”
“This royal version is the unnecessary cash grab that adds unnecessary plot points to the already great game and then introduces unnecessary gameplay changes that are annoying.”