Persona 5 Royal
- October 20, 2022
- Atlus
- 100h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games StorePersona 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.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- story8,216 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Persona 5 Royal" is widely praised for its depth, engaging character arcs, and exploration of complex themes such as rebellion, justice, and personal growth. Players appreciate the intricate narrative that intertwines the lives of high school students with their alter egos as phantom thieves, delivering a mix of humor, drama, and emotional moments. While some critiques mention pacing issues and a reliance on anime tropes, the overall consensus is that the storytelling, character development, and additional content in the Royal edition enhance the experience, making it a standout title in the JRPG genre.
“The story is absolutely captivating and the characters are all super lively and have so much to them that you discover through your immense journey.”
“The rich narrative delves deep into themes of rebellion, justice, and self-discovery, with compelling characters and plot twists that keep players emotionally invested.”
“Persona 5 Royal is a triumph of game design, storytelling, and artistic expression.”
“The story is bland; it should've ended in December, the royal content is a slopfest, Maruki is boring, and Kasumi as well, plain and forgettable.”
“The dialogue is maddeningly redundant at times, the characters are one-dimensional, and the whole story has plot holes like a chain link fence.”
“The story is filled with unexpected twists, intrigue, and emotional moments, but it can also feel overly long and tedious at times.”
- music4,470 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in Persona 5 Royal is widely praised for its exceptional quality, blending jazz, funk, and soul elements that enhance the game's stylish aesthetic and emotional depth. Many players highlight the soundtrack as a standout feature, with tracks like "Life Will Change" and "Rivers in the Desert" being particularly memorable and frequently added to personal playlists. While some critiques mention the repetitiveness of certain tracks over long playtimes, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a masterpiece, making it one of the best in video game history.
“The game's soundtrack, featuring jazz-infused bangers, perfectly complements its aesthetic drippiness.”
“The jazzy organs, the electric piano, the Turkish zurna (a flute), and especially the usage of the strings is acid jazz, funk, and soul music done in all the right places.”
“The soundtrack is a masterpiece in itself, perfectly complementing the game's mood and atmosphere.”
“The music itself is ok, but you spend a lot of time in the same areas, and their associated backing track keeps repeating over, and over, and over ...”
“Hearing the same 1 minute backtracks is driving me insane.”
“The music can feel a bit repetitive at times.”
- gameplay4,024 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Persona 5 Royal" is widely praised for its engaging blend of turn-based combat and social simulation, offering a rich and addictive experience that keeps players invested for over 100 hours. Many reviewers highlight the game's stylish visuals, innovative mechanics like baton passing, and the seamless integration of character relationships into gameplay, although some note that the difficulty can be lacking at times. Overall, the game is considered a significant improvement over its predecessor, with a well-crafted balance between narrative and gameplay elements.
“The gameplay is amazing, with so many interesting phantom thieves moves to work your way through the maps and the same basic battle structure that has worked well in all previous persona games.”
“The gameplay loop between school life and the palaces was so addictive next to the compelling story that I spent over 130 hours on a single playthrough and I will certainly be going through new game + at some point in the future.”
“The gameplay is lively, engaging and varied thanks to the various personae, there are interesting mechanics to be advantaged or disadvantaged against the enemy.”
“Gameplay loop gets a bit draining at times, but I guess that's why they made the UI the way it is, (because you will be looking at it for a looooong time).”
“I do feel like it's a little overrated and you can really feel the flaws when playing, such as how repetitive the combat was (which was why I said the combat is a little lackluster), but it's really fun when you overlook the flaws (which by no means ruin the gameplay much if at all).”
“The gameplay itself falls into the category of a JRPG with normal turn-based combat with a four-party member party system and traditional mechanics like weaknesses of enemies and a magic system.”
- graphics1,804 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Persona 5 Royal" are widely praised for their stunning art style, vibrant colors, and unique aesthetic that blends anime and comic influences, creating a visually captivating experience. Many players appreciate the game's smooth performance, with high frame rates and detailed environments, although some note that certain textures and animations can appear dated. Overall, the game's artistic direction and attention to detail contribute significantly to its immersive storytelling and engaging gameplay.
“The graphics are amazing, the storyline is incredible, the grind to gameplay ratio is perfect, soundtrack is great, and the battle and battle mechanics are awesome!!”
“The visuals are sublime.”
“The game's vibrant colors, stylish character designs, and visually stunning environments are further enhanced by improved graphics and animations.”
“It's a very outdated game from the age of PS3 with very bad graphics.”
“The visuals of the game are just average.”
“Yeah, they might be smooth 3D models, but they pale in comparison to the visuals of the cutscenes, menus, and character icons.”
- emotional522 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
Persona 5 Royal is widely praised for its profound emotional impact, with players frequently expressing feelings of joy, sadness, and nostalgia throughout their journey. The game's rich narrative, well-developed characters, and engaging soundtrack create a deeply immersive experience that resonates on a personal level, often leading to tears during pivotal moments. Many players describe it as an emotional rollercoaster, highlighting the strong connections formed with the characters and the lasting impressions of their stories.
“For years I've wanted to play this game, and nothing could've ever prepared me for the emotional roller coaster I was about to feel.”
“The emotional attachment you can gain towards other characters is surreal.”
“I was so invested in this game that I cried when the credits rolled.”
“The story feels very generic and lacks emotional depth.”
“The narrative is quite boring and fails to engage on an emotional level.”
“Overall, the emotional impact of the story is minimal and unoriginal.”
- grinding448 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 12 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and time-consuming, particularly in the mementos dungeon, which is often described as repetitive. While some appreciate the depth and mechanics of grinding, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, suggesting that the game could benefit from streamlining these elements. Overall, grinding is seen as optional for progression, but it can become a significant time sink, especially for those not fully engaged with the game's mechanics or story.
“There's (almost) no grinding, just straight up an interesting story and so much of it.”
“The classic 'randomized floor' stages are still present but act as a setting for side quests and opportunities to get items and level up (although no grinding should be required).”
“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.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“This feels unnecessarily grindy considering the length of the game, and should definitely have been streamlined to save time.”
“Flavorless numerical progression that just makes numbers get bigger, hours of grinding through hordes of pointless random enemies just to make your numbers big enough to beat the boss’s numbers, mindlessly selecting the same options from a drop down list to select the same option 500,000 times, the list goes on.”
- optimization444 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
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 and high frame rates on mid-range systems, others struggle with poor performance despite meeting or exceeding the game's recommended specifications. Overall, the game is seen as needing further optimization, especially regarding its handling of Denuvo DRM, which has been cited as a contributing factor to the performance problems.
“I encountered no performance issues whatsoever over the course of my 171-hour long playthrough and the game ran flawlessly at max settings on my PC.”
“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.”
“Despite the relatively low performance requirements, I have had a lot of trouble launching the game.”
“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.”
“Denovo makes the performance so bad it's hard to have consistent 60fps on lowest settings; it also makes the game take an eternity to save sometimes.”
- humor354 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding it genuinely funny and engaging, particularly through character interactions and absurd situations. However, some critiques highlight moments where the humor can feel mean-spirited or rely on outdated tropes, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these inconsistencies, the game's blend of humor and serious themes resonates well with many players, making it an enjoyable journey filled with laughter and emotional depth.
“The flashy visual effects in combat really make it feel premium, the plot is entertainingly bonkers, it has some genuinely funny moments, and you get a lot of content.”
“Persona 5 Royal: the royally hilarious heist is an outrageously entertaining, anime-inspired journey that'll have you questioning your own life choices while wearing pajamas in public.”
“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.”
“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.”
“The biggest disappointment I got from the game is having to see how a character that has an empowering first arc ends up being the sexualized one every possible time, basically killing that mentioned arc, all for the sake of completely unfunny, tasteless fanservice moments.”
- character development252 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with many players highlighting the well-crafted growth of both main and side characters. The interactions and relationships among characters are noted as particularly engaging, although some reviews mention that certain characters lack sufficient development, especially those introduced later in the game. Overall, the combination of strong storytelling, dynamic character arcs, and stylish design contributes to a rich and immersive experience.
“My favorite wonderful thing about this game, however, is without a doubt the character interactions and character development this game has.”
“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.”
“The thing is, since a lot of the character development happens in these scenes, you have to keep every character at a somewhat basic level.”
“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.”
- replayability148 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Persona 5 is widely regarded as having high replayability due to its rich story, diverse gameplay options, and the ability to make different choices that lead to various outcomes. The introduction of new characters and mechanics in the Royal edition further enhances this aspect, allowing players to explore multiple routes and strategies. However, some players note that the lengthy nature of the game and the potential for maxing out content in a single playthrough may limit the desire to replay it extensively.
“The addition of new characters, storylines, and gameplay mechanics in the Royal edition enriches an already immersive experience, providing even more depth and replay value.”
“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.”
“It's packed with content, offers tons of replayability, and is one of the best gaming experiences I've had in years.”
“I enjoyed a lot of the time I put into the game before that, but now, it really just feels like I wasted so much time that I could have put into something more replayable.”
“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.”
“Now replaying the game I realize... the game has very little replayability.”
- atmosphere134 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its exceptional soundtrack, which seamlessly complements various settings and enhances emotional engagement. Players appreciate the intricate world design, stylish visuals, and diverse character interactions that create a rich, immersive experience. Overall, the combination of music, art style, and narrative elements contributes to a unique and captivating atmosphere that resonates deeply with players.
“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 mesmerizing auditory masterpiece, with each track contributing to the game's atmosphere seamlessly.”
“The visuals, color palettes, characters, and music are very stylish and together create a unique atmosphere and charm I haven't seen in many other games.”
“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 characters are overall quite good, and the atmosphere simply sucks you in.”
- stability112 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 2 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting smooth performance and minimal bugs, particularly on the Steam Deck and various PC setups. However, some users have experienced significant issues, including freezing, stuttering, and performance drops in specific areas, often attributed to Denuvo's impact on performance. Overall, while many enjoy a stable experience, others face frustrating technical challenges that detract from gameplay.
“The game runs great, 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 wonderful port of this most recent addition to the Persona franchise.”
“Runs great on the steam deck at a smooth 60 fps on high settings while also being one of the greatest JRPGs of all time.”
“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 been several months for bug fixes and hours of troubleshooting on my part, and my game still crashes randomly.”
“The game runs fine most of the time, but when I need to roam around the 'real' world, I get huge spikes in CPU load (from an average 70% load to 100%), making those parts unplayable, because the game freezes for a couple of seconds then moves on as if nothing happened, then a few seconds later freezes again.”
- monetization12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The monetization model for Persona 5 Royal is criticized for being a cash grab, as it includes all original DLC and the royal expansion without additional microtransactions, yet some players feel the new content detracts from the original game's quality. Overall, there is a strong sentiment against Sega's monetization choices, with users expressing dissatisfaction over perceived unnecessary additions and gameplay changes.
“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]”
“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.”
“Horrible microtransactions to play!”
“Sega, your monetization choices are awful.”
