Persona5: The Phantom X

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Go beyond the world of Persona 5 in this exciting RPG experience!

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73%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,372 reviews

story120 positive mentions

monetization40 negative mentions

The game captures the essence of Persona 5 with its stylish aesthetic, deep storytelling, and strategic turn-based combat.
It's a free-to-play game that is surprisingly generous with rewards, allowing players to enjoy the story without spending money.
The visuals and character designs are impressive, with plenty of animated cutscenes that enhance the overall experience.

The gacha mechanics are predatory, with low pull rates and a heavy emphasis on microtransactions that can detract from the gameplay experience.
The story feels rushed and lacks the depth and emotional engagement found in the mainline Persona games, often relying on recycled elements from Persona 5.
The user interface is cluttered and not well-optimized for PC, leading to frustrating navigation and control issues.

story
478 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
70%
5%
The story of this game is often compared to Persona 5, featuring familiar themes and structures but criticized for being a less engaging and more formulaic iteration. While some players appreciate the new characters and the nostalgic elements, many feel the narrative lacks depth, originality, and coherence, with numerous plot holes and a reliance on gacha mechanics that detracts from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, some players find enjoyment in the story's progression and presentation, particularly in its animated cutscenes and voice acting, making it a mixed bag for fans of the franchise.
- “The story is so unique from the little bit that I have played that it has me hooked.”
- “Literally the story is so good for a gacha spinoff it's unreal!”
- “It manages to take the essence of persona 5—its stylish aesthetic, deep storytelling, and strategic turn-based combat—and reimagine it in a mobile/pc format without sacrificing the quality fans expect from a mainline title.”
- “The story is an absolute joke.”
- “The story feels far shallower compared to a mainline persona title.”
- “The story is filled with plot holes and inconsistencies, which is especially disappointing given that the persona franchise is known for its strong storytelling.”
gameplay
242 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
18%
70%
12%
The gameplay of this title is largely reminiscent of Persona 5, featuring familiar mechanics such as turn-based combat, life simulation, and character interactions, but it is simplified and integrated with gacha mechanics that some players find intrusive. While many appreciate the unique character abilities and engaging story, others criticize the game for its sluggish pacing, cluttered UI, and monetization strategies that detract from the overall experience. Overall, it offers a mixed bag of nostalgia for Persona fans, with enjoyment largely dependent on one's tolerance for gacha elements.
- “The gameplay is obviously simplified, but characters all having unique abilities rather than largely pulling from the same list does lead to some cool designs and fights.”
- “It carries most of the same combat and exploration mechanics while introducing some new ones that really spice up the feel of Persona.”
- “It’s a full-fledged experience—narratively rich, mechanically sound, and artistically vibrant.”
- “As it stands, the game feels like a worse version of Persona 5 with unsavory gameplay and monetization mechanics behind it.”
- “Gameplay-wise, the game is just a stripped-down version of Persona 5.”
- “It treats you like you have never played a video game before, and it's so annoying how intrusive it feels. The main Persona games never felt this hand-holdy for the intro parts, and Persona 5 is known for having a very slow start; I'd say that's nothing compared to how slow and boring the gameplay parts of this feel for the first two hours.”
music
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many praising its high quality and catchy tracks, although a significant portion of the soundtrack is borrowed from Persona 5. While some players express a desire for more original compositions, the new songs and familiar vibes still resonate well with fans of the series. Overall, the music is considered a standout feature, contributing to the game's engaging atmosphere despite some criticisms regarding the overall gameplay experience.
- “The music is insane (as usual) and even though the story kinda feels similar to Persona 5 Royal's first palace, there were some moments that got me.”
- “The character designs are sharp, the music slaps (of course), and the animations feel straight out of a full console game.”
- “Best in the business, it's very hard for me to find another game that can outright beat Persona's soundtracks, and the same can be said for this game.”
- “I also wish there was a bit more original music instead of just the P5 OST, and the lack of English voice acting is a tad bit disappointing.”
- “The original music they've made for this game is just noticeably worse, and it's jarring when a scene has a really good song from P5 only to switch over to a new track that feels like a lower quality recreation of some vague idea of P5's musical style.”
- “The soundtrack is mostly reused from the original game.”
graphics
90 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
49%
11%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stylish aesthetic and crisp visuals that capture the essence of Persona 5, while others criticize performance issues and graphical inconsistencies, particularly on lower settings. Some players noted impressive animations and character designs, but there were complaints about blurry 2D graphics and a lack of polish in certain areas. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant aspect of the game, though opinions vary on their execution and quality compared to the original Persona 5.
- “Right from the start, Phantom X impresses with its stunning visuals.”
- “With an extremely well done stylized graphic that is just a pure upgrade over the original Persona 5 and even Persona 5 Royal due to higher model fidelity and better texturing.”
- “The visuals are stunning for a mobile/PC hybrid release.”
- “Between its scummy monetization, horrible performance, and lackluster visuals, you're infinitely better off waiting for Persona 6 or playing any one of the other Persona 5 spin-offs.”
- “This game barely feels like a Megami Tensei game at all due to its visuals that more resemble something like Hi-Fi Rush rather than Persona 5, and the UI both in and out of battle seems to be ripped out of a Hoyoverse game.”
- “How did you all turn a game that ran 60 fps easily on medium graphics into a game that's 1 fps on the lowest settings possible?”
monetization
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
48%
47%
The monetization in the game has drawn significant criticism, with many reviewers labeling it as predatory and reminiscent of a cash grab, particularly due to its reliance on gacha mechanics and microtransactions. While some players appreciate that the monetization is optional, the overwhelming presence of ads and the cluttered user interface detracts from the overall experience, leading to frustration over the perceived exploitation of players. Overall, the monetization practices are seen as a major flaw, overshadowing the game's potential and quality.
- “The monetization is optional rather than mandatory, which is rare and commendable in this genre.”
- “Microtransactions: honestly, these have been tame.”
- “Even though the game is begging you to make microtransactions, you don’t miss anything huge by not doing it.”
- “This game is literally the definition of a poorly made cash grab port.”
- “The semi-constant bombardment of advertisements offering for you to spend real money on what's essentially nothing; the horrendously cluttered UI and UI elements plastered on screen constantly; the really slow loading times (even on a decent PC); and the constant audio and visual jank between music, characters, loading screens, and transitions; they're all things you'll need to put up with if you want to experience the story.”
- “0.4% for a 5-star on a limited banner, with 80 pity and a 50/50 on top of that is extremely pathetic rates. The game does give you barely any premium currency and you can dream of being given premium pulls in their entirety, not to talk about how predatory their ads are for the paid-only bundles.”
optimization
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
61%
26%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including crashes and input lag, particularly on PC. While some users with higher-end systems (like a 3070) report smooth performance, others criticize the overall optimization, messy UI, and control issues, suggesting that the game is poorly suited for a wide range of hardware. Overall, the consensus leans towards the need for substantial improvements in optimization before it can be recommended.
- “Because the game applies a gacha-style team building aspect to the game where you create a few hyperspecialized optimized teams (which I always found more fun than most mainstream RPGs), you have to constantly adjust and tailor Wonder to the current team he's in.”
- “The game is running on Unity in what I assume is the build Koei Tecmo used for Persona 5 Strikers, as graphically and performance-wise it runs just as good as P5S did. So if your PC could handle P5S, it'll handle this no problem.”
- “Performance has been okay, holding at 120fps, except for the combat transitions when it drops like crazy for a second while the fight loads.”
- “How poorly optimized does your mobile port have to be to crash an entire PC on game startup?”
- “The current optimization of the game is so bad I can't recommend this to anyone currently.”
- “It's very poorly optimized for button layout; I do not lie when I say I have played DS games that are ported better than this modern game.”
character development
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
50%
9%
Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with many praising the emotional depth and themes of rebellion, identity, and justice that resonate with the original Persona 5. While the character designs are often described as top-tier and fitting well within the game's aesthetic, opinions vary on their overall appeal, with some feeling they lack the uniqueness of the mainline series. Overall, the character development feels like a continuation of Persona 5, though some players express disappointment in the execution and variety of designs.
- “The emotional depth, character development, and classic themes of rebellion, identity, and justice are all here—making it feel like a true continuation or companion to Persona 5.”
- “The character designs are top-tier, with both new and returning phantom thieves fitting perfectly into the world.”
- “Character designs are sick, interesting designs that challenge the usual design philosophy whilst staying true to the masked thief motif.”
- “So far the story is pretty enjoyable, but it feels like a copy of Persona 5 Royal right now, just with a different character design.”
- “Character designs aren’t as bad as in Mihoyo's games, but they’re still far worse than in any mainline Persona game.”
- “The new character designs are a little hit or miss for me personally.”
grinding
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that "Phantom X" offers a mix of generous rewards early on, but players anticipate a grindy experience as they progress, particularly due to the gacha mechanics and energy system. While some find the grinding manageable with side quests and farming, others feel it can become excessive and may push players towards spending money. The inclusion of auto-battle and fast-forward features is noted as helpful for alleviating the tedium of long grinding sessions.
- “But honestly, the energy system is really bad, the game is way too grindy, and it feels like it's pushing you to spend money.”
- “Gacha games by nature require a lot of time and effort to get things out of it, and a lot of mindless grinding late game.”
- “Cashgrab of a gacha that gives crumbs of gems to keep players farming their game and only cares about making the wheel roll.”
stability
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
78%
The game's stability is mixed, with reports of buggy controller support, particularly with Xbox and PS controllers, while mouse and keyboard controls function well. Players have noted occasional graphical glitches and audio issues, especially on startup, but overall performance on the Steam Deck is generally positive. Some users experienced significant bugs that required workarounds, indicating that while the game runs well in many respects, it still has notable stability issues.
- “I was expecting a shallow mobile port with gacha traps, but what I got was a legit Persona experience that actually runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Also runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “I was expecting a shallow mobile port with gacha traps, but what I got was a legit Persona experience that actually runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “Controller gameplay is really buggy.”
- “Needs steam achievements and it's a bit buggy; the controller is a mess on this game and popups/notice screens make the screen go black, requiring the use of task manager to fix it.”
- “Having played the app extensively when it originally released last year, p5x was buggy, obviously unfinished, and a bad copy-paste job of Persona 5 masquerading as having something 'deep' to say about society whilst saying absolutely nothing whatsoever.”
humor
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing loading screens and the absurdity of certain game mechanics, such as the inclusion of outfits for male characters despite their general indifference. Players find humor in the reactions of newcomers to the gacha genre and appreciate the funny dialogues, although some feel the main character's acceptance of bizarre events could use more comedic questioning. Overall, the game successfully incorporates humor alongside its engaging gameplay elements.
- “The loading screen saying 'take your time' after looking at like 9 limited-time things in the menu is pretty funny.”
- “It's incredibly funny for me to watch some reactions here in the reviews; some people are playing their first gacha game ever.”
- “A reworked combat system, beautiful highlights, good voice acting, and funny dialogues.”
emotional
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight a significant divide in the emotional engagement of the game. While some players appreciate the emotional depth, character development, and themes reminiscent of Persona 5, others criticize the lack of a strong emotional hook and compelling antagonists, leading to feelings of disengagement with the narrative. Overall, the emotional impact appears inconsistent, with some finding it a worthy continuation and others feeling it falls short.
- “The emotional depth, character development, and classic themes of rebellion, identity, and justice are all here—making it feel like a true continuation or companion to Persona 5.”
- “It's hard to describe how P5X made me feel playing through the tutorial.”
- “Plays just like Persona 5 and you can play without touching the gacha and complete all story.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised as a visual triumph, with users highlighting its exceptional UI, animations, and art design, all contributing to an immersive experience.
- “A visual and atmospheric triumph.”
- “The game also just oozes atmosphere; the UI, animations, and art are A+ tier.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers limited replayability for those who have already experienced the mainline Persona titles, but it may still appeal to fans craving additional content. Players seeking more of the Persona universe might find value in giving it a try despite its repetitive nature.
- “If you've already played through the mainline Persona games available to you and don't find them to be replayable, but you're absolutely craving more, I'd say give it a try.”
- “If you’ve already played through the mainline Persona games available to you and don’t find them to be replayable, but you’re absolutely fiending for more, I’d say give it a try.”