7. Persona 5 Royal
Developer: ATLUS | Release date: October 31, 2019 | Steam page: Persona 5 Royal
What is Persona 5 Royal? The game is the latest installment in the well-known JRPG series, set in modern-day Japan. At the center of Persona 5 is a group of teenagers who discover their special abilities as Persona users.
In addition to their normal daily life as students, the main characters in Persona 5 Royal lead a secret double life as the “Phantom Thieves of Hearts”: They fight shadows to free others from their desires.
As the protagonist “Joker,” you explore Tokyo and unlock more and more personas for your troupe. You fight using these personas, each bringing their unique abilities into battle. This makes battles tactical, as you can exploit the strengths and weaknesses of your enemies. At the same time, you also control other main characters as in a party RPG.
Alongside turn-based battles, you can also engage in leisure activities. You can earn money through a job or deepen your relationships with your companions. The characters in the story are complex and interesting, each with individual traits and backstories.
Especially the good story is the absolute highlight of the game and delights fans. In addition to the game series, there are also animes or mangas that recount the stories surrounding the Persona universe.
Here you can read how Cortyn managed to recover from WoW with Persona 5.
Persona 5 is, right after Baldur’s Gate, my absolute favorite when it comes to RPGs. I’ve now bought the game four times (PS3, PS4, Switch, and Steam) and have spent hundreds of hours with Joker in Tokyo. Particularly the release for the Switch has brought additional play hours.
The atmosphere, the fantastic soundtrack, and especially the believable characters offer a unique mix. Each character has their own tragic story to tell. I love nothing more than to meet with my friends after school and get to know them better. For instance, meeting the Shogo player Hifumi in the church in the evening or helping Kazumi pick out the perfect glasses for her father in the afternoon.
The combat system quickly becomes second nature, and it’s fun to infiltrate palaces and hold out nasty adults accountable for their actions. Every dungeon looks different, offers its own mechanics and enemies.
If you have already played the “old” Persona 5, definitely check out “Royal.” The new character Kazumi and the new “True Ending” are definitely worth another playthrough. But take your time: My last playthrough on the Switch took me 135 hours. And then definitely take a look at Persona 4 if you haven’t already.
For whom is Persona 5 Royal worth it? Anime fans and friends of party RPGs are perfectly positioned in Persona 5 Royal. Players searching for exciting stories should also try the RPG.
If you have already played Persona 5, you should definitely give the Royal Edition a chance. The Royal alone offers another 30 extra hours with a new ending and additional characters.
Outside of the game, there is now a large franchise. You can also play the predecessors Persona 3 and 4, but both games tell independent stories.
