Persona 5 is one of the greatest JRPGs ever created. The Phantom Thieves steal the hearts of corrupt adults in a stylised Tokyo. Iconic art direction, mature narrative, perfect dungeon gameplay. Perfect score well deserved.
Your verdict
Category
RPG1 player16+
Description
Atlus RPG following a Tokyo high schooler transformed into a phantom thief to free corrupt souls in contemporary Tokyo. Published by Atlus, released in Europe in April 2017. Turn-based combat exploiting elemental weaknesses, social calendar management, exploration of dreamlike Palaces, over 90 hours of narrative content, and acid jazz soundtrack by Shoji Meguro. Modern JRPG reference.
Persona 5 review
MAX
Art direction
★★★★★
"Iconic"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
MAX
Story
★★★★★
"Masterful"
Dazzling red, an interface of unheard-of dynamism and ultra-stylish design: the game makes graphic design a permanent statement of style. Every menu, every transition overflows with pop energy and elegance. This art direction, sleek and iconic, redefines the peak of style in the Japanese RPG.
From the pen of Shoji Meguro, the music imposes a supercharged acid jazz of irresistible coolness, from the battle theme "Last Surprise" to the anthem "Life Will Change". Each theme overflows with style, turning Tokyo into a groovy playground. This sonic identity, daring and unforgettable, is celebrated as one of the finest of the JRPG.
Unjustly cast out, a high schooler joins a band of phantom thieves who strike at the corrupt hearts of adults. Beneath its flamboyant style, the tale mounts a sharp critique of society and the abuse of power. Carried by magnetic characters, this cry of youthful revolt became a phenomenon.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
Exploiting elemental weaknesses to chain extra turns and trigger all-out attacks gives the turn-based battles a jubilant snap. Managing the calendar and social links shapes a captivating rhythm. As stylish as it is deep, this JRPG keeps a lucid, addictive system that makes it irresistible today.
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
Juggling classes, social links and the exploration of stylish Palaces creates a "just one more day" loop that's very hard to pull yourself out of. Each confidant forged and each power tier reward the organization, and the heist of hearts pulls you forward. Its length and a few repetitions show, but the alchemy between daily life and dungeon grips you for months.
Difficulty
"Difficult"
Lifespan
"Massive"
Living through an entire school year in Tokyo while juggling social bonds, a ticking calendar and forays into dreamlike Palaces gives the adventure uncommon scale, with announced story content topping ninety hours. Forging every Confidant, combing Mementos and reaching the true ending enrich the journey further. A modern JRPG whose generosity still sets the standard.
One of the most acclaimed JRPGs of the decade, for which the PS3 was the original platform before the release on later consoles, with a visual style turned legendary. In high demand, it holds a firm price and strong desirability, the original PS3 version especially coveted. Its aura lies in this generational-masterpiece status and its rank as the founding edition on the older machine.
A cult cover
Aggressive red, slashing black and snapping white: Persona 5's typographic composition looks as much like a fashion poster as a game cover. Joker and his mask, framed like a graphic signature, convey the stylish rebellion and the heist of hearts at the story's core. Bold and ultra-recognizable, it installed a visual identity that became cult.
Is Persona 5 still worth playing in 2026?
Persona 5 is one of the greatest JRPGs ever made, an absolute peak of style and writing. Following the Phantom Thieves, high schoolers who steal the corrupt hearts of the powerful in a Tokyo stylised down to the smallest menu, delivers an experience of unmatched aesthetic coherence. The mature narrative, which boldly tackles social themes, unfolds over dozens of hours without ever faltering. The turn-based combat system and the exploration of Palaces of inventive structure reach a rare perfection. The measured pace calls for commitment. But for the JRPG fan, this masterpiece is an unforgettable experience, absolutely essential.
