Persona 5

PERSONA 5 is ATLUS's LEGENDARY JAPANESE ROLE-PLAYING GAME (JRPG) developed by P-Studio (P for Persona), directed by KATSURA HASHINO (also Persona 3, 4 director). ORIGINAL PERSONA 5 released SEPTEMBER 15, 2016 in Japan on PlayStation 3/PlayStation 4; APRIL 4, 2017 US/EU on PS3/PS4. Spin-off of the SHIN MEGAMI TENSEI franchise (Atlus's mainline series dealing with demons + apocalypse); 5th mainline PERSONA game (after P1 1996, P2 Innocent Sin 1999 + P2 Eternal Punishment 2000, P3 2006, P4 2008). SETTING: modern-day TOKYO 2016. Player (silent protagonist, canonically named JOKER or REN AMAMIYA in Royal + anime) is transferred to Shujin Academy in Aoyama after being wrongly accused of assault; discovers he + close friends can enter the METAVERSE — cognitive parallel world where corrupt adults' distorted DESIRES create PALACES (mental fortresses). They form the PHANTOM THIEVES OF HEARTS to infiltrate palaces, steal TREASURES (crystalized desires), causing target to have CHANGE OF HEART + confess crimes in real world. Uses SUPERNATURAL PERSONAS — Jungian archetypes summoned by removing masks + awakening — for combat (each character has one signature Persona: Joker/Arsène, Skull/Captain Kidd, Panther/Carmen, Fox/Goemon, Queen/Johanna, Oracle/Necronomicon, Noir/Milady, Crow/Robin Hood, Violet/Cendrillon in Royal; Joker uniquely can wield MULTIPLE Personas via fusion). Iconic for its STYLISH ART DIRECTION (widely considered BEST-IN-INDUSTRY menu design + UI, red-black-white acidic style), banger jazz-rock-hip-hop SOUNDTRACK by Shoji Meguro, 100+ HOUR PLAYTIME blending TURN-BASED PRESS-TURN DUNGEON DIVING + SOCIAL SIMULATION (Confidants formerly Social Links: build friendships + romances, part-time jobs, exam study, café work, batting cages). GAMEPLAY LOOP: real-world calendar (April 9 through February 2 next year); each day = school (classes with real puzzles/answers), then afternoon activity, then evening activity. Progress friendships with 22 CONFIDANTS unlocking new abilities + Persona fusion bonuses. Enter Metaverse via NAV app; explore PALACES (7 mainline dungeons: Kamoshida's castle, Madarame's museum, Kaneshiro's bank, Futaba's pyramid, Okumura's spaceport, Sae Niijima's casino, Shido's cruise-ship); progress through Mementos (procedural sub-dungeon). COMBAT: turn-based with 'ONE MORE!' extra turns for exploiting weaknesses; 'ALL-OUT ATTACK' cinematic finisher when all enemies knocked down. Persona fusion in VELVET ROOM (with prison-themed twist in P5: attendant Caroline + Justine, Igor). PERSONA 5 ROYAL (October 2019 Japan, March 2020 US) is DEFINITIVE version — adds Kasumi/Sumire (14th confidant), Maruki 3rd semester (60+ additional hours), quality-of-life improvements, additional Personas. Sold 10M+ copies combined (P5 + P5R). Spawned PERSONA 5 STRIKERS (2020, Musou action spin-off), PERSONA 5 TACTICA (2023, tactical grid strategy spin-off), PERSONA 5: THE PHANTOM X (2024 mobile gacha). Anime: Persona 5 The Animation (2018), Persona 5 The Animation Sun's Blessing (2019). Considered ONE OF THE GREATEST JRPGs OF ALL TIME + defining Atlus release + established persona franchise mainstream in the West.

JRPG progression; no VP. Track social stats, Confidant ranks, Persona compendium completion, palace progression.

Win condition · Complete final palace + Yaldabaoth boss (base) or Maruki 3rd semester (Royal True Ending).

Play on PS4/PS5 (original + Royal), PS3 (original), Switch (Royal port 2022), Xbox One/Series (Royal 2022), PC/Steam (Royal 2022).

• Persona 5 Royal ($60 USD, still full price)

  Definitive version, all platforms; on Xbox Game Pass

• Persona 5 (original, $30-40 used PS4)

  Original release, no Royal content

• Persona 5 Strikers ($40)

  Musou spin-off, canon sequel

• Persona 5 Tactica ($60)

  Tactical grid strategy spin-off

• Modern controller with 4 face buttons + shoulder buttons

  Standard modern controller works

• Prioritize maxing 1-2 Confidants per calendar arc

  Don't try to max everything; focus routes.

• Raise social stats early via specific activities

  Read books, watch movies, part-time jobs raise different stats.

• Persona fusion planning

  Fuse strategically for elemental coverage + skill inheritance.

• Use ambush + weakness combo to steal turns

  Sneak up + hit weakness = free turn snowball.

• Baton Pass (Royal) chains for damage buffs

  Pass turn to knock-down teammate for +50% attack.

Phantom Thieves of Hearts

PC group name.

Palace

Mental fortress representing corrupt adult's distorted desires; main dungeons.

Mementos

Procedural sub-dungeon shared by all mundane people's cognition.

Persona

Supernatural entity summoned from removing mask; embodiment of ego.

Confidant (Social Link in P3/P4)

Friendship bond with NPC; Rank 1-10.

Metaverse

Cognitive parallel world accessible via NAV app.

One More!

Extra turn for exploiting weakness or landing critical.

All-Out Attack

Cinematic finisher when all enemies knocked down.

Velvet Room

Sub-space for Persona fusion; Igor + attendants.

Change of Heart

Palace boss defeated → target confesses in real world.

• Game Awards 2017 Best Role Playing Game

  annual · worldwide · since 2017

• Golden Joystick Best Original Game 2017

  annual · UK/worldwide · since 2017

• Persona 5 Royal Game Awards 2020 Best RPG nominee

  annual · worldwide · since 2020

• Speedrun community: Any%, All-Confidants, All-Palaces routes

  ongoing · worldwide online · since 2017

• 🇯🇵Japan
• 🇺🇸United States
• 🇬🇧United Kingdom
• 🇩🇪Germany
• 🇫🇷France
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇲🇽Mexico
• 🇧🇷Brazil
• 🇰🇷South Korea
• 🇨🇳China
• 🇹🇼Taiwan
• 🇦🇺Australia

• Atlus (developer)

  Founded 1986 · Tokyo, Japan

• Sega Group (Atlus parent since 2013)

  Founded 1960 · Tokyo, Japan

• P-Studio (Atlus Persona team)

  Founded 2013 · Tokyo, Japan

• Atlus — Persona 5 Royal— Atlus
• Wikipedia — Persona 5— Wikipedia