Every major entry in Atlus’s popularPersonaseries has gotten a little subseries of its own, andPersona 5is no different. This strategy allows for the developer to really dive into the world of each series, forming a complete universe before moving to the next one. In the case ofPersona 5,expanding the universe has allowed a popular game to rise to new heights.
WhilePersona 5is the game that started a renaissance in the JRPG genre, it’s not the only game out there featuring the Phantom Thieves. Several other entries have expanded upon the world and characters ofPersona 5since 2016, and withPersona 6nowhere in sight, it looks likeAtlus might be looking to savorPersona 5a while longer. For gamers looking to jump into the series, however, it can be a little tricky to know where to start or which version ofPersona 5to play. For existing fans, there could be a lot to look forward to in the next year or so.
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Persona 5
Persona 5is the original version of the game, where players were introduced toJoker and the Phantom Thieves. Released in 2016, it was one of the main catalysts that made thePersonaseries and the JRPG genre so popular. Fans immediately took to Joker, the silent protagonist players embody during the game, and the captivating story and art style is hard to resist.
The originalPersona 5is widely considered one of the best JRPGsof all time, and it has won numerous awards to support that statement. It won Best Roleplaying Game in 2017 againstNieR: AutomataandFinal Fantasy 15,and has only risen in popularity since then. Now,Persona 5is available as part of the PS Plus Collection, so anyone with a subscription can dive right in.
Persona 5 Royal
Persona 5 Royalis an enhanced edition ofPersona 5that added a ton of new content to the original game. The biggest addition is Kasumi, an entirely new character that joins the Phantom Thieves during the story. Players can also explore Kichijoji inRoyal,which opens up a ton of new opportunities to build relationships and increase Joker’s stats. The final major addition is an entire new semester added to the calendar, which allows time to explore an entirely new palace.
Apart from the huge additions, there are several smaller ways thatRoyalexpands upon the original. There are new Personas to discover, new confidants, new holidays, and additional cutscenes. There are also twoadditional endings inPersona 5 Royal,making for a grand total of 8.Persona 5was a 100-hour game already, butRoyaladds a wealth of extra content that deepens the story and characters.Persona 5 Royalis the definitive way to play the game, and well worth trying out even for fans who’ve already played the original.
Persona 5 Strikers
Persona 5 Strikersis the summer vacation entry in thePersona 5subseries, but it does flip the concept on its head a little bit. Instead of stealing hearts and desires from the Metaverse, inStrikers,the Phantom Thieves are trying to return hearts to those who had them wrongfully stolen. Just as inPersona 5,the stakes are high as Joker’s freedom rests on the success of the Phantom Thieves.Persona 5 Strikersalso included new gameplay elements, breaking away from the classic turn-based combat.
Effectively a sequel toPersona 5, Strikerstakes the group to six distinct cities all over Japan. It’s full of new characters and new dungeons to explore and adds a new character namedSophia to the party. For fans ofPersona 5, Strikersis a must-play, but the great thing about it is that it’s easy to jump into without having played any of the previous titles. Unlike otherPersona 5games, it’s also available on PC and the Nintendo Switch.
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Persona 5: Dancing in Starlight
Atlus has a history of adding rhythm games themed around dancing to many of thePersonasubseries, andPersona 5is no exception.Persona 5: Dancing in Starlightis a rhythm game starring the Phantom Thieves released in 2018 for PlayStation 4, and while its narrative is really just an excuse for dancing, it can be a lot of fun.
The premise ofDancing in Starlightis that Velvet Room prison wardens Caroline and Justine need champions to compete against their sister’s in a dance-off, and the Phantom Thieves are the lucky winners. While not the most impressive or popular game in thePersona 5universe, it’s a great party game and highlights the incrediblePersona 5soundtrack.
Rumored Persona 5 Fighting Game
While not confirmed, rumors have been floating around for the past couple of months about apossiblePersona 5fighting game.Persona 4had two fighting game spin-offs:Persona 4 ArenaandPersona 4 Arena Ultimax.The fighting games were successful and actually added more to the lore and narrative of thePersona 4universe, which made them even more satisfying for existing fans.
According to rumors, aPersona 5fighting game might be in the works. The rumor started when Persona Central revealed thatAtlus has registered for a lot of new domain names, one of which was “P5U.JP.” It’s very similar to the domain used forPersona 4 Arena Ultimaxand looks similar to the game’s Japanese abbreviation. Based on this, it’s possible that Atlus has decided to make a spiritual successor toUltimaxin the form of aPersona 5fighting game. Fighting games blend seamlessly with thePersonaseries, so it’s a great option Atlus must be contemplating.
Code Name: X
Finally,Code Name: Xis an upcoming mobile gamethat’s rumored to be based on thePersona 5series. It’s not officially confirmed, but “P5” is in the code and the game is confirmed to be based on a popular Japanese RPG, so there isn’t a lot of space for it to be related to anything else. However, it looks like it will star a new cast of characters rather than the Phantom Thieves.
There’s not much that’s been revealed aboutCode Name: Xyet, but it’s exciting to see thatPersonais moving towards the mobile platform. Unfortunately,Code Name: Xis currently only confirmed to release in China, but if it’s successful there’s a big possibility it could be released for the rest of the world.
Persona 5is available now on PS3 and PS4.
