Persona 5 Royal — Review (2026): Is It Worth Playing?
Persona 5 Royal is an expanded version of the legendary JRPG from Atlus, released in 2019 on PS4 and later on all platforms (PC, Switch, Xbox, PS5). The player controls a high school student who moves to Tokyo and discovers the ability to enter the Metaverse — a world of desires and distorted hearts.
What is the game about
The protagonist, codenamed Joker, forms the Phantom Thieves of Hearts — teenagers who infiltrate the Palaces of corrupt adults and force them to repent. Alongside the story runs a life simulator: attend school, make friends, work part-time, drink coffee, and prepare for exams. Royal adds a third semester, new characters (Kasumi, Maruki), and the Showtime mechanic.
Gameplay
- Calendar system: the game runs on a real schedule — one in-game day takes 15–30 minutes of real time.
- Confidants: relationships with characters grant combat bonuses and flesh out backstories.
- Palaces: unique themed dungeons in the minds of "villains" — from a castle to a space station.
- Mementos: procedurally generated dungeons for leveling up and side requests.
- Showtime: powerful duo attacks unlocked through specific confidants.
Should you play it in 2026
Absolutely. Persona 5 Royal is one of the highest-rated JRPGs in history (Metacritic 95+). If you enjoy Japanese RPGs, Pokémon, or simply great stories — this is a must-play. Royal adds 30+ hours of content to the original.
Pros and cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Unique style and music | Very long (100+ hours) |
| Deep characters and story | Some mechanics feel dated |
| Perfect balance of school and combat | Slow start |
| Royal is the definitive version | Mementos dungeons get repetitive |
FAQ
Do I need to play previous Persona games? No, each entry is standalone.
How many hours? 80–100 hours for the main story, 100–120 for Royal.
Is there Russian voice acting? Text and subtitles in Russian; voice acting is Japanese or English.
Is it on PC and Switch? Yes, the port released in 2022 and is available on all platforms.