Being a nerd my entire life, especially when it comes to anime, I’ve always wanted to explore new worlds and immerse myself in new stories. Over the years, I’ve played a LOT of anime games, and somehow, someway, I always skipped the Persona series.
There are very few anime games I can even remember because a lot of them felt kind of boring. They never gave me that “I want to live in this anime world” feeling, and I never got that full dopamine hit I was looking for. Then one day, I noticed Persona 5 Royal was free on PlayStation Plus, so I figured, “Why not?” and I was not disappointed.
A hidden gem
Persona 5 Royal is one of the best video games I have ever played. I’m not usually a huge fan of turn-based combat; I prefer hack-and-slash games, but outside of Final Fantasy, this was the first turn-based game I simply couldn’t put down.
The story is unbelievably well done, and I was never truly bored because the world-building constantly kept me invested. The soundtrack is so damn good that I listen to it even when I’m not playing the game. The characters are incredibly lovable, the progression feels rewarding, there’s always something to do, and the mystery kept me hooked from beginning to end. I even went back and 100% completed the game, which is something I almost never do. Normally, I beat the story and move on.
After finishing Persona 5 Royal, I was left with one question: Are all Persona games this good? A few months later, I was gifted a Steam Deck by my goated girlfriend (shoutout Tori), and around that same time, one of my friends recommended Persona 3 Reload. He told me it was even better than Persona 5. I thought he was completely crazy. Turns out…he wasn’t.
I had no idea I was about to play one of my top five games of all time. I don’t know why I constantly choose games that emotionally destroy me, but that’s beside the point.
The complete package
One thing I immediately noticed about Persona is that every game has its own identity. They all feel unique while still feeling unmistakably Persona-esque. Persona 3 Reload is something special.
The characters are incredibly well written, and the story somehow surpassed my expectations after Persona 5. The stakes feel so much higher, almost like Final Fantasy VII. The soundtrack is also one of the best I’ve ever heard. If “It’s Going Down Now” isn’t on my Spotify Wrapped this year, I’ll honestly be shocked. I don’t even mind grinding Tartarus, even though that is a big complaint people have, yeah it gets repetitive, but it’s part of the story.
This game has become one of my favorite video games of all time. Makoto Yuki (or your male protagonist) is a fantastic protagonist. Yukari Takeba has that fiery personality that every great anime cast seems to need. Mitsuru is the strong leader carrying the weight of her past. Fuuka is one of the kindest friends in the game. Akihiko is basically the guy who always wants to throw hands, and Junpei starts off as the lovable idiot before becoming so much more. And then there’s Aigis, the best character. I could keep talking about the rest of the cast, but honestly, there isn’t a single character I don’t love. So why is this article called “I Didn’t Know I Needed It?”
Because so many anime games feel the same. The combat rarely evolves, the graphics often blend together, and a lot of the stories end up being forgettable. Persona isn’t like that.
The gold standard
Persona 5 Royal and Persona 3 Reload absolutely clear 98% of the anime games I’ve played. They check every box that makes a game memorable. Incredible music. Fantastic storytelling. Fun combat. Characters you’ll actually care about. And beneath everything else, they offer so much more depth than you expect going in. I’ve completely fallen in love with this series, and I already know I’ll be playing more Persona games after I finish “Episode Aigis,” even if it takes me another 70 hours, which I’m more than happy to give.
If you’ve never played Persona before, do yourself a favor and give it a shot.
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