Persona 5 Review: Scores, Verdict & What Critics Said

Persona 5 is one of the highest-rated JRPGs ever made, with a Metacritic score of 93 on PS4 and review scores of 10/10 from IGN, GameSpot and many others. It was the highest-rated game of 2017 by several outlets, and its expanded re-release Persona 5 Royal topped Metacritic's entire year of 2020 at 95, ahead of Hades and The Last of Us Part II. Critics universally praised its style, soundtrack, characters and combat — the usual complaints are pacing in the mid-game and the sheer length of the commitment.

This review roundup collects the headline scores, what reviewers actually said, where the game draws criticism, and how the 2026 versions (Royal on all modern platforms) hold up today. If you're deciding whether the time investment is worth it, pair this with our how long is Persona 5 guide — the numbers matter as much as the verdict.

Per the official Persona 5 Royal Steam store page, the game is described by Atlus as "the definitive edition" of Persona 5 — which is why most modern reviews, including Metacritic's PC aggregate, are about Royal rather than the 2017 original.

Persona 5 Review Scores — The Aggregates

The Metacritic figures are documented on the game's official Metacritic pages, and ComicBook.com reported that Royal's 95 average made it the top-rated game of 2020, two points clear of Hades, The Last of Us Part II and Half-Life: Alyx. The IGN scores come from the original IGN review (9.7, "A stylish, thrilling, superbly built JRPG") and its Royal re-review (10/10).

What Critics Loved

Reading across the major reviews, five things come up in nearly every one:

1. Style and presentation. The red-and-black UI, animated menus, and the way every screen transition drips with attitude — The Verge called it "a cult classic shined to perfection," and reviewers repeatedly describe it as the most stylish RPG ever shipped.
2. The soundtrack. Shoji Meguro's jazz-funk score ("Last Surprise," "Life Will Change") became iconic; the battle theme was even nominated for a Grammy through a jazz-cover album in 2024.
3. Characters and story. The Phantom Thieves' arcs — each tied to a real injustice like abuse, exploitation and corruption — were praised as the strongest writing in the series to date.
4. Combat. The turn-based system with Baton Pass, All-Out Attacks, and Persona fusion was called "the pinnacle of turn-based RPGs" by multiple reviewers; IGN noted it was more complex than Persona 3 and 4 while staying approachable.
5. Hand-built dungeons. Palaces are bespoke, puzzle-filled designs (a museum, a bank, a pyramid, a casino) rather than the procedurally generated corridors of Persona 3 and 4 — IGN highlighted this as the biggest structural upgrade.

Where Critics Found Fault

The common criticisms, from the Metacritic user and critic reviews and outlet write-ups:

• Pacing. The middle stretch (roughly June to September) loses momentum; Digital Trends said the "story loses momentum" and complained about "forced" events.
• Length. 100+ hours is a feature, but reviewers flagged fatigue — GameSpot's 2022 Royal review on PS5 noted the "pacing issues in its last quarter."
• Morgana's bedtime rule. In vanilla, Morgana frequently forces Joker to sleep early, blocking evening activities — Royal relaxed this, and reviewers noticed.
• Mature content. Some uncomfortable male-gaze moments in Confidant scenes were flagged by Digital Trends and The Verge. This content is also why the game carries an M rating — see our Persona 5 age rating guide.

How the 2026 Versions Hold Up

Persona 5 Royal is available on PC, Switch, PS4/PS5 and Xbox (released October 21, 2022 on the modern platforms), and it includes all of Royal's paid DLC and the legacy Persona DLC packs free — $60 of content folded into the base game, as ComingSoon's PS5 review noted. The PC version runs at unlocked framerates with high-res support, and the game has appeared on subscription services repeatedly (Royal headlined Xbox Game Pass in June 2026).

Verdict: Is Persona 5 Good?

Yes — by any measure it's one of the best JRPGs ever released. It sold over 10.45 million copies across versions by March 2025 per Wikipedia, making it the best-selling Megami Tensei game of all time, and it remains the reference point for modern turn-based RPGs. The honest caveats: it's 100+ hours, the mid-game drags for some players, and its content is squarely adult-oriented. If those don't scare you, Royal is about as close to a must-play as the genre gets.

For the full cast behind those glowing reviews, see the Persona 5 characters guide, and for the version comparison, our Persona 5 vs Royal guide breaks down exactly what the extra 20-30 hours buy you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Persona 5 worth playing in 2026? Yes — Royal on PC/Switch/Xbox is widely considered one of the best JRPGs of all time, with a Metacritic 95 and frequent deep discounts. The 100+ hour length is the main commitment.

What did Persona 5 score on Metacritic? 93 on PS4 for the 2017 original, and 95 for Persona 5 Royal on both PS4 and PC.

Is Persona 5 the best JRPG ever made? It's regularly ranked among the top few — IGN gave it 9.7 and Royal a 10, and it was the highest-rated game of 2020 on Metacritic. "Best ever" is subjective, but it's firmly in the conversation.

What do critics say are Persona 5's flaws? Pacing in the mid-game, the 100+ hour length, Morgana forcing early bedtimes in vanilla, and some uncomfortable mature content in Confidant scenes.

Should I play Persona 5 or Persona 5 Royal? Royal. It's the same game plus an entire third semester, two new Confidants, better combat options and all DLC included — there's no meaningful reason to start with vanilla in 2026.

Related Guides

• Persona 5 vs Persona 5 Royal — Every Difference
• Is Persona 5 Royal Worth It? Honest Verdict
• How Long Is Persona 5? Playtime Guide
• Persona 5 Characters — Every Phantom Thief Explained
• Persona 5 Story Themes & Timeline

Official resources: Persona 5 Royal Steam page · Metacritic — Persona 5 · Metacritic — Persona 5 Royal · IGN — Persona 5 review · Wikipedia — Persona 5

Last Updated: August 13, 2026