Shin Megami Tensei V vs. Persona 5: Which JRPG Is Better?

Persona and Shin Megami Tensei are two of the biggest JRPG franchises under Atlus’s belt right now, and with both series getting new entries in the past year, it’s a good time to examine Shin Megami Tensei V and Persona 5 and see which one comes out on top.

We’ll be examining both games in a few different categories and declaring a winner in each one, before drawing a final conclusion to determine which JRPG is better.

Story and Characters

The story, characters, and setting of Shin Megami Tensei V and Persona 5 couldn’t be more different from each other. One game is laser-focused on broad themes like the literal meaning of life, the universe, and everything, while the other zooms into its story on a micro level, placing emphasis on friendships and social bonds.

Much like its predecessors, Shin Megami Tensei V doesn’t concern itself with petty things like bonding with your friends and listening to their silly mortal problems. You’re the Nahobino after all; you have actual important shit to do, like recruiting demons to your cause and fighting off the hordes of enemies under Satan and Lucifer’s control. Or, y’know, flip things around and go after God instead.

Because of this, SMT V can feel very cold and clinical. The characters are simply there as plot devices and driving forces of the different ideologies at play in the game.

Persona 5, on the other hand, is meant to feel warm and sunny. The bulk of the gameplay is revolved around getting to know your teammates better and helping them become the best versions of themselves. It’s wholesome, endearing, and you’re supposed to get completely attached to your entire party by the time the credits roll.

Winner: It’s a tie. It’s pretty much impossible to compare the stories and characters of both games when they both serve wildly different purposes. Are you in the mood for something darker and more philosophical? Go with Shin Megami Tensei V? Do you just want that warm, gooey feeling of watching a Saturday morning cartoon? Persona 5.

Gameplay

Both Shin Megami Tensei V and Persona 5 are turn-based JRPGs, but the flow of the combat definitely feels different thanks to certain mechanics.

For instance, Shin Megami Tensei V features the Press Turn system, which allows you to rack up extra turns whenever you hit an enemy’s weakness or get a critical hit. This sounds familiar to Persona’s One More system, but with a cruel twist: your foes in SMT V can benefit from Press Turn as well, and you’re heavily punished for making any wrong moves.

This results in players needing to tread a very fine line even when dealing with regular enemy encounters. Miss an attack and you lose two turns, have an enemy completely absorb your attack and you lose four. And if your foes manage to hit your weaknesses, things can go south very quickly and you’ll find your entire party wiped out if you’re not lucky.

Persona 5 is much more forgiving, especially with the Baton Pass system which increases your damage output with each Pass. Enemies can also stack a few extra turns by hitting your weaknesses, but at least you don’t lose your turns by missing attacks.

Persona 5 is also a lot more lenient as you’ll unlock abilities and other features to help replenish your HP and SP even if you’re in a dungeon. Shin Megami Tensei V lets you heal up at save points, but that game doesn’t mess around. If you’re too careless with how you spend your SP, you’re gonna have a bad time.

Both games also feature the demon fusion and negotiation system; negotiating is still a game of RNG, but the fusion systems are solid in both. Shin Megami Tensei V goes an extra step further, though, by forcing players to fill their entire party with demons. Without any NPCs to assist you, you have far more control over your party makeup, though this also means more pressure on the player to create the perfect party for any specific boss encounter.

SMT V also has the Essence Fusion system which gives you more control over how you want to build the Nahobino. All of these systems can be overwhelming, and Persona 5 is definitely a lot more streamlined in that aspect.

Winner: Shin Megami Tensei V. While the systems can be a little overwhelming at first, we vastly enjoyed the freedom that came with it, and there’s nothing more satisfying than fusing the perfect demon to join you on the next stretch of your journey. Just make sure your weaknesses are always protected.

Replay Value

Let me start off by saying that these are both long-ass games. A single playthrough of either game can go up to 100 hours and beyond, and any form of replay value after that is just a nice added bonus.

That said, it’s worth noting that Persona games typically have only one canon ending, and the same holds true for Persona 5. There’s a bad ending that’s just completely unsatisfying, and a true ending, which usually gives you access to even more content and a heartwarming ending cutscene leading into the credits.

Shin Megami Tensei V features multiple endings as well, and all of them are equally satisfying and could be considered canon. Your ending in the game depends on the choices you’ve made along the way, which determines your overall alignment. Every path in SMT V comes with its pros and cons, and it’s up to you to decide which path you like more.

Because of that, Shin Megami Tensei V provides a lot more replay value if you choose to go back to it after your first ending. There’s always more to discover.

Winner: Shin Megami Tensei V.

Winner: Shin Megami Tensei V

It feels weird saying that SMT V is a better JRPG than Persona 5, especially since they’re both trying to tackle completely different things. But at the end of the day, there’s no doubt that SMT V is the game with the superior combat system.

It gives players so much control over how they want to build their party and the Nahobino, and every combat encounter has the potential to turn into a life-or-death situation. That sounds exhausting, yes, but it’s also exhilarating and it rewards those who put time and effort into party preparation.

Persona 5 definitely has more mainstream appeal when it comes to conventional story setups and character development, but for those looking for something a bit more eccentric or flavorful, you can’t go wrong with Shin Megami Tensei V. Or better yet, just play both.