Why Persona 5 Royal Is the Best Game in the Franchise

Atlus delivered a masterclass in game design, creating a definitive peak that stands alone.

A group of anime characters standing together against a colorful sunset backdrop.

Published: Jul 09, 2026, 2:09 pm Updated: Jul 09, 2026, 2:09 pm

Primary Subject: Persona 5 Royal
Key Update: This opinion piece highlights why Royal stands alone as the definitive peak of the series, driven by its exceptional third semester, polished combat, and immersive district activities.
Status: Opinion
Last Verified: July 9, 2026
Quick Answer: Persona 5 Royal stands out as the best entry thanks to Dr. Maruki's complex narrative, seamless Baton Passes, and optimized Mementos exploration mechanics.

JRPGs are hands-down my favorite genre of video games, and none of them stuck with me more than Persona 5 Royal.

I know that in the Persona fandom, Persona 3 Reload is often hailed as the best entry in the franchise. I understand why - the graphics and mechanics received a major upgrade while the story remained just as heart-wrenching as the original. But Persona 5 Royal is still the most enjoyable and memorable one for me.

Why? Well, it's everything from the additional content to the polished combat. Let me break it down for you.

Best Third Semester

While Persona 3 and 4 both have great final semesters, Royal's is arguably the best. Why? The antagonist this semester, Dr. Takuto Maruki, is extremely well executed.

A character named Maruki speaking to someone in a hospital bed, with dialogue about trauma and pain.

He isn't a traditional villain. His goals are inherently good and meant to stop people from experiencing the pain - it's the way that it's done that pushes The Phantom Thieves of Hearts to act. It proves that villainy isn't always black-and-white while also waving Kasumi Yoshizawa into the main story.

Best Quality-of-Life Changes

Persona 5 Royal is arguably the smoothest game from the franchise. Royal took the base Persona 4 systems and smoothed them out, making sure players didn't experience the mechanical friction previous titles did.

Two characters from a video game performing a "Baton Pass" action in a colorful, stylized environment.

The grappling hook is my favorite addition, as it made exploring Palaces feel even more dynamic. I also love that Baton Passes aren't unlocked via social links and are immediately accessible as long as you have the character.

More Free Time

In the original Persona 5, Morgana would nag you to go to bed early, especially the night before a big event. While this is still kind of true in Royal, it isn't nearly as strict.

A person in plaid pants sweeps the floor of a café, while a black cat sits on a bar stool nearby.

Royal added activities you can do within Leblanc, like read, clean, or cook. This means that there's a way to level up your stats even if you're barred from leaving the cafe.

Improved Mementos

When the original Persona 5 first launched, I found Mementos to be long and dragging. Everything felt repetitive. I was surprised to find that wasn't the case with Royal.

A scene from a video game showing characters in a stylized battle environment with text options on the right side.

One major game changer was unlocking Ryuji's Insta-Kill after reaching Confidant Level 7. I loved that you could use that to skip the combat to still reap the rewards. I also became obsessed with getting all the possible stars in a Memento level so I could exchange them for items in Jose's Shop.

Kichijoji District

Adding Kichijoji District to Persona 5 Royal was a great idea. It's a great place to raise your Confidant Level with characters like Akechi and Sumire. There are also plenty of establishments that can be unlocked as you progress through the game.

A character walking through a colorful shopping district at night, surrounded by lanterns and various shops.

My favorite place is the club, the Penguin Sniper, where you and the other Phantom Thieves of Hearts can play darts & billiards. Doing so increases the individual bonuses to a Phantom Thief member's Baton Pass capabilities and the Thieves' overall Technical damage.

The Thieves Den

If you're a completionist, then the addition of The Thieves Den is a game-changer. It's a fully customizable 3D hub that lets you look back at your adventure and see what you have unlocked.

A group of characters sitting around a table in a vibrant, colorful gaming setting.

The best part of the Den is the in-game trophies. The game tracks milestones and challenges and rewards you with coins to buy concept art, BGMs, and more. There's also a Tycoon card mini-game you can play against your teammates' AI.

Showtime Attacks

The original Persona 5 didn't feature the flashy Showtime Attacks I adore. The cinematic team-ups, such as Makoto and Ryuji's Mad Max-style brawl, are one of my favorite parts of the combat.

Two characters wearing masks and stylish outfits stand confidently against a dramatic sunset background, one holding a spiked weapon.

Showtime Attacks trigger when an ally is low on HP or when an enemy is down. Besides being amazing scenes in-between the combat, I appreciate that it doesn't consume any SP or HP.

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