16 Games Like 'Persona 5'

If you’re a fan of the Attack On Titan anime and/or manga series, then you might already know of this game which is developed by Omega Force. Just like in the series, here you’ll be taking down titans that try to kill and eat humans. Like many games on this list, where this game is most similar to Persona 5 is how you bond and build relationships with other characters. The mechanics are focused around this and it shows.

Many of the games on this list are RPGs, which is only natural, and this is one of them. A Japanese game by Silicon Studio, Bravely Default came out in 2013 and if you feel like elements of it are similar to the Final Fantasy series, then you’re spot on. It was initially made to be a sequel to Final Fantasy: The Heroes Of Light but then took on a life of its own with its own gameplay elements. Set in Luxendarc, the aim of the game is to retain the four crystals that keep the world in the balance after they are consumed by darkness. This one is only available on 3DS.

Bully is the popular game from gaming giants Rockstar that came in 2006. It’s so popular in fact, that even in the era of classic games like Red Dead Redemption and Grand Theft Auto, fans are clamoring for a sequel to it or even just a remastered version. If you know anything about it, then it might surprise you to see it on this list. While it’s not quite an RPG, fans of Persona 5 might appreciate it for the school setting and all of the complex emotions and social implications that come with that – relationships, social hierarchies, and cliques, to name a few. Take on the role of Jimmy and navigate your way through the crazy world.

Just like Persona 5, this game was developed by Atlus. In it, you play Vincent Brooks, a 32-year-old systems engineer whose life happens in two parts: his daytime and his nightmares. In the daytime, you’ll interact with people at the Stray Sheep bar. The interactions there are cool, but where the real magic happens is at night, wherewith Vincent’s nightmares come puzzles that you’ll have to solve. The problem solving here will appeal to fans of Persona 5. Your actions have consequences too, with multiple endings possible, giving incentive for replays.

In Danganronpa, a group of high school students who attend Hope’s Peak Academy who are forced into a game where they must kill. It’s essentially a high school murder mystery which will appeal to fans of Persona 5 who liked that aspect of that game. The best part of this is if Danganronpa appeals to you, there’s a lot more where it came from as this is an entire series.

Dragon Quest XI is the latest in a long series of Dragon Quest releases that began way back in 1986 with the first game. Since then, there have been 10 main releases, including this one. Many consider it the best in the series and one of the better Japanese role-playing games of all time. Set in Erdrea, XI follows the theme of the previous games and players will control a sort of chosen one who seeks to defeat evil. The combat system is turn-based here, just like Persona 5’s is.

Final Fantasy XV was unique for the series in that it strayed away from the structure of the previous games and went full-on being an action RPG. This was hit or miss generally, but most were fans. This game is set in Eos which is described as a “fantasy based on reality”. Players control Noctis who must retrieve the Crystal after it was stolen by Lucis. Where this one is similar to Persona 5 is in that it tells the story of a protagonist with bonds that pay off in the end. There are a few spin-offs to this game which are all part of the Final Fantasy XV Universe.

Bully made this list because it’s set in a school and there are similarities there with Persona 5. If you’re looking for something set in a school but with a twist, then this might be right up your alley. Fire Emblem: Three Houses differs slightly because instead of playing a student, here you’ll play a professor and whether you play a man or a woman is up to you entirely. Developing relationships with those around you is also encouraged and rewarded here. The only drawback here is that this game is a Nintendo Switch exclusive.

Released in 2016, I Am Setsuna is a quintessential JRPG developed by the aptly named Japanese RPG Factory that features elements of all of your favorites in the same genre, including the beloved Persona series. Setsuna is a woman who is made to sacrifice herself to appease demons that descend upon her homeland. It’s a sad game, so be prepared for that in advance. If you were a fan of the early Final Fantasy games, you’ll be able to appreciate the Active Time Battle System that was also prominent in Chrono Trigger.

This is one of the best-selling games on the Nintendo Switch, moving more than 2 million units, and it’s clear to see why. It’s an RPG with a graphical aesthetic that the developers describe as HD-2D, which is “a combination of retro Super NES-style character sprites and textures with polygonal environments and HD effects”. If that’s gibberish to you, all you need to know is that this game looks phenomenal. The gameplay mechanics are similar to Persona in that the combat is turn-based and requires genuine strategy and the exploitation of an enemy’s weakness. The only downside is that Octopath Traveler is only available on Switch, Windows, and Stadia.

Tales is a great series and Tales Of Berseria is a standout. You’ll control Velvet who seeks revenge after the death of her younger brother Laphicet. The enemies in this game are called Daemons and they’re created by Daemonblight, which is caused by the negative emotions of humanity. Though it’s not a turn-based combat system here, the game boasts the Liberation-LMBS (Linear Motion Battle System) where players can move freely around the arena and rotate the camera as they please.

An action RPG with some fantasy elements, 2007’s The World Ends With You is set in Shibuya which has a whacky concept. Some chosen dead people have the opportunity to play in the Reapers’ Game where the winner will be brought back to life or ascended to some form of higher existence. Neku Sakuraba takes part in the games and just like you are in Persona 5, here you’ll be shaped by the people you meet and benefit from the bonds you form with people as you head onto this incredible journey.

This game is a famous crossover between the aforementioned Fire Emblem series and Shin Megami Tensei. Nintendo published this game but just like the Persona series and Catherine (which appeared earlier on this list), it was developed by Atlus. Just like Persona, it’s set in modern-day Tokyo. A group of teens fights the Mirages who want to steal people’s energy from them. It’s an interesting story that some critique as being too predictable but playing it through doesn’t feel tiresome. On the plus side, the combat system here is nearly identical to the one in Persona 5.

Developed by Nihon Falcon, Tokyo Xanadu is an action RPG that was first released in 2015. Tokyo Xanadu eX+ is an enhanced version of the original game. Once again, this game is set in the common environment of a school where a group of high schoolers battles through swarms of monstrous enemies. Though the school is set in modern-day Tokyo, it’s a sort of warped version of it in some alternate universe. Each character has an opportunity to shine in different chapters of the game and bonding events will make you appreciate each and every character even more.

This is the name of the first game in a longer series but realistically, all of the games in the Xenoblade Chronicles series work for this list, including this year’s Definitive Edition rather than the original version of the first game (as it’s a revamped version of it). These games are some of the best Japanese role-playing games that you’ll ever play, with elements of sci-fi and fantasy prevalent in them too. This one features a bunch of great things that many on this list and Persona 5 do, including a bonding system that boost’s the main character’s affinity with other NPCs.

Another one of Nihon Falcon’s games, Ys: Memories Of Celceta was originally made for the PlayStation Vita but has since been released on Microsoft Windows and the PlayStation 4 (which of course means that it’s playable on the upcoming PlayStation 5 as well). Just like the other Ys games, you’ll control Adol Christin. In Memories Of Celceta, he finds himself with amnesia and he wakes up in a town where he meets a few people who all claim to know him. Navigating your way through this is an incredible task. If you were a fan of Persona 5’s crafting system, you’ll like this game because the items you earn in battle will help you make weapons.