Persona 5 Royal is an outstanding game. This statement shouldn't come as much of a surprise and, to me, is a generally shared opinion of many who have played through this game, or the original Persona 5. Funnily enough, however, I had no idea the Persona series existed for the longest time. It wasn't until the protagonist, Joker, was added as a DLC fighter into Super Smash Bros. Ultimate that I took notice of his unique style, and was immediately invested in him and wanted to learn more. I found myself on YouTube watching playthroughs of the game and figuring out how I could get my hands on this game. Lucky for me, Xbox Game Pass came to my rescue one fateful Summer month, and I never looked back.

When I booted up the game for the first time, a friend had told me just how long this game was and I shuddered. There are plenty of long games I started and never finished, and was wondering if this game would join that list. Oh how joyous I am that it didn't. Persona 5 Royal quickly jumped into the top echelon of my favorite games. To put it simply, I have never played a game like Persona. The in-your-face and loud art style that blends seamlessly with the world around it, the flashy and vibrant characters, both in your party and on the opposing side of your battles, and who can forget the incredible sound track accompanying this game? Not to mention the incredible story of this game, joining the Phantom Thieves, stealing the hearts of those who hunt their selfish desires at the expense of others. The game masterfully phases from act to act, while tackling serious issues in the world as well. I found myself unable to put this game down, playing for longer and longer sessions until I completed the game, all 150 hours of it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.