Persona 5 Tactica

It’s always a delight to see the Phantom Thieves again, and Persona 5 Tactica is one of the freshest takes on their adventures we’ve gotten since the original P5 launched in 2017. Its tactical combat starts off simple, but by the time you get through its slow first chapter, Tactica manages to expand upon and riff on the series’ classic turn-based formula.

On top of an interesting take on Persona 5’s mechanics, Tactica also offers an honest take on Persona 5’s themes of rebellion, the cost of fighting for what’s right, and why it’s still ultimately worth doing. Persona has always been the Power of Friendship game, and Tactica reasserts that all of the pain is worth it as long as we fight for change together. As Persona 5 tends to be, it’s uplifting even when exploring heavy subject matter. Even if it sometimes feels like the Phantom Thieves are running out of steam, Tactica proves there are still stories to tell and themes to explore. — Kenneth Shepard