Deal | Lowest price on Steam: 100-hour JRPG (96% positive) gets first 70% discount

The Persona series from developer Atlus and publisher Sega is one of the most popular JRPG franchises, known for its distinctive blend of classic role-playing mechanics and social simulation. While Persona 4 took place in a peaceful rural town, the fifth installment moves the setting to a stylized version of Tokyo.

The story centers on a student who is forced to transfer to a new school after being falsely accused of a crime. There, he joins forces with other misfits and discovers the Metaverse – an alternate reality where the warped desires of corrupt adults manifest as palaces. As the self-proclaimed "Phantom Thieves of Hearts," the group enters these palaces to steal the root of the corruption and force the culprits to confess.

Gameplay-wise, Persona 5 stays true to the series’ traditional turn-based combat while injecting it with speed and flair. Battles are quick, stylish and reward players for exploiting enemy weaknesses with bonus actions. Outside the Metaverse, everyday life plays an equally important role. Going to school, taking part-time jobs, enjoying leisure activities and building relationships with confidants all influence character progression. Time management matters too – after all, each day only has 24 hours.

While the original Persona 5 debuted in 2016, the enhanced version Persona 5 Royal was released on October 21, 2022. This edition adds new story content, characters, an expanded endgame and various gameplay improvements along with quality-of-life updates. In its review, German gaming magazine GamePro awarded the game a score of 92 out of 100, praising its deep yet accessible mechanics, stylish presentation and impressive scale with over 100 hours of gameplay. However, the review also notes that some remnants of its PS3 roots are still visible. On Steam, around 120,000 user reviews have been posted, 96% of which are positive. The game also fares well on Metacritic, with a Metascore of 95 and a User Score of 8.7.

The first 70% discount on Steam

Persona 5 Royal typically costs around $60. While it has occasionally been discounted by 60 or 65%, the current 70% off off marks a new all-time low according to SteamDB, bringing the price down to around $18. The deal runs until January 12. A plus for handheld gamers: the title is verified for the Steam Deck (which is currently listed at $480 on Amazon).

By the way: The newest addition to the series is Persona 5: The Phantom X – a free-to-play spin-off.

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