Games Like Persona 5 Royal: 8 JRPGs to Play Next

After Persona 5 Royal, the closest games are Persona 3 Reload, Persona 4 Golden and Metaphor: ReFantazio, all from Atlus. You get the calendar to juggle, bonds to build and very stylish turn-based fights. If you want to step outside the family, Trails of Cold Steel keeps the school life, while Octopath Traveler II and Sea of Stars keep the great combat.

What makes Persona 5 Royal special

Persona 5 Royal is two games in one. By day you're a high schooler in Tokyo: you go to class, work on your stats, hang out with friends, take shifts at a café. By night you're a Phantom Thief infiltrating Palaces, dungeons born from the hearts of corrupt adults. The calendar forces you to choose, and every day counts.

The turn-based fights are fast and readable, built around weaknesses and all-out attacks. It's all wrapped in a unique art style and soundtrack. It's also a big game: about 88 hours for the story and nearly 222 hours to do everything, according to players on IGDB.

How to choose your next one

If the social life plus dungeons mix is what you love, stay with Atlus: Persona 3 Reload and Persona 4 Golden follow the exact formula, and Metaphor: ReFantazio moves it into a fantasy world. If a great party and a long story matter most, the Trails of Cold Steel series is for you.

If the turn-based combat hooked you, Octopath Traveler II, Sea of Stars and Chained Echoes are excellent and shorter. For more games with a strong story, see our best story games.

1. 

   1. Persona 3 Reload

   2024 · Main story 63.5 h

   The remake of Persona 3, with the same loop as P5R: school by day, dungeon by night, social links to grow. The mood is darker, built around a hidden hour after midnight and a giant tower to climb. Combat has been modernised to feel close to Persona 5.

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2. 

   2. Persona 4 Golden

   2012 · Main story 74.5 h

   A small countryside town, mysterious murders and a TV that leads to another world. Persona 4 Golden is warmer and funnier than P5R, with a group of friends you'll adore. It looks older, but plenty of fans prefer it for its characters.

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3. 

   3. Metaphor: ReFantazio

   2024 · Main story 78.5 h

   The new game from the team behind Persona, set in a fantasy kingdom in the middle of an election. You get the calendar, bonds with companions, dungeons and Persona-style turn-based fights, plus the option to clear weak enemies in real time. The closest thing to Persona without the name.

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4. 

   4. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III

   2017 · Main story 70 h

   The Cold Steel series follows students at a military academy, between classes, friendships and field missions. In this third entry, the hero becomes an instructor himself. Tactical turn-based fights, a rich political world and a story that takes its time.

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5. 

   5. Octopath Traveler II

   2023 · Main story 90 h

   Eight heroes, eight stories and a combat system where you break enemy defences before hitting hard. The look mixes pixel art and 3D effects, and each character has a special way to interact with townsfolk. Perfect if P5R's weakness-based fights are your favourite part.

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6. 

   6. Sea of Stars

   2023 · Main story 20 h

   A love letter to 90s JRPGs in gorgeous pixel art. Turn-based fights ask you to press the button at the right moment for extra damage, and locks you break on enemies echo Persona's weaknesses a little. Shorter and lighter, ideal between two big games.

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7. 

   7. Chained Echoes

   2022

   A 16-bit JRPG made almost entirely by one developer, and still very generous. No random battles, a story about war and politics, and an Overdrive system that pushes you to mix up your actions. A brilliant surprise for turn-based fans.

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8. 

   8. Omori

   2020 · Main story 20 h

   An RPG that starts as a cute dream and gets more and more unsettling. Turn-based fights revolve around your characters' emotions: happy, angry, sad. There's no high school here, but a powerful story about friendship and what we hide that will speak to Persona fans.

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FAQ

What game is most like Persona 5 Royal?

Persona 3 Reload, from the same studio: the same mix of school life, social links and dungeons, with combat modernised in the style of Persona 5. Metaphor: ReFantazio also uses the formula in a fantasy setting.

Do I need to play other Persona games before Persona 5 Royal?

No. Each Persona has its own story and cast, so you can start with any of them. If you loved P5R, you can go back to Persona 4 Golden or Persona 3 Reload without missing anything important.

How long does it take to beat Persona 5 Royal?

About 88 hours for the story according to players on IGDB, around 118 hours with side activities and nearly 222 hours to complete everything. It's a game to enjoy over several months at your own pace.