Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

What it’s like

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance offers a definitive entry into the franchise's dark fantasy universe, where players navigate a post-apocalyptic Tokyo reshaped by divine conflict. The experience is defined by its heavy philosophical weight and moral ambiguity, presenting choices that fundamentally alter the world's fate without revealing specific outcomes. The core loop revolves around turn-based tactical combat, emphasizing strategic positioning and resource management over reflexes. A major highlight is the deep demon fusion system, allowing for immense customization and build variety as you recruit, negotiate with, and combine various entities. The tone is consistently grim and atmospheric, supported by a haunting soundtrack and striking visual design that blends modern urban decay with occult symbolism. While the narrative structure provides branching paths, the true strength lies in the mechanical depth and the rewarding sense of progression through mastering complex combat systems.

Strong in Atmosphere / MoodCombatGameplay / MechanicsStory / NarrativeSystems Depth / Build VarietyAudio / MusicCharactersDifficulty / ChallengePolish / PerformanceProgression / ReplayabilityVisuals / ArtWriting / Dialogue

Keep in mind The steep difficulty curve and lack of traditional hand-holding may alienate players unfamiliar with the series or JRPGs in general. Additionally, while the new content is substantial, the core map design remains linear compared to open-world RPGs, which might feel restrictive to those seeking free-form exploration.

AI-generated from catalog data, informed by reviews from ign.com, gamespot.com, game8.co, animenewsnetwork.com, rpgamer.com, rpgfan.com.