Persona 5

Series reflection

Why it is on my shelf

More about my relationship with the wider Persona 5 world than a manga-only review.

I love Persona 5 so much. I’m super obsessed with the game, and it’s basically all I’ve been playing lately, so of course I had to run out and find the manga. The cast is unbelievably well written, the aesthetic is brilliant, and the whole world feels so detailed and thought out that you could write an hour-long essay before even scratching the surface. I love how it folds in super-spy style, gentleman-thief energy, and historical fiction influences while still feeling completely modern. What strikes me most is the depth of the philosophical content and moral dilemmas. The story keeps you on edge while surrounding everything with occult and mythological imagery drawn from cultures all over the world. At the same time, the problems the characters face are relatable to the umpteenth degree: painful, emotional, and very real. The whole Persona 5 universe has me hooked.