PERSONA 5 TACTICA: THE PHANTOM THIEVES PLAY CHESS, AND MOSTLY WIN
7.5 of 10 bananas. Atlus turned the Phantom Thieves into a grid tactics squad, with flanking, cover, and a combo called Triple Threat. Fast, stylish battles that are easy to love; a safe story, simple systems, and a cast mostly on the sidelines.
By the Alpha. PS5 disc listing. Updated Nov 1 2026.
Honest note: This is not a fresh hands-on playtest. I built this verdict from launch reviews, critic consensus, update history, and what is known about the game today. If I put real hours in on stream, I will update the score and say so.
Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Switch, and PC (developed and published by Atlus, released November 17 2023). The Amazon button is the PS5 disc. At my Nov 1 2026 check it was sold by a third-party seller named Online-Source and shipped by Amazon, far under the 59.99 dollar list price. Sellers and prices change, so look at the seller before you pay.
Get Persona 5 Tactica for PS5 on AmazonStore check, Nov 1 2026: new copies on offer from a third-party seller, Online-Source, shipped by Amazon. Prices and sellers change, so look before you pay.
Sit with me a moment. A good tactics game is a quiet game. You lean in, count squares, and plan three moves ahead. Persona 5 Tactica is not quiet. It shouts, it struts, and it wants every turn to look like a music video. Strangely, that works.
What It Wants To Be
Persona 5 Tactica is a turn based tactics RPG. The Phantom Thieves from Persona 5 are pulled into a strange world of Kingdoms ruled by tyrants, and they join a rebel named Erina to fight back. You move units on a grid, use cover, and knock enemies down to earn an extra move. Three allies can surround a downed foe to trigger a big Triple Threat attack. You still fuse Personas, but the systems are lighter than the main game.
What Works
Critics gave it generally favorable reviews. Battles are fast and readable, the One More system makes aggressive play feel smart, and the stages often play like puzzles with one clever answer. The style, music, and menus carry the same Persona 5 swagger. At this price it is a lot of polished game for very little money.
What Breaks
Listen well. Reviewers called the story safe, and its rebellion theme rings a little hollow next to Persona 5. Most of the old cast act like a group of extras while new characters take the spotlight. The skill trees are shallow, and veterans of deeper tactics games may find it too easy on normal. A story DLC, Repaint Your Heart, sold separately at launch.
Who Should Play
Play it if you love Persona 5 and want something short and stylish, or if you want an easy first tactics game. Skip it if you want deep tactics; Triangle Strategy is meatier.
STRENGTHS
- Fast, stylish grid battles
- One More and Triple Threat feel great
- Puzzle like stage design
- Very cheap at my check
HONEST COSTS
- Safe story
- Most of the old cast sidelined
- Shallow skill trees
- Story DLC sold separately
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