80
What a journey! After eight years of waiting, the fifth installment of MegaTen is finally here, and it manages to deliver a satisfying experience. It may not have the deepest plot or most interesting cast of human characters, but it's fun, and I appreciate that it challenged me to think more about myself, my beliefs and how I view the world around me. And how many games can do that? [Issue #57 – January/February 2022, p. 76]
90
SMTV brought everything I expected from a new chapter in the series of one of the first RPG games made, always renewing and innovating. We have an adventure that will make you stay for more than 40 hours hoping it doesn't end. It's really a great must-have for SMT fans and highly recommended for any RPG fan.
80
Comparing with an adored Persona cannot be avoided, but it is still a quite different experience for a different audience. Great fights, growing demons, excelent graphics and atmosphere. This JRPG succeeded.
4
Dull story that feels like the writers took their clues from gundam anime (look at the final boss or the Murakumo attack you get for circumstantial evidence) instead of philosophy or spirituality with flat characters, flat dialogue, inept twists and dog-water theming. The music is great. The gameplay's good, but that's easy when you can just take it from better games in the same series. The setting is good but not good enough to carry the rest.
Massive let-down. I hate it.
10
This might be a highly subjective point of view to have, but SMT V is the perfect JRPG. It's a difficult to learn, but satisfying to master JRPG, aided by an excellent story, cast of characters, large roster of recruitable demons, and tons of replay value for different endings. There also a lot of side quests for completionists, and a lot of secret bosses to battle. Overall, SMT V is a must buy for JRPG fans who want a great story, and a solid alternative to Pokemon for monster capturing.
6
This game really doesnt have a whole lot going for it. the artstyle is cool and it has pretty good graphics for a switch game. otherwise its just one of the most dreadfully unfun jrpgs i have ever played. boring maps, that are boring to explore with boring sidequests that most of the time will give you **** rewards. additionally a terrible old school save system that forces you to interrupt what youre doing every 15 minutes if you dont want to risk losing your progress to a random enemy that forces you into a fight with its hitbox 5x the size of its body. bossfights are an absolute slog as well. they are uninspired and the biggest challenge is not to fall asleep when chipping away at their obnoxiously big healthpools for what feels like 20 minutes. the combat is fine and capturing/fusing new demons is pretty cool as well but these few fun elements are wheighed down by too much **** to ever be really enjoyable.
Shin Megami Tensei V
Released On:
Nov 12, 2021
Metascore
Generally Favorable
84
User score
Generally Favorable
8.4
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
84
91% Positive
89 Reviews
89 Reviews
9% Mixed
9 Reviews
9 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Nov 25, 2021
100
Shin Megami Tensei V wants you to become a God, and throws everything it’s got at you to test your mettle. At times rebellious and stubborn, Atlus’ artisanal approach to RPG craft makes up for any shortcomings. Those possessed of a dedication to weather its sand-blasted, ruined world will uncover a treasure that’ll lodge in their minds like a revelation. This is hardcore role-playing at its most efficient, dressed up in a bleak, nihilistic story and given life by a compendium of demons that make Pokemon look amateurish. God only knows how a follow-up could top this.
Nov 18, 2021
90
Instead of aggressively sanding off any and all edges in order to appeal to the broadest audience possible, the game takes the exact opposite approach. It not only wears those edges like gleaming badges of honor, but is fully intending to stab you in the throat with them. It wants to challenge you, to desperately shake you out of complacency. SMT V is not a game for everyone, far from it, but what it trades for accessibility it gains in depth and lasting satisfaction.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.4
81% Positive
607 Ratings
607 Ratings
8% Mixed
62 Ratings
62 Ratings
11% Negative
79 Ratings
79 Ratings
Jan 31, 2026
10
This might be a highly subjective point of view to have, but SMT V is the perfect JRPG. It's a difficult to learn, but satisfying to master JRPG, aided by an excellent story, cast of characters, large roster of recruitable demons, and tons of replay value for different endings. There also a lot of side quests for completionists, and a lot of secret bosses to battle. Overall, SMT V is a must buy for JRPG fans who want a great story, and a solid alternative to Pokemon for monster capturing.
Aug 27, 2023
10
Не дивлячись на те, що гра місцями об'єктивно недороблена через те, що відбувалося в студії під час її розробки, вона все одно лишається одним з кращих ексклюзивів свіча й точно заслуговує уваги. Як мінімум геймплейно й естетично - гра чудова
Nov 4, 2021
90
Now that we’ve finally closed the book on the 2017 Switch presentation, I think Shin Megami Tensei V might be my favourite game to emerge from that show. That’s not a comparison I make lightly given the other games that appeared that night, but for my money and time it was worth the wait. Pokemon might be ending the year of RPGs on Switch, but SMT V is the best monster catcher for your buck yet.
Feb 11, 2022
85
The story can feel a bit too grandiose for it's own good, but the great combat, wonderful graphics and absolutely amazing monster collecting elements of the game are more than enough to solidify it as one of the best JRPG games on the Switch to date.
Dec 13, 2021
80
Shin Megami Tensei V is not for the lazy gamer. Although you are bombarded with information and grand ideas at the beginning, the story is slow to get going after that. The game is also extremely difficult. A person would give up for less. But those who persevere will be surprised by one of the most intense experiences the Switch has to offer.
Nov 4, 2021
80
With extensive and satisfying party customization, excellent combat, and challenging enemies, Shin Megami Tensei V never left me feeling bored or burned out across its epic length. Exploration and platforming sections lend some much-needed variety when you're fighting so many similar battles in a row. I just couldn't shake the feeling that this was Persona without the heart – without the unforgettable companion characters, the potent personal story, the incredible soundtrack, and the jaw-dropping twists and turns. Still, if you're looking for a meaty, demanding, endlessly deep, and overall outstanding JRPG to sink your teeth into, Shin Megami Tensei V has heaping portions of it.
Nov 4, 2021
60
Shin Megami Tensei 5’s combat is great, punishing and rewarding in equal measure without ever tipping the scales too far in one direction. Mixing and matching your deck of demons makes for great fun as well, and spurs you to look to all corners of the ruined world for allies of all shapes and sizes. It’s everything outside of the battling and grungy soundtrack where Shin Megami Tensei 5 badly misses the mark, with one-note characters that you’re never given the chance to better know, and a paper-thin plot that feels dragged out over dozens of hours. Shin Megami Tensei 5 is a good RPG battler, but it’s not good at much else.
Jul 6, 2023
10
In my opinion this game is the best in the franchise and hard mode in this One is equal if not harder than SMT3 Nocturne. Top Notch Turn Based JRPG
Feb 13, 2025
7
What I saw at start I think story is interesting,graphics and effects fits well with this type of game also music but not really immersive world what feels more like scenery made me stop playing at start. World itself feels like a painting and there is nothing extra to interact with just quest things. Ruined the investigation for me. Combat is cool.
Feb 15, 2023
7
This game at it's core is very fun, great story, great characters, and fun gameplay, but I can't help but feel that it was too limited by the Switch and it's performance.
May 1, 2026
4
Dull story that feels like the writers took their clues from gundam anime (look at the final boss or the Murakumo attack you get for circumstantial evidence) instead of philosophy or spirituality with flat characters, flat dialogue, inept twists and dog-water theming. The music is great. The gameplay's good, but that's easy when you can just take it from better games in the same series. The setting is good but not good enough to carry the rest.
Massive let-down. I hate it.
Jun 14, 2023
4
I love Japanese care to make games.. but this one is a nonsense.. boring at top level, no feel into gameplay, no interest into dialogues, no attraction into environment
SummaryThe ambitions of god and human clash amidst the horror of a dying world. Neither human nor demon, the newly-forged Nahobino and his friends must decide what is worth saving... and prepare to sacrifice everything in its name. In a world without its Creator, which path will you choose?
Rated Mfor Mature
