Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance

Trailers:

• Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance – Launch Trailer | NSW, PS5/4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam, PC
• Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance – The Ultimate Beginning | NSW, PS5/4, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, PC
• Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance – An Ideal World | NSW, PS5/4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam, PC

Developer: ATLUS

Publisher: SEGA

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic – 89 average – 100% recommended – 30 reviews

Critic Reviews

Atomix – Sebastian Quiroz – Spanish – 92 / 100

If you played the original Shin Megami Tensei V, Vengeance offers more of what made this installment special. Canon of Vengeance is an entertaining story with a series of twists that will surprise you, while those who will enter this world for the first time will be able to enjoy the definitive version of this title, with two campaigns and a lot of content. Just as it was in 2021, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is positioned as a must-play game, and something that JRPG fans have to play no matter what, even in a year when this genre has not stopped giving us some of its best modern exponents.

CGMagazine – Zubi Khan – 9.5 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance eclipses its predecessor in every way, making it one of the best turn-based JPRGs of the year.

COGconnected – Nicola Kapron – 90 / 100

All in all, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an excellent revision of a game I already liked. It’s still more sci-fi than horror, but a delightfully cynical tale nonetheless. And Yoko is a very engaging heroine in all her bitter glory. If you liked the original Shin Megami Tensei V, or even just thought about playing it, check Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance out. You won’t regret it.

Capsule Computers – Travis Bruno – 9.5 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance shines even brighter than before with a more involved new storyline, QoL improvements, and tons of content, this is the definitive way to experience this RPG.

Checkpoint Gaming – Pedro Cooray – 9 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance adds numerous quality-of-life improvements and drastic changes to the story and exploration that make the original game seem outdated. Plus, since the original campaign is still available in the Path of Creation, you are technically getting two games in one package. The new characters give you more reasons to care about the narrative, the new exploration options are thrilling, and the Press Turn combat system is as rewarding as ever. The series's eccentricities may not be for everyone, but no other franchise provides an experience quite like Shin Megami Tensei.

Digital Trends – George Yang – 4.5 / 5

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance makes one of the best open-world RPGs around even better.

Final Weapon – Raul Ochoa – 4.5 / 5

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a near-perfect version of Shin Megami Tensei V with a brand-new storyline and nearly a hundred hours' worth of new content. The Canon of Vengeance story corrects many of SMT V's faults while making the game's world feel even more intriguing and unique. All of the new features compound together to make an even more fulfilling game, making this the definitive version of SMT V.

GAMES.CH – Joel Kogler – German – 90%

For us, there is no doubt. "Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengence" is the definitive version of the game. The relatively small improvements in usability alone make the game completely different. Not to mention the general overhaul of the story, which means that the game allows two distinctly different playthroughs and thus offers an enormous scope. In the overall package with a very strong visual identity and a legendary soundtrack, "Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengence" is an absolute must-have for all fans of JRPGs, whether they are familiar with the series or not.

Game Rant – Shane Robert Moyer – 4.5 / 5

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance offers a lot for players, both old and new; an impressive enhanced art style, multiple story paths, and a definitive sense of the series progressing from what it once was. There may not be a ton of new things to justify purchasing the game again, but the additions that are here are excellent at keeping fans intrigued about what's going to happen next. Long-time fans will likely already know what they're getting into, as the game hasn't changed its turn-based combat and capture loops in a while. Still, those same fans have kept these games going until now, and Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is another in a long line of enjoyable titles in the long-running series.

GameBlast – Farley Santos – Portuguese – 9 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance reaffirms the franchise's legacy in a complex and immersive experience. The RPG maintains the classic elements of tactical turn-based combat, demon-baiting, and dark atmosphere, while introducing a more open-ended and vast exploration structure. The definitive version significantly expands the content with new missions, characters and technical improvements, providing an immersive adventure for newcomers and veterans alike.

Gaming Age – Braden Czerwinski – 9.5 / 10

I genuinely cannot possibly recommend Vengeance enough to fans of turn-based RPGs, or even fans of Persona that may still not be versed in what SMT has to offer differently. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance releases for all major platforms on June 13th, and is well worth your money. Give it a shot, and I promise you won’t be disappointed.

GamingTrend – David Flynn – 95 / 100

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the definitive way to experience SMTV. The new story is much more interesting and makes a perfect entry point for Persona fans, though it does miss out on some important plot points. The tweaks to combat make things feel that much tighter and strategic. With new bosses that even veterans will struggle with, Vengeance feels like an entirely new game.

God is a Geek – Lyle Carr – 9.5 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an absolutely wonderful RPG, with loads of new features that you'd be foolish to miss.

Hobby Consolas – Álvaro Alonso – Spanish – 92 / 100

Thanks to a ton of changes, additions, and improvements, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance has gone from being a great RPG to one of the best. Even if you played it (and finished) it back in the day, it's worth returning to this wonderful post-apocalyptic world of demons, angels, and challenging turn-based combat.

IGN Italy – Alessandra Borgonovo – Italian – 8.5 / 10

A refined edition not to be missed, which however could have done better in terms of plot and level-up balance.

IGN Spain – Esteban Canle – Spanish – 9 / 10

Atlus has done more than just a port with some improvements. Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a successful game that surpasses its predecessor, a challenge to the conventions of the SMT saga itself and a more accessible gateway for new players, but one that veterans will enjoy as well

Kakuchopurei – Jonathan Leo – 90 / 100

Shin Megami Tensei V back in 2021 was an epic JRPG that really needed a better core story (or a superior method of telling it) and better hardware to run, along with some interface tweaks. The Vengeance revamp fixes all of that and adds in a lot more, making this entry the definitive version of an already-stellar post-apocalyptic demon-summoning Nahobino-ing experience.

LevelUp – Pedro Pérez Cesari – Spanish – 8.8 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is set to become the definitive edition of Shin Megami Tensei V. Some of its changes may be insufficient to fix the original's biggest problems, but it does an incredible job of elevating it and bringing it that much closer to reaching its potential. ATLUS did it again and delivered a re-release that's worth checking out regardless of whether you finished the original game or if it's just your first approach.

Nintendo Blast – Lucas Oliveira – Portuguese – 10 / 10

There's really a lot to talk about Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance, such as its great performance on the Switch and the fact that it is one of the most beautiful products on the platform, as well as the wonderful dubbing in Japanese (there is also an option for voices in English) and the fun possibility to directly control some demons in special missions. However, in order not to prolong it any further, we end here by stating that this Atlus title is an RPG with recruitment and battles with monsters that are simply unparalleled, as well as a true lesson in how to deliver a definitive version of a game.

Nintendo Life – Mitch Vogel – 9 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a stellar example of an enhanced re-release done right. Its comprehensive approach to improving the story and various gameplay systems of the original release makes for an experience that's even more engrossing than the already excellent original game. Though we were disappointed by the lack of any performance gains here, Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is still an extremely easy recommendation for any RPG fans. Some may consider SMT to be "Persona without the heart," but SMT V: V cleanly demonstrates that this old Atlus stalwart still has an abundance of fantastic gameplay and unique appeal.

PC Gamer – Kerry Brunskill – 91 / 100

Vengeance combines the fresh, familiar, and the fiendish into one incredible RPG.

PSX Brasil – Thiago de Alencar Moura – Portuguese – 90 / 100

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance delivers an exceptional package that, by marrying all its elements, amalgamates into a title that can easily be considered one of the best RPGs of this generation.

Press Start – Harry Kalogirou – 8.5 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance doesn't just feel like the definitive version of Shin Megami Tensei V, it also feels like a new potential template for ATLUS's future re-releases. Between a much improved narrative, the same addicting gameplay loop, heightened visuals and a smorgasbord of content, it's hard to find a lot to dislike in this package.

Push Square – Khayl Adam – 7 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is the definitive way to play Atlus' devilish game of demon fusion, with a new suite of bells and whistles to smooth over what can, at times, still be an abrasive gameplay experience. It's incredibly combat-heavy, which can become oppressive, but working towards raising that perfect demon remains as engaging as ever.

Spaziogames – Gianluca Arena – Italian – 8.9 / 10

Vengeance is for Shin Megami Tensei V what Royal was for Persona 5 some years ago: the best possible version of one of the more refined and fascinating JRPGs of the last decade. This is the version to choose if you haven't played it before and the one to replay if you've already dived into the original title.

Stevivor – Matt Gosper – 8 / 10

Overall, Shin Megami Tensei V Vengeance is all about building a more streamlined and player-friendly experience. While the game’s difficulty hasn’t gone anywhere, it feels like Vengeance is doing its best to make you enjoy that experience and remove as many roadblocks as possible. The new Canon of Vengeance story is big, exciting and entirely unapologetic about taking a different path to the original story – giving returning SMTV players just as much to enjoy as new players. Playing on PS5 rather than the original Switch also let me enjoy the game’s world in much greater fidelity, and Vengeance takes full advantage of that to show just how gorgeous its huge maps are. While its combat is not for the faint of heart, the game’s rich, branching story offers plenty to enjoy over multiple playthroughs.

The Games Machine – Danilo Dellafrana – Italian – 9.5 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance breaks the shackles that initially bound it to a far too modest hardware to finally shine on a range of systems capable of enhancing its visionary beauty. On top of that, a resounding series of additions makes the handling of demons even deeper, while an alternative story line will keep even those who lost sleep over the Switch version happy.

TheSixthAxis – Nic Bunce – 8 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is an excellent addition to the franchise that's a must-play for franchise fans, and well worth picking up for those curious about dipping their toes in the water. The difficulty level is still there, but it has become a lot more manageable thanks to quality of life updates. Just don't be disappointed if you show up expecting Persona, as the narrative and story qualities of the latter is a world apart.

WellPlayed – Nathan Hennessy – 9 / 10

While giving players the option of a core and arguably 'fixed' SMTV experience, Atlus delivers the most approachable core Megaten title worthy of all JRPG fans' attention.

XboxEra – Genghis Husameddin – 8 / 10

Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance is a great refresh of a game that I had gripes with back then. Besides the far more interesting Vengeance route, the additional quality-of-life changes, added mechanics, and greatly improved performance make Vengeance easily the best version of a great turn-based RPG. Great for returning players and an even better deal for new ones.