With the release of the revised Persona 5 Royal, it's perfectly normal to spend hundreds of hours on this dramatic, hilarious, and emotionally-charged roller coaster. Acting as a type of "director's cut" with fresh additions and alterations to the gameplay and plot, players control a gang of high school teenagers who steal the twisted heart of people's desires while managing school and social life.
Regardless, one of the most important aspects of Persona 5 Royal is interacting with friends and classmates, building close bonds with them, who afterward reward players with a variety of perks, ranging from improved experience gain to the evolution of powerful Personas. While each has worth in terms of how it relates to the plot, some are superior to others. From worst to best, let's look at the rankings of the best romance options in this long-awaited game.
6 Ichiko Ohya (The Devil)
Ohya is an investigative journalist who is willing to distort the truth for the sake of publicity. Players encounter her on their initial visit to Madarame's home, and subsequently, contact her when they need to uncover the Yakuza leader responsible for the attack on Shibuya.
On a nightly basis, she may be seen drinking at the Crossroads. As players get her to talk more, they learn more about what happened to her partner and why her articles were taken down, which will give her newfound confidence in her line of work. Ohya's abilities as a confidant aren't as useful as they may appear, and she has very little bearing on the main plot outside of helping to identify Kaneshiro. However, it is worthwhile to spend time with Ohya purely for the purpose of meeting Lala Escargot and earning a few thousand yen by working at the bar.
5 Haru Okumura (The Empress)
Haru, the heiress to the Big Bang Burger business, deserves more screen time than many of the other characters. Haru is very shy and subservient because both her father and her fiancé, whom she is being forced to marry, have hurt her in the past. As her confidence develops, her hesitation disappears, and her confidant narrative is likely to melt anyone's heart.
Unfortunately, as previously said, Haru suffers from not being appropriately introduced until halfway through September, which means that the majority of her plot is squeezed into the latter half of the game. Royal compensates for this by placing her in the background for most of the game.
4 Ann Takamaki (The Lovers)
Ann is the first character the player will encounter in the game since they will cross paths with her on their first day at Shujin Academy. Shiho, her closest friend, endures the weight of Kamoshida's abuse, pushing her to take vengeance and aid in the formation of the Phantom Thieves of Heart. Her cheerful, optimistic nature conceals years of shame and loneliness, and once the layers are peeled away, she, like everyone else, is simply trying to find her place in the world, someplace she belongs.
Ann's Persona has beneficial boosts, making her a superb support character. Furthermore, Ann will be able to cancel an enemy's strike after gaining a specific level of confidence. That skill alone is incredibly useful in almost any circumstance.
3 Kasumi Yoshizawa (The Faith)
One of the most significant additions to Royal is first-year student Kasumi Yoshizawa, who enters Shujin Academy at the same time as the player. She reluctantly joins the Phantom Thieves because she believes that individuals should handle their own issues rather than relying on others.
Her narrative arc is really captivating and develops over the length of the game. Others may disagree, but Kasumi's involvement seems rather forced owing to her frequent appearances in the early stages of the game as if the player is being pushed into falling in love with her. However, if we're talking about how she performs in the game, her reliable skills make her a strong Phantom Thief.
2 Chihaya Mifune (Wheel Of Fortune)
Chihaya, better known as "Maiden of Relief", can be found in Shinjuku. She tells fortunes and sells amulets made of Holy Stone. When Chihaya isn't taking the player's 100,000 yen, she'll happily tell them their fortune, which is a skill she's been working on for years before relocating from the countryside to Shibuya. Moreover, players will only get to see what she has to offer if they push her to accept herself.
She has a lot to offer, too. By strengthening the player's connection with her, they have access to additional types of readings that may boost their social stats, raise the amount of cash they earn, and even strengthen their bonds with other confidants.
1 Hifumi Togo (The Star)
When she is not in school, famous shogi player Hifumi Togo may be spotted honing her skills alone at a nearby church. She may seem calm and collected at first glance, but in a game of generals, she transforms into a ferocious competitor. She is the female shogi lead champion, and with the player assisting her in practicing new moves, she aspires to be acknowledged as a globally recognized Shogi master.
In addition to her lovely and confidant arc, the skills players gain from the Shogi lessons are of the utmost importance. The most essential of them is the ability to swap out party members for backup, enabling players to adjust swiftly to changing battle scenarios.
Persona 5 Royal is available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.