Shin Megami Tensei 5 Vengeance review: Paradise comes to PC

What is it? A fantastic port of one of this generation's best RPGs, stuffed with a game's worth of extras

Release date June 14, 2024

Expect to pay $59.99/£54.99

Developer Atlus

Publisher Sega

Reviewed on Intel i9-13900HX, GeForce RTX 4080 (laptop), 16GB RAM

Steam Deck Verified

Link Official site

«gOD, yoU'Re SO ANnoYiNg! JUst sHUt uP ANd LiSTeN! IT'S poP qUiZ tIME!»

I only asked the giant mothman if he wanted to join my team, so I'm not sure I deserved to get an insult-laden lead up to a quick demon recognition test in response. Still, it's better than that time an angry magic horse told me to dig my own grave, or all the instances I've been laughed at, called an idiot, or had some sneaky spirit demand I hand over all my health, magic, or (sometimes and) money only to dash off after they've drained me dry.

Negotiating with demons in Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance is as dangerous, unpredictable, and hilarious as it's ever been in the 32 years of the series' existence, and like much in this latest entry will feel very familiar to fans of Atlus' longrunning apocalyptic RPG. Tokyo is once again the place where sassy mythological beings and neon-lined sci-fi meet, where programming and prayers have equal power. 

And as is now expected of a series that tends to treat reality-warping catastrophes and fights with every god and demon around as just another Tuesday, Vengeance begins with an enticing mix of everyday life, ethereal mysticism, vague warnings of impending doom—and then throws in a brand new choice, just to make sure I don't get too comfortable. A single new interactive scene has been seamlessly slotted into SMT5's original opening, a simple decision determining whether the story afterwards plays out in exactly the same way it did on the Nintendo Switch back in 2021 (now dubbed the Creation story) or whether it follows the new Vengeance route. 

This new path swiftly unfurls into a fascinating string of significant changes containing everything from exclusive